Changing Skies sells for $4.2 million
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2012) – The second day of selling at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale was headlined by the sale of graded stakes winners Pure Clan and Changing Skies (IRE) for $4.5 million and $4.2 million, respectively.
Brazilian Goncalo Torrealba, of Stud TNT, purchased Pure Clan, offered in foal to leading sire Bernardini, on behalf of his family’s breeding and racing operation. Torrealba previously campaigned 2005 turf champion Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) and Grade 1 stakes winners Cara Rafaela, dam of Bernardini. He said Pure Clan, one of two horses he purchased for a total of $4.88 million to rank as the day’s leading buyer, will go to Robert Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky.
“I liked her physical a lot, and the way that she won on both turf and dirt,” Torrealba said. “We are looking for good mares, and we just loved her.”
Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, Pure Clan is a seven-year-old mare by Pure Prize out of the graded stakes-winning mare Gather the Clan (IRE), by General Assembly. Six of her eight career wins came in graded stakes, including the American Oaks Invitational (G1), Flower Bowl Invitational (G1), Golden Rod (G2), Regret (G3), Modesty (G3), and Pocahontas (G3), for earnings of more than $1.9 million.
“She is an elite mare that all the major buyers wanted,” said Hill ‘n’ Dale President John Sikura. “She is a fantastic mare to look at; very athletic; great presence and class. She has a lot of charisma. Nobody could look at her and forget her.”
Hill ‘n’ Dale was the session’s leading consignor, selling nine horses for $11.67 million. In addition to Pure Clan, Hill ‘n’ Dale consigned Changing Skies, sold in foal to Street Cry (IRE) and purchased for $4.2 million by Nicolas de Watrigant’s Mandore International Agency, on behalf of an undisclosed client.
Changing Skies recorded four wins, including victories in the 2010 The Very One (G3) and 2011 La Prevoyante (G3). By Sadler’s Wells out of English Group 3 winner Magnificient Style, by Silver Hawk, the seven-year-old mare is a full sister to Group 1 winner Playful Act (IRE), who sold for a then-world-record $10.5 million at the 2007 November Sale. Changing Skies is a half-sister to Nathaniel, winner of the 2011 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) and 2012 Coral Eclipse (G1), and to 2012 Darley Irish Oaks (G1) winner Great Heavens.
“She’s by Sadler’s Wells; she’s a group performer herself, she’s a half-sister to three Group 1 winners; and Nathaniel was one of the best horses in Europe,” said Benoit Jeffroy of Mandore International Agency. “She’s a very attractive mare.”
Keeneland sold 109 horses for nearly $34 million Wednesday, for an average of $310,459 and a median of $200,000. During the second session in 2011, 138 horses brought $51.4 million, for an average of $372,500 and a median of $197,500. Cumulatively, 209 have been sold for $61.5 million, for an average of $294,282 and a median of $160,000. Last year, 285 horses grossed $114.7 million for an average of $402,391 and a median of $220,000.
Last year’s totals included two premier dispersals which sold the select portion of their consignments on the first and second days of the sale. On Day 1, 63 horses sold for $40.7 million as part of the record dispersal of the estate of Edward P. Evans’ Spring Hill Farm. On Day 2, 20 horses sold for $16.8 million as part of the dispersal of Saud bin Khaled’s Palides Investments N.V., Inc.
When totals for the Palides Investments N.V. dispersal are excluded from session two comparisons, 109 horses were sold for $33.8 million, down 2.17 percent over $34.6 million for 118 horses in 2011. Average price of $310,459 rose 5.9 percent over $293,153 last year, while the median of $200,000 was down 6.98 percent over last year’s $215,000.
When both the Spring Hill and Palides Investments N.V. dispersals are taken out of the two-day cumulative numbers, 209 horses have grossed $61.5 million, up 7.56 percent over $57.18 million in 2011. Average price increased 3.95 percent from $283,089 to $294,282, while the median decreased 13.51 percent from $185,000 to $160,000.
“It was a pretty solid day on all fronts,” said Walt Robertson, Keeneland vice president of sales. “Quality weanlings sold really well. We were happy with the sale of the two big mares, but we also had a lot of mares that sold well between a half-million and a million dollars. There are a limited number of top-quality mares that become available on the market. When they do, those people who are interested in playing at that level are willing to pay a premium for them.”
John McCormack Bloodstock bought the day’s highest-priced weanling, paying $800,000 for a colt by War Front out of the Seeking the Gold mare Questress. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, the colt is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Pomeroy and to Gold Vault, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Contested.
Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables went to $700,000 for Samantha Nicole, a yearling full sister to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Rachel Alexandra was campaigned by Banke and her late husband, Jess Jackson. The filly was consigned by Gainesway, as agent for the Dolphus C. Morrison Dispersal.
The November Sale continues through Friday, Nov. 16. Sessions begin daily at 10 a.m. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.
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