Mother-Daughter Duo Generates Big Returns

John Sikura of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa dissolved his partnership with Three Chimneys Farm on the multiple graded stakes-winning filly Guarana  in the most finite way possible Nov. 9 at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's marquee breeding stock sale near Lexington.

Bidding from the inside pavilion, the Thoroughbred owner and breeder was declared the winner on the filly after a heating bidding war that finally capped out at $4.4 million. The filly consigned as Hip 182 by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency was offered carrying her first foal on a March cover to Spendthrift Farm stallion Into Mischief  . 

While Guarana's sale was impressive, the same of her dam, the winning Distorted Humor   mare Magical World , was even more of a wonder to behold. 

WATCH: Magical World Casts Spell on Auction Ring

Also sold to dissolve a partnership between Three Chimneys Farm and Hill 'n' Dale, the mare consigned as Hip 203 was bought on a final bid of $5.2 million by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm and Three Chimneys to top a blockbuster edition of The November Sale. The mare was bred in Kentucky by Phipps Stable. 

"We're very happy and very happy to have a nice mare in partnership with Three Chimneys," said Pope. "It's going to be stellar. We will keep making great babies and all is good. We're just excited to have her and delighted to have the partnership." 

While Pope said she did consider putting in a bid on Guarana, she preferred to focus on Magical World, with her proven record of production a stronger selling point. Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys, Magical World also produced stakes winner Magic Dance  (More Than Ready  ). Her dam is Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Pleasant Home , who also produced grade 1 placed Pleasant Orb. The extended female family includes grade 1 winner and champions Sky Beauty  and Violence  , as well as grade 1 winners Tale of Ekati  , Point of Entry  , and Pine Island .

Guarana, a winner of over $1 million by Ghostzapper  , was trained by Chad Brown through a six-race career and was a powerhouse on the track. The filly broke her maiden on debut in 2019 at Keeneland at 3 before going on to capture the Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). She closed out her sophomore season with a second in the Cotillion Stakes (G1). 

Guarana returned at 4, winning an allowance optional claiming race to start the season before turning in a gutsy performance in the Madison Stakes (G1) in which she held off Mia Mischief  to give Brown the 100th grade 1 victory of his career. 

"There are two ways to bid: you can go slow or you can try to override the competition and show determination," said Sikura, who expressed some initial frustration with the bid spotters during the process. "We bid aggressively but she's a wonderful mare in foal to a leading sire. Brilliance beyond brilliance and there is always a risk at the highest end, but we hope this will be long-term and she'll be a foundational kind of broodmare.

"She has special ability and Ghostzapper is a great broodmare sire and we stand him at well so we can't wait to get her home and look forward to her starting a new career—hopefully as brilliant as her racing career. We will see the foal and we may go right back to Into Mischief. We will see what happens." 

Three other horses were offered as part of the dissolution of the partnership. Among those was Hip 252, Carina Mia  (by Malibu Moon), who was purchased for $2.6 million by Shadai Farm. Bred by Spendthrift Farm out of the Southern Halo mare Miss Simpatia , the mare was offered in foal to Ashford Stud stallion Uncle Mo  .

Hip 247, grade 1 winner Take Charge Brandi , was purchased in her entirety by Three Chimneys Farm for $1.15 million. Out of champion Take Charge Lady, the mare is a half sister to grade 1 winner and stallion Omaha Beach   and group 1 placed Courage Under Fire . 

Rounding out the consignment was Hip 122, a weanling filly by Quality Road   out of Take Charge Brandi who was purchased for $450,000 by Three Chimneys Farm. Total receipts for horses sold by the consignment came to $13.8 million.