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There was a scene in the movie Zoolander where the two warring male models staged a 'walk-off', a contest where they ponced up and down the catwalk showing off their best moves.
I was reminded off this on the weekend when Darley and Coolmore launched the stallion careers of their 2012 trump cards, Sepoy and So You Think, at no expense spared stallion parades.
The two global powerhouses seem to be going toe to toe to attract the hearts and minds of breeders by pitching the two home-grown champions at the same fee, $66,000.
Darley was
first off the mark on Saturday. The Sydney eastern suburbs set seemed to be
overly represented, so many beautiful people in so much Country Road gear.
But I digress. After filing the stallions through with military precision a sense of anticipation was created when Sepoy anchored the team and was fashionably late He pranced into the ring with a fanfare that would have done justice to a marauding band of Scottish warriors.
With his chestnut
coat glistening in the late afternoon sunshine Sepoy played his part well.
To be truthful he is an easy sell even though few tears were shed when his sire Elusive Quality (USA) did not return after the 2008 season and his dam was sold off by Darley for $55,000.
Blessed with good looks and rippling muscles Sepoy carries the industry holy grail tag of Golden Slipper winner. Few Slipper winners fail at stud, fewer sill have been better looking than Sepoy.
Coolmore
held two stallion parades on Sunday. When I arrived for the second session few
of the first group seemed to be in a hurry to leave.Don't blame them.
Quite a few Sydney trainers were there networking including the always cheerful Gai Waterhouse and champion trainer Chris Waller.
Like Sepoy, So
You Think anchored the stallion roster. While there was no musical fanfare for
So You Think he did have the services of the inimitable James Bester.
James is the best spruiker in the business. He has a list of adjectives greater than the Oxford English Dictionary and exhausted most of them on So You Think before passing the baton on to Duncan Ramage who filled in any gaps James may have missed on the champion's distinguished racetrackcareer.
While the robust Sepoy boasts the close-coupled, heavily topped conformation that has become so common in the Danehill era, So You Think is truly his father's son, a glorious example of the refined European thoroughbred.
The well travelled son of High Chaparral was set a demanding schedule on the track.
Campaigned in the best of company on four continents the sleek black entire never dodged a soul in 23 starts, winning 14 and placed in another five.
So You Think and Sepoy will not want for top mares. Both farms have committed some of their best mares while commercial breeders will ensure both have the book full sign posted.
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