MIDDLE Eastern investment is not restricted to European sales and racing, as was evident at Fasig-Tipton’s July Selected Horses of Racing Age, where bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni bid a record-breaking price of $1.7 million.

The object of his affections, stakes-winning two-year-old Romeo, was bought on behalf of the Libyan-based partnership Tagermeen Racing. The combination made a big impression at this year’s breeze-up sales, spending $2,795,000 at the same venue’s Midlantic Sale, and $4,855,000 at the OBS Spring Sale.

Mouni had said that those juveniles would remain in the US, as will Romeo this year, with a move to the Middle East on the agenda for 2026. “The horse is very nice, he looks amazing,” Mouni continued.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect to give this amount; I was thinking $750,000 to $1 million. I’m sweating. Can I go to the pool now?!”

Retained as a yearling for $14,000, the ugly duckling underwent his transformation in the care of John Robb for owner Joseph Lloyd. A debut winner at Laurel Park in May, the Honor A.P. colt subsequently placed in a listed stakes at Saratoga and progressed to win a similar race in impressive fashion at Churchill 10 days ago. He was consigned by Pat Costello and Gabriel Duignan’s Paramount Sales on Tuesday.

Records all round

The record-breaking top price coincided with historical highs for the average ($157,588), median ($95,000) and clearance rate (94%). The median, which is often considered as the best reflection of market depth, represented a 53% increase from 12 months ago, when 23% fewer horses were offered.

Steve Asmussen is among the trainers that Mahmud Mouni has previously mentioned for Tagermeen Racing’s buys, and he will be hoping he receives Romeo, especially after his multiple graded stakes winner Red Route One sold for $550,000 that same day.

Emmanuel de Seroux’s Narvick International signed for the five-year-old son of Gun Runner, who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales.

The catalogue featured six horses from the estate of the late D. Wayne Lukas, the most expensive of which was an unraced two-year-old colt named Delancey Street. Justin Casse gave $400,000 for the son of Street Sense, who was retained for $180,000 as a yearling.

“I’m not going to say we knew it was going to be this strong, but we knew it was going to be strong,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning of the horses of racing age sale. “The demand (for racehorses) is off the charts, and you saw that demand today.”

Healthy demand for yearlings

The sale was preceded by the first American yearling sale of the year, the July Sale, which experienced solid trade. From a marginally reduced number offered 12 months ago, the median held steady at $90,000 – a record set in 2022. The average, meanwhile, dropped by almost 4% to $107,203 and the clearance rate came in at 72%.

On the opening section, Browing reflected: “It was a really solid start to the yearlings sales season. It was, as we expected, a very similar yearling marketplace to last year. Trade was solid. If you brought a well-conformed horse here that was athletic, mature, and vetted well, you were rewarded.”

A colt from the first crop of Ashford Stud’s triple Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher topped the yearling sale, bringing $350,000 from China Horse Club and Maverick Racing. A three-parts brother to three-time winner Norwich (Munnings), the chesnut was consigned by Zach Madden’s Buckland Sales.

Vekoma, who was crowned champion first season sire last year, provided the highest-priced yearling filly at $345,000. It marked a terrific result for Shawhan Place, who bought her dam, Sundar, for $22,000 and covered the daughter of Bernardini at a cost of $17,500.

The February-born chesnut was one of eight yearlings bought by Kenny McPeek, the trainer with the most lots purchased at the sale, earning him an innovative bonus of $25,000. On his most expensive buy, the McPeek commented: “She was an exceptional standout. She’s a classic-type filly, fingers crossed.”