Fewer Sparks, But Weanling Market Solid at Fasig-Tipton

The weanling market for this year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale did not produce as many sales at or above $500,000 compared to a year ago, but overall the quality of the horses offered were solid individuals by conformation and pedigree, according to buyers.

"They were solid; a nice bunch both here and at Keeneland," said Jonathan Smyth, general manager for Shadwell Racing that bought one of three weanlings that sold for the day's top price of $500,000. Shadwell bought Hip 62, a Munnings   filly out of the Hard Spun grade 3 winner Summer in Saratoga, who was consigned by St George Sales.

The other $500,000 weanlings included Hip 268, a colt and the only weanling by Into Mischief   offered at the sale, who was bought by Cherry Knoll Farm, and Hip 213, a colt by Maxfield   who was bought by Mulholland Springs, as agent for Meadow Wood Farm.

Smyth said that fewer horses selling for $500,000 or more is likely more the result of changes year to year in what buyers want the most.

"It is different every year based on what people want. There were a lot of nice mares here tonight," Smyth said.

Boyd Browning Jr., president of Fasig-Tipton, said it is hard to draw any generalization about the weanling market at this sale because the sample size is relatively small.

"Last year, one or two buyers could have been focusing on weanlings or you had a few pedigrees that had elite status to them. All in all, I thought the weanling market was very strong tonight," he said.

The top seller in 2022 was a $1.35 million Uncle Mo   colt out of grade 1 winner Bellafina. Five others sold for $500,000 or more, and the overall weanling average was $183,697. This year's average is indicative of the overall quality seen by Smyth, down only 1.7% to $180,486 compared with 2022.

Smyth described Hip 62 as "a beautiful physical; one of the nicest Munnings we've seen."

"We are very happy with her, out of a good family," he said. "We've been very pleased with the progeny of Munnings. We bought one in September."

Hip 62's first three dams are either graded stakes winners or graded-placed stakes winners. Her dam, Summer in Saratoga, is out of grade 1 winner Love Theway Youare.

Shadwell also bought Hip 109, a $400,000 Gun Runner   filly out of stakes-placed Include mare Classofsixtythree. She is a full sister to grade 3 winner Sixtythreecaliber, whom Spendthrift Farm bought at the November sale for $400,000. Hip 109 also is a half sister to grade 1-placed, grade 3 winner Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate).

"She's a leggy filly, very nice, very athletic and a good mover, also out of a nice family. I think they will be two good additions," he said.

Both of the weanlings were purchased as racing prospects, and Smyth said there are advantages to buying them as weanlings instead of as yearlings.

"We get a little advance by being able to control how they are managed going into the winter and how they are prepped. Also, those types of sires and those types of family at Keeneland in September would be a lot more expensive," he said.

Three Chimneys Farm's leading sire, Gun Runner, was the leading weanling sire at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, with three selling for an average of $426,667. Six other weanling sires were represented by averages of $200,000 or more. They include Lane's End's Quality Road   (two sold, $312,500); Ashford Stud's Uncle Mo (three sold, $291,667), Justify   (three sold, $236,333), and Munnings (six sold, $233,333); Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's first-crop weanling sire Charlatan   (five sold, $221,000); and Taylor Made Stallions' Not This Time   (four sold, $215,000).

That Charlatan was the leading first-crop weanling sire did not surprise John Sikura with Hill 'n' Dale.

"He is a horse that has all the requisites to be a great sire," he said. "We bred a lot of our best mares to the horse, and we have great foals on the farm. Most of them will not be in a sale. We are thrilled with the quality of foals we've seen.

"I think it is just the beginning. Next year, I think you'll see his yearlings explode. The best is yet to come; I believe we are going to see some really special horses. More importantly, I hope they can run. We certainly have a good feeling about it, and hopefully tonight is a premonition."

The other first-crop weanling sires with six-figure averages are: Darley Stallions' Maxfield (four sold, $188,750), Taylor Made's Knicks Go   (three sold, $170,000), and Spendthrift Farm's Yaupon   (three sold, $110,000).