Bouquetot Sires Shine at Arqana’s Final Session

Al Shaqab Racing’s Haras de Bouquetot featured heavily among the top lots on the fourth and final day of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville. Both the topper and next dearest lot were mares in foal to Bouquetot residents, and the co-highest-priced foal of the day was also by one of their growing roster of stallions

Lot 784, the Frankel (GB) mare Bursa (GB) in foal to G1 Prix Jacques le Marois hero Al Wukair (Fr) from the Bouquetot draft proper, commanded a session-topping €38,000 from Haras du Quesnay.

Out of a winning full-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), Bursa is also closely related to fellow Group 1 winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). She already has fillies on the ground by Bouquetot resident and MG1SW Ectot (GB) last year and Al Wukair this spring.

“I really like the mare, and the pedigree,” said Criquette Head of Bursa. “It’s a lovely Wertheimer family and it’s great to get into it. The mare corresponds to several of our stallions, but the choice doesn’t stop there.”

Windfield Bloodstock was in action for lot 711, Al Hamla (Medaglia d’Oro), who was also offered by Bouquetot. Knocked down for €27,000, the 8-year-old is carrying to G1 Prix Jean Prat victor Zelzal (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The resulting progeny would be her fifth foal. A daughter of GIII Locust Grove H. heroine Genuine Devotion (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), Al Hamla’s dam is a half-sister to Classic winner and Group 1 sire Mastercraftsman (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and G1 Moyglare Stud S. bridesmaid Famous (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

“She a beautiful mare by Medaglia d’Oro with a page–her dam is by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) and a sister to Mastercraftsman (Ire),” said Jean Biraben. “It’s a young pedigree that could turn something up.”

A pair of mares brought €22,000–Haras de la Louviere’s Perfect Day (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 643), herself a daughter of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), went to Morten Buskop Bloodstock; while Agence BHB shelled out the same amount for lot 722, Haigoa (Fr) (Diktat {GB}). The former is in foal to Group 1 sire Galiway (GB) on a May 17 cover. Ectot is the covering sire of record for Haras du Berlais consignee Haigoa, a half-sister to G2 Premio Ribot scorer King Air (Fr) (Kingsalsa).

Al Wukair, Ectot and Zelzal all have their first juveniles running in 2021.

It was a two-way tie for most expensive foal of the day, with Meridian International striking first at €22,000 for a filly by Birchwood (Ire) (lot 676) out of Bourgeauville (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}). Hailing from the Ecurie d’Auge draft, the bay’s second dam won at listed level in France.

“She’s a pretty filly [by] Birchwood, out of a Le Havre dam,” said Ghislain Bozo. “I think that Birchwood is a promising sire. His offspring are already pleasing their trainers, with good minds and look early types. I’m a fan.”

Equaling that price later in the session was a grey son of the aforementioned Al Wukair out of Green Media (Fr) (Green Tune) from La Motteraye Consignment. Lot 716 attracted the attention of Haras du Saubouas and is from the extended family of G1 French 2000 Guineas hero Style Vendome (Fr) (Anabaa).

From a statistical standpoint, Tuesday’s session sported a 78.44% clearance rate (up over 12% compared to 2019), with 131 sold of 167 for a gross of €839,500. The average was €6,408 (-66.13%) and the median also dropped to €4,500 (-55%). In 2019, Arqana’s final session was a mix of Flat and National Hunt horses. This year, due to COVID-19, the sessions contained fewer lots in order to meet pandemic restrictions, with all of the National Hunt breeding stock moved to the Nov. 19 Arqana National Hunt Breeding Stock Sale instead.

Overall, the clearance rate remained a bright spot throughout the sale, and moved up two points to 79.12% for 557 sold from 704 offered. The gross was €25,0284,500, while the median and average were €17,000 (-10.52%) and €45,394 (-7.85%), respectively.

