Americans may be understandably nervous about long term investments in bloodstock, but that anxiety apparently does not extend north of the border. Canadian Ted Burnett helped get the Keeneland November mixed sale off to a good start, bidding $1.5-million for a lovely Storm Cat weanling filly about an hour into the world's largest sale of breeding stock. Bidding in the name of his Josham Farm, Burnett will own the filly in partnership with breeder John Sikura of consignor Hill 'n' Dale Farm.

"I bought her for a Canadian partnership, and we'll take her to Canada and race her," Burnett said. "I've known John for ages. We own quite a few other things together, so it's a natural merger."

The first foal produced by Grade 2 winner Better Than Honour, the bay Storm Cat filly is from the family of Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Blush With Pride and 1982 Broodmare of the Year Best in Show.

Burnett first made headlines more than 25 years ago as a member of the partnership that purchased then-record yearling Canadian Bound (from Secretariat's first crop out of Dahlia's dam Charming Alibi) for $1.5-million at the 1976 Keeneland July selected yearling sale.

In general, buyers on Monday seemed more comfortable paying big prices for the few high-quality weanlings on offer than for mares. The first horse in the ring, a racy Unbridled's Song colt, sold for $400,000 to pinhooker Gerry Dilger in the name of Talus Bloodstock, while quality mares such as multiple Grade 2 winner Ampulla, who was in foal to Diesis (GB), failed to reach their reserve.

Consignor nervousness was evident in the 63 horses withdrawn from the session, more than 20% of the total cataloged for the day.

"That's certainly more than usual," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland director of sales, "but there's not a consistent reason for it. As usual, there are the mares that slip and the foals that don't x-ray well, and then there's the segment of people who are not 'guardedly optimistic.' Usually we have about 15% outs for this sale."

Russell has used the term "guardedly optimistic" as his own cautious evaluation of the sale's prospects.—John P. Sparkman