Harron back for more at Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale
Having dipped back into the market at Keeneland’s Breeding Stock Sale on Wednesday, breaking a four-year absence from the sale, James Harron was back again on Thursday as he went to US$340,000 (approx. AU$514,570) to secure five-year-old mare Let’s Be Clear (Munnings).
Consigned by Patricia Clark, the daughter of Munnings (Speightstown) is a six-time winner from 23 starts and placed at Listed level twice, including when second in the PG Johnson Stakes (Listed, 7f) as a juvenile.
Out of the stakes-winning Repent (Louis Quatorze) mare Come Sunday, Let’s Be Clear (pictured below) is a half-sister to the stakes winner and Grade 1 placegetter Someday Soon (Proud Citizen) and fellow stakes scorer Who Da Boss (Street Boss).
Harron was not the only Australian buyer to be in the market at the third session of the sale, with Milburn Creek signing off on two lots in partnership with J L M Estates.
Having already purchased Fuente Ovejuna (Lope De Vega) for US$400,000 (approx. AU$605,380) in the opening session on Tuesday, the pair struck again in the third session with Zona Verde (Calyx), who was acquired for US$325,000 (approx. AU$491,870).
Consigned by ELiTE, the daughter of Calyx (Kingman) landed the Jimmy Durante Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) in December last year and has since placed at stakes level on five occasions, including when third in the Del Mar Oaks (Gr 1, 9f) in August.
Milburn Creek later went to US$185,000 (approx. AU$279,990) to secure Howboutdemapples, a stakes-placed winning daughter of Tiznow (Cee’s Tizzy).
Rounding out the Aussie spending was Julian Blaxland, who went to US$150,000 (approx. AU$227,020) for Glittering Lights (Kingman), a three-time winner from 17 starts.
The daughter of Kingman (Invincible Spirit) is out of the Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) mare Show Day, a Listed winner who was also placed at Group 3 level.
Half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner tops fetches US$900,000
The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale forged onward with a strong third session on Thursday in Lexington, topped by the US$900,000 (approx. AU$1.355 million) sale of a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner and recent Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Gr 1, 7f) runner-up Society (Gun Runner), writes Pete Denk.
William Shively signed the ticket for Finesse (Street Sense), on behalf of his Dixiana Farm. The unraced three-year-old filly out of the winning Tapit (Pulpit) mare Etiquette was offered in foal to Nyquist (Uncle Mo).
Her half-sister, by Gun Runner (Candy Ride), has been one of the best female sprinters of 2024. She counts the 2022 Cotillion Stakes (Gr 1, 8.5f) and the 2024 Ballerina Handicap (Gr 1, 7f )among her four Graded wins.
Warrendale Sales, agent, consigned Finesse, herself a $725,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase for Windancer Farm.
Shively was attracted by Finesse’s conformation, her female family, and the year her covering sire Nyquist has had, which has included four Grade 1 winners, led by undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Gr 1, 8.5f) winner Immersive.
Nyquist’s stud fee, which was US$85,000 this year at Darley when Finesse was covered, will increase to US$175,000 (approx. AU$263,480) for 2025.
Shively said: “It’s very hard to buy a good horse, right? I would have gone a little more, but don’t tell anybody. It’s what we’re for at Dixiana, just real quality. I think she’ll be great for a long time.
“I’ve shopped a lot, and not bought much. Part of it is, how many good horses are there? And the good ones bring a lot of money. Now it’s to the point where you have to spend a little more money to get a few good ones. It’s just the way the world is right now.”
Shively said he has about 50 broodmares at his Lexington farm that he describes primarily as a commercial breeding operation. He said 2025 mating plans for Finesse would be finalised after he sees the Nyquist baby.
“If [Finesse] has a nice Nyquist filly, she’ll probably be racing for Dixiana,” said Shively.
The biggest news of the day was the market’s continued positive reception to this year’s first-crop weanling sires and a steady rise in median price for all hip types, which at US$120,000 (approx. AU$180,670) registered a nine per cent increase from $110,000 at the corresponding session last year.
Keeneland reported 236 horses sold from 286 offered, for total sales of US$35,538,500 (approx. AU$53.506 million) on Thursday. There were 21 fewer horses offered than last year, but total sales were still able to avoid a drop. The average price increased by one per cent to US$150,587 (approx. AU$226,722).
Thursday’s session ended Book 2 of the five-book sale. Through three days, Keeneland has produced a two per cent decrease in total sales, a one per cent decrease in average price, and a flat median. The small drop in total receipts is more than accounted for by 51 fewer offerings (down six per cent).
The top-priced weanling on Thursday was Hip 1050, a Life Is Good (Into Mischief) colt who sold to Flying Dutchmen for US$400,000 (approx. AU$602,240). He was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for the colt’s breeder China Horse Club, who also campaigned the ultra-talented multiple Grade 1 winner with WinStar Farm, where he now stands.
First-crop weanling sires dominated the market on Thursday, accounting for six of the top seven prices for weanlings. Based on market response thus far, this could be an above-average group of new stallions.