$425,000 Uncle Mo Colt Tops De Seroux's 10-Horse Haul

Bidding from the back ring for most of the afternoon, Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International found the April 23 first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training especially fruitful. 

De Seroux purchased a total of 10 horses Tuesday, the most expensive of which was an Uncle Mo  colt bought for $425,000 on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida.

"We valued him in that price range," said de Seroux. "He was a good colt so we knew we had to pay for it. I liked everything (about him). He's a beautiful horse, has the right pedigree, a beautiful mover. ... We have the right hopes for him."

Bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings Limited and Airlie Stud, the colt is out of the Lomitas mare Isobel Baillie. He is a half brother to grade 2 winner Isabella Sings and stakes winners Alaura Michele and Tobacco Road. 

"Physically, he's a beautiful individual," said de Seroux. "He's got class coming out of his head, he's got good bones, a good mover, he's a nice conformation horse and he has a lot of potential. And he's very good in his mind which is very important." 

Consigned as Hip 169 by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, the colt was sent out to breeze April 15, the first day of the under tack show that was marred by strong headwinds. Clockers timed the colt's quarter-mile breeze in :21 4/5, a time that de Seroux said likely turned several buyers off. 

"I always enjoy watching the breeze show," said de Seroux, who explained he was encouraged by the colt's performance despite the weather. "It was good for us because we were there and saw it. Some people did not see the wind. They see the results and see that it was a little slow but we were there and could take that into consideration. That's why it's very good to attend the breeze show."

"Very strong winds," said bloodstock agent Chikura "Riki" Takahashi, echoing de Seroux. "Maybe if he (had) run on the second day, Saturday, he would have run faster. We were very lucky." 

De Seroux purchased eight horses under the banner of Narvick International, five of which brought six figures.

At the top was Hip 255, a Kitten's Joy  filly out of the Grand Slam mare Laureldean Gale. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, the filly brought $300,000. Hip 226, an Uncle Mo filly out of the Coronado's Quest mare Kokadrie brought $190,000. Consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent, the filly is a half sister to champion sprinter Kodiak Cowboy and grade 3 placed Wilbo. 

Hip 170, a Carpe Diem  colt consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, on behalf of McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, went for $180,000. The New York-bred is out of the graded stakes winning Instan mare Istanford.

From the consignment of Eisaman Equine, agent, de Seroux purchased a Quality Road  filly for $150,000. Consigned as Hip 37, the filly is out of the Pulpit mare Frost Bite and from the extended family of grade 1 winner Bustin Stones . 

De Seroux also purchased Hip 101 for $110,000. The Constitution  filly out of the Exploit mare Heart of Grace was offered by Paul Sharp, agent, and is a half sister to Canadian Derby (G3) winner Edison. Also from the consignment of Paul Sharp, de Seroux went to $90,000 for a son of Bayern  (Hip 212) out of the Dixie Union mare Key Is to Win. 

Hip 53, a Tonalist  colt consigned by de Meric Sales as agent, was purchased for $85,000. Out of the Dunkirk mare Giulietta, the bay is a registered Kentucky-bred.

Rounding out the Narvick purchases was Hip 124, a filly from the first crop of Palace Malice  consigned by Q Bar J Thoroughbreds, agent. Out of the Silver Deputy mare Hi Lili, the filly is a half sister to stakes-placed Conquest Bigluck E and was bought by Narvick for $70,000. 

Working as agent for M.U.R., de Seroux also purchased Hip 223 for $100,000. Consigned by Hemingway Racing and Training Stables, the First Samurai colt is out of the Kitten's Joy mare Kitten's Peak and was bred in Kentucky by P. Headley, Nancy Bell, and NATO.