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Kingsgate Native has been retired to stand at the Cheveley Park Stud.
Although widely expected, it’s still a great disappointment to see an exciting horse like him being packed off to stud after only 8 races (total racing time less than 9 minutes by my calculation).
It’s an ongoing weakness of flat racing and its barmy economics that horses barely entering their prime so often prematurely vanish in this way.
It has to be long adds against him being as effective a sire of winners as he was a racehorse.
Although the well-run Cheveley Park set-up will give him every chance to succeed in his new career, remember that the best ever stallion to stand there had a proper racing career behind him with none of this win-a-group-one-and-retire nonsense that’s so prevalent today.
Pivotal ran less times than Kingsate Native, who are you referring to as their star stallion?
Ok was assuming you meant Pivotal, who isn’t doing bad for a light racing career! Thats not to say i disagree with your original post, because i don’t.
I see last year’s Diadem winner, Haatef, has also been retired.
Another 8-strikes-and-you’re-out merchant, his career spanned 3 seasons. Still, better than his sire and dam, who only managed 7 starts between them.
Going back to Phalaris, although his opportunities were greatly restricted by the First World War, he won 16 of his 24 starts (2 of which were walkovers). He stood his first 2 seasons at Cheveley Park.
In an ideal world
good flat horses would race until they are mature before going to stud. So many go to stud without being properly tested as to their ability or optimum conditions. Add Kingsgate Native to the list.The ideal would be a whole lot more likely without the weight-for-age allowances. Why does horse racing of all sports give an advantage to the immature?
Could you see a 16 year old being given 10 metres start in the Olympic 100 metres final, winning by 1 metre and being hailed a champion. Really it is a nonsense.
I understand the economics but they only apply because two and three year olds are given credit by the racing industry, media and enthusiasts for achieving a level of performance which they have not actually achieved. How often do we hear of a three year old being rushed off to stud with the words "He really has nothing more to prove…" and how untrue those words invariably are.
Has there been any official word on Sakhees Secret?
I’d be suprised if he ran again.
Mark
Value Is Everything
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Didn’t Sakhee’s Secret’s connections shuffle Pastoral Pursuits off to stud following a similarly light racing career?
good flat horses would race until they are mature before going to stud. So many go to stud without being properly tested as to their ability or optimum conditions. Add Kingsgate Native to the list.
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