Tag: horse sales

Strong Results Continue at Keeneland November

By Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis

LEXINGTON, KY – The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continued with strong demand during a lively session of bidding Thursday in Lexington. The auction's first of two Book 2 sessions concluded with both average and median up and the buy-back rate down from the corresponding session in 2020.

“Incredible,” Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said of Thursday's action. “It was a really vibrant market again today. I think people were a little frustrated in buying, but we had a lot of happy sellers. I think it is a really encouraging market as we move forward.”

During Thursday's first Book 2 session, 344 head sold for $88,500,000. The session average was $167,549–up 19.2% from the corresponding 2020 figure–while the median of $130,000 was up 30%. The buy-back rate was 24.56%, down from 29.04% a year ago.

“The RNA rate was really healthy,” Lacy said. “The median and average were well up. We are extremely happy and it bodes well for the rest of the sale as we move into the middle market.”

A weanling colt by Justify (Hip 305) brought the top price of Thursday's session when selling to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier for $625,000. Streak of Luck (Old Fashioned) was the day's top-priced mare, selling for $620,000 to Aaron and Marie Jones, LLC.

There were five offerings to sell for $500,000 or over during the session, matching the figure from the auction's first Book 2 section a year ago.

“Foals were incredibly strong,” Lacy said. “There were a lot of frustrated pinhookers out there trying to buy. There were a lot of end users participating in the market today for foals. Young mares bred on an early cover to a popular sire were extremely popular.”

The competitive November results can be traced back to the strong yearling market, according to Hunter Simms of Warrendale Sales.

“It's strong, selling and buying,” Simms said of the November market. “You lead one up here and think you know what it is going to bring, but you are paying a premium no matter what. It happened across town, it's happening here. I think September led into it a little bit. Breeders need to spend that money before the end of the year for tax purposes.”

The September sale also gave breeders the confidence to reinvest in mares, Keeneland's Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said.

“The September market was so strong that it really validated commercial breeders and gave them, in a lot of cases, the ability to reinvest,” Breathnach said. “You know sometimes there were large amounts of money spent on yearlings out of older mares or mares that had not been the A-list type. We saw the strength of the yearling market all the way through the last day. Even Book 4 mares were profitable in some cases this year. [Breeders] can buy with a bit more confidence.”

Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock was seeing strength at all levels of the November market.

“It is wonderful to see,” Ryan said. “There is vibrance from top to bottom. There is no soft spot in this market. It is tremendous. It started out incredibly strong at Fasig-Tipton and it has continued into Keeneland.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 19 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Coolmore Strikes For Regally Bred Justify Colt

When Hip 305 stepped into the ring, it was like looking at a miniature version of his sire, undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify. Those good looks combined with his equally stunning pedigree inspired a fast and furious round of bidding and when the hammer fell, it was no surprise to find Coolmore's M.V. Magnier left holding the $625,000 ticket. Consigned by Lane's End, the weanling colt was bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm.

“He is a really nice horse,” Magnier said. “In fairness to Jane Lyon and everyone at Summer Wind, they are very good breeders. We have had a lot of luck with the family before. I think we have about 11 or 12 Justifys going into Ballydoyle next year. They look like they are a very special group of horses. Everybody seems to be very high on them from Paul Shanahan to Dermot Ryan to Aidan O'Brien. They are just a very exciting bunch of horses to look forward to next year. The pedigrees they have, the physiques they have, just everything about them.”

The flashy chestnut colt was the most expensive horse sold during Thursday's session and the most expensive weanling colt of the sale thus far, following Wednesday's $800,000 Frankel (GB) filly.

“He is by one of the best horses we have seen in America for a very long time and then has Moonshine Memories and everything [on the bottom side],” Magnier said when asked if the final price was what he expected. “A horse bred like that and with the physique he has deserved to make [that money].”

Hip 305, who was given the name Just Before Dawn by his breeder, is from the second crop of Justify, whose progeny has been well received at auctions over the past two years. The Coolmore stallion was represented by a $1.55 million colt at the Keeneland September Sale and has had four weanlings sell thus far at November for $1.33 million.

“Justify was such a good racehorse,” said Magnier. “We have a huge amount of faith in him. He is making super strong horses and they all seem to be good movers. The lads at home are just breaking them in now and they all seem to be easy to deal with, so it is going to be a very exciting year next year.”

Lyon privately purchased the colt's second dam, SW Evil Elaine (Medieval Man) the day before her son Favorite Trick (Phone Trick) won the 1997 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, clinching an Eclipse Award and Horse of the Year honors in the process. Hip 305's dam Unenchantedevening (Unbridled's Song) was the final foal out of Evil Elaine and joined Lyon's broodmare band after making seven starts, which included a maiden win.

