$2.8 million Storm Cat colt tops strong Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale

$2.8 million Storm Cat colt tops strong Fasig-Tipton

Saratoga sale

On a Storm led all offerings at a sale dominated by Sheikh Mohammed (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, was again the most prominent bidder at Tuesday's second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale, going to $2.8 million to secure the sale-topping colt offered from the consignment of Lane's End, agent. ON A STORM (Storm Cat), who toured the ring as Hip No. 204, was produced from Onaga (Mr. Prospector), making him a three-quarter brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Aragorn (Ire) (Giant's Causeway). Onaga, a daughter of Grade 2 queen and 1985 Hollywood Derby (G1) runner-up Savannah Dancer (Northern Dancer), is herself a full sister to the Grade 2 winner and French classic-placed producer Sha Tha, the dam of French highweight State Shinto (Pleasant Colony). Onaga also counts as half-siblings the Group 3-winning Brier Creek (Blushing Groom [Fr]) and Tacha (Mr. Prospector), the dam of English and Irish highweight juvenile One Cool Cat (Storm Cat).

On a Storm's third dam was the Irish champion three-year-old filly of 1966

and dual classic winner *Valoris II (*Tiziano II), a half-sister to French

champion *Val de Loir (Vieux Manoir). This is also the family of French champion

Roi Lear (Reform), Irish co-highweight Theoretically (Theatrical [Ire]), and the

French Group 1 winner Cudas (Seattle Song).

The dark bay Kentucky-bred was the only offering Tuesday night that reached

seven figures. Coming next closest was Hip 224, a Distorted Humor colt who

brought $900,000 from Ferguson. The half-brother to 2006 Horse of the Year

Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes) was offered from the consignment of Hill 'n' Dale,

agent.

The colt's dam, unraced Quendom (Arg) (Interprete), is a full sister to

Argentinean Group 1 winner and producer Reina Victoriosa (Arg) as well Group 2

winner Qualified. The colt's third dam, Twitch Crown (Crown Thy Good), is an

ancestress of a host of other Argentinean Group 1 winners.

Hip No. 159, a colt by Medaglia d'Oro, who also sired the opening night's

session topper, went to Ferguson for $875,000 from the consignment of

Whitechurch Farm, Warrendale Sales, agent.

Produced from the unraced Kendall Hill (Theatrical [Ire]), the colt counts as

his second dam the Grade 2-winning Blue Jean Baby (Mr. Prospector), who also

produced the multiple stakes-winning producer Denim Yenem (Ogygian). Blue Jean

Baby is also the second dam of Grade/group 2-winning full brothers Limehouse and

Blues and Royals, both by Honour and Glory.

The highest selling filly was Hip 188, TANDOORI, a Hennessy full sister to Grade 2

winner India from the family of 2008 Canadian champion turf horse Rahy's

Attorney (Rahy). Consigned by Lane's End, agent, the chestnut went to BBA

(Ireland) for $775,000.

A filly by Storm Cat was one two offerings Tuesday that failed to meet their

seven-figure reserves. Offered by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, Hip 144

brought a final bid of $1.5 million. The half-sister to Grade 3 winners High

Cotton (Dixie Union) and Symphony Kid (Unbridled) is out of a three-quarter

sister to 1996 champion juvenile filly Storm Song (Summer Squall). Hip 173, an

A.P. Indy colt out of a half-sister to champion and classic winner Bernardini

(A.P. Indy), whose first-crop offspring were prominent at this sale, was bought

back with a final bid of $1.45 million. He hailed from the Padua Stables, Three

Chimneys Sales, agent, consignment.

Business remained brisk throughout the second session, and the entire sale

saw dramatic increases over last year. On Tuesday, 75 yearlings sold for

$25,760,000, a 43.8 percent increase over the results of last year's second

session when $17,920,000 was realized from the sale of 62 yearlings. The session

average jumped 18.8 percent, from $289,032 to $343,467, while the median spiked

15.6 percent, from $225,000 to $260,000.

Cumulatively, the two-night sale saw receipts of $52,549,500 from the sale of 160

head. This represented an increase of 45.6 percent from last year when

$36,080,000 was grossed from the sale of 122 yearlings. The sale average was up

11.1 percent, from $295,738 to $328,434, while the median drifted up 9.9

percent, from $227,500 to $250,000.

Full results are available at fasigtipton.com.