by John P. Sparkman
Cup o' Joe, a striking colt by Medaglia d'Oro, topped the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training on Tuesday on a $1.6-million bid by John Ferguson, principal bloodstock adviser for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
Ferguson outbid partners Satish Sanan and Ahmed Zayat and newcomer Kaleem Shah to secure the half brother to Grade 1 winner Midas Eyes and two other stakes winners.
"This horse obviously performed really well on the racecourse," Ferguson said. "He's a brother to a very fast horse in Midas Eyes and he's by a very promising young sire. It's very hard for these consignors to find well-bred horses who can perform and this horse to my mind impressed in every department. This is a horse we felt could be very effective on the race track over the next few years."
Bred by Fred and Jane Brei's Jacks or Better Farm, the colt failed to meet his reserve at $325,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. Consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, agent, the colt worked one furlong in :10.60 at the presale breeze show.
“Those kind of prices you're more hopeful than expectant,” Dunne said, “but by the reaction to the horse and the action at the barn, we knew he'd sell well. He jumped through all the hoops, but we were more than pleased.”
The next horse through the ring, a lovely Unbridled's Song filly out of Grade 2 winner Be Gentle, by Tale of the Cat, brought the highest price for a filly at the sale. Consigned by Maurice W. Miller III, agent, the filly was purchased by Scott and Joe Ford's Westrock Stables for $700,000.
"[Racing Hall of Fame trainer D.] Wayne [Lukas] had several members of the family and he assured me we could earn that back," Scott Ford joked after signing the ticket. "We thought she was the best filly in the sale. We were prejudiced that way because he knew so many of the members of the family. She went for about what we thought she would."
Bred by Diamond A Racing Corp., the filly was listed as reserve not attained for $385,000 at the Keeneland September sale.
Two other horses, both by Unbridled's Song, sold for seven-figure prices. Both were purchased by Ferguson.
Ferguson outdueled Jess Jackson's representative John Moynihan for an Unbridled's Song colt out of stakes winner Amazing Buy, by High Yield, at $1.1-million. The colt was consigned by Leprechaun Racing, agent.
Ferguson paid $1-million for the last horse through the ring, an Unbridled’s Song colt out of Rubywood, by Woodman, consigned by Scanlon Training Center, agent.
Inevitably reflecting the difficulties in the global economy as well as the horse industry, average price declined 31.5% to $235,595, while total proceeds dipped 25.5% to $26,151,000 for 111 horses sold. The buy-back rate, including private sales which were reported for the first time, improved from 40.4% in 2008 to 35.5% this year.
“It was better than my fears, but not as good as my hopes,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning Jr. said. “Our goal is never to be down 31%, but you have to look at the sale in context. Last year on sale day, the [Dow Jones Industrial Average] opened at 12,570. Today, it was at 6,763, down 46.2%.”
“I was steeled for worse, and I feel like the enormous effort the sales company made has prevented what could have been an ugly mess,” said consignor Nick de Meric. “People are getting horses sold, and we're grateful for that.”
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John P. Sparkman is bloodstock editor of Thoroughbred Times