by NICK FORTUNA,
Wire to Wire

Stallions who want to stand at Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud in Ocala should follow the advice of Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis and “just win, baby.”

Brent Fernung said he uses four sets of criteria to evaluate potential stallions – race record, sire, female family and looks – but if a horse lacks accomplishments on the racetrack, it’s not necessary to look at the other three areas.

“If you have to give up something with a stallion, it certainly shouldn’t be ability,” Fernung said. “My first qualifier for any stallion is talent. If they’re not talented, they’re not going to stand here.”

Fortunately for Circular Quay, his $1.51 million bankroll is hard to argue with and was a major factor in persuading Fernung to acquire the horse.

Fernung, who welcomed Circular Quay to his farm Aug. 1, set up a group of shareholders to own the horse and settled on a $12,500 stud fee after originally considering a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000. The reduced price should make Circular Quay accessible to a larger group of breeders and lead some horsemen who ship mares up to stallions in Kentucky to keep their mares in the Sunshine State this breeding season, Fernung said.

Circular Quay’s ownership group includes the owners of several prominent Marion County operations, including Stonehedge Farm South Inc., Rustlewood Farm Inc., Manuden Farm, Summerfield Sales Agency and Westbury Stables, along with Gaines Gentry Thoroughbreds, Ocala-based pinhooker Eddie Woods and Coolmore, the operation that owned him as a racehorse.

They’re all expecting big things from the 4-year-old colt, the fourth-richest horse ever sired by 1995 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch.

“When the opportunity came to get him, it was one of those dream-come-true kinds of things,” Fernung said. “He’s a Grade 1 stakes winner, and he could do it all. He was fast and could carry his speed. He won graded stakes all three years he ran, and he’s by a horse who was a champion sire. He’s an extraordinary horse, and we’re excited that we could get him.”

Circular Quay won five of his 13 career starts. At age 2, he won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and ran second to Street Sense in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill. The following year, he won the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course and was sixth behind Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill.

Circular Quay added another graded victory this year, capturing the New Orleans Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds. His graded victories spanned from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s a horse with a racing record that you rarely see in this town, and that’s the biggest thing with him,” said Woods, who plans to breed several mares to Circular Quay. “I’ve never owned a share of a stallion, but I thought that this was an excellent horse. I would expect breeders would like him quite a bit. Unfortunately, he’s coming in during difficult economic times, but fortunately, in our industry, quality holds up every time, and that’s what we’ve got with him, quality.”

Besides his racing record, Circular Quay meets Fernung’s other criteria as well. His sire, Thunder Gulch, earned $2.92 million at the racetrack and has enjoyed just as much success in the breeding shed, producing 27 graded stakes winners and 60 stakes winners overall. Among them was Point Given, the 2001 Horse of the Year who won that year’s Preakness Stakes (G1) at Belmont Stakes (G1) en route to $3.97 million in career earnings, and Spain, the winner of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and an earner of $3.54 million.

Circular Quay’s dam, the Belong to Me mare Circle of Life, also was a good runner, having captured the 1999 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

All that in addition to Circular Quay’s muscular, 16-hands-tall frame had Fernung contemplating a higher stud fee before setting it at $12,500.

“We tried to size him down to where people could afford to breed to him,” he said. “There’s value here at that price. And it’s not how much the stud fee is – it’s the potential for making money. He’s a legitimate Grade 1 winner from a top family. If you compare that to a horse that has two or three holes in him and is standing for $5,000, you’re better off with Circular Quay.”

Fernung said breeders should look to pair up Circular Quay with “big, scopy mares,” such as those from the families of Kris S., Dynaformer and Holy Bull.

“I’d try to lengthen him out a bit and give him some more scope with the mares,” Fernung said.

Fernung said Circular Quay has really taken to his new home and should be quite an addition to Marion County’s roster of stallions.

“He loves it here,” Fernung said. “He’s a very easy horse to get along with. If you go out in the paddock and whistle, he comes running to you like a dog. He’s a smart horse. We’re getting quite a bit of response to him. We have people come out and look at him almost every day.”