Gross, average rise at Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale

Last updated: 11/13/15 6:31 PM

Gross, average rise at Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock
Sale

Keeneland November concluded on Friday with increases in gross, average
(Keeneland Photos)

Keeneland concluded its premier November Breeding Stock
Sale on Friday with solid results that echoed recent market trends: brisk trade
from the world’s deepest contingent of buyers; keen competition for exceptional
individuals that led to 22 horses sold for seven-figures, highlighted by the
sale of champion TAKE CHARGE BRANDI for $6 million to be the most expensive
Thoroughbred sold at public auction in the world this year; and strong demand
for top-quality foals that produced a North American record-priced weanling for
the second consecutive November Sale.

This year’s November Sale was held November 2-13, and
immediately followed Keeneland’s successful inaugural hosting of the Breeders’
Cup World Championships on October 30-31.

“Keeneland has been the center of the Thoroughbred racing
and sales world this fall, with the race meet and Breeders’ Cup bookended by two
strong auctions,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “As we planned
for the Breeders’ Cup, we believed that its international appeal would
positively impact the November Sale, and it did.

“Horsemen from across the U.S.
and around the world attended the Breeders’ Cup and then stayed to participate
in the sale, adding further depth to our already incomparable buying bench.
Consignors took advantage of this unique opportunity to showcase their best
horses to a global audience.”

Gross sales of $218,959,400 for the 12-day November Sale
increased 6.34 percent over 2014, surpassing last year’s 11-day auction total of
$205,899,500 on the ninth day of selling. Total sales represent the highest
gross since the November Sale record of $340,877,200 set in 2007. This year
2,575 horses were sold compared to 2,512 in 2014.

The cumulative average of $85,033 rose 3.74 percent from
last year’s $81,966 to mark the highest since 2007. The median price of $30,000
was just below the $35,000 posted in 2014.

“The market continues to show stability; however, the
strength of this sale was built on the depth and breadth of buyers assembled at
Keeneland,” Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. “Keeneland’s
international development strategy continues to bear fruit. Trade was very
active despite the diminished participation of last year’s two leading buyers.
Our year-round recruitment efforts have established Keeneland as the world’s
leading provider of horses and buyers at every level of the market.”

A total of 22 horses, purchased by 18 different buyers, fetched seven-figure prices compared
to 18 last November. Six sold for $2 million or more each and included champion
Take Charge Brandi ($6 million) and Grade 1 stakes winners PHOTO CALL ($3
million) and HARD NOT TO LIKE ($2.2 million), as well as the top three
highest-priced weanlings sold at public auction this year. The purchase price for Take Charge Brandi was the highest
at the November Sale since 2007, when John Ferguson Bloodstock bought Playful
Act, consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent for Swettenham Stud,
for the sale-record $10.5 million.

“Buyers remain very selective, even picky, but the money is
there for the quality horses,” Russell said. “However, not all horses are
desired by the market. Consignors who brought a top horse were well
compensated.”

The market for quality foals remained robust among
pinhookers and end-users both, with a Keeneland-record six weanlings commanding
seven-figure prices.

“We featured a unique collection of foals that gave buyers
the rare opportunity to acquire one-of-a-kind individuals from exclusive
families,” Russell said.

Three weanlings, each by leading sire War Front, sold for
$2 million or more.

Eaton Sales, agent, consigned a weanling filly out of
Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, who was hammered down to Mandy Pope’s
Whisper Hill Farm for $3.2 million, a North American record for a weanling sold
at public auction. The price bested last year’s North American record of $3
million, also established at the November Sale, paid for a Tapit filly.

Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier paid $2.6 million, the
second-highest price for a weanling colt in November Sale history, for a
half-brother to Grade 1 winner Honor Code. A War Front filly out of Grade 1
winner Awesome Maria sold for $2 million to Willis Horton. Both foals were
consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent.

Machmer Hall and Haymarket paid $53,000, the highest price
of the final session, for the six-year-old Unbridled’s Song mare PRIME THE PUMP.
Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, the mare is out of stakes winner Cintarosa,
by Grand Slam.

Keeneland’s next sale will be the 2016 January Horses of
All Ages Sale, to be held January 11-15.