TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/920057
"That's what I'm trying to do: perform at the top level with my horses," Weber said. "I would rather have fun with a bowl of cherries instead of with a bushel of what- ever. I want to keep the sport in its excel- lence and that's very hard to do, but I enjoy trying. It's hard to compete when you don't have the numbers, but I think I have a very nice group of horses right now. Obviously, I don't want to jinx myself, but I'm very ex- cited about World Approval, Victory to Vic- tory and a few of our other 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds. I'm just looking for a strong season. That would be just wonderful." The equine queen of the farm is retired 25-year-old broodmare Win Approval, a second-generation Live Oak blue hen whose influence is somewhat overlooked nationally because many of her offspring have been geldings. Win Approval has produced four millionaires: Miesque's Ap- proval (Miesque's Son), Revved Up (Sultry Song), World Approval (Northern Afleet) and Za Approval (Ghostzapper). Adding to Win Approval's sheen and speaking again to Weber's ability to contravene norms with panache, three of said seven-figure earners have been by commercially unpop- ular stallions, with the exception being Za Approval. "She's just a phenomenal mare," Weber said. "She's paid off and she's done all the hard work, really. She's enjoying herself now in the field with her boys. "There's nothing more exciting than get- ting up in the morning and going to the barn and seeing the horses," Weber con- tinued. "I love going to the winner's circle