Keeneland’s April Equestrian Age Auction held on the last day of the Keeneland spring race has pushed the boundaries of what is possible for the world’s largest auction house. April 29 sale has a special update when Rodolphe Brisset trains Summer song rose home a fourth race winner on Friday’s cards before entering the evening sales round.
This year’s Carousel Stakes winner, Take place , made headlines the evening after acquiring $600,000 for Will and Sarah Farish from a Taylor Made Sales Agency shipment. The symbol is Hip 23, the 5-year-old daughter of Reprimand banked $323,840 from 12 starts. The versatile mare was also staked on the pitch in last year’s Camilla Urso Stock in Golden Gate Field.
“Acting is a six-hair professional, so she’ll be sprinting, and we hope to be back here at Keeneland Will Farish, who signed the ticket, said: “She’s won two games in a row and looks great. She is a beautiful person, very proper, and she goes back to Stuart Janney’s family where we like and hope one day breed her. “
The standout mare has been on Farish’s radar since the catalog was published, hoping that spring shopping will be a hit later this season and then down the street in the stables. Farish was the top buyer of the day with his one purchase.
Bill Farish at the sale
“You hope with buying them in April, they can make some money between now and November, and when she’s 5, the plan is for her to retire at the end of the year,” Farish said. . “Hopefully we can recoup a bit of the purchase price; we think we can buy her for a little bit less ($600,000).”
This year 70 horses passed through the ring, with 57 horses changing hands for a total of $4,899,000, a 100% increase from last year. An average price of $85,947 and an average of $50,000 were set for an opening day. An RNA ratio of 18.6% represents 13 horses that failed to meet their reserves.
“From start to finish, the energy is strong and the enthusiasm runs through at all levels; it’s very encouraging. We’ve adjusted the sale; last year it was held on Thursday afternoon. Two and lack of energy from the race. Join Tony Lacy, vice president of sales for Keeneland, said. believable. Like the old days, there was a real buzz, which we wanted to preserve, replicate, and build on not only for the April sale, but for all of the sales. “
Last year, 48 horses came under the hammer with 37 horses changing hands for a total of $2,440,000. The average price of $45,000 is set and the median is $65,946. There were 11 horses that did not reach the reserve, exhibiting an RNA ratio of 22.9%.
Derek Mackenzie, co-owner of Vinery Sales, commented: “The sale went very well for us; we’re happy. “The traffic in the barns is good and there’s a good amount of momentum, and I’m not surprised you can feel it coming.”
ELiTE Sales was the top same-day shipper after selling 13 of the 15 on offer for a total of $1,676,000 in sales, with an average price of $128,923.
Brad Weisbord, managing partner of ELiTE Sales, said: “We had a great buy and the market was as good as any horse in the training market we were in.” “I think Keeneland did a fantastic job in moving the sale from early April to late. It’s uniquely positioned right before (Kentucky) Derby (G1) and at the end of the race.”
Weisbord added: “It’s a great time in the horse business for all sellers. ELiTE has found its niche in the Horses in Training market and there has never been a better time to sell one. We don’t have any topper discounts this year, but we do have plenty of ‘commercial’ horses that are eligible for maiden races. There’s a lot of action beyond the reserve. , over $100,000. I can tell our sellers were happy and we had a lot of action at the barn all week.”
The last offer of the night, a stake in the police of Airdrie Start up landed as the second-highest buy of the evening, selling for $450,000 to Mike Freeny.
“We’re looking at flexibility and pushing boundaries. It’s important that we have a portfolio to showcase to people,” Lacy said. “To get the critical mass of horses out there and let people say this is an interesting category and to have the flexibility to enter horses showing current form especially in the meeting spring.”
(LR) Cormac Breathnach and Tony Lacy at the sale
Summer Anthem was a surprise addition to the end of the sale when the decision was made by his connections to add Temple City after his first win that afternoon.
“It takes a lot of people. It’s not simply about cooling the horse, checking it and leading it into the ring. Rudy Brisset is a great guy, and when the horse is about to go in the winner’s circle. today, we laughed about what if it was too late to make a sale and it didn’t. “We have the information in everyone’s hands and say, ‘Let’s do it!'”
Gainesway Ranch sent the song Summer Anthem through the ring, and the 3-year-old was purchased for $150,000 to Three Diamonds Ranch.
Blackadder in round at Keeneland HORA April discount
Another highly anticipated sale is El Camino Derby victor Blackadder, who is consigned by ELiTE. Also trained by Brisset, the second son of Quality Sugar earned a spot in this year’s Preakness Stakes (G1) following his El Camino Real Derby win. A full brother to bet winners and multiple bets graded Gingham Blackadder most recently finished a disappointing ninth in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in Keeneland oval.
Claiborne Ranch signed tickets on Blackadder for $250,000.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to work with a team like this and everyone deserves recognition,” says Breathnach. “From having a joke in the winner’s circle to selling the horse a few hours later and getting it into the hands of a wonderful owner at Three Diamonds Farm’s Kirk Wycoff was everything we wanted.”
The Spring Sale showcases the facts surrounding the meet-and-greet race on the closing day.
Lacy commented: “Race-age horses in the market are in high demand and we wanted to try to support that sector. “It allows people interested in getting into the game to get a few people together and engage with ownership in an informed way.”
