Blue Prize Leads Strong Edition of The November Sale

A catalog consisting of high-class mares, well-pedigreed racing or broodmare prospects, and top weanlings resulted in vibrant trade Nov. 5 at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's breeding stock sale in Lexington. 

With a deep cast of international buyers assembled at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky complex on a pleasant, crisp fall day, the auction mirrored most other North American sales over the past several years, with stiff competition for the horses perceived to be the best in the catalog.

Topping the sale at $5 million from Larry Best of OXO Equine was Blue Prize, winner of the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and one of the most desired offerings in the sale. Consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services as Hip 98 on behalf of John Moores and Charles Noell's Merriebelle Stable, Blue Prize was a group 1 winner in her native country of Argentina before she was brought to North America, and continued that success in the United States.

From 221 entered in the one-day sale, Fasig-Tipton reported 128 horses grossed $68,011,000 for an average price of $531,336 and a $300,000 median. Last year, 140 head sold for $89,473,000, an average of $639,093, and a $327,500 median. The 40 horses that went unsold this year represented an RNA rate of 23.8%.

Blue Prize led a group of 18 horses sold for seven figures.

"We continued the tradition of The November Sale having a wonderful marketplace of top-quality fillies and mares and top weanlings," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. "There was tremendous competition across the board from buyers around the world that came to buy. They bid aggressively on lots of offerings. To have 18 horses sell for $1 million or more is kind of mind-boggling.

"When you are able to have the support and confidence of men and women with quality horses, you can have exceptional sales, and I thought all in all we had an exceptional sale tonight," he said. "The market is the same we have seen in recent years. Quality sells. Quality sells. Quality sells. There was great competition on those horses that were standouts either on the racetrack or in their production cycle or have tremendous racing potential. It was a very wide and diverse group of individuals."

The final horse through the ring represented an emotional moment for the Fasig-Tipton team as it marked the retirement of Terence Collier, the auction firm's announcer and director of marketing who has been associated with the company for 40 years.

"It was Terence's last night," said an emotional Browning. "He has been a big part of the team. He went out literally on top, selling a horse in the stand for $1.4 million (Transplendid, purchased by Eaton Bloodstock, agent for Sugar Valley Farm). We will miss him. The core and fabric remains the same. Others will pick up the baton, and we've gotten some folks that have been involved in the last couple of years that will help fill those shoes. You don't replace Terence. He's been here 40 years. We've been through the highs and lows. He deserves to go do whatever the hell he wants to do."

The most expensive weanling of the sale was a Gun Runner  filly purchased by agent Mike Ryan for $750,000. A supplemental entry consigned as Hip 219, the filly was bred by Three Chimneys Farm out of multiple grade 1 winner Love and Pride. Her third dam is grade 1 winner Cara Rafaela, the dam of Bernardini .

It was a vibrant session from start to finish, with one of the last horses through the ring bringing $1.6 million as Marette Farrell signed on behalf of Mt. Brilliant Farm for Hip 216, the Discreet Cat mare Sweet N Discreet. Consigned by Lane's End, the 9-year-old is the dam of grade 2 winner Sweet Melania and was sold in foal to Liam's Map .

"We loved the mare," said Mt. Brilliant's Hutton Goodman. "It was the only mare on our list today. Our favorite mare was the first mare we were bidding on, so it really worked out for us. We love this family. We've been chasing this family for a really long time. My grandfather was one of the partners on A.P. Indy, racing him, so this family has always been near and dear to our hearts. We've always wanted a piece of it, and now we have one. We thought (the price) would be somewhere around here. $1.6 million is a lot of money, but she's a really nice mare. Those don't come along very often, so we're thrilled with every part of it."

One horse that failed to find a new home was America, a grade 3-winning daughter of A.P. Indy who placed in two grade 1 stakes. Consigned as Hip 92 by Stone Farm, agent for breeder/owner Bobby Flay, the 8-year-old mare in foal to prominent sire Uncle Mo was bought back for $3.1 million.

Overall, disappointments were at a minimum Tuesday, with most consignors pleased with the market.

Mark Taylor, whose family's Taylor Made Sales Agency had the largest group entered in the sale, said there was broad-based appetite among the deep international cast of buyers.

"I think the market is fair and good," he said. "We only had one surprising disappointment. It was a grade 1 winner in foal to Justify  that I thought would bring $1 million, and we bought her back. But everything else has sold significantly above the reserve. It isn't like we're getting 100% more than we thought. I think it's a good start to the November market."

"It seems to be very strong," said David Redvers, who was a seller and buyer. "It feels strong, with the odd bit of value. We've seen some very strong prices here today. We've sold very well as well. It's great to be part of such a vibrant market."

Claire Crosby and Meredith Daugherty contributed to this report.