Should she be retired?

Question

Sunstrike, first foal of HK Mile winner Sunline is under fire, because people are comparing her to her mother.

They think she should be retired. That's fine.

BUT

1. Sunstrikes is 2 years old.

2. Sunstrike has only had 2 starts.

3. Sunstrike is faily gangly. Could do with some time to fill out.

Is it worth retiring her now?

Answer 1

i say give her a full year of racing...then re evaluate....

Answer 2

It's probable that Sunstrike's connections believe that her worth as a broodmare is higher than her worth as a racehorse.

While the evidence that she should improve with age is compelling, the question is whether she would improve enough with age to make it worthwhile to keep her on the racetrack.

Given her pedigree, if she's bred to any of the top-quality stallions that are a fit for her, any foal she has could probably be sold for something in the six-figure range.  (Given that she's got 4 crosses to Northern Dancer in her pedigree, two of them through Danzig, they'd almost have to breed her to a stallion free of Northern Dancer blood.)  If she would only run moderately on the racetrack, then the economics are such that she'd make more money for her owners as a broodmare.

That's the problem with trying to race well-bred fillies:  they have such value as broodmares that the temptation is always there to quit on them as racehorses early so they can start producing offspring.  I don't know how you can get around that.  

I'd like to see Sunstrike given time to mature before they quit on her as a racehorse, but given the value her babies are certain to have, I can understand why her owners might do that.

Answer 3

I cant see her value diminishing too much regardless of her track performances as she has it made as a broodmare on breeding alone. However, the owners will persist with her until she wins a race somewhere, or anywhere as it will show that she had the tiniest amount of ability on one particular day.

Also, it should be noted that very rarely do champion race mares become champion broodmares, so while it would be a Cinderella story for her offspring to have a lot of ability, it is a long shot.

Answer 4

no. I don't think its even fair for the horse

Answer 5

If she is sound I think it is wrong to retire her. A lot of two year olds fill out and improve in their third and fourth years racing.

Answer 6

If she is only 2 years old then it is ridiculous to call for her retirement!  Thoroughbreds are designed to hit their peak at 3 - hence why the premier races are for 3 year olds - and many - Sunline herself included, get better with age.

Some horses take a few outings to the racecourse to learn what their jobis all about.  The first few times can be very scary for a baby - especially with all the people and noise she just wont have encountered before.  Being a daughter of Sunline she will attact more attention than most other horses.

If, as you say, she is gangly then it sounds to me like she is not mature yet.  She will grow into herself and become stronger with age and racing.  I have not seen any pictures of her, but I'd say most likely she is a bit backward.  

I've looked up her pedigree and she is by Rock of Gibraltar - who hit his peak at 3!

There should be no talk of retirement, unless she is injured, until she has reached the end of her 3 year old career.  If she hsa shown no talent or willingness to run by then, then they can retire her to stud knowing they gave her as musg of a chance as they could.