Leaving and Arriving

There has been a lot of recent activity relating to horses moving around. Here are two that I find particularly interesting:

- The Coolmore folks have retired Dunkirk and will stand him at their Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He has the breeding to stand for his $10,000 fee - Unbridled's Song out of a G1-winning A.P. Indy mare. But, I am generally pessimistic when a promising young colt gets hurt early, never reaches his expectations on the track and then is sent to the breeding shed to pass his infirmities on to the breed.

Some related facts - 1) If you back his $393,000 of earnings out of his $3,700,000 purchase price, Dunkirk will have to cover 331 mares at $10,000 for Coolmore to get their money back (excluding the cost of his maintenance, of course); and 2) Pedigree Query lists 10 horses named Dunkirk through the years dating back to 1726.

- Venezuelan super-filly Bambera will be making her way to the United States for a 2010 campaign. This young lady has done nothing less than win 16 of 18 starts including 10 Grade 1 races over distances between 7 and 12 furlongs. She also beat older colts 5 times. Bambera is going to start down in Calder and could make a big splash in the older female category this year.