Lush Lips Tops Day 1 of Keeneland November Sale

Lush Lips , the winner of the Oct. 11 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T), drew vigorous bidding Nov. 4 during Book 1 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale that ended with the hammer dropping for $3.7 million. 

Consigned as Hip 129 by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Lush Lips was purchased by Dixiana Farm, which plans to keep the 3-year-old filly in training with Brendan Walsh.

The daughter of group 1 winner Ten Sovereigns  has a race record of 4-4-0 from 10 starts and $769,510 in earnings. Arriving stateside in 2024, she has competed in five consecutive stakes races this year, never finishing worse than second and culminating with the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup win. 

Lush Lips was bred in England by The Pocock Family and purchased as a yearling by Avenue Bloodstock, Medallion Racing, and Donnacha O'Brien for the equivalent of $103,340 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in 2023. 

"We sponsor the QEII (Cup), so we got to see her win the grade 1 here (at Keeneland)," said Dixiana Farm's William Shively. "We've been trying to get grass fillies that really can run, we bought two today. That's the future for Dixiana, some grass mares from Europe, give us what we want."

Dixiana bought the French-bred La Mehana  (Hip 117) moments earlier for $500,000 from the consignment of Denali Stud. The 6-year-old  Al Wukair  mare, a multiple graded stakes winner on the turf for trainer Christophe Clement and his son Miguel, is a half sister to group 3 winner Ocean Fantasy. She was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Shively said he did not expect to go to $3.7 million for Lush Lips.

"I expected $3 (million), but she was special for us," he said.

Shively was optimistic about the future for Lush Lips, with the ultimate goal being next year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, held at Keeneland. 

Her sire Ten Sovereigns was well represented at the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar by Balantina  who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) for trainer Donnacha O'Brien and owners Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and Lissa Ann McNulty.

"She's one that travels the ground so light, she doesn't hurt herself," Shively said. "I think she could have a long career, very smooth with her action. You saw the QEII, she really accelerated at the end, that's what you need in a grass horse. She's all class.

"I think the Breeders' Cup should be up here all the time. Can you put that out? The new philosophy, let's just have it here, right?"

Book 1 stats

 Day 1 of the sale saw 17 horses bring $1 million or more—eight of those bringing $2 million or more. 

The weanling market proved to be incredibly strong, with a colt by Gun Runner   (Hip 146) bringing $2.2 million, the highest price for a weanling at the November sale since 2015, when a War Front   filly out of Take Charge Lady brought $3.2 million. Donato Lanni signed the ticket for the colt on behalf of Zedan Racing.

"It showed an overall confidence and continuation of excitement about our sport and about our industry," said Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin. 

"It was fun for us and rewarding in many ways because Keeneland is the only racetrack and sales company in the world, and top sellers Vahva, Kilwin, and Buchu sold here as yearlings; Lush Lips, Vahva, and Buchu won graded stakes here; and then they returned to the sales ring here. That's a lot of fun, and we're really happy for all the connections that did so well with them."

A total of 129 horses changed hands during the first session for gross receipts of $74,299,000, including post-ring sales, a 13% increase from last year's gross of $65,555,000 from 152 head sold. The average price was $575,961, with a median of $400,000, both up considerably from last year's $431,283, and $350,000, respectively. Thirty-two horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 20%.

"What was very encouraging is that the domestic breeders were very active," Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. "They were very much the main players here today. Most of those big mares that we always saw leave the country are now staying. It's nice when we have the confidence from the domestic breeders to step up and spend this type of money to invest in the future."

Dixiana Farm's two purchases totaling $4.2 million led the buyers, with Taylor Made Sales Agency topping the consignors, selling 31 from their draft for $19,377,000. 

The first session of Book 2 begins Nov. 5 at 10:00 a.m. ET with hips 231-619 set to go through the ring. 

"The traffic at the barns has been very strong for both mares and weanlings, so I don't think the momentum is going to wane," Lacy said. "I think the demand for quality stock going through right to the end will be very strong."