Lexington, Ky - Although Friday’s session of the Keeneland November Sale was again without the star power of seven figure hammer prices seen in its earlier days (the sale topper was a comparatively measly $350,000), the day’s statistics demonstrated a dramatic jump over 2011’s fourth session figures.
The average and median, which were low in comparison to last year’s first three sessions, recovered by the end of Book 2. Friday’s session closed with an average price of $82,891, a 5.1 percent increase from 2011, and a median price of $70,000, which marked a whopping 40 percent increase.
Those numbers bring the gross sales for the entire auction to $102,351,000 with an average of $153,450 and a median of $80,000—all of which are lower than last year’s cumulative figures after fourth session, due to 2011’s major bloodstock dispersals.
The dispersals that so dramatically affected the percentages of change from 2011 to 2012’s opening three sessions had a lesser impact by the fourth day of the sale last year, so today’s increases may signal stronger purchasing as the auction approaches what’s traditionally its middle market.
Bathtime
“It was a good day all in all, weanlings held up good, and the mares with some pedigree sold really well,” said Keeneland’s vice president of sales Walt Robertson.
Robertson noted that it was too early to project what today’s upswing might mean for the overall market in terms of new buyers. Currently, the top five buyers by prices are Mandore International of France, Borges Torrealba Holdings of Brazil, Whisper Hill Farm of Florida, Adena Springs Farm (based both in America and Canada), and Shadwell, which also has a farm in Kentucky.
The top consignor of the sale so far is Nicholasville’s Taylor Made Sales, which has sold 61 horses for a total of $15,536,00.
“I think it’s a really great sale for the right mares, the right foals…it just seems like there’s less and less of them every year. We’re all bidding on the same horses, said Donato Lanni, director of bloodstock services for Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm.
The title of session topper went to Hip 1093, a cool dappled gray named American Lady. The four-year-old is just off the track and was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, after earning just over $145,866 in a California career that included a win in the Reminiscing Stakes. Her family connections are also considerable. A daughter of Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion Stormy Atlantic, her dam was also mother to Kentucky Derby (G1) contender The Pamplemousse, a multiple graded stakes winner made popular with west coast fans by his unusual name (which means “the grapefruit”).
A dig further back into her pedigree reveals connections to 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, and noted sire of sires Fappiano.
American Lady was purchased by Lexington area racing stable and stud farm Castleton Lyons.
“I thought she was unbelievably physical,” said Gabriel Duignan, who purchased on behalf of Castleton Lyons. “It’s a nice family, and goes back into a nice family. I thought she’s just special.”
When asked whether American Lady might return to the racetrack, Duignan said her plans were not solidified yet but she would likely become a broodmare. Stud plans have not been determined.
Donato Lanni of Hill ‘n’ Dale was pleased with the mare’s new home.
“American Lady was a beautiful mare, and good people bought her,” said Lanni. “She was big and pretty, and she could run.”
The second-highest price of the session came relatively early in the day with Hip 820, broodmare prospect Four Gifts. By Even The Score and out of a Service Stripe mare, Four Gifts sold in foal to popular young sire Hard Spun, which consignor Shack Parrish believes was a draw for the buyer.
“We were a little bit [surprised by the price],” said Parrish, who is president of consignor Indian Creek. “We thought it was a very good price for her.”
“For us, [the market] is very good today,” said Parrish.