Lexington, Ky. – The bullish market continued on the third day of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale, with the session registering robust gains on Wednesday and featuring the sale of Royal Obsession, a 2-year-old daughter of Tapit in training for her racing debut, for $1.15 million to Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables.
Royal Obsession became the first seven-figure horse to be sold during the third session of the Keeneland November Sale since 2011. A total of 22 seven-figure horses have been sold during the first three days of the 2015 November Sale.
On Wednesday, Keeneland sold 229 horses for $30,788,000, a 3.66 percent increase from last year when 271 horses grossed $29,701,000. The average of $134,445 was 22.67 percent above the average of $109,598 in 2014. The median of $100,000 was up 17.65 percent from last year’s $85,000.
“I thought today’s sale was excellent,” Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. “Foals sold very, very well. Young mares, especially those with winning produce, were in demand, and prime 2-year-old prospects were well received.”
Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 508 horses for $139,666,000, an 11.24 percent increase compared to the gross of $125,553,000 for 544 horses sold through the corresponding period last year. The average of $274,933 represents a 19.12 percent gain from $230,796 in 2014, while the median of $160,000 is up 28 percent from last year’s $125,000.
Consigned by Three Chimneys Farm, agent for the Complete Dispersal of Nat Rea’s Regis Farms LP, the session-topping Royal Obsession is out of the Tiznow mare Rote, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Magnificent Song. The filly sold as a weanling for $550,000 at the 2013 November Sale.
John Moynihan, bloodstock adviser to Stonestreet, indicated Royal Obsession would continue in training with Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs.
“She’s been training absolutely lights-out super, and Steve’s high on her,” Moynihan said. “We decided to take a shot. She’ll run for us (and Asmussen). She looks like she’ll be a breeding prospect for next year. I thought she would bring a million dollars, but I didn’t know where she would go past that. We’re happy.”
Three Chimneys Chief Commercial Officer Case Clay agreed.
“She’s on her fourth five-furlong breeze and is doing really well,” Clay said. “Beautiful mare with a lot of potential, and she’s ready to run. Hopefully, Stonestreet will have some luck with her.”
Overprepared, a stakes-winning daughter of Quality Road in foal to leading first-crop sire Uncle Mo, sold for the day’s second-highest price of $450,000 to Woodford Thoroughbreds.
Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned Overprepared, a 3-year-old half-sister to Grade 1 winner Shadow Cast. She is out of the Dayjur mare Daily Special and from the family of Canadian champion Legarto.
“She’s gorgeous, she had an absolute beautiful physical,” said Matt Lyons, general manager of Woodford Thoroughbreds. “She’s a half to a Grade 1 winner. She’s in foal to the right horse, and she’s nice and young. She was our pick of the day on the physical.”
Two mares brought the session’s third-highest price of $410,000 each.
Harbor Mist, a stakes-winning daughter of Rockport Harbor in foal to Speightstown, sold for the amount to WinStar Farm. Nursery Place, agent, consigned the 6-year-old mare, who is out of the Risen Star mare Jaramar Miss. Harbor Mist is a half-sister to stakes winner Jaramar Rain.
“(She’s a) good mare, in foal to the right horse,” said Elliott Walden, president and CEO and racing manager of WinStar, which stands Speightstown. “I thought she was top-end and would bring about (the $410,000 price). I think the (market) is fair, but not crazy. It’s a good market.”
Selling for the same price to Margaret O’Toole was Passion Overflow, an 8-year-old daughter of Hennessy in foal to Quality Road. Out of the Thatching mare Polar Bird (IRE), Passion Overflow is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Ocean Ridge and stakes winners My Redbyrd, Fokine and Polar Circle. She was consigned by Lane’s End, agent.
“She’s the dam of a very nice stakes filly in Ireland and she’ll go back to Ireland,” O’Toole said, referring to the mare’s 2-year-old stakes winner Bebhinn, by Street Boss. “I bought her for a partnership.”
At $370,000, the session’s top-priced weanling was a colt by Uncle Mo acquired by Copper River Farm. Summerfield, agent for Parrish Hill Farm, consigned the colt, who is out of the winning Hennessy mare Gypsy Sage and from the family of Grade 3 winner Derrianne and Grade 1 stakes-placed Normandy Invasion.
The session’s leading buyer was Crupi’s New Castle, who purchased seven horses for $1,585,000.
Lane’s End Farm was the leading consignor, selling 28 horses for $4,491,000.
The November Sale continues through Friday, Nov. 13. Sessions start at 10 a.m. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.
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