by Dave Briggs / Ontario Racing
The excitement was palpable in new breeder Evan Sandhu’s voice as he spoke about how the Ontario Thoroughbred Improvement Program’s (TIP) Mare Purchase Program (MPP) helped him add three European-bred broodmares to Amplify Stables’ growing operation.
Sandhu purchased three mares via the MPP and will receive a total of $37,000 from the program, which has now allocated all $400,000 in its budget for the 2025-26 fall-winter sale season.
In 2022, Sandhu’s family purchased the former Ballycroy Bloodstock property in Loretto, ON and Amplify Stables was born. Sandhu has been steadily growing the business ever since.
“With my mental growth in the industry and learning about horses and where the breeding program is at the farm, it’s our first time [using the MPP program], and it’s not going to be our last time,” Sandhu said. “That’s primarily because it’s a very generous offering. Being able to buy mares and get 50% back is an incredible boost to a farm’s purchase program.”
The program helped 16 buyers acquire 23 in-foal mares to bring to Ontario to foal. The mares collectively sold for $1.724 million U.S., an average of just under $75,000 apiece. The MPP gave eligible applicants up to 50% of the purchase price to a maximum of $25,000 per mare.
At the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Sandhu purchased Girl on Film (FR) (above), an Dabirism (FR)–Pretty Paper (IRE) mare in foal to Oscar Performance for $30,000; Lady de Peron (GB), a Kingman (GB)–Madam President (GB) mare in foal to Up to the Mark for $20,000 and Sing me Home (GB), an Muhaarar (GB)–Smart Change mare in foal to Yaupon for $25,000. Sing me Home has had two previous foals. The other two mares are expecting their first foals.
“Some of my mentors, people like Dave Anderson, Glenn Sikura, Jesse Korona, and Terry Brooker, our farm manager, were all telling me that I have to upgrade our broodmare band,” Sandhu said. “So, we started looking and I said, ‘This is my budget’ and Jesse put me in touch with [TIP program coordinator] Ashley [Douglas], and Ashley told me, ‘We have funds available, and this is how it works.’ So, I give a lot of credit to Jesse and Ashley for this, because without them, I was thinking I could only spend maybe $40,000-$50,000… But, because of the generosity of Ontario Racing and the program, I was able to spend double what I was planning on spending at the November sale.”
Sandhu said he was looking more for turf blood than European mare, specifically.
“I think [the popularity of] turf [blood] is increasing like crazy,” he said, adding the acquisition was more about buying the strongest female lines he can afford.
At the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Evan Sandhu purchased Lady de Peron (GB), a Kingman (GB)–Madam President (GB) mare in foal to Up to the Mark for $20,000.
“I took a Warren Buffett approach where the book value has to be greater than market value. I know that [Lady de Peron sold] for $20,000, but she [sold as a yearling for] $345,000 U.S. dollars.
“Everybody wants to go out and have a safe bet, but we’re taking a riskier bet, and we’re saying, ‘We’re going to produce a racehorse. If somebody wants to pay us a fair price for it, fantastic. If not, we have no problem coming back here and running these horses ourselves,’” Sandhu said. “Some of these families are known to skip. Some of these mares didn’t run that well, but they have great siblings, they have great production, and they might go on to produce potential runners and winners of stakes. “
While he waits to see the foals from his new mares, Sandhu said he’s enjoying the ride of his family’s new horse racing adventure.
“My dad loves it because he has a background in agriculture,” Sandhu said. “He was one of the big directors for a multinational agriculture company back in India. He worked with farmers day to day, and this was kind of the genesis for how he wanted to get back on the farm. He loves it because it’s more of a hands-on approach, and it’s something you can see growing. From that perspective, it keeps you grounded, and you’re always humbled because you’re working with animals.”
Sandhu also purchased Sing me Home (GB), a Muhaarar (GB)–Smart Change mare in foal to Yaupon for $25,000.
