European venture for Three Chimneys

The fragile market is still causing belts to be tightened throughout the bloodstock industry, but it hasn't prevented the Kentucky-based Three Chimneys from strengthening its European presence.

Case (left) and Robert Clay (right) flank Three Chimneys' European agents Jean-Marie Callier and Ed Sackville

Earlier this year, Robert Clay's operation appointed Ed Sackville and Jean-Marie Callier as its British and French agents, and last week further confirmed its European intentions by announcing plans tosell at this year's Tattersalls December sale and by sponsoring the 1m2f maiden on the opening day of last week's Newmarket's July festival, won by 66-1 shot Cotton Mill.

It will be the first timet hat a draft is offered in Britain by Three Chimneys, a regular top five consignor in Kentucky, but the thinking behind stepping out of familiar territoryisclear, according to farm president Case Clay.

"We've used Airlie when we've sold here before, but this year we've got several top European prospects who we wanted to sell ourselves over here," he said."It will be a select draft of about ten to 15 horses. We've done well buying fillies inEurope, such as Missit and Diamond Diva, and we just felt it would work for us to sell those types of horses in Europe."

The operation sold the Grade 1-placed Diamond Diva for $400,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale, but although Clay was pleased with the sale, he felt that the mare could have been more appealing at auction in Europe, another factor behind the decision to test the British market. The New market draft is likely to be a quality one, to possibly include Rockfel Stakesrunner-up Missit and Rosa Grace,a Grade 2-placed daughter of Lomitas who is in foal to Giant's Causeway.

"The consignment will be relatively high-profile, "said Sackville. "It's about quality not quantity and we're open to taking other nice prospects."

This year's Tattersalls December sale isn't the first British auction to be targeted by US-based consignors; Four Star Sales consigned to the 2003 and 2004 Tattersalls October sale, as did Hunter Valley Farm tothe 2007 Tattersalls December sale.

Three Chimneys has been a player on the worldwide stage since it stood its firststallion, US champion Slew O'Gold, in 1985. Today, the farm stands 12 stallions,including Dynaformer and Big Brown, and has another office in Japan. Clay also reports that the recession has yettodolittle to dampen interest from European clients looking to take advantage of the farm's services.

"We're still receiving the same interest from European clients as we have ever done," he said, "and European buyers are very important to our sales. It's not all about dirt racing, especially now with the number of tracks with artificial surfaces."

He added: "The European perception is that US stallions are expensive, but, actually, there are many who are affordable and those can get you a turf horse."

More immediately, there is the domestic yearling sales season to work through, starting with the Fasig-Tipton July Kentucky yearling sale, which starts today in Lexington. Three Chimneys offers eight yearlings, and Clay is cautiously optimistic.

"I feel our market is starting to look a little better,"hesaid. "I don't think we'll see the sharp drop that we did last year, but, having said that, there'll still be good value.

"The competition between the sale companies [Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton] has to be a good thing. Saratoga has become a little bit more European recently and was strong last year, and I think it's good that Keeneland has changed the format of its September sale - starting with two evening sessions will allow it tofocus on entertainment, which has worked for Fasig-Tipton recently."