The search for Kentuckiana Lodge’s next racetrack star has well and truly begun with the countdown to the 2023 National Yearling Sales underway.
Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will head the Auckland and Christchurch sales next month to fill their stable with the Krugs and the Republican Parties of tomorrow.
Having selected dozens of Group One winners at previous sales, the process is a familiar one for Cran.
And the first step is studying what he calls the bible.
“The sales book is like the bible for three months every year.”
“You read it cover to cover and then over and over again, scribbling notes in it all the way through.”
“Pedigree isn’t everything but there are things we look for when refining down the list of what horses we want.”
“The modern-day racehorse is a different athlete to those of the past and we are looking for those modern pedigrees you expect to see in the big age-group races.”
The inspecting of each year’s class of yearlings is the most vital part of the yearling sales process.
Cran will travel the country in the coming weeks to run his eyes over every yearling in the catalogue.
“There is nothing better than when you love a horse’s page and then it impresses you when you see it in the flesh.”
“It doesn’t always happen, because some look better in the flesh than in the book and it can be the other way around too.”
“Obviously you have to like the physical specimen standing in front of you, so we go through quite a thorough checklist when we inspect them.”
“Certainly to put your hand up, you just about have to fall in love with them at first sight.”
“We are looking for athletic horses that are built for racing in every way.”
“The last few years we have had some very good fortune finding those kind of horses at the sales.”
“I am picking there will be a few more out there this year and we will be out to get our hands on them.”
Many of the Kentuckiana Lodge owners who have enjoyed big race success in recent seasons have indicated they are keen to continue their ride with the stable by joining in the ownership of a 2023 yearling.
And new owners are most certainly welcome to join in the fun.
“We are finding that the modern ownership model, it lets more and more people enjoy in the success of racing a good horse.”
“The possibilities are pretty endless really, we often have owners wishing to spread their investments across more than one yearling.”
“And each year we have new owners coming into the mix as well.”
“With fractional ownership there are opportunities for everyone.”
New and existing owners who want to join Cran and Chrissie Dalgety in racing a horse with Kentuckiana Lodge can feel free to contact the trainers.
For more information, email c.dalgety@xtra.co.nz or call Cran (027-436-0667) or Chrissie (027-278-9466).
