With phones ringing in the background, Southwind Farms' syndicate manager Mike Klau took some time to speak with Trot Insider in regard to the syndication of the great Muscle Hill, who is set to arrive at the farm's New Jersey location sooner than some may think
.
"He's being delivered tomorrow (Friday, October 30)," Klau explained to Trot Insider. "In terms of his arrival, we caught a break this year with the Breeders Crown being a month earlier than last year."
And how does a premier breeding farm get ready for delivery of such a premier to-be stallion? "Well, there is nothing about Muscle Hill which is run of the mill," Klau said, "but at the same time, just like all of our other stallions which have arrived at the farm, our main concern is to get them acclimated.
From everything that I have been told, Muscle Hill has shipped all over the United States and Canada like a true professional. Brian (driver Brian Sears) and Greg (trainer Greg Peck) have told me that he is a very intelligent horse and knows how to deal with the task at hand. I have a feeling that he is going to get himself acclimated very well."
Klau told Trot Insider that Southwind purchased a 25 per cent interest (30 shares, based on a $6 million price for the horse) in Muscle Hill after his win last November in the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot. He also said that 50 per cent of Muscle Hill has already been syndicated.
And as for the other 50 per cent of Muscle Hill, a total of 60 shares will be sold for $100,000 each based off of a now $12-million price tag for the masterful son of Muscles Yankee. Although at this point, according to Klau, obtaining one of those shares is an easier-said-than-done scenario.
"We've already got commitments for the rest of the shares," Klau told Trot Insider. "It's truly going to be an international syndication, with interests from Canada, the United States, Italy, Australia and Scandinavia."
In terms of the feeling at the farm as it waits in anticipation of such a sought-after stallion, Klau said that it is impossible to not be excited.
"This is the horse of a lifetime," he said. "It sounds cliché, but just having something to do with this horse has been an unbelievable experience. For us, him showing up at the farm tomorrow will be as exciting as when he was out there racing."
Klau said that once the horse is acclimated, tests of Muscle Hill's fertility will be conducted, the results of which should be known by mid-November.