The Thoroughbred auction market received a welcome bit of good news when
robust business at Wednesday’s final session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall
Yearling Sale in Lexington, Kentucky, generated across-the-board increases for
the three-day sale conducted at the Newtown Paddocks.
On Wednesday, 197 yearlings changed hands for $3,112,800, an increase of 44.7
percent over the comparable session last year when 166 horses brought $2,151,600.
The session average increased 21.9 percent, from $12,961 to $15,801, while the
median rose 10 percent, from $5,000 to $5,500.
Cumulatively, 566 yearlings sold for $7,895,400, a rise of 5.7 percent over
last year when $7,741,900 was realized from the sale of 553 horses. The average
was up 3.2 percent, from $13,512 to $13,949, while the median increased 9.1
percent, from $5,500 to $6,000. The number of horses not sold declined from 306
to 190.
The sale-topping price of $150,000, established on Tuesday, was tied not once
but twice Wednesday. Hip No. 683, a Dynaformer colt, was the first offering of
the day to reach that price. Consigned by Three Chimney Sales, agent, the April
27 Kentucky-bred was purchased by Julie Cauthen for Donegal Racing.
Produced by Knight Prospector (Native Prospector), winner of the 1993 Rancho
Bernardo H. (G3), the colt is a half-brother to the Japanese stakes-placed
Estreno (Holy Bull).
Also going for $150,000 was a Candy Ride (Arg) colt consigned by Viking Stud
Inc., agent, who toured the ring as Hip 776. The March 29 Kentucky-bred, the
first registered foal from the stakes-winning Midwife (Family Calling), was
bought by Lynden Branch.
Midwife, a half-sister to this year’s El Conejo H. (G3) runner-up Machismo
(Trippi) and the stakes-placed Dynamic Saint (Sweetsouthernsaint), is from the
family of Grade 2 winner Sun Catcher (Search for Gold) and Finallymadeit
(Concerto), winner this year of the Skip Away S. (G3) and Memorial Day H. (G3)
and runner-up in the Donn H. (G1).
All the Rage Partners went to $120,000 to secure an Offlee Wild colt produced
by Norene’s Nemesis (King Emperor), the dam of Grade 3 winner Lakota Brave
(Northern Prospect) and the English Group 3-placed Silverdale (Silver Hawk). The
April 24 Kentucky-bred was offered by Moonstone Sales LLC, agent, and sported
Hip 849.
The yearling hails from the family of Grade/Group 1 winners Winds of Thought
(Hail to Reason), Rustic Dream (Rustic Amber), Colonial Waters (Pleasant
Colony), Southern Sultan (Stage Door Johnny) and Danger’s Hour (Coastal), noted
sires Carson City (Mr. Prospector) and General Meeting (Seattle Slew), and
recent Calder Derby (G3) winner Sal the Barber (Alphabet Soup).
The session’s highest-priced filly, and the only other yearling to attract a
six-figure bid, was Hip 839 by Medaglia d’Oro, who went to Jun Park, agent, for
$100,000. The February 7 Kentucky-bred was consigned by Liberation Farm &
Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson), agent.
Produced from the stakes-winning Nasty Little Star (Nasty and Bold), the
filly is a half-sister to the stakes-placed John’s Burger (Johannesburg) and is
from the family of multiple Grade 3 winner El Cielo (El Prado [Ire]). She
previously RNA’d for $55,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Sale.