Unenchantedevening's first foal was SW & GSP Indian Evening (Indian Charlie) and a few foals later she produced SP Mo for the Money (Uncle Mo). She followed that colt with her most significant produce to date, 'TDN Rising Star' Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon). Acquired by Coolmore and Bridlewood Farm for $650,000 at FTSAUG, Moonshine Memories became the first Grade I winner bred by Summer Wind with a victory in the GI Del Mar Debtutante S. and followed that with a win in the GI Chandelier S. The bay summoned $3.4 million from West Bloodstock carrying a foal by Into Mischief at Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

Lyon retained Moonshine Memories' now-3-year-old full-sister More Moonshine, who was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' after an impressive debut at Saratoga in July. Their dam is expecting a Tapit foal in 2022.

“Jane has owned that family for quite some time and she is very partial to it,” said Bobby Spalding, manager of Summer Wind Farm. “This colt has been pretty special since day one. In fact, we had him entered in the sale, but we weren't even going to bring him up here. But, a couple days before the sale, we decided to bring him and the horse hadn't even been prepped for the sale. What you saw was all natural. He was a nice horse by the right sire and out of a nice family. It is very special to Jane.”

Summer Wind is known for selling well-bred and often expensive yearlings, such as $1-million FTSAUG buy and now undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit), but it is very unusual for Lyon's operation to offer a weanling at auction.

When asked about this deviation, Spalding said, “That was all Jane's idea. She had said back in early August that she thought he would be a nice weanling to sell. She made a comment that it wasn't something she normally did, but she really liked him and thought he would sell well. I was the one trying to convince her to keep him out of the sale, so all credit goes to Jane.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Taylor Secures Streak of Luck For Joneses

Streak of Luck (Old Fashioned) (Hip 265) sparked the day's first fireworks, bringing $620,000 from Taylor Made's Frank Taylor, who was acting on behalf of Aaron and Marie Jones. Consigned by James Keogh, the 6-year-old is carrying her first foal by Horse of the Year Authentic.

“She checked all the boxes for us,” Taylor said. “She had a great physical. She looks like Unbridled's Song and we love Unbridled's Song. We raised Old Fashioned on the farm, so that was kind of a plus to me. She was a good racemare and is in foal to a Derby winner, having a January foal. That is what we are looking for.”

As for the price, Taylor said, “I saw one [Wednesday] that was comparable to her and she brought $700,000. That was a bid or two past where we wanted to go, but we wanted to get her.”

Carrie Brogden, Keogh and the mare's breeder Roncelli Family Trust raced Streak of Luck in partnership. She won six of her 30 starts and placed in multiple graded stakes.–@CDeBernardisTDN

Silesia Farm Snags 'Impeccable' Mare

GSP Impeccable Style (Uncle Mo) (Hip 486) proved popular at Keeneland Thursday, bringing $500,000 from Warrendale's Kitty Taylor and Hunter Simms, who were acting on behalf of Silesia Farm.

“They are actually the same group we bought the dam of ['TDN Rising Star”] Messier (Empire Maker) for last year, Checkered Past, and he is running in the [GIII] Bob Hope this weekend,” Simms said after signing the ticket beside Taylor. “They are very loyal clients of ours. We sold a bunch for them in September this year. They had a very good sales season and wanted to reinvest into the market and upgrade their broodmare band.”

A $155,000 purchase at this auction back in 2017, Impeccable Style was third in last year's Bourbonette Oaks and was second in the GIII Indiana Oaks. Pete Bradley picked her up for $275,000 just days later at the Fasig July Sale and she made just two starts for her new connections before being retired and bred to Horse of the Year Authentic.

“She is a beautiful physical and good physicals are selling right now, whether its mares, yearlings, foals,” Simms said. “The Authentic is very attractive to us and her race record. It was the whole package we are looking for.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Freedman Goes to Kentucky for Stay Inside

Michael Freedman, who along with his brother Richard trains Group 1 winner Stay Inside (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}), made a first visit to the Kentucky November sales this week in search of mares to eventually support the 2021 G1 Longines Golden Slipper hero at stud. After purchasing a pair of mares at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday, Freedman acquired an additional two mares at Keeneland Thursday. He made his biggest purchase when going to $400,000 to acquire Alnaseem (GB) (Shamardal) (hip 338) from the Timber Town consignment. The 5-year-old stakes-winning mare sold as a racing or broodmare prospect and Freedman said the plan will be to race her next year.

“She obviously has a bit of racing upside, that was of interest, and I just thought she looked like a lovely physical type,” Freedman explained. “She was a big, impressive mare. And the idea would be to take her back to Australia early in the new year and put her back into training there back there before eventually making her way to the breeding farm to be mated to Stay Inside, a horse that we won the Golden Slipper with earlier this year, when he goes to stud.”

