Twirling Candy Colt, Bernardini Filly Hit $500,000 Mark

After weathering a relatively slow start in trade to the third session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training April 25, those seated in the pavilion were entertained by a bidding war that ensued over a Twirling Candy  colt consigned as Hip 760. 

The first of the day to reach the half-million mark, the bay juvenile eventually fell the way of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, who signed the ticket on behalf of Sheikh Rashid Humaid Al Nuaimi. 

"Bob (Baffert) was here for a couple days, and he liked the horse a lot," Lanni said. "We're happy and lucky to buy him. It's been very tough to buy horses. When they jump over all those hoops—and there's a lot to jump over—when they jump over all that, they bring the money and they're good horses. We find that it's harder and harder to buy those good horses."

Consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, the $500,000 colt was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall out of the Suave mare Tough Market. Buying under the name Owls Bloodstock, Dunne purchased the colt for $140,000 at The July Sale.  

"I liked all the same things (in July) that I liked about him here," Dunne said. "He's a tall, stretchy colt. He's got a beautiful profile, and he's a beautiful mover. Usually the consignors in July are pretty sharp about what they put in there. They put in a very forward, well-made sort of horse. If you're buying one in July thinking that it's going to turn inside out between July and September, you're probably going to be disappointed. We were fortunate enough that he translated his walk into a breeze. Hopefully, he's as special as we thought he was." 

Dunne explained he relied mainly on the colt's physicality and athletic appearance—not his pedigree—to carry him through the sale. After the colt breezed a quarter-mile in :20 4/5 during the under tack show, the consignor was not surprised buyers recognized his colt was greater than the sum of his parts. 

"We don't look too much at pedigrees," Dunne said. "We've got to give up something to get them bought. Unfortunately, you can't breeze the page down the lane. 

"He didn't hide his light under a bushel. He's been a good horse all year. We toyed with the idea of going to Miami, but we figured with no pedigree, it might be too much. He was a really good horse from day one. March would have been the usual alternative, but, like I said before, we made the decision to come here and work those bigger, stronger colts a quarter. Give them a little extra time to see how it would work out, and so far, so good."

"I, personally, like Twirling Candy," said Lanni, who indicated that a relative lack of pedigree was also a non-issue for his team. "He was a really good racehorse, and he's throwing runners. I like the sire a lot, and he was a beautiful horse. (Hip 760) did everything you asked him to do on the track, came home good, and looked the part. We're lucky to buy him. Bob liked him, and he gave us the green light."

"We wouldn't have been surprised with a little bit more," Dunne said of the final price. "We were not disappointed by any stretch of the imagination. Like I say, he was expensive as a yearling because he was that kind of horse." 

Two other horses fell the way of Sheikh Rashid Humaid Al Nuaimi during the sale. On Wednesday, a Danza  filly (Hip 478) was purchased for $400,000. Consigned by Best A Luck Farm, agent, the filly is out of the Polish Pro mare Polish Silk. 

Working as agent for the sheikh, Oracle Bloodstock signed the ticket on Hip 288, a Candy Ride  filly consigned by Eisaman Equine, agent. Purchased for $220,000, the filly is out of the King's Best mare Lophorina and is a half sister to stakes winner Lady Alexandra.  

Also coming in at $500,000 later in the sale was Hip 847, a Bernardini  filly out of the Carson City mare Wilshewed, who is the dam of seven winners, including Hollywood Futurity (G1) winner Stormello, Del Mar Derby (G2T) winner My Best Brother, grade 3 winner Gala Award, and grade 1-placed Cherry Lodge. 

Bred in Kentucky by the Estate of William L. Currin, the filly was consigned by Randy Bradshaw, agent, and purchased by Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International on behalf of Grand Farm in Japan. During the under tack show, the filly breezed an eighth-mile in :10 flat. 

"She has a fantastic pedigree, and Mr. Ito (of Grand Farm) is building a racing division with top pedigrees he wants to keep as broodmares later," de Seroux said. Ito's most notable purchase to date was Caledonia Road, champion 2-year-old filly of 2017 who was also acquired by de Seroux for $2.3 million from the consignment of Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services to The November Sale last year.

"He's buying some high-quality pedigrees, and she was a very good mover and worked very well on the track," de Seroux said. "She has the pedigree he likes for his signature band. We were happy with the price. Her breeze was very good. She had nice action. She's a very good mover, and she is a very nice filly."