2006 Crop - Work In Progress!

My crop of 2006 is taking shape. Originally I picked around 100 horses each year, but I have decided this is too many. 50 at the most will be picked from now on.

I have 21 newly turned two-year-olds picked at the moment. It is starting to get interesting as many mares from my first two crops (2001 & 2002) have two-year-olds this year, around 30 in all. I will pick around ten to fifteen of those. Also Cat Dreams (2001) is a freshman sire this year and has quite a few youngsters rearing to go. Certain Storm (2001) also will have his first crop hitting the track this year, though he only has a few.

With so many offspring from my crops this year, it promises to be an interesting one. However, I am also adding some interesting broodmare, stallion or racing prospects from the UK, Ireland, France and North America. I have noticed that my focus when picking my prospects has changed very much over the years. With only going for 50 this year, it forces me to be more picky and selective. I am leaving horses out that any other year would have been included.

Every year I hope to pick a champion, and twice I have picked the sprint champ (Lost In The Fog and Thor's Echo), but I hope I can once pick a Kentucky or Epsom Derby winner, or a Breeders' Cup Classic winner, or even better, an Arc De Triomphe winner! A World Champion even? The chance might be a slimmer with fewer horses, but does that not make it more exciting?! And how wonderful would it be if a champion was born out of one of my mares?

One of the best-bred colts I will include in my 2006 lot this year is a grey Unbridled's Song colt called Rotterdam. He went through the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale ( he was named Sing Zoftly at the time) and brought $235,000. I chose him on name alone, as I grew up in Holland near the city Rotterdam, so the name has special meaning.

I am sure as the season progresses I will mention some more of my 2006 youngsters! For now, I still have a lot of picking to do!!!