Also Thursday, Freedman purchased the stakes-winning She's So Special (Hard Spun) (hip 244) for $250,000 from the Bluewater Sales consignment.

“That was the same sort of deal,” Freedman said. “She's just a nice outcross with a bit of speed there, which is what we were wanting to come over to find. Again to race if possible, if not the plan is to breed to Stay Inside as well.”

At Fasig-Tipton Tuesday, Freedman purchased I'llhandlethecash (Point of Entry) (hip 191) for $220,000 and No Mo' Spending (Uncle Mo) (hip 217) for $165,000.

Australia opened its borders a week before the November sales and buyers from the country have been very active in Kentucky this week.

“We got beaten on a few and quite often by other Australian buyers,” Freedman said of the market. “It's certainly been competitive, but I am very happy with the ones we've selected and happy with the ones we were able to buy. We might try to get one or two more before the end of the sale if possible.”

Of his first trip to Keeneland, Freedman added, “It's been a great experience and I would certainly like to come back again at some stage, for the yearlings sale or for this sale next year. It's good to get out and travel again.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

Alnaseem Rewards Vaughan Again

Ed Vaughan closed out his English stable last winter, and on his way to America, the trainer picked up the 4-year-old filly Alnaseem (GB) (Shamardal) (hip 338) for 88,000gns ($123,210). Now five, the chestnut gave Vaughan his first stateside win and stakes win before selling for $400,000 to Australian trainers Richard and Michael Freedman Thursday at Keeneland.

“She went on fast ground and the stallion works here–from the Giant's Causeway line,” Vaughan said of the mare's appeal last December as he prepared to open a U.S. stable. “And I just liked her races more than anything probably. She always traveled great through her races and that was it really.”

Alnaseem opened her U.S. campaign with a fourth-place effort in a Churchill allowance in April before winning a May allowance in Louisville.

“Her work was always very good,” Vaughan said. “She ran at Churchill and she was just away a bit slowly and then she was much better next time. She improved from there on.”

Alnaseem was second in the Indiana General Assembly Distaff S. in June before trying graded company with a sixth-place effort in the GII Dance Smartly S. in August. She concluded her time with Vaughan with a win in the H.B.P.A. S. at Presque Isle Oct. 18.

“There are always emotions–you're with them seven days a week,” Vaughan admitted of Thursday's sale. “She was our first winner over here. And she was our first stakes win, so we owe her a debt of gratitude. She's going to Australia and she'll go to a very good home. I'm delighted with that result.”

Vaughan currently has a dozen horses in training in the U.S., including recently arrived Waliyak (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was fourth in the Oct. 17 GI E.P. Taylor S. He expects to add to that number when he goes shopping again at the Tattersalls December sale next month.

“We will restock at the December sale and there will be some more to come,” he said. “That's how I did it back in Europe. You've got to get them to perform and hopefully tee them up for whatever jurisdiction they'll be best suited to, whether it's Hong Kong, America or Australia.” @JessMartiniTDN

March X Press Proves Even More Popular This Time Around

Stakes winner March X Press (Shanghai Bobby) made her first appearance at Keeneland November in 2018, bringing $275,000 from Jackpot Farm, and summoned $330,000 from SF Bloodstock and Newgate Farm the following year carrying her first foal by Tapit. Sent through the KEENOV ring yet again Thursday in foal to Quality Road, the 6-year-old mare (Hip 540) realized $560,000 from David Ingordo, acting on behalf of Parks Investment Group.

“I was the underbidder on her yearling and I thought her yearling was one of the best yearlings I did not get,” Ingordo said. “I know he is going into training with the SF group. When I saw the mare in foal to Quality Road, I figured that would work for me. We are going to breed her to Honor A.P.”

The SF Bloodstock team liked March X Press's yearling colt by Tapit so much that the SF-led stallion-making group known as the Avengers purchased him for $700,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October Sale.

“He is a beautiful Tapit colt with a lot of class,” SF's Tom Ryan said. “We were so excited about him that he has become part of our SF racing partnership. He is in training with Eddie Woods right now and will go to Bob Baffert.”

As for March X Press, Ryan said, “She was very well set up to trade. She had produced what everyone knew was a stunning Tapit yearling and was in foal to an elite stallion in Quality Road. All the parts were there. She had a good yearlings, was a young stakes mare, she was beautiful and was in foal to the right stallion. The timing was right.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Impressive Early Results for Authentic

The first mares in foal to Authentic have made an immediate impact in the sales ring this week in Kentucky. Three mares sold in foal to the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner at the Fasig-Tipton November sale Tuesday, with Super Girlie (Closing Argument) (hip 243) leading the way when selling for $725,000. The results continued to roll in Wednesday at Keeneland, with Achalaya (Bellamy Road) (hip 175) fetching a final bid of $725,000; New and Improved (Cairo Prince) (hip 199) selling for $700,000; and Quality Response (Quality Road) (hip 212) selling for $510,000.

