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| Staff Writer |
Have you ever wondered how racehorses are bought and owned? While private sales and breeding play a huge part - one of the most popular ways to acquire horses is via Breeze-up sales.
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BUCA (Breeze Up Consignors Association), founded back in 2015, started as a means to showcase the success of European Breeze-up horses. Ahead of the 2024 Saudi Cup and 2024 Dubai World Cup, several Breeze-up horses have already enjoyed significant success in the Middle East, and the BUCA team are hopeful of a positive result over the next few weeks.
The great thing about Breeze-up sales is that there is an opportunity to buy horses who can win races, reaching the highest levels of the sport. If things fall right, a Breeze-up horse can change the fortunes of an owner, trainer and an entire operation.
When speaking about the success of Breeze-up horses, BUCA’s PR Manager Nancy Sexton isn't surprised. “Breeze-up horses have long punched above their weight. The statistics paint an impressive picture - over 50% of Breeze-ups win, and there were over one hundred and fifty (150) 2YO winners last year in Britain and Ireland.”
Despite that impressive record on British and Irish soil, there has also been a wave of horses that have achieved success all over the world, something that Sexton and the heads of BUCA Brendan Holland and John Cullinan are immensely proud of.
“What’s noticeable is how global it’s become. The first breezer to win a European Classic was Speciosa in 2006, and since then, there have been numerous top-level graduates.
“Europe remains the primary hub, and that is down to the likes of The Grey Gatsby, Perfect Power, Lezoo, Trip To Paris, Native Trail, Eldar Eldarov, Cachet, Bradsell and Vandeek. There’s also been an American Classic winner in War Of Will and currently a top Hong Kong runner in California Spangle,” she said.
“We are particularly heartened by the current success in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Mazyuna has developed into a high-class filly, and Ajwadi recently won a Group Three.
“Other Riyadh-based 3yos like Saudi Neom, Yuafiquk Allah and Nermeen also look exciting. We’ve long tried to emphasise that there is durability and value to breezers, and that success further reinforces that while paying tribute to the hard work and skill of the breeze-up vendors involved,” said Sexton.
With so much success behind them, it’s an exciting time for everyone connected with BUCA. 2023 saw a record level of winners by horses sold in the sales, but despite that great success, Sexton is keen to stress the hard work and dedication that goes into producing horses worthy of the sales.
“Breeze-up vendors trawl the northern hemisphere yearling sales looking for prospects; they’ll do all the British and Irish sales, others might add in France and Germany, some work Keeneland hard right up until the last books and then some have been known to turn up at the Canadian sale.
“And, of course, they have some very good facilities, very good gallops, and then the riders/staff to back them up. They’d be the first to say it’s a team effort. So, taking all that into account, it’s probably no surprise that the quality and number of winners are improving all the time,” says Sexton with confidence.
Having been founded back in 2015, 2023 successfully validated everything that BUCA represents. Despite several horses racing to a phenomenal level, there were some who Sexton was keen to highlight.
“Well, obviously, Vandeek has to be one of the headline names. He has a bit of scope and looks to have an excellent attitude, so the sky could be the limit for him this year.
“Then there’s Trueshan. He comes back year after year; he won another Group One last year at the age of 7. 15 wins from 26 starts and nearly £2 million in prize money is a pretty good advert,” she said.
With hopes high that 2024 could top the achievements of 2023, several Breeze-up horses stand on the cusp of achieving something special, and Sexton was keen to point out which horses we should all be keeping an eye on this year.
“Aside from Vandeek and Carla’s Way, there is a No Nay Never filly called True Cyan - she won her debut at Newmarket very well and looks exciting. Eben Shaddad, a breezer from Lynn Lodge Stud, also ran a good race when third in the Dewhurst Stakes. There should be more to come from him. Nermeen was a filly I really liked as a yearling at Keeneland and again in Dubai, and it was good to see her win so impressively recently in Riyadh.”
With a plethora of races set to be held over the Middle East over the next few weeks, there are ample opportunities for Breeze-up horses to kick off 2024 in style, and Colour Up has already got the ball rolling, taking success in the Jebel Ali Sprint.
Keen to follow on from Colour Up’s Jebel Ali success, another horse that Sexton has high hopes for is Yuafiquk Allah.
“He’s a very well-bred Medaglia d’Oro colt out of Breeders” Cup winner Belvoir Bay, and he developed into a lovely 2YO. He was gutsy on his first start, and he looked to have benefitted from that experience next time out as he was pretty impressive in winning by a wide margin. I’m sure they’ve got bigger targets in mind for him, and so far, he looks up to tackling them,” she said.
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One horse that all those connected with BUCA will be keen to follow the progress of is Vandeek. Unbeaten in all four starts as a two-year-old, he looks as if he can go on and compete for some of the sprinting divisions” biggest races - a feat that Sexton is confident could happen.
“Vandeek is the third top 2YO to come out of the Breeze-ups in as many years after champions Native Trail, who was also unbeaten as a 2YO and won the Dewhurst Stakes, and Lezoo, who won the Cheveley Park Stakes.
“He’s obviously got a high cruising speed that he can quicken off, and he goes well on different grounds. All being well, he should take high order among the sprinting division this year,” said Sexton.
In the fillies division, Carla’s Way looks to be a special horse.
“Carla’s Way was one of the top lots at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster and was out winning quite soon after that. She looked very good when bossing the Rockfel. She’s a big filly who you’d think would go on at three, in which case she should hold her own at the top level, especially taking a line through the Rockfel form,” she said.
Both Sexton and BUCA are keen to recognise the global impact these prestigious races hold.
“It’s great to have these prestigious events to aim for. Two meetings with seriously competitive racing, they have deservedly caught the imagination, and the Saudi Cup meeting I’m sure, will only get bigger. We’re seeing more and more horses being sold to run in Saudi Arabia, so the markets worldwide are benefitting, and it’s great to see such local enthusiasm behind it.”
Having already achieved a great level of success in the Middle East, few would be surprised if Breeze-up horses went on to achieve even better things over the next few weeks. Although 2023 was a memorable one for BUCA, everything looks to be in place for an even better 2024.