IRISH readers may be unfamiliar with many American consignors but will surely have heard of The Green Monkey.

First known as the most expensive horse in the world when selling for $16million in 2006, and since infamous for not living up to expectations, the record-breaking two-year-old was sold by Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo in the past.

Twenty years on, the same operation sold the highest-priced horse since then, a Flightline colt for $10.5 million – the highest price ever achieved at OBS Sales. Hartley and DeRenzo will be hoping their latest graduate justifies his price, as will Zedan Racing Stable, who bought through agent Donato Lanni.

After reporting that Amr Zedan’s purchase would be trained by Bob Baffert, Lanni commented: “There was a lot of hype on this horse. He followed through with the hype.

“When he worked, everyone got on that rail and watched and he delivered. He did everything that was asked of him.

“Amr is tough to outbid. He’s an emotional guy and he’s great for the sport. His enthusiasm is unbelievable.”

At the same venue last March, Zedan gave $3 million for subsequent Grade 1 winner Brant, but is best known for owning disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, who reinstated his Grade 1 winner status when taking the Awesome Again Stakes

Reflecting on Friday’s sale, Randy Hartley said: “You always want to be the best, that’s what you strive for. When you bring these kinds of horses to the sale and the horses we’ve sold in the past, people have high expectations and sometimes things don’t work out, and people get so disappointed.

“It’s hard to stay at that level because there are so many good people doing it now. They’re all trying to buy the same horses.”

On their latest headliner, Hartley continued: “This was just an amazing horse. We very rarely see these kinds of horses come through the two-year-old sales. From the breeze to showing, when you’re around him for five seconds, you can see that he breathes different air than other horses.”

Familiar faces

The top price wasn’t the only statistic smashed at the April Sale – new records were set across the board. Turnover of $113,823,000 bettered the 2022 high by 24%, while the average price of $178,686 was clear by 29% and the median climbed 14% to $70,000.

Seven horses sold for $1 million or more, with top-priced filly honours going to a daughter of Jackie’s Warrior consigned by Hartley and DeRenzo.

Dermot Farrington’s bid of $ 2.3million was the highest ever paid for a juvenile filly at OBS and marked a huge return on Arleigh Bonnaha’s $140,000 investment at the yearling sales.

Following the filly’s sale, DeRenzo said: “It means a lot, this is home. We sold the first million-dollar horse (at a two-year-old auction) here at OBS and she is the highest-priced filly. We are part of OBS. It feels good to do it at home.”

Farrington purchased the filly on behalf of Mrs Fitri Hay, whose racing manager Alex Cole simply said: “We wouldn’t spend that sort of money if there was any flaw.”

Farrington bought five juveniles totalling $3,530,000 over the course of the four-day sale.

The first millionaire of the sale, an Epicenter colt from Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, was knocked down to Justin Casse, Ben McElroy and Amo Racing for $1,950,000.

Interestingly, the colt had been bought for $275,000 as a yearling by Havertz Stables, whose name previously appeared alongside three lots from Aguiar Bloodstock at the 2024 Craven Breeze Up Sale. All three subsequently carried the colours of Amo Racing.