Tag: M V Magnier

Demand Strong at the Top of the Gulfstream Market

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – A diverse buying bench vied for a select offering of juveniles during a rapid-fire three hours under the sunshine at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale Wednesday afternoon. A filly from the first crop of Bolt d'Oro brought the day's highest bid when selling for $1.2 million to Spendthrift Farm. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the youngster was one of two to bring seven figures during the auction. Jamie McCalmont, bidding on behalf of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, went to $1.1 million to acquire a colt by Justify from the Wavertree Stables consignment.

“We have been doing this a long time and today was indicative of a typical 2-year-old sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The horses that worked well and vetted well, sold really, really well. There was a lot of interest in them. There was a diverse buying group. For the horses that missed the mark on one of those elements, it wasn't an easy day.”

Of the 103 juveniles catalogued to the boutique auction, 52 went through the sales ring Wednesday and 35 sold for a gross of $13,155,000. The average was $375,857 and the median was $300,000.

Spendthrift Farm purchased three of the day's top 10 lots and Magnier acquired another two. A strong domestic buying bench included the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds and Lane's End Farm, as well as Frank Fletcher, Zedan Racing, Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable.

“I was pleased with the group of buyers that was in attendance and the level of activity,” Browning said. “It is no secret that we wish we had more horses here. We will work really hard to try and remedy that going forward.”

Last year, 67 juveniles sold for $25,360,000, an average of $378,507 and a median of $300,000.

“Overall, the market was very similar to what we experienced in 2021, which is healthy,” Browning said. “I think if we could lock in this market across the Thoroughbred industry through the rest of 2022, we would all say yes. It is a solid market with no real surprises.”

McCalmont agreed demand for the top offerings was high in Hallandale Wednesday.

“I think the right horses are making the right money,” he said. “There aren't as many horses as there normally are here, but if you've got the right horse, it brings plenty of money. I hope the sale will be here next year because Miami is a great destination for people to come to in the horse business, especially this time of year.”

The Fasig-Tipton team remained busy with post-sale transactions even as the auction stand in the Gulfstream paddock was being disassembled Wednesday.

“Post sales have been very active,” Browning said. “It is so hard to judge the value, particularly of a 2-year-old. It is not easy to set reserves. Sometimes sellers are optimistic, then reality sets in. Sometimes buyers get shut out and then circle back around to buy a horse. So there were no real surprises. No euphoria, no despair. We are looking forward to our next 2-year-old sale at Timonium with a 600-horse catalogue and a different feel. It will be the best catalogue we've had there.”

Bolt Filly Electrifies Fasig Gulfstream

For the second time this week, a filly from the first-crop of red- hot freshman sire Bolt d'Oro (hip 48) wowed the crowd at Gulfstream Park when bringing a final bid of $1.2 million from Spendthrift Farm. The sale-topping result came just two days after the filly zipped a quarter-mile in :20 2/5 during the auction's under-tack preview Monday.

“We have been hearing about this filly for a while,” Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey said after signing the ticket on the juvenile. “She prepped beautifully for the sale and Tom McCrocklin, we've already bought one from him, and he does a great job.”

The filly's bullet work was not a complete shock to the Spendthrift team.

“We'd been hearing good things and on game day she delivered,” Toffey said. “That was as good a breeze as we've seen in quite some time.”

The bay filly is out of Rich Love (Not For Love), a daughter of multiple stakes winner Richetta (Polis Numbers) and a half-sister to stakes winners Concealed Identity (Smarty Jones) and Peach of a Gal (Curlin).

“She's a big, imposing filly,” Toffey said. “She's classy and athletic looking and good minded. Nothing ruffled her feathers. She got shown constantly and never seemed to turn a hair and her energy level stayed good the whole time. So she had all the intangibles that you want to see, as well as the obvious things that she showed everybody.”

The sale topper continued a strong sales season for Spendthrift's Grade I-winning Bolt d'Oro, whose standout results at the OBS March sale included a $900,000 colt.

