The Southern Hemisphere s Leading Stud Farms Alabar Bloodstock Tongala, Victoria Australia 011-61-3-5859-2201 alabar@alabar.com.au www.alabar.com.au Alabar (NZ) Ltd. Pukekohe New Zealand 011-64-9-232-1800 alabar@alabar.co.nz the view downunder ~ Harold HOwe The Rock N Roll Globetrotter Rocknroll Hanover becomes the most successful sire to shuttle to the Southern Hemisphere with a unique arrangement with David James Empire Stallions. It s debatable which topic has greater interest for the breeding and racing industry in the Southern Hemisphere, the announcement of the dispersal of Perretti Farms or the news of Rocknroll Hanover as a shuttle stallion but for the purpose of this column we shall focus on the latter. Make no mistake, the impending physical arrival of Rocknroll Hanover to Australia is an historic moment for the harness racing industry in Australia or New Zealand. Never before has the most commercial pacing sire in this part of the world gone globetrotting. Some would argue that Art Major and Bettors Delight preceded him, but neither were proven horses when they first set foot on an airplane. Rocknroll Hanover is the big kahuna for North Americans. It was only 1993 when In The Pocket became a footnote in history as the most prominent Standardbred horse to travel downunder. This was a common practice in the Thoroughbred world but was a hard sell to the harness racing traditionalists. While In The Pocket was generally regarded as a disappointment in North America as a sire, he was embraced by New Zealand breeders upon his arrival. Despite not being able to service huge books of mares like some sires, he had an immediate impact on the breed and continues to do so today through his sons and daughters. Many others followed most notably Art Major, Bettors Delight and Rock N Roll Heaven but Rocknroll Hanover is charting new territory. Yes, there has been frozen semen available but that remains a long way from having the actual horse there. The story goes that the exercise all began when an Australian entity came knocking at the door of Perretti Farms looking to secure the horse s Southern Hemisphere rights. To make a long story short, the proposal was long on talk and short on cash. No deal. But it planted a seed and it fell to former bloodstock agent David James to put it all together. James and his partner Donna Egan set up a stud farm in Australia some years ago. They spend part of the year in Middletown, New York and the breeding season in the state of Victoria at their Empire Stallion property. They have been involved in the shuttle stallion business for more than a decade and they definitely know the downunder market better than anyone. Until one reaches into their own pocket in an effort to do business with another country, you can t understand the inner workings of that particular country s people. Doing horse business in Australia and New Zealand is not identical to that of Canada and the United States. The couple put together a very clean proposal to lease Rocknroll Hanover for one year with the intention of standing him at their farm for the upcoming Southern Hemisphere season. The pitch was made to the Rocknroll Hanover syndicate and won approval. The horse is now in quarantine. One shareholder with a good perspective on the deal is Steve Stewart of July/August 2011 The Harness Edge
Photo by New Image Media Hunterton Farm in Paris, Kentucky. I cannot see how anyone could view this as a negative in any fashion. We hope that it all works out and continues because it now puts the pacing game in a similar position to that of the trotters. For years we ve been able to count on the European market to help out that part of racing, he points out. Yes, the downunder people have taken a lot of stallions before but not the likes of this horse. I expect that over the years there will be an ebb and flow in terms of interest down there but the underlying fact to it all is that their business allowed this to happen. The service fee is $12,500 (AUS) which is a burr under the saddle for some North Americans. The fee here, if one can get in to the horse, is $25,000. What s been a struggle to many breeders is understanding that Australia and New Zealand are a different market. They do not have the same amount of money for two and three-year-olds that we do so there is not the payback. Secondly, here the people who breed to Rocknroll Hanover are almost exclusively market breeders. That s not the case downunder from what I understand. There are a lot of people there who simply want one of his offspring, will pay good money and are not the least An outstanding racehorse who earned more than three million dollars during his career, Rocknroll Hanover has become one of the sport s leading sires thanks to performers like Rock N Roll Heaven, Put On A Show, Ticket To Rock and Rockin Image. Rocknroll Hanover s final career start, in the Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands, may be viewed by clicking here. The Harness Edge July/August 2011
the view downunder bit worried if there are several hundred other foals running around. As long as they have one they are happy which is why you see some stallions breed over 500 mares, says Stewart. And then there is the matter of money. All of the shareholders of the horse will receive a nice stipend for allowing Rocknroll Hanover to head to foreign shores. Almost without exception, all of them are experiencing a substantial change in their cash flow. The game here is battling to say the least and the coffers are clear evidence. A move like this helps keep the wolf away from the door. Stewart particularly likes this deal over some other arrangements he has seen. This is a one year gig for now and I like that far better than what Blue Chip did in selling the Southern Hemisphere rights for the lifetime of Art Major. I believe that should never be done because of concern for the horse. Every horse is different, he notes. Some horses tolerate breeding year round better than others. Some need a break from it all but if you are into an Art Major type of arrangement you cannot do that. You must consider the wear and tear on the animal. Stewart likes the Rocknroll Hanover arrangement for another reason as well. I believe that in racing you see the best results when all the parties have some skin in the game. Everyone wins together or loses together. David James has made a big commitment here and I know he will do everything humanely possible to make this work so that he can win approval to get the horse back next year. Not all the deals are like that. No one knows exactly what number of mares Rocknroll Hanover will command but he most certainly will cut into the enormous books of Bettors Delight and Art Major to name two. The Australian economy is one of the strongest in the world right now with their dollar eclipsing that of Canada and most other countries. Their racing industry is much stronger than North America s while New Zealand is battling much like here. Rocknroll Hanover is a very fertile horse so whatever James and company throw his way he should be able to handle it. For sure he will be marketed like no other before him. The shuttle business is changing. No longer can just any horse head downunder and do well. The breeding game there is becoming like here, one of haves and have-nots. The higher quality horses do well but those that serviced the backyard or hobby breeders are fading away. The spiraling costs of transporting horses there and back does not make it feasible for many that were once popular. One should never say never but don t look for Muscles Yankee or Yankee Glide to be getting on a plane soon. The trotting market downunder does not compare to the pacing one. But certainly there will be more follow Rocknroll Hanover s lead. A year from now if Somebeachsomewhere proves his mettle it is entirely possible that Hanover Shoe Farms may be forced to change its position on shuttling stallions and buy the horse a round trip airline ticket. Stay tuned. PARK INSURANCE If you re racing with the best, why not insure with the best? Ray Bednarz Equine athletes are always at risk and like any other valuable asset, they need to be protected. Park Insurance has the knowledge and experience to help you protect those investments with the best possible coverage at competitive rates. Call Jeff Ruch or Ray Bednarz for a free no obligation quote. Jeff Ruch Park Insurance A Division of 260 Nebo Road, Hamilton, ON. L8W 3K5 Tel: (905) 575-1122 Fax: (905) 575-4250 1-800-265-9933 July/August 2011 The Harness Edge
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