NEWS
Keeneland gets another Overbrook boost
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:25 PM
THIRD SESSION TOP PRICE: LASTING APPEAL
PhotosByZ.com/Keeneland
by Pete Denk
Total sales increased on session-to-session comparison for the second consecutive day at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale on Thursday, and again it was horses from the Overbrook Farm dispersal leading the way.
Overbrook horses accounted for the two highest prices of the day, including $875,000 for session topper Lasting Appeal, a six-year-old A.P. Indy mare out of the Storm Cat mare Steady Cat.
Keeneland reported 252 horses as sold from 313 offered on Thursday for total sales of $26,833,000, an 8.6% increase compared with session three last year. Average price was down 3.4% to $106,480, and median was down 9.1% at $75,000.
The buy-back rate of 19.5% was considerably lower than last year’s mark of 28.2%.
“I think today’s session was very good,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. “It continued on from yesterday. We had a very cosmopolitan group of buyers, and some new players and new accents have arrived.
“The Overbrook dispersal has been a great boost to our sale. They topped the sale again today. The quality of their broodmares is world renowned.”
The Overbrook dispersal, consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, sold 26 horses for $4,634,000 on Thursday, bringing the cumulative total to 64 sold for $25,591,000.
“The legacy of Overbrook, what Storm Cat has done, I think it’s all built up, and there may be [a little magic] going on,” said Eaton’s Archie St. George. “It’s a phenomenal thing what Overbrook accomplished.”
WinStar Farm purchased the session topper, who is in foal to Awesome Again. Lasting Appeal’s first foal, a Ghostzapper filly, sold for $310,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Lasting Appeal is a full sister to Grade 2 winner and sire Jump Start. WinStar’s Doug Cauthen said she would be bred to WinStar stallion Distorted Humor next year.
“We hoped to pay $400,000 or $500,000, but these are special mares from special families,” Cauthen said. “Sometimes you’ve got to put your money where your mouth is. It’s a stallion pedigree, so we’ll hope we get [a stallion].”
Kempton Bloodstock’s Steve Castagnola, representing Robert and Lawana Low, was underbidder on the session topper.
The top price for a weanling on Thursday was $350,000 for a daughter of Unbridled’s Song out of Offshore Breeze, by Thunder Gulch. Bloodstock agent Ray Bell purchased the filly on behalf of a California client. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the filly.
Cumulatively, Keeneland reported 547 horses as sold for total receipts of $98,484,500, down 14.2% from last year. Average is down 17.9% to $180,045, and median is down 12% at $110,000.
The buy-back rate has dropped from 33.1% through three days last year to 21.1%. Five horses have sold for $1-million or more this year, compared with 19 at this point last year.
Session four of the 13-session auction begins Friday at 10 a.m. EST.
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
|
Keeneland April breeding stock sale
Session Three Summary |
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
| No. offered |
313 |
(+0.3%) |
312 |
| No. sold |
252 |
(+12.5%) |
224 |
| Pct. not sold |
19.5% |
|
28.2% |
| Gross |
$26,833,000 |
(+8.6%) |
$24,698,000 |
| Average |
$106,480 |
(-3.4%) |
$110,259 |
| Median |
$75,000 |
(-9.1%) |
$82,500 |
| For hip-by-hip results, click here. |
