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| Staff Writer |
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During the final session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2YOs in Training Sale on 21st May at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, buyers showed a strong interest in top-quality juvenile prospects.
The auction's second day saw 188 horses sold for a total of US$18,949,500, with an average price of US$100,795 and a median price of US$50,000. However, 35 horses did not sell during this session.
In total, 343 horses were sold over the two days of trading, generating gross receipts of US$32,751,500. This was a decrease from the 375 head sold for US$34,795,500 in 2023. The average price this year reached a record high of US$95,485, up from last year's average of US$92,788, and exceeding the 2022 record of US$95,391. The median price of US$50,000 matched last year's median price and also equaled the sale record. Additionally, 71 horses failed to meet their reserves this year, compared to 62 a year ago.
The sale results showcased a diverse international buying presence over the two days, with buyers from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Korea actively participating across a wide range of the market.
"Very encouraging activity," said Boyd Browning, president and chief executive officer of Fasig-Tipton. "The sale received a significant boost and bolster from the international participation, particularly from the Gulf region. We all ought to be knocking on wood hoping that next year the American exported horses have a lot of success racing in the Middle East because it will continue to drive more and more interest in our marketplace.
"I think everyone in the United States would say an expanding market that we've all identified is the Middle East. We see the continued movement toward dirt racing, and our whole industry for the most part is principally focused on dirt racing from a breeding standpoint, so it's a great opportunity for market growth. I still believe that buyers are more comfortable buying off a dirt racetrack because the vast majority of horses in the U.S. run on dirt.
"We're very appreciative of the consignors bringing us some quality stock and I hope that it bodes well for success on the racetrack for buyers and success for future sales for our consignors and for us."
At the top of the final session and the sale was Hip 401, a filly sired by Bolt d'Oro, which was purchased by Winchell Thoroughbreds for US$1,250,000. This marked the ninth consecutive year that the sale included a seven-figure top seller. The filly, consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), is the offspring of the successful Arch mare Werewolf. Bred in Kentucky by Springhouse Farm, this talented filly was bought by Havertz Bloodstock for US$335,000 from the Paramount Sales consignment at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. During the final under tack session on Friday, she impressively breezed an eighth of a mile in :10.
"She stood out on the data," said Greg Pachman, a member of the Winchell Thoroughbreds team. "We do a lot of work with Equine Analysis, Dr. David Lambert, Matthew Weinmann, and Andreu Solis. They did a great job finding her. She was a standout on the data. Steve, obviously, liked her. We don't do anything without Steve being involved. It's not that often that we land on horses that happily together, so Ron (Winchell) stretched to buy her."
At the Midlantic Sale, Dunne expressed satisfaction, stating, "We've had a successful sale. It's like anything else, if you have a bad sale, you see the negative side of the market. If you've had a good sale, you see the top end. The well-performing and vetted horses sold well. We also sold a couple on the lower end, but it was time to move on from them. While they didn't fetch a high price, finding someone to take them was significant."
During the first session of the sale on Monday, Hip 276, a filly by Bernardini out of the mare Rubies Are Red, fetched the highest price, selling for US$650,000 to Pedro Lanz, agent for Saudi Arabia-based KAS Stables. The filly, who is a half-sister to Tapit, was consigned by Joanna and Clovis Crane's Crane Thoroughbred Services and will remain in the United States, heading to trainer Bill Mott in Saratoga.
The next 2YOs in training sale is the OBS June 2YOs in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale, scheduled for June 12-14. Previews for the June sale are set for June 4-9.