“I think they tend to look like the sire, which isn't necessarily important, but I think is a good thing in general,” Toffey said of his early impressions of the stallion's offspring. “They are just athletic and very good minded. We spent a lot of time looking at his first crop as weanlings and we were impressed right away. We got great feedback from breeders and we saw for ourselves–we bought a couple privately. In terms of what we've seen of his offspring from day one, it's just been really encouraging. I know that [Spendthrift founder] Mr. [B. Wayne] Hughes was really keen on landing some Bolts. So that is going to clearly continue.”

Spendthrift purchased three juveniles Wednesday at Gulfstream, going to $800,000 for a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 21) and $475,000 for a son of Curlin (hip 57).

The sale topper was consigned by Tom McCrocklin on behalf of Solana Beach Sales. Solana Beach, the pinhooking division of Little Red Feather Racing, purchased Rich Love, with the filly in utero, for $70,000 at the 2020 Keeneland January sale. Part of a foal share, the filly was sold for $80,000 as a weanling at that year's Keeneland November sale, but Solana Beach got her back when paying $85,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale.

“We bred the horse, we sold her as a weanling as part of another partnership,” explained Solana Beach's Gary Fenton. “Tom called us from Keeneland in September and said he wanted to buy her back. We said, 'If you want to buy her back, buy her back.”

McCrocklin was high on the filly all winter, according to Fenton.

“Tom did a fantastic job,” Fenton said. “He called us in late December and said, 'You have a really special horse.' This horse has not turned a hair and showed she was a special horse for a long time. And she went through all the progressions.”

Of the filly's lights-out work Monday, Fenton said, “It was the second work of the day and you could just hear everybody stop. We knew she was going to be fast, but we weren't expecting that fast. It was pretty great.” @JessMartiniTDN

Coolmore Secures Regally Bred Justify Colt

With undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify as his sire and GISW and producer Appealing Zophie (Successful Appeal) as his dam, it was no surprise when Hip 84 summoned $1.1 million in Gulfstream's paddock Wednesday. It was also no surprise to see bloodstock agent Jamie McCalmont signing the ticket on the striking bay on behalf of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.

When asked what the Coolmore team liked about Hip 84, McCalmont said, “Everything.”

He continued, “We have seen a lot of Justifys. The word seems to be getting very strong on them. This one looks like more of a precocious type than some of them look, so you'd hope he'd be running in the summer. I have watched him train here for the last week and he hasn't put a hair wrong. He stood up to the sale well and we wanted to buy the horse.”

Bred by Barronstown Stud, hip 84 RNA'd for $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale last summer. The colt breezed in :10 flat for consignor Ciaran Dunne of Wavertree Stables despite a few antics.

“He jumped two shadows and still managed to go :10 flat and stay on his feet. That shows a lot of athleticism,” McCalmont said.

Len Riggio's My Meadowview purchased Grade I winner Appealing Zophie for $1.1 million at the 2007 FTKNOV sale. Her first black-type winner was Tapwrit (Tapit), who summoned $1.2 million at the Saratoga Sale and went on to win the 2017 GI Belmont S. The following year she produced MGSW & GISP Ride a Comet (Candy Ride (Arg), a $375,000 OBSAPR purchase. Two years later came SW & GSP 'TDN Rising Star' Inject (Frosted), $390,000 KEESEP buy. Sent back through the ring at FTKNOV in 2018, Appealing Zophie brought $1.2 million from Barronstown Stud, carrying a full-sister to Tapwrit now named Teasing, who was most recently third in a Gulfstream maiden special weight Mar. 13.

Towards the end of Wednesday's sale, McCalmont went to $575,000 on behalf of Magnier for hip 96, a son of Ashford Stud's Uncle Mo that was also offered by Wavertree. The bay, produced by a winning half-sister to leading sire Tapit, breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 3/5 Monday.

