Kingman Colt Headlines Baden-Baden Sale

The combination of Kingman  and Gestut Fahrhof reigned over Baden-Baden this week, on the track and in the sales ring that lies across the leafy road from the course.

While the yearlings were undergoing intense scrutiny from potential purchasers on Aug. 31, Fahrhof's homebred Kingman filly Habana  was imperious in victory within earshot of the breeders' barn, her elegant stroll to success coming in the Renate und Albrecht Woeste Zukunfts-Rennen (G3).

Trained by Andreas Wohler, she is now set to carry the farm's iconic yellow and black silks in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) at ParisLongchamp next month.

In whose colors the Fahrhof-bred Kingman colt who provoked an international bidding battle between agents Jason Litt and Michael Donohoe at the BBAG Yearling Sale on Sept. 2 will run remains a mystery despite Solis/Litt striking the decisive blow at €450,000 (US$449,428).

The opposing parties were stationed at either side of the raised platform from where the auctioneers and yearlings command the attention of the airy ring. Litt's bidding was swift and without hesitation, raising the stakes almost immediately after each bid from Donohoe, who was more deliberate in his tactics.

When the hammer came down, a smattering of applause greeted the sale and Litt pronounced himself very pleased to have purchased the colt, bred on the same Kingman—Dansili  cross as Tempus and Marbling, both group 3 winners this summer.

"This is my first trip to Baden-Baden and I am really happy right now, we got the one we wanted. We came here to buy what we thought was the best horse in the sale and we think he is, so I am pretty happy," Litt smiled.

The April-foaled colt is the second foal out of the triple listed winner and group 1-placed Sarandia for her owner/breeder Gestut Fahrhof. Sarandia is a half sister to the Bavarian Classic (G3) winner Saphir plus the listed winner and group 3-placed Saint Pellerin.

His second dam Salontasche is a winning half sister to Salonblue, whose victories included a listed success at Baden-Baden. The Bluebird mare is the second dam of this season's IDEE 153rd Deutsches Derby (G1) and Grosser Dallmayr-Preis - Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1) winner Sammarco .

Kingman's offspring have adapted beautifully to racing in North America with grade 1 winner Domestic Spending  and last weekend's Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) winner Technical Analysis  among his stars Stateside. However it is quite possible this colt will remain on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, following indications from his American purchaser.

"He is likely to stay in Europe to be trained but by whom is yet to be determined," Litt said. "You come here in the hope that you can get them but it doesn't mean you will and if you plan too much, you usually never get them."

In response to questions about what made Litt so determined to secure the only Kingman yearling offered at Baden- Baden on Friday, he replied: "He is beautiful with a great attitude. He has great balance and is athletic. He ticked all the boxes, which everyone hates to hear but it's true."

The decision of Andreas Jacobs and the team at Gestut Fahrhof to offer their yearlings for sale only at Baden-Baden this year was certainly the correct one as the farm took its place proudly at the top of the consignors' charts.

In addition to the Kingman colt, Fahrhof also sold a son of Night of Thunder  who began a run of six-figure sales that reinvigorated buyers who had wilted a little in the afternoon heat.

In the away dugout was the Godolphin team as they went toe-to-toe with the home side, represented by Jurgen Sartori, owner of Prix de Psyche Sky Sports Racing (G3) winner Penja and it was the home team who emerged victorious with trainer Andreas Suborics signing for the Night of Thunder colt at €325,000 ($324,587).

The chestnut, who had more than a hint of his sire about him, is the first foal of Mulheim's listed Diana Trial winner Realeza, by Maxios, and the family has shown its liking for an infusion of Dubawi  blood.

Realeza is a three-parts sister to Godolphin's listed Ballymacoll Stud Stakes winner Rumh (by Monsun) and her group 1-winning offspring—Wild Illusion  and Yibir —are both by Night of Thunder's sire Dubawi.

Gestut Fahrhof finished on Friday night as leading consignor, with three of the day's most expensive yearlings and total receipts of €1,420,000 ($1,418,195) from the sale of 12 of the 16 horses they offered. That gave an average of €118,333 ($118,183) which was also the best recorded by any consignor.

Buyers Seeing Stars Again

Sea The Stars ' burgeoning reputation as a broodmare sire has developed even further this season with the emergence of Grand Prix de Paris (G1) winner Onesto , and the group 1-placed half-siblings My Astra and My Prospero.

It was a daughter of the world champion who became the first yearling to smash through the €200,000 ($199,746) ceiling when making the early running at BBAG.

Offered by Haras de l'Hotellerie, the filly is bred on the same cross that produced Deutsches Derby winner and sire Sea The Moon  as she is out of Imagery, a daughter of Monsun who was a listed winner in Hannover at 3.

At stud Imagery is the dam of listed Diana Trial winner Ismene, by Tertullian, who is from the family of Sea The Stars, and Instigator, a son of Nayef who won the listed Derby Trial at Bremen. Imagery is also the dam of last year's Deutsches Derby third Imi, another by Tertullian.

Ronald Rauscher struck the winning bid at €250,000 ($249,682) on behalf of one of Germany's most successful owner/breeders.

"She is for my main partner and client Dr. Christoph Berglar. He splits his horses in training between Andreas Wohler and Waldemar Hickst but I don't know who is going to be the lucky one," Rauscher commented.

Imagery is a full sister to the Bavarian Classic (G3) winner Imonso and a half sister to Badener Meile (G3) winner and Gran Criterium International (G1) second Idealist and the listed winner Idolino from the family of Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1) winner Intendant.

The breeder of international luminaries such as Protectionist and Novellist was understandably keen to add such a beautiful filly with an excellent pedigree to his collection of exquisitely bred broodmares.

"She is a very nice filly and he loves Sea The Stars and that great Schlenderhan family. She is out of a Monsun mare so it is very Germanic. I think she is very nice, I liked her a lot," Rauscher added.

Grizetti Galoppo spent €210,000 ($209,733) to buy a Sea The Stars colt offered by Gestut Auenquelle, owners of last season's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) hero Torquator Tasso .

A half brother to the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G2T) winner and Henkel-Preis der Diana - German Oaks (G1) third Virginia Joy, he is out of the Grosser Preis von DSW21 - Deutsches St. Leger (G3) winner Virginia Sun by the recently retired Doyen.

Klaus Eulenberger and his team will have plenty to smile about when they look back on the 2022 BBAG Yearling Sale, not least record turnover of €8,361,500 ($8,350,873), a leap of 24% on the 2021 figure and higher than that posted in 2019, which was the previous highpoint.

Neither the median nor the average could match that year's figures, but they demonstrated impressive growth on last year with the average up 24% to €53,258 ($53,190) while the median outstripped the average, which illustrated the strength of trade at Baden-Baden on Friday night.

The median of €53,752 ($53,683) was up by 25% on last year while the only slight decrease was in the clearance rate which dipped from 80% in 2021 to 77% on Friday with 157 of the 204 yearlings offered selling.