Topping the buyers’ sheets was Meridian International, which bought 14 head for €1,448,000. Shadai Farm was next with €930,000 for a pair of lots, while Blandford Bloodstock bought nine for a gross of €902,000. Wertheimer et Frere were in front on the consignors’ table, selling 24 horses for a gross of €3,353,000, closely followed by Ecurie des Monceaux for €3,141,000 for 29 lots. Third on the vendors list was Haras d’Etreham which sold 26 lots for €1,748,000.

At the end of the four-day sale, Arqana President Eric Hoyeau and Executive Director Freddy Powell said, “The Breeding Stock Sale is a perfect reflection of the overall results for this year. The figures display a decrease of around 20% in sales volume, with the average falling by 15% but still remaining solid given the particular global context. We are relieved that all the efforts that we have made to mitigate the constraints imposed by Covid–from the development of Arqana Online to the more general aspects including inspection videos and chartering flights for our foreign clients–have borne fruit.

“However, these efforts would have been in vain without the help of the local authorities, with whom we have worked very closely to ensure that the sales could take place, as well as all of the players involved: all the consignors and buyers, who showed remarkable adaptability and complied with the protocols imposed by the health crisis, all the Arqana teams, the ground staff who worked to make the establishment as welcoming as possible despite the restrictions, Henri Morel and his teams who succeeded in completely rethinking their catering to continue satisfying the clientele, as well as all the European sales agencies that we worked with to arrange the sale dates in order to meet the needs of the sector.

“We would like to thank them all for their efforts and their contribution to the functioning of the market. It has been difficult in many ways, and this year has been marked by a great spirit of solidarity and resilience.”

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Champion Midnight Bisou Arrives At Hill ‘N’ Dale Farm; Will Be Bred To Curlin

Eclipse champion Midnight Bisou, the richest North American distaffer of all time with earnings of $7,471,520, arrived at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa today and will be bred to two-time Horse of the Year and champion sire Curlin.

Never out of the money in any of her 22 career starts for co-owners Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC., the well-traveled mare raced at 10 tracks and was awarded an Eclipse Award in 2019 as champion older dirt female.

Her Grade 1 victories came in the Santa Anita Oaks, the Cotillion Stakes, the Apple Blossom Handicap, the Ogden Phipps Stakes, and the Personal Ensign Stakes.

Her sire, two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute, currently ranks eighth on the Blood-Horse general sire list with earnings of over $7.5 million, according to the TDN.

“Midnight Bisou was a mare with extraordinary ability,” said Hill 'n' Dale president John G. Sikura. “We are honored that the owner has entrusted us with her care.”

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Camacho Filly Leads the Way at Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK—Whether in situ or online, breeders from all over the world ensured that the Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale got off to a promising start, with a 90% clearance rate helped by plenty of action from internet bidders.

The dispersal of Lady Rothschild’s Waddesdon Stud had led to a buoyant session on this day last year, so markers were down 12 months on, but there was still a healthy level of activity, with 12,292,200gns traded for 243 fillies and mares. The median dipped by 14% at 30,000gns and the average of 50,585gns was down 31%.

With so many potential buyers prevented from travelling this year, confidence in online bidding has grown throughout the sales year, as has the quality of visual and veterinary information made available by vendors. On Monday, 614 bids were accepted over the internet on 164 horses, with 45 sold in that manner to 27 different buyers.

For the session’s top lot, determined plays were made in person from a number of interested parties, and it was the promise of emerging talent that brought a final bid of 410,000gns. The juvenile filly Aunty Bridy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), who has run just three times this season for a maiden win and a runner-up finish in the G3 Weld Park S. under the tutelage of Jim Bolger, may well continue her career on the other side of the Atlantic, having been bought for an American-based owner by Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock. The young agent had stiff competition from fellow bidders Michel Zerolo and Andreas Putsch before finally landing his catch.

