Magnificent Honour brings $600,000 at Keeneland

Last updated: 1/10/12 8:59 PM

Magnificent Honour, a full
sister to Rags to Riches and in foal to Giant’s Causeway, topped
Tuesday’s session
(Keeneland Photo)

MAGNIFICENT HONOUR (A.P. Indy), a 10-year-old daughter of Broodmare
of the Year Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), sold for $600,000 to Blandford
Bloodstock at Tuesday’s second session of the Keeneland January Horses of All
Ages Sale. Offered by Paramount Sales, agent, Hip 417 was sold in foal to
Giant’s Causeway on a March 26 cover.

Blandford Bloodstock’s Tom Goff signed the ticket on behalf of a undisclosed
European-based client. Goff said Magnificent Honour will remain in Kentucky and
likely be bred back to Giant’s Causeway.

“She’s a standout on pedigree,” Goff said. “It’s probably one of the best
families in the American Stud Book, in my opinion.”

A full sister to champion and 2007 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winning-filly Rags
to Riches, Magnificent Honour is also a half-sister to 2006 Belmont winner Jazil
(Seeking the Gold) and Irish highweight Man of Iron (Giant’s Causeway).
Magnificent Honour also counts as a three-quarter brother Grade 2 winner Casino
Drive (Mineshaft).

Multiple Grade 2 queen Cozi
Rosie brought the second-highest price
(Keeneland Photo)

Magnificent Honour’s second dam, multiple Grade 1 winner Blush With Pride
(Blushing Groom), was produced by Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic
Judge).

Multiple Grade 2 winner COZI ROSIE (Pleasantly Perfect) was sold as a
broodmare prospect for $525,000 to Shadai Farm. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent,
the five-year-old mare toured the ring as Hip 675.

Campaigned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Sadler, Cozi Rosie
captured the Grade 2 Buena Vista Handicap and Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes last
season, as well as the 2010 Grade 3 Senorita Stakes. She placed twice at the
Grade 1 level in her final season of action, concluding her career with a second by three parts of a length in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes on October 1. She
retired with a mark of 14-5-4-2, $527,280.

Produced by the winning Felidia (Golden Fleece), Cozi Rosie is a half-sister
to Grade 2-winning sire Lexicon and the multiple stakes winner My Captain, both
by Conquistador Cielo. She hails from the extended family of 1962 juvenile filly
champion Smart Deb (Dedicate).

Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm secured a yearling colt by Unbridled’s Song for
$490,000. They May 27-foaled gray was offered by Havens Bloodstock Agency,
agent, as Hip 749.

Produced by Ideal Image (Hennessy), the colt is a three-quarter brother to
multiple Grade 1 winner Sassy Image (Broken Vow), a finalist for an Eclipse
Award as champion female sprinter of 2011. Sassy Image won three of six starts
last season, including the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap, Grade 1 Humana
Distaff, and the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes. She also captured two graded
stakes as a juvenile in 2009, among them the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes.

The five-year-old Sassy Image has a record of 15-7-2-1, $809,931.

Grade 3 winner TOUCHING BEAUTY (Tapit), carrying her first foal by
Unbridled’s Song on a February 17 cover, was gaveled down to Eaton Sales, agent,
for $450,000. The five-year-old was offered by Gainesway, agent, and sported Hip
568.

Winner of the Grade 3 Comely Stakes in 2010, Touching Beauty retired with a
record of 10-3-2-0, $183,166. Produced by the stakes-winning Victory Road (Ikari),
she is a full sister to stakes winner Noisy Feet.

Business remained brisk and well ahead of pace over last year’s sale at the
conclusion of trading on Tuesday, when 278 horses changed hands for $16,183,100.
This was an 81.6 percent increased over the corresponding session in 2011 when
$8,912,600 was realized from the sale of 205 horses. The session average rose
33.9 percent, from $43,476 to $58,213, while the median gained 35 percent, from
$20,000 to $27,000.

After two days, 487 horses have brought $30,115,300, an increase of 53.6
percent over this point last year when 392 horses had sold for $19,600,200. The
average has risen 23.7 percent, from $50,001 to $61,838, while the median is
ahead 50 percent, from $20,000 to $30,000.

The four-day auction runs through Thursday, with each session beginning at 10
a.m. (EST). For the catalog, complete results and live video of the sale, log
onto www.keeneland.com.