The Keeneland January horses of all ages sale concluded Sunday with a decline in total receipts and increases in average price and median.

Four seven-figure horses buoyed the seven-day sale, led by the $2.7-million sale topper Irish Cherry. The winning bid was the highest at the Keeneland January sale since 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Desert Stormer sold for $3.6-million in 2002.

The Keeneland January sale was one day shorter than the 2007 sale. Keeneland reported 1,493 horses from 1, 965 offered as sold for $70,446,000, a 3.3% decrease compared with the 2007 Keeneland January sale in which 1,862 horses brought $72,868,200.

Average price rose 20.6% from $39,134 in 2007 to $47,184, while median increased 13.3% from $15,000 to a record $17,000 this year. The buy-back rate climbed from 22.7% in 2007 to 24%.

“We are very pleased with the results given the variability of January sales,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. “The sale unfolded as anticipated; buyers were very discriminating in their purchases in a continuation of what we saw [at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale].

“Make no mistake; record sales last year were built on the weakness of the [United States] dollar, which drove foreign spending. If not for that, we would have experienced a major market correction,” Russell added. “One only need look at the recent downturn in European sales, which did not have the benefit of the favorable exchange rate. It will happen here, too, unless breeders make some hard decisions.”

Mike Moreno’s Southern Equine Stable secured Irish Cherry on day one from the consignment of Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent for the partnership of Mike Abraham and Pierre and Leslie Amestoy.

Irish Cherry is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Spun Sugar and 2007 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) winner Daaher. The 14-year-old mare by Irish Open is believed to be carrying a colt by 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. Out of the winning Ancestral (Ire) mare Eston, multiple stakes winner Irish Cherry won six of 14 starts and earned $147,280.

Three horses sold for seven figures on day two of the Keeneland January sale. Sha-Li Leasing went to $1.9-million to purchase multiple graded stakes winner Miss Lodi from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent. The nine-year-old Mr. Greeley mare was the only broodmare in the sale in foal to Storm Cat.

Aaron and Marie Jones went to $1.5-million to buy Gwen’s Song from the consignment of Greenfield Farm, agent for the dispersal of Stan Fulton. The winning five-year-old Unbridled’s Song mare is in foal to Distorted Humor.

Narvick International, agent for Marsha Naify, signed the $1.35-million ticket for 2007 Delaware Oaks (G2) winner Moon Catcher. Gainesway, agent, consigned the four-year-old Malibu Moon filly.

Ton VanMeter purchased the highest-priced yearling of the sale when he went to $475,000 to secure a filly out of Ministrada from the first and only crop of deceased 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam. Robert Courtney Sr.’s Crestfield Farm consigned the filly.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.