“She could stay here or she may go to America, it’s undecided as of yet,” said Haggas of lot 1453. “She’s a good-looking filly and her form is good. She’s by a prolific sire of fillies, so fingers crossed there’s more to come.”

Bred by Karis Bloodstock and Rathbarry Stud, Aunty Bridy raced in the colours of David Granville this season, achieving a rating of 103. She is the best offspring to date of her winning dam Benedicte (Ire), a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to G1 Middle Park S. winner Amadeus Wolf (GB) (Mozart {Ire}).

Northern Front

Understandably, there are some notable international visitors missing from Park Paddocks this week but Shingo Hashimoto, manager of international affairs for Northern Farm, has made the trip from Japan and signed up a well-credentialed young mare for Katsumi Yoshida’s operation from the first half of the Juddmonte draft.

Calming Effect is an unraced daughter of War Front and four-time Grade I winner Emollient, whose sire Empire Maker spent five seasons at the JBBA’s Shizunai Stallion Station on Hokkaido. Sold as lot 1379 with a March cover to Frankel (GB), she leapt to the head of the table after Hashimoto was pushed to 400,000gns to secure the 4-year-old.

“She has very good conformation and she is in foal to Frankel, who is a champion for us. She will be a very good match for our stallions,” said Hashimoto.

Calming Effect’s year-younger full-sister Peace Charter was third to Albigna (Ire) in last season’s G2 Airlie Stud S. after winning her maiden on debut for Ger Lyons. Since 2017, their dam has visited Frankel in three consecutive seasons.

Frankel’s first winner at the highest level was recorded in Japan when Soul Stirring (Jpn) won the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in 2016. He has also been represented in the country by the G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Mozu Ascot.

There were further purchases by Japanese breeders made online, including from Big Red Farm, the buyer of Perfect Note (GB) (Shamardal)  (lot 1318), who is in foal to Frankel’s son Cracksman (GB) and was bought for 85,000gns. JS Company signed up the beautifully bred Godolphin mare Blue Illusion (GB) (lot 1279), a 6-year-old daughter of Dubawi (Ire) and dual Classic winner Blue Bunting (Dynaformer). That’s a lot of pedigree, plus an in-utero foal by Territories (Ire), for 55,000gns.

Juddmonte Jewels

We’ll be hearing more about Juddmonte on Wednesday when the remainder of the draft sells, but its first batch of in-foal mares also provided some early highlights of the opening day when a Kingman (GB) mare in foal to Frankel (GB), followed by a Frankel mare in foal to Kingman brought two six-figure returns.

Kingman’s dual winner Desirous (GB) (lot 1260) was another of the Juddmonte draft in foal to Frankel for the first time, and the daughter of G1 Matron S. winner Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}), is now in the ownership of a different Saudi Arabian breeder, having been bought for 220,000gns by Tom Blain of Barton Stud, who was acting on behalf of his client Faisal Bin Mishref Al Qahtani.

“She’s from a great family and was a good race mare herself,” Blain said. “Faisal Mishref has been a loyal supporter of mine and of Barton Stud for a number of years now. We started off buying slightly lesser mares and we built it up through good sales at the yearling sales. Now it’s time to buy a few proper ones and get him set up with a good broodmare band.”

He added, “She’s by Kingman and in foal to Frankel and we paid just over the nomination fee. She was rated 88 and is a good physical. Personally I think it’s a good buy so I am delighted for him.”

A few lots earlier (lot 1252), the roles were flipped when Frankel’s daughter Amser (GB), a half-sister to Group 1 winners Passage Of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar), sold in foal to Kingman for 160,000gns.

The 6-year-old will be making her way to America after being bought for owner-breeder Scott Heider by agent Ted Durcan.

He said of the daughter of Clepsydra (GB) (Sadler’s Wells, “She’s a lovely walking mare from an unbelievable family. It’s a hard family to buy into so we’re all delighted. I liaised with Mr. Heider’s racing manager Tony Lacy, and David Lanigan also was involved. She’s the mare we all loved. Scott had her high up on his list.”