Acting as agent for Magnier, McCalmont signed the ticket at a sales-topping $2.6 million for a Wavertree-consigned son of Nyquist at last year's Gulfstream sale. —@CDeBernardisTDN

West Point, Lane's End Team Up Again

Always on the lookout for future stallion prospects, West Point Thoroughbreds and the Farish family's Lane's End Farm teamed up to purchase a strapping son of Medaglia d'Oro (hip 88) for $900,000 from the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment at Gulfstream Wednesday.

“He is by Medaglia and has a super pedigree, being a half to Constitution,” Bill Farish said of the juvenile's appeal as West Point's Terry Finley signed the ticket. “We saw him as a yearling on the farm and we graded him highly there. We were surprised he didn't bring more as a yearling, but he's a May 11 foal, so he has a lot of maturing to do. Terry and I loved him. It's exciting to get him.”

The dark bay colt was bred by Don Alberto Corporation, which bought out partner Bridlewood Farm on Baffled (Distorted Humor) with him in utero for $1.8 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Baffled is the dam of GI Florida Derby and GI Donn H. winner Constitution, as well as multiple group winner Boynton (More Than Ready).

“Absolutely,” Farish said when asked if the colt was bought for his stallion potential. “And he certainly fits that bill with his pedigree and his conformation. It's a fun partnership that we have on him. We'll see. Hopefully he will be a runner.”

The colt, who worked a furlong in :10 flat, was purchased by Hoby and Layna Kight for $225,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale on behalf of Marvin Boyd and Charlie Allen.

“That's getting up there for me,” Hoby Kight said Tuesday of the colt's yearling price. “That's a lot for me. And they have to have all the right parts when I stretch.”

The youngster will be trained by Shug McGaughey. @JessMartiniTDN

Spendthrift Strikes Early for Uncle Mo Colt

Spendthrift Farm is typically seen among the list of top buyers at auctions of all types throughout the year and the Kentucky-based operation made its presence felt early at Gulfstream, going to $800,000 for a colt by Uncle Mo (Hip 21).

“He is a nice colt and did everything right,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey after signing the ticket. “He is tremendously talented and looked the part. [Consignor] Tom [McCrocklin] does a great job getting them ready. He will go back to Spendthrift and get 30 days and go from there.”

The bay colt breezed in a snappy :20 3/5 for McCrocklin during the under-tack show.

“He is obviously very fast and he carried it well past the wire,” Toffey said. “He is a good mover and was well within himself.

Bred by Parks Investment Group, hip 21 was purchased by McCrocklin, who was acting on behalf of Champion Equine, for $250,000 at the the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale. His GSP dam Lady Tapit (Tapit) is a half to GISW Gozzip Girl (Dynaformer), as well as the dam of Argentinian Group 3 winners Gallileo's Town (Speightstown) and Gianella (Lizard Island). The deeper female family also includes Lotus Land (Point of Entry), a two-time winner at group level in Japan and narrowly runner-up in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen Mar. 27. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Zedan Returns to the Well for Nyquist Colt

During last year's renewal of this auction, bloodstock agent Gary Young went to $1.7 million to secure a colt from the first crop of Gun Runner for Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing. Now named Taiba, that colt earned the 'TDN Rising Star' nod for his ultra-impressive debut at Santa Anita Mar. 5.

Young and Zedan were back in action at Gulfstream this year, going to $700,000 for a colt by Nyquist (hip 62). The colt will go to trainer Bob Baffert, who conditions Saturday's G1 Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer (Tonalist) for Zedan, WinStar and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, as well as Zedan's late GISW Medina Spirit (Protonico).

“I thought we'd have to give more for him than we did,” Young said. “I hope I feel the same way about six months from now.”

Classic Bloodstock bought the bay colt for $275,000, the third-highest price at Fasig's California Fall Yearlings and Horse of All Ages Sale, on behalf of Sasulito and Breckenridge. He breezed an eighth in :9 4/5 Monday at Gulfstream.

“I really liked his work,” Young said. “His push off behind and extension with his front legs was pretty faultless.”

Bred in California by Bud Petrosian, hip 62 is a half to stakes-placed There Goes Harvard (Will Take Charge). His dam Soul Crusader (Fusaichi Pegasus) is a half to Turkish champion Hakeem (Harlan's Holiday) and the dam of GISW Killer Graces (Congaree) and MGSW Chocolate Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}).

