When James Moss went looking for an early flagbearer for his fledgling Tricolours Racing and Syndications business at last year's Melbourne's August Thoroughbred Sale, his expectations were to find a horse capable of showing up at midweek meetings in Sydney.
At that stage, Tricolours, which had been active at the yearling sales, was less than 12 months old and Moss's clients were keen on finding a horse that could provide them with some fun at the track while their then early 2-year-olds were given time to develop.
He returned with two ex-Godolphin fillies, Pecans (Skilled) and Ticked (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), spending $76,000 combined.
"I purchased Pecans and Ticked at that sale thinking that both of those horses were capable to race on a Wednesday and possibly win on a Saturday." - James Moss
"At that stage, my business was very new and we only had yearlings. I just wanted to get some horses that could make the grade in Sydney. I purchased Pecans and Ticked at that sale thinking that both of those horses were capable to race on a Wednesday and possibly win on a Saturday," Moss told TDN AusNZ.
Fifteen months and nine starts later, Pecans is now a triple stakes-winning mare for Tricolours and trainer Joe Pride and goes into Saturday's G3 Festival S. at Rosehill as favourite to add a fourth black-type success.
"She's gone to a new level under Joe and she obviously appreciates what Joe has been doing with her," Moss said.
"She's gone to a new level under Joe." - James Moss
"She's one of those mares that is so progressive. She just seems to want to improve. She raced through the benchmark races so impressively and she's kept jumping up into Group company."
"We are really, really over the moon with what she has done so far."
James Moss
More syndication success
Pecans' success for her syndicators parallels the more high-profile cases of Redzel (Snitzel), Extra Brut (Domesday) and Aristia (Lonhro) in recent months, shining a light on the opportunities for small-time owners to experience big-time success.
For Moss, it was a need to sell that dream which led him to the decision to go and buy a couple of tried horses in the first place.
"No-one came in with the expectations that we were buying a group mare by any stretch of the imagination," he said.
A good buy
At $50,000, Moss felt she was a good buy even as a possible broodmare prospect.
Out of stakes winner Walnut (Procol Harum {NZ}), she is a half-sister to listed winner Secession (Lonhro) and had seven starts for Godolphin for a single win. Moss saw some potential.
"She was the last foal of the mare. It's a really nice family, so I thought in buying her, and the price I paid for her, she would have worked out as a broodmare anyway. Anything she might do on the track might increase her value," he said.
A group of Tricolours owners enjoying a day out at the Snake Gully Cup
"Obviously, Joe has got a great record of improving horses that are handed to him. I thought she'd be a perfect fit for him. I guess they (Godolphin) have got so many horses and you can’t keep them all."
"At that stage, it might have been a bit early for her, she hadn’t really reached her mark yet. She's certainly improved in condition since we bought her. She's a really big strong mare and a really impressive type now."
"She's certainly improved in condition since we bought her. She's a really big strong mare and a really impressive type now." - James Moss
Moss said a good performance on Saturday would see her head to the G2 Villers on December 15. Loftier goals are in the works for next campaign, including the G1 Coolmore Classic.
"She's just such a pleasure for Joe to have in the stables. She's easy to train. She's very consistent and honest, much like her racing pattern. It's frightening to think she may improve again, if she does, she is going to be very competitive in whatever she races in," he said.
Busy time for Tricolours
Aside from Pecans, things are busy for Moss and Tricolours. There are 12 horses in work with various trainers around the country, including a strong crop of six 2-year-olds bought at various sales this year, of which Moss has high expectations.
He is already preparing for the 2019 sales season and heads off on Monday to conduct yearling inspections in the Hunter Valley for four days with his vet Dr Chris Lawler, who he sees as a crucial part of the future success of his business.
Pecans
"It comes down to value. I don’t try to spend a lot. Being an early syndicator, I have to work twice as hard as anyone else to find horses that are the right price and the right horse. I rely heavily on the influence of my vet, Dr Lawler. If they don’t get past him then we won’t bid on them," he said.
"I'm trying to find sound horses at the right price. That probably means I buy less horses than everyone else at the sales, but the ones I do buy are at the right price, they are the right type of horse and that has been proven so far with the yearlings we have bought."
