NEWS
Numbers decline on Keeneland November day six
Posted: Saturday, November 10, 2007 8:11 PM
SLY BUTTERFLY
Photo by Z
The Keeneland November breeding stock sale experienced double-digit declines in total receipts, average price, and median on Saturday.
Keeneland reported 251 horses as sold from 337 offered for total receipts of $17,038,200, a 16.9% decline compared with the corresponding 2006 session in which 271 horses brought $20,496,000.
Average price dipped 10.2% from $75,631 on day six last year to $67,881 on Saturday. Median declined 11.7% to $53,000, and the buy-back rate rose from 21.4% at the corresponding 2006 session to 25.5%.
Stonerside Stable purchased eight-year-old mare Sly Butterfly for $410,000 to top the sixth session. Consigned by Hidden Brook, agent for Adena Springs, Sly Butterfly is in foal to freshman sire Macho Uno.
By Pulpit out of multiple stakes winner Wild Lightning, by Wild Again, Sly Butterfly won two of 11 career starts, including the 2003 Memorial Stakes at Fort Erie, for owner-breeder Frank Stronach. Sly Butterfly’s first foal, Wind in My Wings, won the JPMOrgan Chase Jessamine Stakes for two-year-olds on October 11 at Keeneland Race Course.
“We’ve started to see a changeover of buyers as we get into the first weekend of the sale,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. “It was a little weaker than I thought it would be today. But anything that ‘checks all the boxes’ as they say, like Sly Butterfly, gets attention.
“Since we’re in Central Kentucky, anybody in the world has someone within 30 miles who can buy a horse,” Russell continued. “So updates like you saw with her don’t go unnoticed. You still can’t hide a good horse.”
Cumulatively through six sessions, Keeneland has posted increases in total receipts and average price. Keeneland reported 1,372 horses as sold for $288,484,700, compared with 1,407 horses that sold for $269,049,500 after six days last year. Average price has improved 10% to $210,266, while median has declined 9.1% to $100,000.
Domino Stud of Lexington went to $310,000 to secure four-year-old mare Votsi, by A.P. Indy, from the consignment of Brookdale Sales, agent. Votsi is out of the winning Mr. Prospector mare Set in Motion, a half sister to 1994 champion turf female and English classic winner Hatoof and Grade 1 winner Irish Prize. Votsi is in foal to Cherokee Run.
Walnut Hill Stable purchased a dark bay or brown colt by Street Cry (Ire) for $270,000, the top price for a weanling in the sixth session. Consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent for Larry W. Baker Jr., the colt is out of the winning Best of Luck mare Cannons Crown.
The sale continues Sunday at 10 a.m. EST.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