Three mares in foal to the Spendthrift stallion led the way through much of Thursday's session of the Keeneland sale, with Streak of Luck (Old Fashioned) (hip 265) bringing $620,000; Jennifer's Dream (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 499) selling for $525,000 and Impeccable Style (Uncle Mo) (hip 486) attracting a final bid of $500,000.

“He had a wonderful book of mares, so this is certainly what we would have hoped for at the sales,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey. “I know when the dust settled after booking all his mares–which happened relatively quickly because of the popularity level–we felt really really good about the quality of his book last year. And obviously the market feels the same way and is clearly looking forward to Authentic's first foals. We couldn't be happier with the results so far.”

Through two sessions of the Keeneland November sale, 13 mares have sold in foal to Authentic at an average of $438,077. The sales results this week should set the stallion up for another strong book of mares in 2022, when he will stand for $70,000.

“The in-foal average is always important,” Toffey said. “Breeders are always looking at that. And if you don't have that average, it may be a little tougher to sell seasons in year two. So this should certainly help breeders feel confident about breeding to him in year two because the market clearly seems to be receptive.” @JessMartiniTDN

 

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Another Sale, Another Record

By Chris McGrath

NEWMARKET, UK–This has already been another record-breaking auction, even if they decide to release the whole of Thursday's closing catalogue into the high street–and a significant one, in terms of underwriting a yearling market that had appeared so curiously immune to the challenges of domestic prizemoney and a volatile economic environment.

Once again, the third session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale was defined by twin channels of export traffic: one to the Middle East, with investment seemingly driven not just by the Saudi Cup but by broader ambitions in Riyadh; and the other to Australia, where an ever-widening spectrum of investment was aptly measured when one of the highest lots of the day was secured by telephone at around

4 a.m. in Sydney. Horses that met the respective briefs for these different environments have generated so much competition between compatriots that they have sometimes created a market within a market.

Even with no English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who injected 925,000gns into the third session at a generally tepid sale last year, trade this time round again exceeded that registered at the equivalent session both in 2020 and in the pre-pandemic market of 2019. Building on frenzied turnover through the first two days, the net result is already the most lucrative edition of the premier sale of its type–exceeding the 27,282,200gns turned over in 2017.

So far as the year-on-year indices are concerned for Wednesday's trade, 10,661,000gns changed hands for 279 sales (a clearance rate of no less than 93%) to register a 9% climb on 9,779,600gns for virtually identical traffic last year. That translated into a 38,211gns average, up 10% on 34,803gns, and a 21,000gns median, up 31% on 16,000gns.

Prince Khalid's Legacy Appreciated In His Homeland

It felt especially fitting that Najd Stud, in again topping the session, should have done so to secure the transfer of Boltaway (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1114) from the Juddmonte empire built up by Prince Khalid Abdullah. True, for all the ardour exhibited by its representatives this week, they can hardly be expected to aspire to the kind of success achieved by their late compatriot. Nonetheless, their commitment has offered succour to those fretting about the outlook for the industry following the loss not only of Prince Khalid, but also of a neighbouring Turf superpower in Sheikh Hamdan.

Certainly, Saad bin Mishraf has proved reluctant to let anything off the hook, once he has cast a line, and duly saw off strong competition at 400,000gns for a 3-year-old who has won four handicaps over middle distances for Roger Charlton this summer, in the process hoisting his rating 20lbs to 93.

“We tried to buy this horse privately, but that wasn't possible and so we waited for this sale,” said bin Mishraf. “It's proved to be one of the toughest markets I have ever seen for horses in training. He's by Dubawi, whose offspring have succeeded in Saudi Arabia, and out of a Dansili (GB) mare, and Dansilis have also done well there, so he had the right pedigree. He also had size and good feet for racing on dirt.

“He's not been over-raced, and he vetted 100%. All the races in Saudi Arabia are on the up, with better prizemoney, sometimes increased by four or five times. There are races for locally bred horses and imported horses, and while we don't have many imported horses, the ones we have are very good.”

Najd Stud also corralled a hardy juvenile from the Gosden yard in Implore (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), for 160,000gns as Lot 1137; and also his stablemate Fundamental (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a Cheveley Park homebred who ran fifth in the G3 Jersey S. and exports a rating of 103. He made 240,000gns as Lot 1142. Najd Stud, with co-signatories Peter and Ross Doyle, duly heads the overall purchasing table with a dozen recruits for 2,491,000gns.

