Poet's Word a model of consistency for Boardsmill Stud

More than a century ago, Henry Ford told a conference of salesmen who wanted to expand the colour offerings of the Model T beyond the only one in the range, that the customers could have 'any colour so long as it is black.'

John Flood of Boardsmill Stud could offer breeders and buyers of Poet's Word foals a similar response, but with bay or brown as the answer. As the second crop of foals sired at the Trim farm by the King George and Prince of Wales's Stakes winner come under the hammer at Goffs this week, the grandson of Dubawi has begun his stud career with the efficiency and uniformity of the Model T production line in Michigan

"They are of a similar type," Flood confirmed. "He gets all bay or brown foals and they seem to have a lot of presence about them. They are generally athletic, good-walking foals with an outlook that people like. That consistency throughout the crop is always a good sign for the sales too, people have more confidence in what he's producing.

"From a breeding perspective it's always a help when you have a stallion who stamps their stock, it helps you decide what type of mare you need to send."

There is another parallel to be drawn with Ford's revolutionary vehicle. Just as the majority of Model T buyers were happy with their black Tin Lizzies, so are the breeders and buyers of Poet's Word's bay and brown foals.

They averaged just shy of €17,000 at the sales last month with half a dozen selling for a minimum of €30,000. It was confirmation that his appeal for buyers hadn't waned following his debut on the National Hunt sales scene last winter with a top price of €85,000 for a colt out of Dinaria Des Obeaux.

Dinaria Des Obeaux in actionCredit: Patrick McCann

"The second year can be a bit trickier when they come to market but they held up very well at Tatts and there is a good bunch going to Goffs this week, and out of some good mares so we're hopeful. He has a good number of representatives in the catalogue and just from what people have told us about them, they look to be a nice bunch of foals," remarked Flood.

Reading through the catalogue for the December National Hunt Sale, the pedigrees would appear to bear out that belief, with his strongest group of foals yet assembled for sale.

There are 27 foals remaining during the four days and they offer a selection of high-class families and recognisable names as their dams.

First up on Wednesday is the half-brother to Grade 1 Slaney Novice Hurdle and Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase winner Battleoverdoyen. Offered by his breeder Caroline Berry, he (lot 500) is the second Poet's Word foal in succession that dam Battle Over has produced, reinforcing the belief that breeders have been impressed enough by his progeny to return to the source, much like Ford's early Model T buyers.

There is much the same scenario at play later on Wednesday when Mountain View Stud offer the full-brother to the most expensive Poet's Word foal to date. Lot 624 is the third foal out of Dinaria Des Obeaux, who won the Grade 2 Anaglog's Daughter Novice Chase and Grade 3 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle for Gigginstown House Stud. Trained by Gordon Elliott, she was also third in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle.

Thursday's final of four foal sessions includes a filly (713) with immense residual value as well as enormous racing potential. Ballincurrig House Stud offers a daughter of dual Grade 1 winning hurdler Glens Melody on behalf of breeder Fiona McStay.

Glens Melody (left) and Paul Townend win the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at CheltenhamCredit: Dan Mullan

The King's Theatre mare has already produced a winner with her first foal, Shantou's Melody who was successful in a bumper for Jonjo O'Neill. Under second dam Glens Music are the the Graded winners Lean Araig, Ashdale Bob and Minella Melody, with the latter pair placed in Grade 1 contests.

Thursday concludes the sale with a session dedicated to breeding stock and here too, Poet's Word has strong representation not least with ties to famous maroon and white silks.

"Gigginstown have supported Poet's Word every year since we got him and they have been rewarded with good sales for mares in foal to him with Surin [Grade 3 winner made €115,000 to Ballylinch Stud and Newtown Anner] last year and Barra [Grade 1-placed, she brought €70,000 from Athnid Stud] the year before," Flood elaborated.

This year they send Beth Horan (773), a Yeats half-sister to The Romford Pele, from the family of Aidan O'Brien's Whitbread Gold Cup and dual Galway Plate winner Life Of A Lord. The seven-year-old was trained by Gordon Elliott and is carrying her first foal.

Another with connections to Gigginstown is the unnamed Califet half-sister (775) to the star-crossed Drinmore and Neville Hotels Novice Chase winner No More Heroes.

Consigned by Russellstown Stud for Peter Downes, she possesses quite the page. Her dam, What A Breeze, is a half-sister to Fiveforthree, a dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles for Willie Mullins, and to Celestial Gold, victorious in the Bowl at Aintree and the Hennessy Gold Cup. Another half-sister, What A Mewsment, is the dam of Klepht and Welsh Shadow.

Crannagh Farm offers Nile Grise (781), a half-sister to Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Scarlet Row who is the dam of Champion Chase hero and multiple Grade 1 winner Politologue, in foal to Poet's Word.

Continuing the French connection is Hotter Than Hell (771) from Clonbonny Stud. A winner over hurdles for Alan King, she is by No Risk At All and out of a half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Mesange Royale.

"This is the third year mares in foal to Poet's Word have gone to the National Hunt Sales and they have consistently sold well. I suppose it's a sign of the market, people are keen to get their hands on his stock that way too," Flood remarked.

Just like the Model T one hundred years ago, and look how well that turned out.

The Goffs December National Hunt Sale begins at 11am on Monday with the remaining three sessions starting at 10am.

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