Japanese proprietor and breeder Masahiro Miki flexed his spending energy early Nov. 9 at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s premier breeding inventory sale. On his radar was Hip 146, Brave Anna , who fell the way of the buyer for an impressive $3 million.
“We’ve had a lot of success at this sale these last years,” said Carl McEntee of Ballysax Bloodstock, which consigned the mare. “We’ve sold two seven-figure mares in a row, but to sell a mare for $3 million as a young consignment, it’s obviously very special for us. I feel very privileged to be entrusted with a mare of such quality and I feel that she brought what she was worth. She’s a very special mare. We’re very grateful and thankful that it happened.”
A daughter of Claiborne Farm stallion War Front , Brave Anna has plenty of turf potential in her pedigree as she is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Liscanna , who was group 3-placed on the turf in Ireland. In addition to Brave Anna, Liscanna has also produced Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner and Spendthrift Farm stallion Hit It a Bomb as well as stakes-placed Border Town .
Bred and raced by Evie Stockwell, Brave Anna impressed early at 2, winning the Albany Stakes (G3) before taking group 1 honors three starts later in the Connolly’s Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Brave Anna was offered in foal to Lane’s End stallion Quality Road , who continued to build on his growing stature as a sire over the weekend when his undefeated juvenile son Corniche picked up his second grade 1 win in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at Del Mar.
The mare additionally has a 2-year-old filly racing in Japan by Darkish Angel named Angelsilica—who was purchased for $150,000 by North Hills from the Four Star Sales consignment to the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale—as well as a yearling colt and weanling filly by Ashford Farm stallion Justify .
“She was incredibly popular in the barn,” McEntee said of Brave Anna. “Corniche running well didn’t hurt, but I don’t think she needed much help. Her 2-year-old just finished second first time out the other day in Japan. We knew we had something very special, but it’s always nice when it comes to fruition.”
Later in the evening Miki scored another top turf female for $3 million when he signed the ticket for Aunt Pearl . Consigned as Hip 208 by ELiTE, agent, the Lope de Vega filly was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.
Bred in Ireland by Ecurie Des Charmes and Ballylinch Stud, Aunt Pearl is out of the Hurricane Run (IRE) mare Matauri Pearl . She was a $358,766 purchase by BSW Euro Venture from Ballylinch Stud’s consignment to Book 1 of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, and ultimately won the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.
Aunt Pearl at The November Sale
“I purchased her as a yearling at Tattersealls,” stated Liz Crow of ELiTE, who had initially bought the filly for $358,766 from the consignment of Ballylinch Stud to the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. “We purchased eight fillies over there. Michael Dubb, Madaket Secure, Michael Kisber, Peter Deutsch, Mike Caruso and Stuart Grant—all these guys supported us in our first yr going over to Tattersalls and it was past our wildest desires that we might purchase a Breeders’ Cup winner in our first group.
“Brad Cox did a ravishing job together with her. She received all three of her begins as a 2-year-old Lasix free. She had sensible velocity wire to wire and by no means was headed in any of her calls as a 2-year-old.”
Educated by Brad Cox and campaigned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber, and The Elkstone Group, Aunt Pearl was introduced as having been retired from racing in October. Her three begins at 2 included profitable the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) alongside together with her Breeders’ Cup rating. She made just one begin at 3 within the Edgewood Stakes Offered by Newport Racing and Gaming (G2T), the place she completed fifth.
“She confirmed herself rather well all week,” stated Crow. “I assume what actually pushed her excessive right here was that Bruce Jackson of Truthful Hill prepped her for us and did an exceptional job. She couldn’t have seemed higher. She had a ravishing coat, nice weight, and she or he confirmed herself with class this week. I would like to say the present particular person, Kathy Betz, she did an amazing job together with her, and she or he did an amazing job of maintaining her calm and joyful all week.
“The market is actually sturdy and it feels very energetic and like there are a number of teams out shopping for. There are a number of Japanese teams and a number of home patrons as properly. We had mares out 90-plus to 100-plus instances. There have been lots of people taking a look at our horses.”
Aunt Pearl is prepared for her closeup