Job Done For Fahy

Another breeder to tap into some Juddmonte blood and take home another of Clepsydra’s daughters was Irishman Frank Fahy of Gerrardstown House Stud, who purchased Mechanism (GB) (Zamindar), the full-sister to G1 Falmouth S. winner Timepiece (lot 1378). The 7-year-old was sold for 200,000gns in foal to Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn (GB).

Minutes later, Fahy went to 210,000gns for the sole mare in foal to Triple Crown winner Justify in the catalogue. The listed-placed Golconda (Fr) (lot 1386), a daughter of Planteur (Ire), raced in France and America and is carrying her first foal.

Her new owner said, “It’s a rare cover this side of the world. We will be sending her to somebody local. We will get her home and settle her in and hope she has a nice Justify foal. After that it is in the lap of the gods.”

Fahy added, “We came over to buy two mares and we bought two on the first day, so we can go home now. The pressure is off.”

The Dream Continues

Oasis Dream (GB) has enjoyed a good season as a broodmare sire, notably through Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo Ire}) and Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), and his 4-year-old daughter Firelight (GB) will be joining the select broodmare band of Graham Smith-Bernal after being bought on his behalf by Jill Lamb for 330,000gns.

Sold as lot 1334 with a first covering to former European champion 3-year-old Almanzor (Fr), the 100-rated dual winner was bred by George Strawbridge. Her dam Freedom’s Light (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) won the Listed Pontefract Castle S. and is out of a half-sister to the influential Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

“She ticked a lot of boxes: she was a good race filly, a beautiful looker, and she is in foal to Almanzor, and I really liked his yearlings, they were good, solid horses,” said Lamb.

Smith-Bernal, who now has four mares which board at Newsells Park Stud, has already enjoyed some commercial success with a daughter of Oasis Dream bred on the same cross after selling a Sea The Stars colt out of Nadia Glory (GB) last week for 170,000gns.

“Maybe we’ll look to go down that route again, if they will have us,” the agent added.

Magic Touch

It’s Magic (Ire) (lot 1311) was consigned by Baroda Stud for Coolmore and she will return to David Cox’s farm after being bought by a Middle East breeder for 260,000gns through BBA Ireland. The unraced Galileo (Ire) half-sister to Mukhadram (GB) (Shamardal) is in foal for the first time at the age of three to Ten Sovereigns (Ire).

“We all know what Galileo can do as a sire and he is just as good as a broodmare sire. It’s a very tough family and she’s a nice mare with an attractive cover,” said BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe.

“He’s been bought for a client in the Middle East who boards a few mares at Baroda Stud, so she will be going back there. We’ll foal her down and maybe think about sending her to Siyouni. That’s been a cross that has worked well this year.”

Along with Mukhadram, It’s Magic has his fellow Group 1 winners Mastery (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) and Kirklees (Ire) (Jade Robbery) close up in her familiy as half-siblings to her dam Magic Tree (UAE) (Timber Country). Her full-sister Just So (Ire) was sold for 160,000gns at last year’s December Sale, and the yearling filly and colt foal out of Magic Tree are also both by Galileo.

Lush Life To Lynn Lodge

Lush Life (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a four-time winner and half-sister to the dam of the brilliant dual Guineas winner Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), will join the broodmare band of Eddie O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud after Mags O’Toole went to 230,000gns for the grey mare (lot 1396).

Now five, she is in foal for the first time to Churchill (Ire). Her dam Break Of Day (Favorite Trick), a granddaughter of G1 Prix Morny winner Ancient Regime (Olden Times), has produced six winners, the best of them being the Wokingham S. winner Laddies Poker Two (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}). Along with Winter, Laddies Poker Two is also the dam of listed winner and Group 2 runner-up Lovelier (Ire), another daughter of Galileo. Winter has herself spent some time in Japan since her retirement from racing with four Group 1 victories to her name, and she has a yearling filly from the final crop of Deep Impact (Jpn) and a filly foal by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn).

