Storm Cat colt fetches more than $2 million at Keeneland

Storm Cat colt fetches more than $2 million at Keeneland

Son of Storm Cat is the first foal out of champion mare Fleet Indian  (Photos by Z/Keeneland Association) A day after no horse brought a seven-digit bid at the opening session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Tuesday’s second session provided more fireworks when three yearlings were sold for $1 million or more at the Lexington, Kentucky, auction. The session topper was STORM ‘N INDIAN (Storm Cat), who went to John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, for $2,050,000. Cataloged as Hip No. 342, the dark bay colt is the first registered foal out of Fleet Indian (Indian Charlie), the champion older female of 2006. The New York-bred won six of seven starts during her championship campaign, garnering major scores in the Beldame S. (G1), Personal Ensign S. (G1) and Delaware H. (G2). She was injured and eased during the running of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs, and retired with a record of 19-3-0-1, $1,704,513. “Fleet Indian was a champion and a star of a mare,” Ferguson commented. “He (the colt) is very athletic with a great pedigree.”

Storm ‘n Indian, who was foaled on February 2, was offered from the
consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Ferguson also took home the sale’s first $1 million yearling when signing for
Hip 245, a dark bay filly by Unbridled’s Song out of the Grade 3-winning
Strawberry Reason (Strawberry Road [Aus]), which makes her a half-sister to the
2002 champion juvenile colt Vindication (Seattle Slew) as well as the Grade
3-winning Scipion (A.P. Indy), Grade 2-placed Blackberry Road (Gone West) and
stakes-placed True Reason (Silver Deputy). Strawberry Reason is herself a
half-sister to the Grade 3-winning Silver Comet (Flip Sal).

Stone Farm, agent, consigned the filly, who has a birthdate of February 15.

A.P. Indy colt is a three-quarter brother to leading juvenile filly Mi Sueno (Photos by Z/Keeneland Association) A three-quarter brother to current juvenile filly star Mi Sueno (Pulpit) brought a final bid of $1 million from D.L. O’Byrne. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, Hip 383 is a March 15 colt by A.P. Indy. The chestnut is the second registered foal from the Grade 1-winning Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), who retired with a mark of 9-7-0-1, $1,052,852. Earning her signature victory in the 2004 Ashland S. (G1), Madcap Escapade has already produced Mi Sueno, who placed twice in maiden company at Hollywood Park before romping home by 6 1/2 lengths in the August 7 Sorrento S. (G3) at Del Mar. She remained at that track for the September 5 Darley Debutante (G1), which she won by a length. Madcap Escapade, herself produced by the multiple stakes-winning Sassy Pants (Saratoga Six), is a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again) and the stakes-winning Real Estate (High Yield). “Based on appearance and pedigree, he was my favorite horse of this sale,” O’Byrne said, adding that the colt will race in the United States.

Ferguson was again the session’s leading buyer, acquiring 17 yearlings for
$8,630,000.

Despite the presence of three million-dollar offerings, the second session
mirrored the opener with serious business declines. On Tuesday, 115 head sold
for $33,807,000. That represented a decline of 41 percent from the comparable
session last year when 146 yearlings brought $57,310,000. The session average
was down 25.1 percent, from $392,534 to $293,974, while the median was off 16.7
percent, from $300,000 to $250,000.

At the conclusion of the sale’s first two sessions, 222 yearlings have
brought $58,756,000 in receipts. That represents a cumulative decline of 48.2
percent from a year ago when 300 horses sold for $113,357,000. The sale average
is down 33.5 percent, from $377,857 to $264,667, while the median is down 28.3
percent, from $300,000 to $215,000.

“The sale is a reflection of what’s going on in the world; every other market
in the economy is down,” Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. “On
the positive side, the results of these sessions may show the industry to be
affordable, and encourage people to buy horses. These prices, coupled with the
benefits to horse owners under the new economic stimulus bill, may be the push
some need to get involved in the industry.”

The 14-day auction continues Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT). For more
information, including live video of the sale, log onto keeneland.com.

HORSES
SELLING FOR $775,000 OR MORE