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Lexington, Ky - Keeneland’s second session sold 109 horses (as compared to 138 last year) for a gross of $33,840,000, an average of $310,459, and median of $200,000. That represents a decline of 34.2 percent for gross sales, 16.7 percent for the average price, and increase of 1.3 percent for the median when comparing to the 2011 sale’s raw figures.
As with Tuesday’s Keeneland November session however, those numbers look very different when the Palides Investments dispersal horses are removed from last year’s second session figures. Not counting last year’s dispersal horses, the 2012 second session average is up 5.9 percent, while the median is down 6.98 percent.
Wednesday’s rate of horses not sold was 31.9 percent.
The day’s sales bring the total gross sales for Keeneland November to $61,505,000, with an average price of $294,282 and a median of $160,000.
“I thought that good babies sold real well, and of course who wouldn’t be happy with the two big mares?” said Walt Robertson, vice president of sales for Keeneland. “I thought it was a pretty solid day on all fronts.”
“The comments seem to be that it was a more solid base today than yesterday,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales.
“I don’t think the real market has even started yet as far as commercial breeders and people buying mares to sell yearlings,” said John Sikura, president of consignor Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency. “These are very wealthy, elite buyers looking to add to their portfolio with special, unique mares and when they find those, they buy them.”
Sikura consigned the only two horses to top the million-dollar mark in Keeneland’s second session.
The day’s sale topper was Hip 279, seven-year-old broodmare Pure Clan, who dropped the hammer for $4.5 million to Goncalo Torrelaba.
“We’re taking her to Three Chimneys,” said Torrelaba, who was particularly drawn to the versatility Pure Clan offered from her racing resume, as well as her physicality. “We just loved her.”
“The fillies we’ll keep for sure; the colts I’m not sure about yet,” he said with regards to his plans for the mare’s offspring. Torrelaba is the owner of Brazil’s TNT Stud, but said he purchased Pure Clan for his family, who want to begin racing their horses in America.
“She was a fantastic mare to look at. She was very athletic, great type, great presence and class. She always had her ears forward … No one could look at her and forget her,” said Sikura.
Hip 374, Sadler’s Wells mare Changing Skies (IRE) was the other high seller, bringing in $4.2 million for Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency.
The mare’s turf connections and race record were appealing to purchaser Mandore International, which also bought Harmonious for $2.4 million out of Tuesday’s session. Additionally, she is also a full sister to Playful Act (IRE), the former world record holder for highest priced broodmare or broodmare prospect at public sale. Playful Act (IRE) sold at Keeneland’s November sale in 2007 for $10.5 million. Her dam, Silver Hawk mare Magnificent Style, is also the dam of European turf superstar Nathaniel.
“She’s a half-sister to three Group One winners and Nathaniel was one of the best horses in Europe,” said Benoit Jeffrey on behalf of Mandore Intl., who signed the ticket on behalf of an undisclosed owner. “It’s been a really strong [market] … they are making a lot of money, and we are very happy with what we got.”
“I thought she was the best cataloged mare in the sale,” said Sikura. “She’s just a complete package of a global mare that’s run in the highest of form. You have commercial success with Playful Act (IRE), and great performances and those performances, many of them, are current with Nathaniel.”
Changing Skies (IRE) is the seventh horse Mandore has purchased between the two Keeneland sessions so far.
Much-anticipated Hip 243, Samantha Nicole, who is a full sister to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, did not puncture the seven-figure mark. She was sold for $700,000 to Stonestreet Stables, who also own and raced Rachel Alexandra for much of her career.
“We’ll keep her here for a while and get her broke,” said John Moynihan, bloodstock agent for Stonestreet Stables owner Barbara Banke. “I thought that was a fair price.”
Banke noted that the filly showed signs of sesamoiditis, which is an inflammation of the ligaments holding the seasamoid bones in place in the horse’s ankle. For her, the filly’s family connections outweighed the issue.
“It’s hard to get those great pedigrees,” said Banke.
“She was here because the owner decided to disperse his stock after the Keeneland September sale had closed, so it’s a little unusual to have a yearling here,” said Michael Hernon, director of sales for consignor Gainesway Farm. “She’ll always have value. She’s a big scopey, good-moving filly. If she ever sets her foot on a racetrack, she’s got value; if she throws as good-looking [foal as she is], what’s that worth?”
Stonestreet also purchased Hip 255, Moonlight Sonata, who is the dam of graded stakes winners Beethoven and Wilburn, for $750,000 later in the sale.