Hayes Returns To Familiar Line

With 52 lots sold on Monday for just over 2 million gns, Godolphin was the dominant vendor and its draft was headed by Donnybrook (Ire) (lot 1430), a 3-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit (Ire)  who won on her second start for John Gosden last year.

Brendan Hayes of Knocktoran Stud was the successful bidder, on behalf of his son Jonathan, at 240,000gns, and it is a family they know well. Donnybrook’s dam Mayhem was bred at Kilfrush Stud and raced in the French Classic-winning colours of Anne-Marie Hayes before being sent to stud under the ownership of the Mayhem Syndicate, which bred Donnybrook and sold her to Godolphin at Arqana’s August Sale for €900,000. The following year her half-sister Sky Angel (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire), was also sold at Arqana to Godolphin for €800,000 and she has been placed twice in four starts this year for Charlie Appleby.

Drafts from the big owner-breeder operations give a chance to breeders to invest at all levels of the market and Greg Saveall-Green, an owner with Marco Botti, made his first solo foray into breeding with the purchase of the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Cape Liberty (Ire) from Godolphin for 1,000gns.

Sold as lot 1281, the 5-year-old, who was a winner at three for Simon Crisford and rated 78, already has a colt foal by Teofilo (Ire) on the ground but did not get in foal to Ribchester (Ire) this year. From an active family which includes dual Group 1 winner Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), Cape Liberty will board with James and Amelia Gray at Elusive Bloodstock in Lincolnshire.

“I’ve had bits of mares before but this is my first purchase on my own,” said Saveall-Green.

“I’ve been following bloodstock for many years, especially the December Sales, but never really had the nerve to go it alone. The bloodstock world is a daunting place at times, but with the recent move towards more information being available online—the videos, reports etc.—it’s easier to research everything from home.”

Regarding Cape Liberty’s likely partner for next year, he added, “I haven’t made a final decision yet but she may go to Aclaim (Ire).”

The final lot through the ring on Monday was the 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) (lot 1504), who exited unsold at 95,000gns.

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Book Three Concludes at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale’s two-session Book 3 section concluded with another day of steady trade Friday in Lexington. Bill Betz made the day’s highest bid, going to $270,000 late in the day to acquire the racing/ broodmare prospect Divine Queen (Divine Park) from the Trackside Farm consignment. The mare was one of four to bring $200,000 or more during the session. While only 292 of the 401 catalogued head went through the ring Friday, 235 sold for a buy-back rate of just 19.52%.

Through the two Book 3 sessions, Keeneland sold 462 head for $26,185,000. The average was $56,677–down just slightly from last year’s figure of $57,032–and the median of $42,000 dipped 6.7% from $45,000 a year ago. Fifteen horses sold for $200,000 or more during Book 3.

During last year’s Book 3 section, 499 head sold for $28,459,200. The book’s top price was $325,000 and there were nine offerings who sold for $200,000 or more.

“It was a lot better than I anticipated,” Summerfield’s Francis Vanlangendonck said of the November market. “For the babies, it’s been really, really good. The weanlings sold much better today than earlier in the week. Yesterday we averaged about 80 showings per weanling for horses we were selling today. The buyers were pretty aggressive. It seems like for these lower-valued weanlings there is a world of people wanting to buy. With people worried about what the markets were going to be like, there were a lot of scratches. Those well-conformed weanlings that vetted good sold really well. Even some that had issues are starting to sell. I looked at the outs, so by the time we got to the sales ring, I knew where we were. I knew there would be a market, but thought it would be a little timid… when the supply started lowering, I felt we might do OK. Even with the mares I thought they did well. We sold every horse we put through the ring. We had gotten beaten up pretty good in September and October and we were having to sell to make sure we had money for stud fees and to keep going.”