“I like this horse a lot,” Young said. “I don't think what you see right now is a finished product. We will give him time to fill out and I think he will fill out and become a beautiful horse.”

He continued, “We will discuss it with Mr. Zedan and Bob Baffert. He is the kind of horse that if everything went right, you'd want to get him to the races towards the end of the Del Mar meet or during the Santa Anita fall meet.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Sharp Far From Unhappy

George Sharp refuses to call himself a pinhooker, but the owner was able to enjoy a profitable resale Wednesday at Gulfstream when selling a colt by Runhappy (hip 64) for $700,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, acting on behalf of Frank Fletcher. Sharp purchased the colt for $125,000 during a 12-yearling buying spree at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“There's nothing wrong with pinhooking, but for me this was just paying off the ones I am keeping,” Sharp, who entered 2022 with a class of 23 juveniles, explained. “I am ecstatic with this result and I would do this again next year where I buy a bunch and then try to sell a few off to pay for the ones I am keeping.”

While the $700,000 didn't complete Sharp's quest to pay off the 2-year-olds he is keeping this year, he still has more opportunities at upcoming sales.

“This was a nice sale, but it hasn't paid for the all the ones I've bought yet,” he said. “But I am selling a couple at OBS and probably at Timonium.”

The colt, who worked a furlong in :10 1/5 Monday, is out of Sue's Good News (Woodman) and is a half to Grade I winner Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow). He was consigned by Niall Brennan.

“We were seriously considering pulling him from the sale,” Sharp admitted. [Trainer] Caio Caramori absolutely loved the horse. He actually asked me not to sell him. But part of this is a business and to achieve the goal of selling enough to pay for the other ones, we needed to sell.”

Lanni said the colt jumped through all the hoops this week in Florida.

“It's a 2-year-olds in training sale and these horses are under so much pressure to perform and come back and act like nothing happened,” Lanni said. “He had a really great breeze visually. He looked like a pretty laid back horse and he came back from the breeze really well.”

Lanni purchased maiden winner Happy Boy Rocket (Runhappy) for $490,000 at last year's OBS April sale on behalf of Fletcher.

“I like the sire,” Lanni said. “I think he's going to be really good. We bought a Runhappy for Frank last year that turned out to be a nice horse.”

Lanni continued, “When we try to buy one for Frank, Frank is the best. He is so game. He is an amazing guy to work for. He loves the action. He's game. He puts his money up and never complains. Not a lot of people know him, but he's an amazing human and he helps a lot of people out.” @JessMartiniTDN

The post Demand Strong at the Top of the Gulfstream Market appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Weanling Justify Colt Sells For $625,000 To Headline Day Two Of Keeneland November Sale

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier spent $625,000 for Just Before Dawn, a weanling colt by undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify who is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories, to lead Thursday's second session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Steady trade during the day generated healthy increases over 2020 results.

Keeneland sold 226 horses today for $37,866,000, for an average of $167,549 and a median of $130,000. During the second session of the 2020 November Sale, 197 horses sold for $27,690,000, for an average of $140,558 and a median of $100,000.

Through two sessions, 344 horses have grossed $88,500,000, for an average of $257,267 and a median of $185,000. The cumulative gross after two days of the 2020 November Sale was $77,465,000 for 325 horses, for an average of $238,354 and a median of $135,000.

“Incredible; it was a vibrant market again with a lot of the energy we saw in September,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “A lot of frustrated pinhookers (were outbid.) A lot of end-users participated in the market today for foals. Young mares, well-bred on an early cover to a popular stallion were highly prized. People were frustrated with buying, but we had a lot of happy sellers.

“It is a really encouraging market as we move forward,” Lacy said. “The buy-back rate (22 percent) was really healthy. Median and average were well up. A lot of the matrix we look at are beating the last four years, and 2018 and 2019 were really strong. That bodes well for the rest of the sale.”