New Start Beckons Old Flame

The big Australian target in the Juddmonte draft had immediately preceded Boltaway through the ring, another 3-year-old in Old Flame (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) [1113] bringing 250,000gns from Snowden Racing/Will Johnson Bloodstock-bidding, by a pre-dawn call from Sydney, through Tattersalls representative Jason Singh.

This colt remains lightly raced, having only made his debut for Ralph Beckett in August, and looked rapidly progressive in winning his next two starts over seven furlongs before getting stuck in the mud at Newbury last week.

Colum McCullagh, racing and bloodstock manager to the father-and-son team of Peter and Paul Snowden, broke off from trackwork at home to explain that he had not been bought for a particular client and will probably be syndicated.

“He'll be on the first shipment here from Europe,” McCullagh said. “He looks to have the right sort of profile for Australia and his sire has had a huge influence here through his son I Am Invincible (Aus). He should suit a lot of races here, from six furlongs to a mile, he's a real sprinter-miler type.

“He came highly recommended by his trainer, who loved him every morning and evening. And I have to give special mention to Will Johnson, who spent time in Newmarket as assistant to Roger Varian. Will has put a lot of work into the catalogue, and it's great to have someone with his knowledge of racing in the region. To have a horse from an organisation such as Juddmonte Farms speaks for itself: Old Flame has just two dams on the page, he has a stallion's pedigree.”

Sure enough, his dam is a half-sister to the mother of stallions Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk) and Bated Breath (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Chipoltle Leads Hot Yearling Finds…

Few projects this week reflect better on their authors than Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), who was found for just 10,000gns at the Tattersalls Ascot Sale (transferred here last September) by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer and Eve Johnson Houghton, even though his second dam is a half-sister to Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}).

He was one of three youngsters bundled together for a 20-strong syndicate, with a commitment to sell at the end of the campaign, and promptly won the Brocklesby and a Royal Ascot trial before returning to win the Listed Windsor Castle S. itself. To Johnson Houghton's credit, moreover, he regrouped from a midsummer lull to win a valuable Listed race at Redcar earlier this month. All told, that catapulted his value to 210,000gns on his return to the ring as Lot 1055, as part of the Najd Stud spree.

Johnson Houghton was justly emotional afterwards.

“I'm a bit teary, because he has been amazing,” she said. “For a 10-grand purchase to do all that and then come here and sell so well. Of course I'm sorry to see him go. He's going to do a job for someone, he really will: he has grown again, he's tough, he's sound, and he'll get the seven furlongs. I hope he does really well in Saudi, I'm thrilled with the price and wish the best of luck to the new owners.”

In that context she noted how hard it is for horses of this type in Britain.

“If the horse isn't Group class as a 3-year-old, and obviously I'm not saying he won't be, then you're just hammered by the handicapper,” she said. “It does make it so hard for them.”

As it is, he couldn't have been expected to meet his brief better.

“I was a bit concerned, with Covid last year, that I was going to end up without any horses,” Johnson Houghton recalled. “So I bought those three horses to be sold at the end of the year. Ant [Bromley] did a brilliant job. It's a hell of a result and I'm just very proud of him.”

No less than one would hope, the whole syndicate has subscribed to a repeat endeavour.

Towards the end of the session, another inspired touch could be credited to Richard Venn and Andrew Balding, who found Classic Lord (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}) for just €20,000 as a Baden-Baden yearling. A lot more people were interested in him here, as Lot 1171, having meanwhile won two juvenile races plus two staying handicaps this time round. That made the chestnut colt eligible for quite a few different agendas, with plenty of jumping irons soon in the fire, but he was ultimately summoned to a very different destiny, with Oliver St Lawrence prevailing at 200,000gns to join Fawzi Nass in Bahrain.

“He looks a nice horse and, while I know the jumpers were on him, he seems to go on firm ground and will suit all the criteria,” reasoned St Lawrence.

Stuart Williams is a reliably shrewd shopper and he was another to turn a handsome profit late in the session, having taken Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) [1188] aboard as a 55,000gns Book 2 yearling. He has since advanced his rating to 90 and his value to 220,000gns, courtesy of Boomer Bloodstock.

“He's going to California to Philip D'Amato for Tony Fanticola,” explained Boomer's Craig Rounsefell. “Tony was one of the owners of Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), who was purchased at this sale and we had a lot of success with. This horse reminded us of him: he has a great turn of foot, he's lightly raced and looks like he is going to really enjoy the firm turf in California.”

