A standout son of the late Empire Maker bought for $750,000 to prime the standings Oct. 26 at a blockbuster second session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale, which stays on monitor as one for the report books halfway by the four-day span.
“A record-breaking session in all regards—report gross and report common for the October Sale, co-highest worth ever for a colt, however extra vital was the continued stage of exercise,” Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browing Jr. mentioned. “An incredible RNA fee general immediately. Individuals are placing in reserves that had been constantly getting doubled and tripled.”
From 792 yearlings cataloged for the primary two periods, 554 yearlings have bought for gross receipts of $24,977,100 for a report $45,085 common and a report $20,000 median. The cumulative RNA fee is eighteen.4%, down from 21.4% final yr.
On the identical level a yr in the past, 489 yearlings bought of the 776 cataloged for $16,390,500 at a mean worth of $33,518 and a $15,000 median. The report gross for this sale is $38,258,900, set in 2019, the identical yr the typical mark of $37,955 was attained. The report median of $18,500 was set in 2014.
Fasig-Tipton reported 280 yearlings modified palms at Tuesday’s session for receipts of $13,960,200, boasting a mean worth of $49,858 and a $25,000 median. An RNA fee of 17.2% represents the 58 horses that went unsold on the second day of promoting. On the identical session in 2020, 241 yearlings bought for $7,996,700, with a mean worth of $33,181, and a $15,000 median. The 62 horses unsold represented an RNA fee of 20.5%.
The brand new sale-topping worth ranks as co-highest for a colt on the autumn yearling sale, matching a son of Saint Ballado bought in 2000.
“A report median is the best indicator of the depth and enhance in high quality. The consumers would love to purchase the horses for much less, however there’s extra competitors, and the standard of horse that walks by the ring is best than we’ve got seen beforehand,” Browning mentioned. “You like to see the median enhance, and it is a related statistic. And the typical is vital, too. With this sale being unfold over 4 days of promoting 1,600 horses, the typical remains to be an excellent indicator of the market.”
Boyd Browning Jr.
The environment on the grounds continued to be vibrant, loaded with individuals keen to buy horses for winter plans of breaking and coaching, trying ahead to the 2022 race meets.
“An lively crowd, making it a good time to be promoting horses,” Browning mentioned. “One good factor about this sale is you get to speak to individuals from all around the nation, and there’s a bounce of their step … trainers from the mid-west, east, down south, and right here in Kentucky. There may be some vital participation from the Latin consumers as nicely.
“Trainers and homeowners want horses, the purses are fairly darn good, and they seem like on the rise to the horizon that would be the subsequent couple of years.”
The brand new sale topper, a Kentucky-bred colt consigned by Machmer Corridor Gross sales, agent, as Hip 513 was bought over the web by Jacob West for St. Elias Stables, who was working from the again ring on the sale. The son of Empire Maker heralds from the feminine household of 2003 Gainsborough Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) winner Musical Chimes . The colt’s third dam, Note Musicale , produced five-time grade 1-winner Music Note , the dam of this year’s Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner Mystic Guide .
Carrie Brogden, who consigned the colt, said: “The market seems good for those who jump through the hoops. I tell people that you don’t need to put reserves on the other kind of horse; just let the market tell you what it’s at. Hip 513 had a $24,000 reserve, so it’s been a good day, but it’s hard, like every day.”
The second-highest price of the day came for the Canadian nursery Sam-Son Farm, who offered Hip 469, a homebred Uncle Mo filly out of Song of the Lark, the dam of Up With the Birds , Canadian Horse of the Year and Canada’s champion 3-year-old colt in 2013. The partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables went to $450,000 to secure the promising filly.
“It’s been insane, in a good way,” Gainesway general manager Brian Graves said of the sale. “Full of action. It seems like more people are showing up every day. We are busy into the third day of showing horses, and it seems like people are getting shuffled back trying to find something they can make a case for. It’s been a feeding frenzy.”
Brian Graves at Fasig-Tipton
“I think this sale has been getting better every year,” said Duncan Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency. “We now see European people shopping this sale. It’s more of the same; in September it kept getting stronger and stronger.”
“The nice ones are bringing good money,” said prominent 2-year-old pinhooker Randy Hartley of Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, who purchased a $300,000 Curlin colt consigned as Hip 437 by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent. “It’s been hard (to buy). It’s a pretty strong sale if you like something. I had been waiting on this colt. We haven’t bought many this year.”
The results of the past two days are no surprise to those who have tracked the trends seen all year at public auction.
“Everyone is trying to upgrade the quality of horses they are training and racing, which is a positive sign for our industry, both short and long term,” Browning said. “We are thrilled with today’s results. Once again, it goes back to us being given better horses to sell and a strong market. The men and women trust us and bring better quality horses to the sale in both pedigree and conformation. It’s a combination of factors that are getting us these results.
“Generally speaking, the percentage of horses that are coming into the marketplace today that are acceptable and of higher quality is much higher than it was five years ago.”
Hips 793-1188 go under the hammer for the third day of selling Wednesday, with the third session beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
