Keeneland's Book 1 Closes on Strong Note

By Ron Mitchell and Alicia Wincze-Hughes

Topped by Unrivaled Belle at $3.8 million, the Nov. 9 second session of Keeneland's November breeding stock sale brought Book 1 to a close with average and median prices up over 2015 as the gross declined with considerably fewer head sold.

With 26 fewer horses sold, Keeneland reported 253 horses grossed $102.9 million in Book 1, down 5.5% from the $108.9 million figure from the 279 head sold a year ago when the sale was topped by the $6 million sale of champion Take Charge Brandi. This year's cumulative Book 1 average of $406,794 represented a gain of 4.2% from $390,244 while the median rose 13% to $260,000 from $230,000. From 467 cataloged, 112 head were withdrawn and the resulting 102 that did not sell represented a 28.7% RNA rate.

Coming a day after Donald Trump's stunning Presidential election victory, the second session saw 138 horses sell for nearly $52.8 million, down from the $63.8 million paid for 143 a year ago. The Day 2 average fell 14.3% to $382,348 from $446,042, but the median was up 4% to $260,000.

While there were some pre-session concerns in view of the Tuesday election results, Keeneland director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell said the outcome did not appear to affect the market.

"It was a very good sale today," Russell said. "It was strong across the board—strong for mares, strong for foals. Mixed sales vary from year to year. You can't do a direct comparison. Yes, we would have liked to have a $6 million mare today, but we didn't.

"Everybody was concerned obviously starting off because... everybody was expecting a different result. There was a little concern about exchange rates early but the dollar is back strong where it belongs so it didn't seem to stop international buyers today."

Russell said if there was any impact it might have been seen in Japanese buying during the second session following price fluctuations in the yen.

Two of North America's leading racing and breeding entities—Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm and representatives of Don Alberto Corp.—went toe to toe in stiff competition for 2010 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) winner Unrivaled Belle, daughter of Unbridled's Song in foal to leading sire Tapit   offered as part of Eaton Sales consignment.

Pope, bidding in the rear of the facility, kept upping the ante on the Don Alberto group, seated inside the pavilion as each wanted the mare. Finally, Don Alberto shook off Pope's bid of $3.8 million and she walked away with yet another trophy mare to add to her blueblood broodmare band that includes Horse of the Year Havre de Grace and champion Groupie Doll.

"She's gorgeous," Pope said. "I'll breed her back to Tapit. What a hell of a racehorse. That ($3.8 million) was about it for me. She's a big size mare, rangy, good bone. I think she'll be a good fit for Tapit. It's very exciting."

Unrivaled Belle to Pope for $3.8 Million

Pope said she found the Book 1 market, during which the best horses in the sale are sent through the ring, extremely strong.

"The market has been unbelievable, that's all I can say," the horsewoman said. "If you want the nice mares and the nice weanlings, you're going to have to pay for them right now."

Pope said she is hopeful that the nation's economy continues to improve with Trump's election and have a positive effect on the horse industry.

"And after last night's election, we hope that things continue on and economy will move forward," said Pope. "And hopefully we'll have more money for purses. We hope Trump is a racing man. He's a big gambler so we'll see if he'll put a little investment into the horse industry."

Feathered, a graded stakes winning, multiple graded-placed filly in foal to War Front  , was bought by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm for $2.35 million, the second session's second-highest price.

Feathered Knocked Down for $2.35 Million

Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, the 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie was produced from the stakes-placed Dynaformer mare Receipt, a daughter of multiple grade I winner Finder's Fee.

Hill 'n' Dale also consigned the Book 1 top-priced weanling, with the son of War Front whose female family includes top Australian sire Redoute's Choice bought by Coolmore Stud's M. V. Magnier for $1.45 million.

Magnier Gets War Front Colt for $1.45 Million

The bay colt, foaled Jan. 25, was bred in Kentucky by Elevage II and was presented as Hip 408 by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency. He was produced from the Encosta de Lago mare Drifting Cube, who was purchased by Hill 'n' Dale for $1,018,000 at a Magic Millions auction in 2014.

Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura said there did not seem to be as much demand for foals as he hoped, resulting in a handful from his consignment to be bought back and others representing good values for their buyers. Hill 'n' Dale also sold the second-highest foal of 2016 when Baccari Bloodstock went to $1.5 million for a Tapit colt who is a half brother to champion Honor Code  .

"It seems to me that the breakout foals are not happening," Sikura said of the weanling market. "You can't ever make the marketplace, all you can do is try to be on top of it. We had a couple of high end foals that we didn't sell that we'll sort out amongst our group. When you have unique, particular, high-quality horses, you can afford to value them and stand by your values, which we will. You can't ever argue with the market. You bid into it, you set your reserves and you play the market and sometimes you're in agreement with the public and sometimes you have a higher opinion."

The Keeneland sale continues Thursday, Nov. 10, with a session that begins at 10 a.m. ET.