Obviously, who changed hands here for 130,000gns in 2011, went on to win three Grade Is including the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Flinders Another Voyaging South…

This was the anniversary of a poignant success for Ed Walker, who bade farewell to his Derby fifth English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) in this session last year for 925,000gns, an auction record for a colt in training.

English King has admittedly proved a disappointment in Australia, reportedly due for castration after his latest start, but perhaps his former stablemate Matthew Flinders (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) will have better luck after making 230,000gns as Lot 1008. He will certainly be an apt migrant, named as he is after the English naval captain who first circumnavigated and charted the Australian coast.

And it can only be auspicious that his purchaser, Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock, found new trainer Annabel Neasham none other than Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) for 150,000gns out of Sir Michael Stoute's draft at this sale last year. His lucrative endeavours since include Group 1 wins in the Doomben Cup and Underwood S.

“Zaaki has been phenomenal,” Boman said. “It's fantastic what one horse can do for people's lives and careers. He's going to be a hard act to follow, but we wanted to target here what we felt could be one of the nicest horses in the sale for Australia.

“His ability is definitely far better than what the form book shows. He's a horse who constantly travels best of all, any field he is in. I spoke with Ed and I think he has probably felt like he's had a Group horse on his hands for a long time. He just wanted him to win his big handicap but has never had his day, and now the handicapper has forced his hand by raising his mark so high. But he's thoroughly consistent, always runs to 105 [Timeform], and as a strong-travelling horse should really suit Australia.”

Boman celebrated his winning bid by exchanging high fives with Neasham's mother Patricia, who had come from her Northamptonshire home to witness the sale.

“I'm delighted for Annabel, she's flying along,” Boman said. “She's got two runners in the Golden Eagle S. on Saturday, which is worth A$7.5 million. Things are healthy in Australia!”

Youth Spirit a 230,000gns 'Bargain'

The same destination beckons G1 St Leger fifth Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) [1186A], candidly acclaimed by his purchaser Johnny McKeever as not just the bargain of the week but as “the best value horse I've bought in about 10 years.”

Quite a claim, you might suppose, at 230,000gns. But this is a G3 Chester Vase winner who has reiterated his class for Andrew Balding with podium finishes in races as diverse as the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G2 Vintage S. As such, this was yet another astute yearling punt to generate a handsome dividend on the day, having been a €48,000 private sale to Federico Barberini at Arqana's August Sale.

But this was a case where everyone was a winner, McKeever sounding ecstatic to confine the vendors' profit to the level he did in securing the colt for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

“I'm extremely excited,” the agent declared. “I've been trying to buy this horse all year, and knew there was a lot of activity from Australia. In this market, I really, really believe that was the best value in the whole sale. The level of form is outstanding, he's a beautiful-looking horse by Camelot, he has absolutely everything going for him. I don't know why, maybe it was because he was a wild card, but that's just a blip.”

He had earlier been obliged to pay exactly the same, on behalf of the same clients, for King Of Clubs (GB) (Intello {Ger}) [Lot 952] after winning a maiden and a handicap during the course of his second campaign for Hughie Morrison. Auspiciously, the 3-year-old has reached a rating of 93 without being tried beyond 10 furlongs-despite only getting up late on the Sandown hill in August.

“Same formula as usual,” McKeever observed then. “Robbie Waterhouse liked the form, I liked the horse, and Hughie recommended him. I've had a couple of blank days, I had quite a lot of vet fails and others were just making a lot more than we were prepared to spend. The right horses are hard to come by and it feels like we are all sharing them around. But it's good having Robbie behind me, he's a very clever man on the form, and that takes a bit of pressure off as all I have to do is look at them to see if they're the right sort physically.”

King Of Clubs was certainly in more demand than had been the case on his previous visit to this ring, as a Book I yearling from breeder Meon Valley Stud. Unsold at 19,000gns that day, he ended up racing for Castle Down Racing–the same partnership (under Meon Valley managing partner Mark Weinfeld) that had campaigned Telecaster (GB), another Book 1 buyback from the same family, to win the G2 Dante S. among other races on his way to Haras du Mesnil.

A rather different story is Swift Verdict (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who topped the Arqana August Yearling Sale as a €1.4 million yearling but was soon transferred from John Gosden to Willie Mullins for whom he could only manage to win a Dundalk maiden. The project was abandoned when he arrived here as Lot 933, costs defrayed to the extent of 25,000gns by Mohammed al Jeadiah.

Even Juveniles Joining the Exodus Down Under…

The opportunity to recruit horses as young as two through the Shadwell cull has created a lot of excitement this week but even this market proved vulnerable to Australian investment when Billy Jackson-Stops signed a 120,000gns docket for Hanaady (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) [Lot 1000] to be shipped out to Matt Cumani.

