Murphy's Blu Boy - the second time around
November 19th 2008 10:34
When writing about the $10 million that would be required to purchase a half share in Samantha Miss, I was given cause to remember a horse who burst on the Australian racing scene a few years ago when a half share was secured for (only) $800,000.
The year was 2003, and knockabout Queensland trainer Mick Hicks brought his unbeaten colt Murphy’s Blu Boy to Melbourne to contest the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview.
Murphy’s Blu Boy was so impressive when winning the Preview by 7 lengths (untouched) that champion jockey Damien Oliver declared him “the fastest two-year-old I have ever ridden.”
History would conclude that the field he defeated was light on for top flight racehorses, with Neo running second, and the subsequently handy horse Ra Sun finishing third.
Murphy’s Blu Boy ventured to Melbourne after winning his first 3 starts by a combined measure of 18 lengths. His 7 length Melbourne debut stamped him as potentially something special, and memories of the Goondiwindi grey Gunsynd were being evoked. Could there be another champion to emerge from Goondiwindi?
Subsequently the offers flooded in and Mick Hicks eventually sold a 49% share to the Roddy brothers from Tumut for $800,000
But dreams of Diamonds Blue and Slippers Gold were dashed after Murphy’s Blu Boy was defeated at the prohibitive odds of 4/15 by Hammerbeam in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
And worse was to follow in the shape of two operations on his throat that would severely affect him and stifle any chance he had to reach racing's lofty heights. He won only one more race - a Gosford Lightning (1100m) in 2004.
But the horse with the funny name has returned to prominence this year as a sire, with his first crop being sold at the yearling sales around the country. And it was Victorian trainers (with long memories) that have been keenest to purchase the baby Blu Boys (and Blu Girls). Rick Hore-Lacy paid $30,000 for one in Adelaide - then came back and paid $20,000 for a filly at the Magic Million sales in Queensland. Other Victorians, Greg Eurell and Robbie Griffiths, have also been very keen to secure horses from his first crop.
Murphy’s Blu Boy’s racetrack performance - although brief - was stunning in its infancy. But the buyers have also been taken by the conformation and stamp of his first crop. When his racetrack days were first over, Murphy’s Blu Boy actually won the Champion Thoroughbred section in the Sydney Royal Easter Show - highlighting his looks and perfect conformation.
Of course he is a risk as a stallion - hence his $5,500 service fee. His sire is the unfashionable Blu Tsunami who sired very little apart form Murphy - who is his only stakeswinner. The female line has only Murphy’s Blu Boy and I Am A Ripper as stakeswinners in the first three generations.
Another horse with an unusual name - The Green Monkey - stands at stud in the US at around the $US5,000 mark. The Green Monkey did not have the racetrack performances of Murphy’s Blu Boy - but he did have an even greater price tag (a half share would have set you back $US8 million) and hype. There is a danger outlaying large amounts of money for a colt that is not endowed with a strong pedigree. If the racetrack performance falters - or falls away - it can be very difficult to find suitable interest (or gain any returns) when retired to stud.
Murphy’s Blu Boy has thrown some exceptional types in his first crop and the sales prices have averaged far in excess of the $5,500 service fee. The performance of these horses as 'early comers' will make or break him as a sire. His pedigree alone would not see him as a 10th (or 100th) order recommendation as a stallion. He needs to throw horses with his own freakish (early) ability - and not just his good looks.
Everyone, to some degree, takes a gamble when buying the crop of a first-season sire. The most regally bred sires may prove complete failures - and the unfashionable stallion with questionable pedigree may sire with success well beyond the anticipated. But usually it is the bloodlines that remain the most telling factor. A brilliant racehorse - without a strong pedigree - is seldom a success.
But - of course - there are always exceptions to every rule.
Murphy's Blu Boy
The year was 2003, and knockabout Queensland trainer Mick Hicks brought his unbeaten colt Murphy’s Blu Boy to Melbourne to contest the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview.
Murphy’s Blu Boy was so impressive when winning the Preview by 7 lengths (untouched) that champion jockey Damien Oliver declared him “the fastest two-year-old I have ever ridden.”
History would conclude that the field he defeated was light on for top flight racehorses, with Neo running second, and the subsequently handy horse Ra Sun finishing third.
Murphy’s Blu Boy ventured to Melbourne after winning his first 3 starts by a combined measure of 18 lengths. His 7 length Melbourne debut stamped him as potentially something special, and memories of the Goondiwindi grey Gunsynd were being evoked. Could there be another champion to emerge from Goondiwindi?
Subsequently the offers flooded in and Mick Hicks eventually sold a 49% share to the Roddy brothers from Tumut for $800,000
But dreams of Diamonds Blue and Slippers Gold were dashed after Murphy’s Blu Boy was defeated at the prohibitive odds of 4/15 by Hammerbeam in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
And worse was to follow in the shape of two operations on his throat that would severely affect him and stifle any chance he had to reach racing's lofty heights. He won only one more race - a Gosford Lightning (1100m) in 2004.
But the horse with the funny name has returned to prominence this year as a sire, with his first crop being sold at the yearling sales around the country. And it was Victorian trainers (with long memories) that have been keenest to purchase the baby Blu Boys (and Blu Girls). Rick Hore-Lacy paid $30,000 for one in Adelaide - then came back and paid $20,000 for a filly at the Magic Million sales in Queensland. Other Victorians, Greg Eurell and Robbie Griffiths, have also been very keen to secure horses from his first crop.
Murphy’s Blu Boy’s racetrack performance - although brief - was stunning in its infancy. But the buyers have also been taken by the conformation and stamp of his first crop. When his racetrack days were first over, Murphy’s Blu Boy actually won the Champion Thoroughbred section in the Sydney Royal Easter Show - highlighting his looks and perfect conformation.
Of course he is a risk as a stallion - hence his $5,500 service fee. His sire is the unfashionable Blu Tsunami who sired very little apart form Murphy - who is his only stakeswinner. The female line has only Murphy’s Blu Boy and I Am A Ripper as stakeswinners in the first three generations.
Another horse with an unusual name - The Green Monkey - stands at stud in the US at around the $US5,000 mark. The Green Monkey did not have the racetrack performances of Murphy’s Blu Boy - but he did have an even greater price tag (a half share would have set you back $US8 million) and hype. There is a danger outlaying large amounts of money for a colt that is not endowed with a strong pedigree. If the racetrack performance falters - or falls away - it can be very difficult to find suitable interest (or gain any returns) when retired to stud.
Murphy’s Blu Boy has thrown some exceptional types in his first crop and the sales prices have averaged far in excess of the $5,500 service fee. The performance of these horses as 'early comers' will make or break him as a sire. His pedigree alone would not see him as a 10th (or 100th) order recommendation as a stallion. He needs to throw horses with his own freakish (early) ability - and not just his good looks.
Everyone, to some degree, takes a gamble when buying the crop of a first-season sire. The most regally bred sires may prove complete failures - and the unfashionable stallion with questionable pedigree may sire with success well beyond the anticipated. But usually it is the bloodlines that remain the most telling factor. A brilliant racehorse - without a strong pedigree - is seldom a success.
But - of course - there are always exceptions to every rule.
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