“The September market was so strong that it really validated commercial breeders, validated their purpose and gave them equity to reinvest,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “Sometimes there were large amounts of money spent on yearlings out of older mares and mares that maybe hadn't been that 'A list' type, and we saw that strength carry through the last days of the September Sale. People can reinvest some of that money and buy with confidence that this is going to continue for a while.”

Consigned by Lane's End, agent, Just Before Dawn is out of the winning Unbridled's Song mare Unenchantedevening and also is a half-brother to stakes winner Indian Evening. He is from the family of Horse of the Year Favorite Trick and Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law. Coolmore stands Justify and Tiz the Law.

“He's a really nice horse,” Magnier said about the weanling, adding, “Jane Lyon and everyone at Summer Wind Farm are very good breeders. This horse is very well-bred, and we have had a lot of luck with the family before. We have 11 or 12 Justifys going to Ballydoyle (training center in Ireland) next year.”

Magnier said the weanling “is by one of the best horses we have seen in America for a long time.”

“(The Justify offspring) look like they are a very special group of horses,” Magnier said. “Everybody seems to be very high on them. They are a very exciting bunch of horses. The pedigrees, the physiques and everything about them and the way Justify was such a good racehorse, we have a huge amount of faith in them. Justify is making super strong horses. All seem to be good movers and everything. The lads at home say (the Justify yearlings) are simple to deal with.”

With sales of $6,302,000 for 27 horses, Lane's End, agent, was the session's leading consignor.

Lane's End, agent, also sold March X Press, a 6-year-old stakes-winning daughter of Shanghai Bobby in foal to Quality Road, for $560,000. Parks Investment Group bought March X Press, a half-sister to stakes winner Harlan's Honor out of the stakes-placed Indian Charlie mare Indian Rush.

Bloodstock agent David Ingordo signed the ticket for March X Press.

“I was underbidder on her yearling, and I thought her yearling was one of the best yearlings I did not get,” Ingordo said. “When I saw the mare in foal to Quality Road, I figured that would work for me.”

Mares carrying the first foals by 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner and Horse of the Year Authentic recorded three of the session's highest prices.

Aaron and Marie Jones LLC paid $620,000 for the 6-year-old stakes-winning, Grade 2-placed mare Streak of Luck, a daughter of Old Fashioned carrying her first foal by Authentic.

“She checked all the boxes for us,” buyer Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency, who signed the ticket, said. “She is a great physical. She looks like (paternal grandsire) Unbridled's Song (who stood at Taylor Made Farm), and we love Unbridled's Song. We raised Old Fashioned on the farm, so that was a plus for me. She was a good race mare. She is in foal to a Kentucky Derby winner for a January foal. She is what we were looking for.”

Consigned by James B. Keogh, agent, Streak of Luck is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Valeria and from the family of Grade 3 winner Lindsay Jean.

Keogh was extremely pleased with the sale.

“I campaigned her as a racehorse – she won a stakes for me – so she is pretty special to me,” Keogh said. “Carrie Brogden and I owned her together (in partnership with breeder Roncelli Family Trust). Carrie found her in California, and in two seconds I made the decision to take half of her.”

Gary Broad/Walmac Farm purchased Jennifer's Dream, a 5-year-old winning, stakes-placed daughter of Medaglia d'Oro in foal to Authentic, for $525,000. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Jennifer's Dream is out of Grade 1 winner Joyful Victory, by Tapit.

Silesia Farm paid $500,000 for Impeccable Style, a winning, Grade 3-placed 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo also carrying her first foal by Authentic. Four Star Sales, agent, consigned Impeccable Style, whose dam is the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Deb's Candy Girl. She is from the family of stakes winners Bisbee's Prospect, Affordable Price, Stopshoppingdebbie, Shampoo, Blueberry Smoothie, Finallygotabentley and Starship Nterprise.

The session's leading buyer was Woodford Thoroughbreds, which spent $1,245,000 to acquire five in-foal broodmares.