This filly won a Nottingham maiden for Ed Dunlop last month and, though below that form at York next time, it obviously remains early days for this daughter of a half-sister to G2 Gimcrack S. winner Blaine (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}) and another accomplished sprinter Bogart (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}).

“Myself and Sam Haggas have done some work together and we put her to Matt,” explained Jackson-Stops. “Night of Thunder has been going really well down there, and Matt was pretty keen to try a filly. We thought we'd see if it works, there are options for her: she's good-looking, and will have some residual value.”

Earlier Shadwell had produced the only six-figure sale of a relatively torpid morning when Tasfeeq (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) [895] brought 120,000gns from Qatari trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al-Malki. The 3-year-old gelding has won three times this season for Marcus Tregoning, showing his purchaser a helpful aptitude for firm ground.

Queen's Piper To Play a Different Tune…

National Hunt prospectors have found themselves particularly squeezed by the Australian dollar, but one or two have found the backing to give themselves a chance and Gordon Elliott continued his quest for rehabilitation by recruiting a pricey 3-year-old from the royal stable in Pied Piper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) [1139].

This lad has stood up to a busy campaign for the John and Thady Gosden, albeit had to wait until this month to win for the first time since breaking his maiden. Both his wins have come on the mud, so he will clearly operate in winter ground. Presented by the Castlebridge Consignment, he was knocked down to Elliott, standing alongside agent Mouse O'Ryan, for 225,000gns; the docket was signed in the name of Irish agent Joseph Logan and patrons Andrew and Gemma Brown.

“Pied Piper has been bought by Andrew and Gemma, who have a string of horses with Gordon,” explained Logan by telephone. “The horse will go juvenile hurdling and run back on the Flat next summer: he's a dual-purpose type. I saw some videos of him, but Gordon saw him at Tattersalls and really loved him.”

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Strong Opener To October Sale

LEXINGTON, KY – The start of the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale was delayed an hour by heavy rain, but the weather seemed to be the only thing that could hold back the auction once the bidding got started Monday at Newtown Paddocks.

“We were very pleased with the opening session of the October sale,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said Monday night. “I don't think there was any surprise that there was a lot of demand. We've seen strength in the yearling sales from the start to, hopefully, when we finish on Thursday. There was a lot of activity at all levels. There was spirited bidding at all levels with lots of competition and a very diverse crowd that was here buying horses with lots of representation from all over the world.”

During the session, 274 yearlings sold for $11,016,900 for an average of $40,208 and a median of $17,000. At the opening session of the 2020 auction, 248 head sold for $8,393,800 for an average of $33,846 and a median of $15,000.

Of the 396 head catalogued for Monday's session, 341 went through the ring with 67 reported not sold for a buy-back rate of just 19.6%. It was 22.2% a year ago.

“I think people feel more confident, in terms of the overall clearance rate and the percentage of horses sold who were catalogued,” Browning said. “I think there are fewer scratches, in part, because people now realize based on where the market is right now, you might still be able to sell a horse reasonably successfully without a lot of pre-sale vet activity because there is so much activity that is taking place in the back walking ring.”

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni made the day's highest bid when going to $700,000 to acquire a colt by Tapit (hip 22) from the Bedouin Bloodstock consignment early in the session. The price was the co-second highest for a colt in the sale's history.

The Fasig-Tipton October sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. daily.

Early Fireworks for Tapit Colt

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of the stallion-making partnership of SF Bloodstock/Starlight/Madaket, helped the Fasig-Tipton October sale get off to a rousing start when making a final bid of $700,000 to secure a colt by Tapit (hip 22) from the Bedouin Bloodstock consignment.

“He just checked every box,” Lanni said of the yearling. “He has a fast look about him and he's by Tapit. He looks fast, he looks early and he looks sound. He is the kind of horse who just looks like he fits our program. When they possess everything, they end up bringing quite a bit.”

Lanni signed for 24 yearlings for a total of $10,590,000 on behalf of the partnership at last month's Keeneland September sale.

Of his continued buying spree as the yearling sales season winds down, Lanni said, “Some horses need a little more time to develop and maybe the earlier sales weren't the right place for them. I think this is a good place to sell. The sale has gotten better and better and it has a lot of momentum.”

Hip 22 is the first foal out of stakes winner March X Press (Shanghai Bobby). He was co-bred by SF Bloodstock and Henry Field Bloodstock. The co-breeders purchased March X Press, with the colt in utero, for $330,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

The bay colt had originally been targeted at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale in August.

“We were supposed to take him up to Saratoga and about two weeks before the sale he tangled with a fence,” Bedouin Bloodstock's Neal Clarke said. “So that put him out of Saratoga and then this was the next likely option for him. He went down very well here, people loved him and he sold well.”

