Independent Bloodstock Agent Armando Duarte & MM Stables Racing Manager Talks Horses 2022

Hi Craig there is a few words like you asked. 

2021 was a good year on the track for MMSTABLES, with ALENQUER winning at sandown derby trial G3 , then winning at royal ascot G2 then a gallant 2nd in G1 Judmonte International behind the highest rated racehorse in the world. 

What a day we had! Thanks for all kind messages, I still can’t believe it. Huge team effort from everyone @WilliamHaggas and my fantastic owners MMSTABLES. #skyisthelimit #alenquer pic.twitter.com/5yd2HvV7vW

— Armando duarte (@Armandoduarte14) June 19, 2021

Also we had a 2 year old I bought at the breeze ups for quite a bit of money named Maglev rated 102 before we sold him well at the horses in training October sales in Newmarket to America, and he since finished a great 2nd in a stakes race on his first start for his new connections and we wish them the best of luck with him.

💫 New stakes horse for GALILEO GOLD! 💫

Very good American debut for MAGLEV, a closing 2nd in the Eddie Logan Stakes.

Last year’s joint @GoffsUK Breeze-Up topper, he was smart for the William Haggas and was resold for 300,000gns to continue his career in California https://t.co/GlYuzs8RWX

— Tally-Ho Stud (@HoStud) January 3, 2022

Last year sales once again hard to buy but we manage to buy 2 yearlings even with a huge budget I had I only bought those 2. I could bought a lot more for the sake of it but I want to look after my clients and spend their money like was my own. Not a bad statistic having 2 horses in training and both being rated above 100 and stakes horses. 

At the sales last year, I bought a Fast Company colt at Doncaster premier sales for £80.000 and a Saxon warrior colt for £120.000 at Book 1 Tattersalls in Newmarket. 

I really like the Fast Company colt at the moment, he is doing everything very well and easy. Great mover and great head too. Hopefully he can make Royal Ascot. 

The Saxon Warrior first season runners but I like him too , easy mover but he will more backend season and 3 year old campaign in mind but he is doing everything we ask him. 

Both will go to William Haggas. 

We will keep you updated with the names of these two horses. 

Regarding plans for ALENQUER we haven’t made any plans for him, he's cantering steady at the moment. We hope he got stronger through the winter and improved too. He is already a good horse but if he could improve 2 lengths from 3 to 4 he could be very competitive at the highest level. There is some valuable races abroad so we have that in mind but also we would like him to win a G1 in UK then hopefully make him a stallion. 

Great times ahead . 

Regards, 

Armando

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Armandoduarte14 

M M Stables Pulling Clear of the Field with Armando Duarte

Owners M M Stables have done some astute business this year and even though it has been a challenging year with the coronavirus causing havoc everywhere racing manager Armando Duarte has been busy finding talented 2-year-olds to give owners M M Stables something to shout about, well from their own home for most of the time anyway. 

NIGHT ON EARTH was out first in a Windsor maiden when showing inexperience coming out the stalls and never involved. The Kodiac bay colt was purchased for 56,000 euros at the 2019 September Yearling Sales by M M Stables and is trained by Andrew Balding. Night On Earth's second run was totally different when champion jockey Oisan Murphy had Night On Earth out the stalls like a bat out of hell, and he never looked back, winning easily. 

Next was the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood when finishing down the field in a competitive race but I’m sure Night On Earth will be winning again this season. Next up is a horse I definitely don’t think we have seen the best of yet, JACINTH is a New Bay filly trained by William Haggas. M M Stables racing manager Armando Duarte purchased Jacinth at the 2020 Craven Breeze Up Sales for a cool 120,000 gns and started her career in a nice fillies maiden at Newbury when staying on into third place. Jacinth was again at Newbury for her next race when battling on well to again finish third against a nice Andrew Balding filly called Alcohol Free. I don’t think it will be long before we see Jacinth in the winners enclosure after two decent efforts so far this season. 

Another nice one for the Haggas yard is ALENQUER who was again purchased by Armando Duarte this time at the 2019 October Yearling Sales for 80,000 gns. The son of Adlerflug made his debut at Newbury and won in impressive fashion and in doing so won the £25,000 October Book 1 Bonus which was a great start for owners M M Stables. 

The next one will be a favourite of mine forever as I actually backed this Andrew Balding Buratino colt at 20/1. ROUND SIX was a £60,000 purchase by Armando Duarte and was given a nice introduction at Salisbury by David Probert when staying on without threatening the leaders that day. Round Six made no mistake next timeout at Kempton with Oisian Murphy taking over in the hot seat was quickly away and never looked back to win a shade cosily in the end. Interesting to see what Andrew Balding will do with Round Six next.

Round Six made all, landing today's opening contest in convincing style for @oismurphy and @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/JBsgofvLAs

— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) August 18, 2020

Armando Duarte says: 

I have been in this business for 20 years - a bloodstock agent and racing manager for M M Stables. I buy good horses for little money. In addition, I buy horses for Australia and HK. 

I bought this Unnamed Starspangledbanner colt Tattersalls Book 1 for £100.000 Sterling. 

He is a big strong horse but is taking time to come to hand. Mentally and physically he wasn't here. We gave him 2 weeks in the paddocks and he come back a different horse. 

Hopefully, he will go forward and run later in the year. However, he will see more next year. We like him enough at the moment.

He is in training with William Haggas. 

Also, I bought a Vadamos colt at Tattersalls book 1 for £120.000.  We like him a lot and he give him plenty of time to develop. 

He will be out in October if everything goes well. 

He is in training with Andrew Balding. 

Also, I bought this beautiful big well-bred colt Landing System at Tattersalls Craven breeze-up sales for £75.000. 

I like him a lot too. 

He is for next year but whatever he does this year will be a bonus. 

He is in training with Andrew Balding. 

M M STABLES are very nice people and successful operation. If the money is right, they sell horses too.

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