BBM to promote British bloodstock in India

The British Bloodstock Marketing and Tattersalls are hosting a dinner in Bangalore on the eve of the running of Gr 1 Bangalore Derby. The move is obviously an attempt to promote its bloodstock in Indian market. All these years, mares from England and USA were not permitted be imported to India due to CEM related ban but the good news is that the ban has been lifted. The opening up of the British market gives enormous choice for Indian breeders and other buyers who have been doing big business at Goffs. The Tattersalls bloodstock sale will be held from November 30 to December 3. Approximately, about 1200 lots will come up for sale.

The overseas market has been a big help for both the breeders as well as race horse owners who are trying to get value for their money. The breeders have a captive market in India and the choice available to buyers is restricted. The best stud farms don’t throw open their produce to all buyers and are sold selectively to big owners because these people buy in bulk quantities. And those which are not sold to big buyers and those considered good are retained by the breeders themselves to race in their colors. As such, even if a person is wiling to pay a high price, he does not necessarily get his choice.

With the Goff sales becoming a big hit, Indian buyers are increasingly looking at overseas market. Since horses born abroad are not allowed to race in the Indian Classics and they also carry an additional statutory penalty of eight kgs, racing them in India is an unattractive proposition. However pregnant mares have been bought abroad in substantial numbers and are foaled in India. These horses are lapped up with great enthusiasm. The success of these got-abroads in the classics and in graded races has resulted in a big market for these horses.

This year’s highest rated three-year old at Western India is Versaki (Verglas). The got abroad colt has already won a bagful of graded races including the Gr 1 Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million. Jacqueline (King Charlemagne) has won the Gr 1 Fillies Trial Stakes at Bangalore and is considered as a front runner for this Sunday’s (July 12) Bangalore Derby. Another got abroad Polish Patriot (Polish Precedent) is also in the fray for the Derby and he is the emerging star. Some years ago, Starsky (Selkirk) and Velvet Rope (Turtle Island) had won the country’s most coveted race, the Gr 1 Indian Derby.

Comments

  1. seenuJuly 7, 2009 at 9:04 PM

    ur right sir , when people are ready to pay for quality , when u get quality from abroad it is better to get them and show the true colours .

    ReplyDelete

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