Reiley McDonald of Eaton Sales said there was still demand for the right type of mares and weanlings.

“The mares that are legitimate, there are buyers here for them and Book 3 has still been good,” McDonald said. “There are horses that just have holes in them, they are a little old or the foals don’t vet right, there is no market for those. The weanling buyers are not putting up with any veterinary flaws. That always happens in a tight market. If you jump through the hoops–you’re a nice physical and you’re clean–then you will get as much here as you will for a yearling. There is money out there and people get hungry. Everybody gets shuffled back by the earlier higher-priced horses and get hungry in Books 3 and 4 because the pinhookers make their living reselling the foals.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Wednesday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Divine Score for Bradley

Bill Betz struck late to secure Divine Queen (Divine Park) (hip 1764) for a session-topping $270,000 Friday at Keeneland, signing for the mare in the name of Avout Bloodstock. Tom Evans’s Trackside Farm consigned the 5-year-old racing or broodmare prospect on behalf of co-owner/breeder and trainer Buff Bradley.

“We bred her, foaled her, raised her and raced her and we just sold her,” said Bradley. “Pretty much like we did [two-time sprint champion] Groupie Doll. We were very excited to race this filly and then sell her as a mare and know she was going to go somewhere good.”

Racing for Bradley and co-breeder Carl Hurst, Divine Queen won the 2019 Open Mind S. and 2018 Dogwood S. She won six of 23 starts for earnings of $339,344.

“She had a lot of class,” Bradley said. “She showed it in the ring, walking up here, she’s just all class. And a very sound race mare. Never once did she have a problem. I think we are very proud of that. We bred a nice, sound racehorse.”

From the same family, Bradley and Hurst bred stakes winner and graded placed Queen’s Award (Medaglia d’Oro), a half-sister to Divine Queen, and also bred and campaigned multiple graded winner The Player (Street Hero), who is out of a half-sister to both mares.

“We have a lot of the family and we have to keep the cash flow going and get ready for the young ones coming along,” Bradley said of the decision to sell the mare.

Of the mare’s session-topping final price, Bradley said, “It was a bit more than what we were thinking, but we’re very happy with it.”

Gottahaveaholiday to Coteau Grove

Bloodstock agent Andrew Cary remained busy buying mares for the account of Keith and Ginger Myers’s Coteau Grove Friday at Keeneland, going to $240,000 to acquire the broodmare prospect Gottahaveaholiday (Harlan’s Holiday). The 6-year-old got a big update when her juvenile half-sister Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief) won the GI Frizette S. and finished second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last week.

“The update is just huge,” Cary said after signing the ticket on the mare, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. “That filly ran such an amazing race in the Breeders’ Cup and winning the Frizette. It gives us a nice filly to root for next year.”

Gottahaveaholiday was purchased by Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable for $230,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She finished second six times in 10 starts.

“The mare was gorgeous,” Cary continued. “She was an expensive yearling herself. We will breed her to a really nice stallion and have options moving forward.”

As the November sale continued through Book 3, Cary said there was still plenty of competition.

“There are still a lot of top agents and buyers here,” he said. “It’s been that way throughout the sale. You just have to follow them up and some you get and some you don’t. You just hope you land on the right number on some of them. We got outbid on probably 10 horses yesterday. It’s very competitive for these kind of long-term mares. There is a lot of competition for those and it bodes well for the bloodstock industry down the road.”

Cary has signed for 11 mares on behalf of the Lousiana-based Coteau Grove Farms for a total of $3,195,000. His purchases are led by a pair of $500,000 acquisitions: Miss Hot Legs (Verrazano) (hip 66) and Contributing (hip 958).

Nyquist Colt Joins Pinhooking Partnership

Headley Bell purchased a colt by Nyquist for $225,000 and the weanling (hip 1586) is part of a pinhooking partnership he has been busy buying for at the Keeneland November sale.

