Fasig-Tipton November Sale Soars to Record Heights

Fasig-Tipton's premier breeding stock sale Nov. 9 lived up to its "Night of the Stars" moniker yet again, as the evening proved remarkable in every way. With records shattered and a buying frenzy by Japanese entities and American operations, 26 seven-figure horses sold to 18 different buyers.

From 274 cataloged, Fasig-Tipton reported 149 horses changed hands for gross receipts of $103,699,000, breaking the 2018 record gross of $89,473,000. The $695,966 average was the second-highest, with the record set at $772,297 in 2008. This year's median rose to $300,000 from $200,000 a year ago. Forty-five horses failed to sell, representing a buy-back rate of 23.2%.

At the 2020 sale, 142 horses sold out of 288 cataloged, grossing $80,237,000 with an average of $565,049 and a buy-back rate of 32.7%, which represented 69 unsold horses.

The sales grounds were packed and the market, which has been bullish all year, continued to rage. Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. said he was amazed at the success of the evening. He was quick to credit to the hard work the team behind him put into the night.

"Remarkable evening tonight; we were so fortunate to have such tremendous horses on the grounds. As we went around Sunday morning looking at the physicals, it was almost impossible to believe the quality of horses that were on the grounds," Browning said. "One after another, we would look at them … you'd say 'She's beautiful,' and then you would look at another one and say 'She's beautiful,' and then you couldn't see the next horse because there were people in front of you trying to look at them."

"We were supported by an incredible cross-section of horses from an unbelievable cross-section of consignors and owners, and that is what it's all about; it's the quality of horses that you have the opportunity to sell. We were fortunate tonight to have an all-star cast of offerings and to be supported by an excellent buying base from all over the world," Browning continued.

"We have been very fortunate that a lot of horses that have sold in this sale have gone on to become significant producers around the world, because of the quality of horses we have had the opportunity to sell." 

The star of the evening came when Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm teamed up with Three Chimneys Farm to purchase Magical World (Hip 203) for $5.2 million from Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency. The dam of grade 1-winner Guarana  (Hip 182, sold for $4.4 million to Hill 'n' Dale) and stakes winner Magic Dance is in foal to leading sire Into Mischief  .

Situated outside, Pope also was determined to add the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil  to her collection, seeing off other buyers to secure the filly in partnership for $5 million. The daughter of Daredevil will continue to train with Brad Cox and partners Flurry Racing Stable and Qatar Racing will remain in.

Champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver  strode through the ring as confidently as she has in all her races. She attracted competitive bidding that led to a hammer fall at $4.7 million for the 2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner. Trainer Kenny McPeek was on hand to watch the Eclipse Award winner change hands to Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm.

Leading buyer Yoshida secured six horses for total figures of $12.725 million Nov. 9, bringing his total purchases at the premier breeding stock sale since 2010 to over $61.725 million.

The weekend leading into the sale saw the Japanese rewarded with long-overdue success on Breeders' Cup World Championships weekend, winning two races with Marche Lorraine  in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and Loves Only You  in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).

"Our friends in Japan have become a major component of this sale for two reasons," Browning said. "First of all, the product, which has great appeal to the Japanese—top quality, young fillies and mares coming off the racetrack or young proven producers. We have been entrusted with those horses to sell. They have gotten used to coming here and having great success with them.

"Secondly, we are truly becoming a global market. Breeders' Cup was the World Championships, and it was cool to see the Japanese be represented by significant victories and the Koreans represented by a major victory (with grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go)."

"For many years, there have been a whole lot of Bluewater halters in Japan," said consignor Meg Levy of Bluewater Sales. "Northern Farm and the Yoshida's and JS Company have been perennial buyers at this sale. Particularly from us, so we appreciate all the support, and we're so glad it finally paid off for them to take those risks and ship their horses over here and show the kind of quality they have. In our interactions with the Japanese buyers, they are so detailed and do so much research. I've sold many pregnant horses to Japan, and they call and find out what the horses' history is and what the mare does when she's foaling. Not a lot of people do that."

A weanling filly by Curlin   consigned as Hip 107 took top honors of the night when sold for $750,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Robert and Lawana Low. The bay filly offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency is the second foal out of Sippican Harbor , winner of the 2018 Spinaway Stakes (G1).

"It's not something magical that we have done, but the opportunity to sell some of the world's nicest fillies and broodmares, and we are seeing the emergence of a dynamic weanling market as part of the November Sale," Browning said. "We couldn't be any more pleased, and I will probably pinch myself for the next few days."