Of the session-topping price, Clarke said, “You can't hide a good horse. If you have a nice one, they will find it. These people are professionals and they work hard and they will find them.”

Justify Colt to Fort

A colt from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify (hip 21) sold for $350,000 to John Fort early in Monday's first session of the October sale. The colt was bred and consigned by Blue Heaven Farm, which bred and campaigned his multiple stakes winning dam Maple Forest (Forestry).

“We haven't been in this business too long, so it's nice to see those third generation-type horses of ours succeed,” said Blue Heaven President and General Manager Adam Corndorf. “Maple Forest is a very special mare for us. She's a homebred stakes winner and won several stakes for us with Todd Pletcher. She has been a wonderful mare for us. She has had some very nice sales yearlings for us and some of them have earned blacktype.”

Hip 21 had originally been targeted at the Keeneland September sale.

“He was in the September sale at Keeneland, but he had a little paddock accident about a week before the sale,” Corndorf said. “We were lucky that we still had a sale to target after that. He just needed a couple of extra weeks and he stood out here.”

Blue Heaven founder Bonnie Baskin purchased Maple Forest's dam Maple Syrple (American Chance) for $320,000 at the 2006 Keeneland November sale. Maple Forest, who RNA'd for $200,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September sale, won three stakes and was second in the 2011 GIII Victory Ride S. She is also the dam of multiple stakes winner and graded placed Heartwood (Tapit) and stakes-placed Luzmimi Princess (Malibu Moon).

“We have a small operation, we have about 15 mares and produce about 12 horses a year,” Corndorf said. “We are hoping to just keep building. We would love to get to a point down the road where we could keep a couple of nice fillies as broodmare prospects, but for right now we are sales-focused and trying to sell everything.”

The Blue Heaven breeding operation enjoyed Grade I success earlier this year when Grace Adler (Curlin) won the GI Del Mar Debutante. The farm is also home to Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind).

“She's in foal to Medaglia d'Oro,” Corndorf said of the 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year who the operation acquired in 2018. “She is living the good life. She has a place with us forever. And we look forward to keeping some fillies out of her in the future.”

Union Rags Colt Destined for Resale

A colt by Union Rags (hip 266) is likely to return to the sales ring next spring after selling for $235,000 to the bid of pinhooker Ciaran Dunne, who signed under the name of the Redwings partnership. The yearling is out of stakes winner Purely Hot (Pure Prize) and is a half-brother to Grade I winner Eight Rings (Empire Maker). He was consigned by Taylor Made.

“He's by a proper stallion and he's a half-brother to a talented horse,” Dunne said of the yearling's appeal. “You've got to take a shot somewhere, so we took a shot there.”

Dunne was among the bidders on the Taylor Made-consigned and Three Chimneys-bred son of Gun Runner (hip 264) who RNA'd for $425,000 two hips earlier.

“The market is very strong,” Dunne said. “That's not surprising based on what happened earlier in the year. There were a lot of orders unfilled, ours included, so we knew people were going to come in here and be aggressive. It seems the ones people want bring way more than you'd anticipate.”

Dunne admitted the partnership groups which were so active at the Keeneland September sale had made his job more difficult.

“I think the different groups that are trying to make stallions seem to be playing more in our territory, in terms of physicals over pedigree, so they are a bigger pain in the ass than they normally are.”

Hip 266 was bred by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt. Bloodstock agent Hugo Merry purchased Purely Hot, with the colt in utero, for $1.2 million at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

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Internationally Connected Trio Supplemented to F-T November

Three horses with international pedigree appeal have been added to the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Each will be consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of the Estate of Michael Baum. The owner of Man O' War Farm passed away Aug. 31.

Bye Bye Baby (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be offered as hip 268. The 6-year-old daughter of 2010 G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was Group 3 placed at two and won the 2018 G3 Blue Wind S. before finishing third in the G1 Investec Oaks. Bye Bye Baby, a full-sister to G1 Investec Derby hero Serpentine (Ire) and to GSWs Wedding Vow (Ire) and Beacon Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), sells in foal to Tapit.

Bye Bye Baby's weanling colt by War Front follows her into the ring. The cross of War Front over Galileo mares is responsible for the likes of Group 1 winners U S Navy Flag, Fog of War and Roly Poly.

Ivyetsu (Tapit) is cataloged as hip 270 to the 'Night of the Stars.' Campaigned by the Baums with trainer Rusty Arnold, the bay filly broke her maiden at second asking and was a close third when making her turf debut in the GIII Sweetest Chant S. in early 2019. The 4-year-old is a half-sister to GSW Last Kingdom (Frankel {GB}) and to the dam of Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}), recent runner-up in the G1 QIPCO British Champion S. at Ascot.

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