THE health of the US bloodstock industry is expected to be once again apparent at Keeneland next week, as the November Breeding Stock Sale gets underway on Tuesday, November 4th and runs through Tuesday, November 11th.
Nine fillies and mares sold for $1 million or more 12 months ago, with market strength clear in the record median price of $40,000 and increased turnover of $196,442,900.
The market has shown no sign of faltering since. If anything, it has grown - the venue’s September Yearling Sale became the highest-grossing auction worldwide when generating sales of $531.5 million.
Strong yearling trade inevitably boosts pinhookers’ spending, but last year it also saw end users seek an alternative source to fill their orders. It’s something that Glenn Hill’s Craig Bernick referred to after giving $900,000 for a colt by Into Mischief at last year’s sale. Amo Racing was another familiar name on the buyers’ sheet, parting with $725,000 for a Curlin colt.
Both sires are represented by weanlings in next week’s catalogue, along with the likes of American Pharoah, Bolt d’Oro, Candy Ride, City Of Light, Constitution, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Hard Spun, Justify, Maclean’s Music, Maxfield, McKinzie, Not This Time, Nyquist, Omaha Beach, Practical Joke, Quality Road, Tapit, Uncle Mo, Volatile, War Front and Yaupon.
First test
They will be joined by the first foals by Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish and Kentucky Derby winner Mage, among others, along with mares carrying first season covers to Preakness victor Seize the Grey, Belmont winner Dornoch and Breeders’ Cup hero More Than Looks.
The catalogue features dispersals by Bonne Chance Thoroughbreds and Woodford Thoroughbreds, along with a part reduction of bloodstock owned by Leonard and Jon Green’s D.J. Stable.
The sale highlights will undoubtedly occur in the opening session of Book 1, with 231 quality fillies, mares and weanlings due to go under the hammer. Last year’s opener, and the entire sale, was topped by multiple graded winner Roses For Debra, at $2.4 million.
The price was a fitting end to the incredible journey the Liam’s Map mare had taken owner John O’Meara on since being purchased as a yearling for $25,000 from the late Gerry Dilger’s Dromoland Farm. The Christophe Clement-trained grey accumulated earnings exceeding $800,000 during her career.
Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm signed the docket and ended the sale as leading buyer, her spend of $6,635,000 over double that of her nearest rival, Zhang Yuesheng’s Willingham Stud.
Other international players at the top end included Katsumi Yoshida, Amo Racing, Hidetoshi Yamamoto, Poonawalla Astonish Stud, Kia Ora Stud, Nurlan Bizakov’s Sumbe and Hugo Merry on behalf of Blue Diamond Stud.
Lot 9: Blacktype mare Unbound is offered carrying an own brother or sister to Grade 1 winner Arabian Lion (Justify)
Lot 10: Half-sister to Arabian Lion, by Gun Runner, the leading sire by yearling average at $994,479
Lot 37: Aurelia’s Mischief is out of King’s Stand Stakes winner Lady Aurelia and is carrying a maiden cover to Good Magic
Lot 51: Stakes winner Cairo Sugar is out of a dual Grade 1 winner and is offered in foal to Justify
Lot 60: Well-related Distorted Humour mare Complex Analysis has already produced Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 performer Intricate. In foal to Into Mischief
Lot 65: Colt from the first crop of Forte is a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Moira, who sold for $4.3 million last November
Lot 82: Curlin filly foal is a half-sister to four stakes winners, led by dual Grade 1 winner Kopion, a leading contender in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Lot 93: Greenfinch, a listed winner for Aidan O’Brien, is a Justify half-sister to U S Navy Flag and Roly Poly. The daughter of Misty For Me is in foal to Gun Runner
Lot 104: Candy Ride filly foal is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 runner-up Dr Dorr
Lot 106: Medaglia d’Oro half-sister to champion three-year-old filly Malathaat, with Grade 1 winners as her first and second dam. Covered by Good Magic
Lot 115: Lady Claypoole (Starspangledbanner) was only rated 72 in the UK but went on to win a Grade 3 and finish second in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes
Lot 117: Dual graded winner La Mehana placed in the Prix de Royallieu
Lot 124: Long Wave is a half-sister to Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River, in foal to Curlin
Lot 129: Lush Lips gained the ultimate update when winning a Grade 1, having previously placed in the Del Mar Oaks
Lot 130: Majia is a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Good Magic, in foal to Practical Joke
Lot 137: Mission Of Joy is a three-time graded winner and twice Grade 1-placed
Lot 146: Gun Runner colt out of Grade 1 winner Nickname, making him a half-brother to Group 3 winner Ides Of March
Lot 156: Flightline filly foal out of Grade 1 winner Oleksandra
Lot 173: Belmont Oaks runner-up Prerequisite is a half-sister to a Grade 3 winner
Lot 184: Grade 1 winner Restless Rider, whose yearling colt by Gun Runner sold for $1.2million in September, is offered in foal to Justify
Lot 185: Richi won two Grade 1s in her native Chile and is twice a graded winner in the US. Lines up in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Lot 187: Vahva’s five graded wins include Grade 1 success in the Distaff Stakes, a race her dam placed in. Due to run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Lot 200: Tapit filly foal is a half-sister to Belmont Oaks heroine Concrete Rose
Lot 223: Grade 1 winner Kilwin is a late addition to the catalogue. The daughter of Twirling Candy is a half-sister to a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 performer
Lot 267: Quality Road mare Who’s Ticket is out of champion two-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi. In foal to Practical Joke
Book 1 (Session 1): Tuesday,
November 4th from 2pm
Book 2 (Sessions 2-3): Wednesday, November 5th to Thursday, November 6th, from 10am each day
Book 3 (Sessions 4-5): Friday, November 7th to Saturday, November 8th, from 10am each day
Book 4 (Sessions 6-8): Sunday, November 9th to Tuesday, November 11th, from 10am each day