In the context of an outstanding renewal of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale, which surpassed last year’s total sales in the fifth session and produced the second-highest final total sales since 2007, the market for New York-bred weanlings and broodmares remained strong right through the final session of the 10-day auction when a filly from the first crop of New York sire Dublin topped the weanling offerings.
The Keeneland sale continued the momentum seen throughout the bloodstock market in 2013. Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said, “Much like what we saw in September, bidding was spirited among new and established buyers who were out in force through the very last day. The strength of Book 1 rippled through each strata of the market, with consistent increases seen from book to book. Our consignors are to be congratulated for an outstanding job of meeting the market.”
In all 92 New York-bred weanlings and broodmares / broodmare prospects changed hands at the sale for total receipts of $4,910,200. Forty-three weanlings sold for an average price of $50,591 and 49 broodmares averaged $55,812. The $37,000 median for all the New York-breds sold outperformed the overall sale median of $35,000, which posted a 59 percent increase from last year.
Seven New York-bred weanlings brought at least six figures, led by a bay filly by Lonhro (AUS) hammered down to Hubert Guy Bloodstock, Agent for $185,000 in Session 2. Born January 16, 2013 at Sequel Stallions NY, Hip 283 is the first foal produced by winner Aquarius Star (IRE) (Danehill Dancer), a half-sister to graded stakes winner Doc Holiday. JMJ Racing Stable, the breeder of the filly, purchased Aquarius Star at the 2012 January sale for $55,000. She was sold at the Keeneland November sale this year for $130,000.
The top New York-sired weanling was Hip 912, a bay colt from the first crop of Girolamo (Sequel Stallions NY 2012-2013). Bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor and foaled at Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent, the January 23 colt was purchased by Sal Fontino for $150,000. Consignor Denali Stud acted as agent for Stepwise Farm. The colt’s dam, winner Thin Disguise (Yes It’s True), is a half-sister to millionaire and New York-bred Horse of the Year Naughty New Yorker ($1,089,884) and stakes winner Pupil.
In the concluding session of the sale, Hip 3339, a chestnut filly from the first crop of Dublin (Keane Stud), topped the day’s weanling offerings. Purchased for $80,000 by BG Stables from the consignment of Vinery Sales/Millennium Farms, agent for Legend Land I, the filly was bred by Westerly Horse Farm and Tammy L. Jacobs and foaled on February 14 at Legend Land in Shortsville. The filly’s dam Time for Karakorum (Fly So Free) is a winner and has produced a winner. She was bred back to Dublin in 2013.
With the particular resurgence this year of the broodmare market, nine New York-bred broodmares / broodmare prospects met or exceeded the $100,000 threshold. Four-year-old Pure Gossip (Pure Prize) led the broodmare band bringing $225,000 in foal to Hard Spun in Session 3. Yushun Company signed the ticket. Bred by Nustar Breeding LLC and campaigned by Flying Zee Stable, Pure Gossip won the Grade 3 Miss Grillo Stakes in 2011. Selling for $220,000 was Midnight Visit (Henny Hughes), a stakes winner for Thoroughbred Futures Racing bred by Jerry Bilinski, DVM and Harry Patten. Grousemont Farm purchased the 5-year-old in foal to Union Rags.
