NEWS
Twenty Eight Carat tops Keeneland November opener
Posted: Monday, November 05, 2001
Twenty Eight Carat, dam of Grade 1 winner and multiple classic-placed A P Valentine, topped the opening session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale on a $4-million bid from Pennsylvania breeder Betty Moran on Monday in Lexington.Moran outlasted John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, for the 11-year-old mare in foal to 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Fusaichi Pegasus. The daughter of Alydar out of Voo Doo Dance, by Stage Door Johnny, was consigned by Lane's End, agent.
"I bought Voo Doo Dance I don't know how many years ago, and I bred this mare," Moran said after signing the ticket in the name of her Brushwood Stable. "But I didn't buy her because of any sentimental attachment. I thought she was the best mare in the sale. I thought I'd be able to get her for less money, but he (Ferguson) is a tough competitor."
Moran said the mare would remain in Kentucky, but she had no specific breeding plans.
"She falls in the category of mares Mrs. Moran has done well with in the past, proven mares," said Reiley McDonald of Eaton Sales who advises Moran. "They looked expensive at the time, but they've been great investments."
Moran sold Twenty Eight Carat to agent Mike Ryan for $285,000 at the 1991 Keeneland July selected yearling sale.
Twenty Eight Carat entered the Keeneland sale ring only minutes from the end of the session, but the second highest-priced horse of the day was the last horse in the ring. Three Chimneys Sales, agent's beautiful Group 1 winning mare Volvoreta (GB), was purchased for $2.4-million by the day's leading buyer, Klaus Jacobs's Newsells Park Stud. Winner of the Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1), the four-year-old daughter of Suave Dancer out of Robertiya, by Don Roberto, is in foal to Giant's Causeway.
Volvoreta was the ninth horse sold for $1-million or more on the day. At the same session last year 24 horses sold at that level.
Immediately after Volvoreta left the ring, WinStar Farm purchased a live foal season to dual leading Storm Cat for $450,000. Overbrook Farm donated the season, with the proceeds designated to got to the Red Cross.
Overall, 152 horses sold for $48,735,000, an average of $320,625, down 30.5% compared with the same session in 2000.
The number of horses sold represented a 32.7% decline, leading to a whopping 52.4% decline in total receipts compared with the world-record $102-million session last year. Buy-back rate was 36.7%, and there were 64 horses withdrawn from the session, an unusually high number.
"With the quality of the catalog, I wouldn't say it met my expectations, but I would say I expected what happened," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales. "Last year was a record gross, and the situation this spring with the mare reproductive loss syndrome was reflected in the catalog. For instance, certain stallions were not represented as strongly as in the last few years. Last year we had ten mares in foal to Storm Cat, this year we have one. Then you have the fact of September 11 and the general economic situation. And the Breeders' Cup not being on the first Saturday in November and not at Churchill is a big factor."
The sale continues at 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday.—John P. Sparkman