“I liked that he was an athlete and I liked the family,” Bell said. “And obviously we like Nyquist. It’s hard to ignore the start he has made. We put together a partnership and we are just trying to put some athletes in the bucket and see if we can get lucky.”

The chestnut is out of the unraced Senorita Corredora (El Corredor)–a $150,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2010–and he is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed Holiday’s Angel (Harlan’s Holiday). Bred by Gary and Anne Smith’s Elm Racing and Mulholland Springs, the weanling was consigned by Mulholland Springs.

“The sire is obviously doing well with the Breeders’ Cup winner [Vequist],” said John Mulholland. “It all fell into place. The colt vetted well and presented himself well, and we had all the right buyers on him. We bred him in partnership with some clients of ours, Gary and Ann Smith of Elm Racing. I actually bought the mare for the Smiths as a yearling and she got a tendon injury and never made it to the races. She was a breeze or two away from running. They have raced all the foals and want to do more racing, perhaps claim some horses or buy some 2-year-olds, and that is why we went ahead and sold the mare and the foal. Happily, I found another client to buy the mare and keep her on the farm, which makes me happy.”

Bell has purchased six weanlings at the Keeneland November sale for the partnership under the name Sycamore. In addition to hip 1586, he purchased a filly by Constitution (hip 1688) for $140,000; a filly by Distorted Humor (hip 1663) for $105,000; a filly by Mendelssohn (hip 1545) for $100,000; a colt by Malibu Moon (hip 408) for $90,000; and a filly by First Samurai (hip 1511) for $70,000.

“We feel like there is potential opportunity,” he said. “We’ll see. Coming into the sale, we thought it might be somewhat depressed, but I don’t feel that it is at all, to be honest with you.”

Weanling-to-yearling pinhookers have come up against plenty of competition from end-users at this week’s Keeneland November sale, particularly from Larry Best’s OXO Equine, which has purchased eight foals.

“For Larry Best to come into the weanling market as strong as he is, he is obviously very competitive and makes it tough,” Bell said. “But listen, we are all trying to do the same thing.”

Practical Joke Weanlings Prove Popular

A pair of weanlings by young Coolmore sire Practical Joke set the pace for foal prices early in Friday’s session of the Keeneland November sale. Brian Graves of Gainesway went to $185,000 to acquire a colt by the Grade I winner (hip 1512) from the Eaton Sales consignment. Bred by Forging Oaks, the pinhooking prospect is a half-brother to multiple graded winner Secret Gypsy (Sea of Secrets).

“I bought Practical Joke as a yearling, so if anybody was going to be inspired to stretch for them a little bit, it’s me,” Graves said. “They’ve all been well-balanced, good movers and athletic. You’ve got to believe in Into Mischief and Practical Joke has a good chance. Hopefully, he will come out with some early runners and we’ll be in good shape.”

Graves purchased Practical Joke for $135,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January sale and resold him for $240,000 at that year’s Keeneland September sale. The stallion, whose first foals are yearlings, won the GI Champagne S., GI H. Allen Jerkens S. and GI Hopeful S.

“I was happy with the price,” Eaton Sales’ Reiley McDonald said of the transaction. “He is a really nice physical horse and those can go for anything above what you’re expecting when they are that good. His sire has been doing well, with one a couple hips before him that also sold well. He was the best horse we had physically.”

Just a few hips before Graves made his purchase, Larry Best’s OXO Equine went to $150,000 to acquire a filly by Practical Joke (hip 1510) from the Brookdale Sales consignment. The chestnut filly is out of the unraced Miss Prytania (Eskendereya), a half-sister to graded winners Medal Count (Dynaformer) and Garden District (Dixie Union). She was bred by J.R. Ward Stables.

Graves agreed the weanling market has been very competitive this week in Lexington.

“I am not shocked,” he said of the strong weanling market. “Everybody saw there were fewer on offer and maybe the nice ones that have come through have been fewer and farther between. The laws of supply and demand take over.”

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