Strong Gains at OBS Session Led by Record Tiznow Colt

Led by a record-priced $2.45 million Tiznow   colt who was one of three seven-figure transactions, the third session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales spring 2-year-olds in training sale posted dramatic increases April 27.

At the end of a sunny, sultry day with temperatures in the low 90s in Ocala, Fla., the sales company reported 171 horses sold for $17,397,500, up 24.3% over the $13,987,500 gross for 164 sold in the third session a year ago. The average price increased 19.3% from $85,290 in 2016 to $101,740, while the median price rose to $50,000 from $48,500 a year ago.

The buyback percentage was 13.2%. It was 23.4% last year. Fifteen horses brought $250,000 or more, compared with 12 at last year’s third session.

Heading into Friday’s finale, OBS has sold 521 horses for $47,382,700, for an average price of $90,946 and a $47,000 median. From 906 cataloged through three sessions, 276, or 30.5%, have been withdrawn, with the 109 horses bought back representing an RNA rate of 17.3%.

OBS sales director Tod Wojciechowski said the Tiznow colt’s purchase price, which exceeded the previous OBS record of $1.9 million paid for a Tapit   filly at the 2015 April sale, may have surpassed expectations.

MITCHELL: Record Tiznow Colt Lives Up to Expectations

“There was obviously a lot of talk on the grounds about the Tiznow colt, but he probably went beyond the consignors’ expectations and ours as well,” Wojciechowski said.  “It was an exciting day, with two million-dollar horses along with that and a lot of horses getting sold, with a 13% RNA rate. That tells us a lot of horses are exchanging hands.”

The sales company executive said the numbers reflect not only strength at the top, but a deep buying bench at all levels, showing the broad acceptance of the April sale by buyers and sellers.

“We have seen this evolution of the April sale, to where consignors are comfortable bringing any type of horse here, and buyers are comfortable buying those type horses and they come here looking for those,” he said. “We have the high-end buyers, (and) we have the mid-range buyers. … There is a comfort level knowing stock like that is here.”

Ciaran Dunne, whose Wavertree Stables sold a More Than Ready   filly for $1 million to Alessandro Marconi, said the broad-based buying bench was reflected by the fact that some buyers who purchased the day's top individuals were not the typical seven-figure buyers.

“The buyer was new to us (for the More Than Ready filly) and the people who chased her up to $1 million were not the usual people who buy at $1 million,” the Florida horseman said. “That’s the greatest testament to the market—that you can lead one up there scared that you don’t have the biggest buyers on her, and at the end you didn’t need the big players. The players who were there were big enough.”

Bobby Dodd, who sold the Tiznow colt, was the session’s leading seller, with seven sold for $3,141,500.

John Moynihan, agent for M. V. Magnier on the Tiznow colt, was leading buyer with the one purchase.

The sale concludes April 28, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET.