NEWS
Storm Cat colt goes for $2.8-million
Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:19 PM
HIP 204: STORM CAT COLT
PhotosByZ.com
by John P. Sparkman
John Ferguson, bidding on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, outlasted a stern challenge from Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas on Tuesday to secure the top-priced horse so far at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings, paying $2.8-million for a son of Storm Cat.
Lukas, seated with Joe Ford of Westrock Stables, engaged Ferguson, standing with Sheikh Mohammed behind the pavilion from about $1-million in what was easily the most prolonged bidding duel of the sale for the three quarter brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Aragorn (Ire) out of Onaga, by Mr. Prospector.
"That was a stretch," Ferguson said, echoing his comment when purchasing the session-topping Medaglia d'Oro the previous evening. "He was a beautiful colt.
“Any farm that produces an individual of that quality from a mare that is 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."
Mrs. Frank Lyons, owner with her husband of breeder Summerwind Farm, 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," Mrs. Lyons said. "We did feel this was possibly the best colt to date from our farm. We knew he was very special."
Summerwind purchased Onaga, in foal to Storm Cat, privately after she failed to meet her reserve on a $1.475-million bid at the 2003 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
Immediately before the Storm Cat colt walked into the ring, the Kingmambo filly who had been victimized by a bogus bidder earlier in the evening was resold for $300,000 to Rick Nichols of Shadwell Farm.
John P. Sparkman is bloodstock editor of Thoroughbred Times
