ALLAN'S SUCCESS RATE WITH MODEST SIRE FATH
Illustrating the shortage of economical proven stallions
15th Dec 2009
FATH, by Danzig, whose day in the sun in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan was when winning the Lennox Stakes (Gr.3) at Goodwood, stood for several years at Rathasker Stud until being sold to Western Australia.
The Allan Bloodlines team took a shine to some members of his first crop of yearlings and purchased two, paying €40,000 for one and €5,000 for another. These both achieved ratings in excess of 100. One is DON'T PANIC, winner of five races and Group and Listed placed and the other is FATHOM FIVE, also winner of five races and Listed and Shergar Cup placed.Both are still in training at the age of 5 rising 6.
Although David Allan does not pretend that Fath has set the world on fire, he has continuously advocated his stock as low cost, tough potential winners for buyers on a budget. FATH's winners to horses 2006-9 (2 year olds) is 40%, well up the table, ahead of Bahamian Bounty whose stock have the same average Timeform rating as Fath's and a point behind Exceed and Excel. For 3 year olds, the figure is 49%, level with Dansili and ahead of Galileo, also well up the table. Of course, average Timeform Rating for the Fath stock is lower than those of Dansili and Galileo, but certainly not pro rata to purchase cost.
Allan has bought three other sons of FATH. SUPER TUSCAN and ABU DERBY are both winners at 2 and 3 respectively. VICTORY IDE SAY recently finished 3rd first time out from an impossible draw and looks useful.
Breeders in England and Ireland are quick to dismiss young, proven horses as moderate, switching to the untried with no racing data, only hope. This is why there is a shortage of mid-range proven sires and why trainers on a budget are forced to punt on the unknown more often than they would wish.