Coolmore sure does have the game figured out, for sure! What Magnier doesn’t breed, he often buys.
I’m also a huge fan of Aidan O’Brien. I know he’s certainly got an advantage, so to speak, considering the horses he has at Ballydoyle, but everything I have ever read/heard about the man affirms that he’s a true horseman and a gentleman as well. It’s a huge yard, yet O’Brien knows all of his staff by name. And now it looks like son Joseph is poised to make a name for himself as well (which is good since he’s finally gotten far too tall to continue as a jockey)!
Can anyone elaborate on the unspoken (at least to the rest of the world) reasons why Darley/Godolphin/Maktoum et al don’t breed to Coolmore sires, and vice versa? I’ve read that the principals of both organizations had a meeting back in the mid-eighties, when they were on the verge of becoming the combined dominant force in European racing. But what exactly was discussed and what, if any, agreements were made, remains a secret!