The November Sale resumes Friday with the second session of the two-day Book 2. The auction continues through Friday, Nov. 19 with all sessions beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

The post Weanling Justify Colt Sells For $625,000 To Headline Day Two Of Keeneland November Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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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Sea The Stars Colt Lights Up Second Day Of Tattersalls October Book 1

A colt by Sea The Stars was the star turn on the second day of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, selling for 1.2 million guineas during a session that saw a clearance rate of 87 percent and turnover of 30,116,000 guineas.

The top lot on the second day of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 was the Sea The Stars colt from Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's Watership Down Stud, who realized 1.2 million guineas to the bid of Charlie Gordon-Watson on behalf of Woodford Racing's Bill Farish. The colt is out of the Dubawi mare So Mi Dar, winner of the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera. So Mi Dar is a half-sister to champion 2- and 3-year-old Too Darn Hot and a daughter of Lloyd-Webber's triple Group 1 winning Dar Re Mi, herself a daughter of the farm's foundation mare Darara.

Lady Lloyd-Webber was at Park Paddocks to see her homebred colt sell, and husband Andrew Lloyd-Webber arrived in Newmarket just in time to catch the sale too.

“I got here just in time in a taxi, I just walked in at the 600,000 guineas mark,” laughed Lord Lloyd-Webber.

“We never expected to break the million-guinea barrier, because no one ever does. Maybe Andrew is our lucky omen,” said a delighted Lady Lloyd-Webber. “It is very difficult to do that. The Dar Re Mi family is carrying on, and that is what it is all about from a foundation mare. We are now in the third generation, it is really wonderful to see this family keep going.

“He is a beautiful horse, hopefully he will win the Guineas. And then will carry on winning Group 1s like the rest of the family.”

Purchaser Charlie Gordon-Watson said the purchase was the result of a last-minute phone call.

“Bill Farish rang me just an hour ago and said, 'What about this horse? What do you think?' I told him that I thought he was the best horse I have seen at the sale.

“I know the family backwards, as Bill does, and he is a great friend of Simon Marsh, but he did not want to Simon to know anything about it. Simon had no idea.”

Gordon-Watson added: “It all happened in the last hour and a half. I think I got the valuation right as I told Bill that I thought he'd make between 800,000 guineas and 1.2 million.

“I have been involved in the family all the way through, I bought Darara and this colt is very typical of the family, perhaps a bit bigger because they are all slightly smallish, Darara was quite small. He is a very athletic horse, I have been going on about Lot 277 for a long time.”

Of Farish's plans for his new colt and reasoning behind the purchase, Gordon-Watson said: “Bill liked the pedigree and the mare, everything is so international now. The horse will stay here, and no trainer has been decided as yet.”

Early in the evening the Kingman colt out of the G2 May Hill Stakes winner Turret Rocks became the second lot to breach the million-guinea mark when knocked down to M.V. Magnier for 1.1 million guineas after a bidding war with Anthony Stroud stood alongside David Loder and trainer Charlie Appleby. The colt is the first foal of the Fastnet Rock mare and was consigned by the Egan family's Corduff Stud on behalf of the Andrew & Roseanne O'Grady Walshe's Farmleigh Bloodstock.

Corduff Stud's David Egan was suitably delighted;

“He is a magnificent horse, he really is. I am delighted they bought him, I was not sure they were on him, but they stood up and bought him. It is great.

“This horse was bred by John Corcoran and he bred the horse with Jim Bolger, and bought him out in training. John had a vision of what he wanted to do with the horse, he had a plan and facilitated a way to make it happen. He owned this horse in with his children, Andrew and Roseanne O'Grady Walshe, through Farmleigh Bloodstock.

“She is a beautiful mare, she is by Fastnet Rock, she is big, she is robust, she is strong. She was so honest on the track and John, unfortunately is not with us, but he was very involved in the mating. He chose Kingman, it is great.

“The bidding took a long time, but it got more enjoyable as we went on.”

The colt traces back to the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Riviere d'Or and the family of ten-time Group 1 winner Goldikova.

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues on Thursday, 7th October from 11am with the third and final session.

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