by John P. Sparkman

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum again led a powerful contingent of international bidders in forcing average and total proceeds substantially higher at the final session of the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings on Tuesday night.

The 75 yearlings sold for $25,760,500, added to the first session totals, resulted in 160 horses reported as sold for $52,549,500, a 45.6% increase compared with 2008 and the highest since the sale record of $62,412,000 set in 2001. Overall average rose 11.1% to $328,434, also the second highest on record.

“Fantastic sale both days,” said Walt Robertson, Fasig-Tipton Co.’s chairman and chief auctioneer. “Tonight was an awfully good night compared with last year.

“This was a big effort from everybody, and it all started in the winter with [Yearling Sales Director] Bill [Graves] and his crew looking at horses. They brought us nice, nice horses. Show [the buyers] a better horse, and they'll give you more money for it.

“There's a lot that's gone on [in the economy] in the last 12 months, and I don't think it helped us much. But it's really good to know that if you lead a good horse out there, they'll give you what it's worth.”

Sheikh Mohammed's representative, John Ferguson, landed the only seven-figure yearling of the evening, not including a bogus $1-million bid earlier in the evening, surviving a long duel with trainer D. Wayne Lukas at $2.8-million for a Storm Cat colt. Bred by Summer Wind Farm, the half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Aragorn (Ire) was consigned by Lane's End, agent.

"That was a stretch," Ferguson said, echoing his comment when purchasing the session-topping Medaglia d'Oro filly the previous evening. "Any farm that produces an individual of that quality from a mare that is as rock-solid proven as the dam of Aragorn, they deserve to be rewarded. You breed [a mare like that] to Storm Cat and you hope for the best, but it doesn't always happen. When it does, you deserve to be rewarded. He is very, very well conformed, great balance, great mover, and he came up here and did everything right."

Jane Lyon, owner with husband, Frank, of Summer Wind, thanked Sheikh Mohammed, who kissed her on the cheek and thanked her for breeding the colt.

"We really didn't know what to expect in this market," Jane Lyon said. "We did feel this was possibly the best colt to date from our farm. We knew he was very special."

Summer Wind purchased Onaga, in foal to Storm Cat, privately after she failed to meet her reserve on a $1,475,000 bid at the 2003 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

“I have had good luck with the family and I thought I'd try again,” Lukas, who was seated with Joe Ford of Westrock Stable, said. “I was in for a pretty good chunk of it myself ... my banker doesn't want to know!”

Led by Ferguson's six purchases for $6,350,000, foreign buyers purchased at least 19 horses for $11,055,000, a figure that represents 42.9% of the total expenditure during the second session. That brought the international buyer total for the sale to at least 46 horses for $22,650,000, a figure that represents 43.1% of the total proceeds. Fasig-Tipton estimated that foreign buyers accounted for about 20% of the total last year. Ferguson led all buyers with 12 purchases for $11,850,000.

“[International buyers] were obviously a major factor,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. “Their support and participation on a large number of offerings at various price ranges was very helpful to consignors, and very much appreciated.”

John P. Sparkman is bloodstock editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES and author of Foundation Mares. More of his work can be viewed at http://pedigreecurmudgeon.blogspot.com.