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| Staff Writer |
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The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale initially wove a familiar tapestry of steady trading and a bias towards seasoned performers, mirroring last year's event. Yet, the auction's narrative took a dramatic twist when Informed Patriot (Hard Spun), a last-minute surprise entry, defied all expectations with a breathtaking final bid of US$1.55 million, clinched by agent Ibrahim Rachid on behalf of HRH Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz.
Speaking of his selected stars, their promising potential and recent stellar performances, Taylor said, "Both horses were improving and had been competing at a high level in America. They were only three years old and still had a lot of potential for growth."
The pedigree of these horses added to their allure. However, Taylor underscored that their proven racing performance truly drove their appeal saying, "Informed Patriot is a full brother to Spun To Run, who is a young stallion in America. This connection was an added bonus for buyers."
While strong pedigrees are important, the horses' racing achievements were crucial in securing their high prices in their featured draft in the July Sale.
A fierce bidding war ensued as the bay colt by Hard Spun entered the Fasig-Tipton auction ring. Informed Patriot, a recent third-place finisher in the Gr.3 Indiana Derby, caught the interest of three Saudi Arabian bidders, leading to a groundbreaking final price of US$1.55 million at the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale.
The US$90,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, campaigned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, won the Bathhouse Row Stakes earlier this spring. The Steve Asmussen trainee showed speed this past Saturday before finishing third in the 1/16-mile GIII Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park in Indianapolis. With two wins out of 10 starts, the Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Whisper Hill Farm-bred colt has earned just under US$350,000 to date.
In his role as Prince Saud's adviser, Ibrahim Rachid announced the Prince's ambitious plan to enter the 3-year-old colt in The Saudi Cup, the world's most lucrative Thoroughbred race. Rachid described the Prince's bidding strategy when acquiring the colt as 'Go all out, don't hold back.'
Looking ahead, Rachid explained, "The horse will undergo 35 days of quarantine before heading to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Prince will decide on his future plans; there's a chance he will spend a few weeks here before being transported to Saudi Arabia."
The connections have seen success from their investment, acquiring a son of Quality Road for US$255,000 at the 2022 edition of the same sale. Since then, Scotland Yard has already made an impact, finishing on the board in three out of four US starts, winning the 2023 Listed King's Cup and securing second place in the same race this year under trainer Nicholas Bachalard.
Eight times UAE Champion Doug Watson will take the reins of Cats By Five for Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi-owned RRR Racing.
Taylor emphasised, "I think he sold well, but I also think that the buyer got a very nice horse.
He ran unbelievably well last time out and just getting beat a nose, he kept the condition. So he could've gone anywhere you wanted, and he was also a beautiful horse at the end of the shank. He's a very, very exciting racehorse."
In a Fasig Tipton interview after the sale, Watson noted that the colt would be prepped for their winter racing carnival in December.
"He's a 3YO trending [up] and hasn't stretched out yet, so who knows? I think six [furlongs] will be his game," Watson said.
Evidenced by his stakes-placed speed, Watson and Conor Foley, who signed the ticket, agreed that the colt would be a good fit in the Middle East program.
Cats by Five, bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farm, brought US$575,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in September. He was raced by Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen. Most recently, he was seconded by a neck in allowance company on June 21, and his earnings are now over US$157,000.
Taylor also proudly mentions their top young stallion, Not This Time. He stood for $150,000 this year after starting his career for only $15,000. He has had 6 G1 winners thus far and his first Royal Ascot winner this year with the exciting two-year-old colt, Shareholder, owned by Middle East interests.
Several factors have contributed to the strong demand for North American horses from the Middle East market, a notable trend.
In an interview at the launch of the US$20 million Saudi Cup, HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, explains:
"Similar to a number of sports in the country that are also undergoing development, horse racing is key to the overall future picture of sport that aims to encourage growth, diversification, greater participation from all quarters of the Saudi community, economic progress and elite level performance starting from the grassroots and building upwards."
The launch symbolises a crucial facet of the country's sporting landscape: fostering growth, diversification, and inclusive participation across Saudi Arabian society.
"American breeders produce excellent horses that compete successfully on turf, dirt, and synthetic surfaces globally. However, the core of our product excels on dirt, which aligns well with the Middle Eastern racing circuits," said Taylor.
"The Middle East circuit of racing features some of the most lucrative purses in the world on dirt. It is no surprise that Middle Eastern owners and trainers are looking to source American breeds to target their biggest races!
I believe we will see more top American horses being sold to the Middle East in the future. The trend of American owners targeting races in the Middle East is likely to grow," he predicted.
Founded in 1976 by 19-year-old Duncan Taylor and his partner Mike Shannon, Taylor Made began as a broodmare boarding farm on leased land at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky.
The Taylor brothers, who grew up on the farm, learned the ins and outs of the horse business from their father, Joe Taylor, who managed the farm, and their grandfather. As the business expanded, Taylor Made began consigning horses at Keeneland Sales in 1978, quickly becoming a major player, with around 10% of Keeneland's September yearling sales.
Over the years, the farm built its own facility on a 120-acre property on Union Mill Road in Nicholasville, Kentucky, which has become its base of operations. Today, Taylor Made is a 1,600-acre Thoroughbred racehorse breeding farm, divided into two companies: Taylor Made Sales Agency, which handles public and private sales, and Taylor Made Stallions Inc.
The farm is home to notable stallions such as Knicks Go, the 2021 American Horse of the Year and winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Breeders' Cup Classic. With decades of success under its belt, Taylor Made has grown from a small boarding farm to a worldwide leader in Thoroughbred sales and marketing, driven by teamwork, loyal customers, and a commitment to serving the industry.
Taylor Made Sales Agency is gearing up for a bustling year, with several major sales on the horizon.
"We are entering the heart of our yearling sales season, with the Saratoga Select Sale being the next major event. Taylor Made has been the top consignor in America for 28 of the last 30 years, and we aim to build on that record in 2024," he said.
Additionally, Taylor Made will be involved in an upcoming digital sale with Fasig-Tipton Digital.
"We are excited about this digital sale, featuring several horses of interest to Middle Eastern buyers. One of the highlights is Hades, a 3YO graded winner on dirt," Taylor said.
As Taylor Made charts its course towards upcoming sales and cultivates global connections, the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale underscores Taylor Made's pivotal role in shaping the international racing arena.
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