Month: February 2024

Punce Tops Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale

Pounce, a three-year-old daughter of Lookin At Lucky, topped the Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale, selling for $370,000 to John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock. The sale closed Tuesday evening with 116 horses sold for $4,308,800. The catalogue featured horses of racing age, breeding stock, and yearlings. Also featured in the catalogue were breeding stock and yearlings from Phase 1 of the Dispersal of Ruis Racing LLC. The 752 registered bidders were a new record for a single sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital.

PPounce was from the consignment of Highgate Sales, agent. Offered as a racing/broodmare prospect, Pounce is a winner at 2 and 3, on dirt and turf, and has earned $96,004 in just three career starts to date. She hails from the immediate family of two-time champion and millionaire Essence Hit Man.

“I'm happy we got her sold,” said Pounce's trainer Mark Casse. “I love these digital sales because this is a prime example for guys like us who buy and sell. It just works. When a horse runs well, that's what we do – we sell them. I've been fortunate to train some really good turf fillies and I think Pounce has the potential to be one.”

The remainder of the top five sold included:

  • Broodmare Salt Lake Candy (Hip 36), in foal to Not This Time, sold for $330,000 to PMP from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. A young unraced daughter of Candy Ride (ARG), Salt Lake Candy is a half-sister to the dams of dual Eclipse Champion Goodnight Olive and graded stakes winner Mohawk Trail. The foal she carries is bred on the same cross as Grade 1 winner Epicenter and Grade 2 winner Simplification.
  • Baroness Juliette (Hip 40), in foal to Cancun, sold for $270,000 to H. Albina, agent for Newtownanner, from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. The mare's second foal is recent Sam Davis S. (G3) (TAM) No More Time, currently 9th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
  • Antares (Hip 17), a four-year-old son of American Pharoah, sold for $210,000 to Willowbrook Stables, agent for Flying P Stable, from the consignment of Killora Stud LLC. Offered as a horse of racing age, Antares won two of his last three starts and has been on the board in six of nine career starts to date.
  • Sister Otoole (Hip 12), a daughter of Amira's Prince (IRE), sold for $190,000 to Willow Park Stud Scone from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, agent. A multiple stakes winner, five times graded stakes placed, Sister Otoole was offered as a broodmare prospect. Her half-sister Frosty O Toole (Frosted) provided a timely update with a good second in the Nellie Morse S. (LRL) on February 17. She is also a half-sister to the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Money from the immediate family of Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Well Armed and recent Grade 1 winners Cyberknife and Played Hard.

“The clearance rate (90%) was amazing, with rock solid action from top to bottom,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. “We have to thank our buyers and sellers for making this such a successful sale.”

Overall, 116 horses sold for $4,308,800, good for an average of $37,144. With 129 hips offered, the RNA rate was just 10%. More than 750 potential buyers registered to bid, a single-sale record for the platform.

Full results are available online.

The next Fasig-Tipton Digital sale will be the March Digital Sale, which opens for bidding on Thursday, March 7, and closes on Tuesday, March 12. Entries close on February 28. Call Leif Aaron at (859) 255-1555 to nominate or email laaron@fasigtipton.com. Nominations will also be accepted via the Client Portal.

 

The post Punce Tops Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Japanese Contingent In Fine Form Before The Saudi Cup

Japan's Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}), a winner of the 2022 G2 UAE Derby and last year's G3 Korea Cup, galloped over the dirt track in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in advance of a start in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup on Saturday. He is one of five Japanese horses in the world's richest race, which will go postward at 8:40 p.m. local time.

“We did a 1200m gallop on the dirt track today. He moved and accelerated well. We are happy,” Yohei Kotobuki, a stable representative, said of the G1 Champions Cup runner-up.

Also out for a spin, although in his case a canter, was 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic second Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) on Tuesday morning. The 2023 UAE Derby hero was just a length behind the re-opposing White Abarrio (Race Day) in that Santa Anita contest in November, his most recent race.

“He has recovered well from the travel and he is very fresh. Christophe Lemaire will ride his gallop tomorrow,” Masatoshi Segawa, a stable representative, said.

There was also a positive bulletin on 2023 Japanese Champion Dirt Horse Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid), who stretched his legs and jogged one lap on the dirt. A winner of both the Listed Mile Championship Nambu Hai and the G1 Champions Cup in October and December, respectively, the 6-year-old entire represents Godolphin and trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka.

“He has been getting familiarised with the new surroundings here and has eaten up very well. He cantered nicely and has been the same as how he is at home,” assistant trainer Toshihiko Hokari said.

Only fifth to Lemon Pop in the Champions Cup, multiple group winner Meisho Hario (Jpn) (Pyro) has been twice placed at the highest level, to fellow Saudi Cup hopeful and 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup victor Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the G1 Tokyo Daishoten, and to Lemon Pop once again in the G1 February S. last year. Connections reported he cantered 1 1/2 laps over the Riyadh dirt on Tuesday.

“He was a bit tired for a few days after his arrival but his condition has recovered a lot and he appears to be back to how he is. He will have a fast gallop on the dirt track tomorrow,” assistant trainer Atsushi Obayashi said.

The aforementioned Ushba Tesoro jogged a quarter mile and finished his training with a 1 1/4-mile canter on the dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Tuesday.

“He has been relaxed and getting used to the new surroundings since he has arrived. He has a great balance with his conformation and he looks great,” assistant trainer Masakazu Fukami said.

Besides the $20-million big dance, Japan is strongly represented in the undercard races, and GI Belmont S. winner Palace Malice's half-brother Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) turned in a strong canter on Tuesday, as well. The 7-year-old will compete in Saturday's G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. over 3000 metres on the grass.

“He moved comfortably with lots left in his tank. He felt really good. He really enjoys his life here and he seems fit on the dirt surface even though he is a turf runner,” assistant trainer Shoritsu Kurono said.

A trio of Yoshito Yahagi runners were out for a gallop together on Tuesday: G2 Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint hopeful Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who is defending his title after taking the race in 2023; Red Sea Turf H. entrant Libyan Glass (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}); and undefeated G3 Saudi Derby runner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). Both Libyan Glass and Forever Young are first-time travelers.

“Libyan Glass travels overseas for the first time in his career and he has been settled because he is with other two horses,” assistant trainer Yusaku Oka said. “He is tuning up for the race and is very well.

“He [Bathrat Leon] showed great acceleration in the stretch. Hopefully he keeps good form until the race.”

Oka said of dual listed winner Forever Young, “As he did all he needed to before we brought him here, we had not asked him too much today.”

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Dual Grade III Winner First Captain to Brazil

MGSW First Captain (Curlin-America, by A.P. Indy) has been retired and will stand the 2024 Southern Hemisphere season at Stud Eternamente Rio in Brazil, according to Turf Diario. The 6-year-old, who arrived in Brazil Feb. 9, was acquired by a partnership that includes Stud Enternamente Rio, Stud Red Rafa and Stud H e R.

Bred by Bobby Flay, who also campaigned GSW America, the colt brought $1.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale in 2019. Flay retained a piece of the colt, who was ultimately raced by a partnership including West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm and Woodford Racing. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the chestnut won his first three career starts, including the GIII Dwyer S. and subsequently added an allowance win at Gulfstream and the GIII Pimlico Special S. later in the 2022 season. He also finished second in the GII Suburban S. and third in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. He retired with five wins from 11 career starts and earnings of $662,100.

 

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