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Sales, average increase at Fasig-Tipton

Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010 9:25 PM

SALE TOPPER: LAVENDER SKY

PhotosByZ.com/Fasig-Tipton

by Pete Denk

Buoyed by better quality at the top of the market, the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale experienced a 36.9% increase in average price on Monday at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington.

Fasig-Tipton reported 192 horses as sold from 270 offered for total sales of $3,052,600, a 27.6% increase from last year. Median remained level at $5,000, while the buy-back rate increased from 15.6% a year ago to 28.9%.

“We had better horses this year, and particularly the top end of the market was stronger,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning Jr. said. “If you have a horse that’s no longer going to cut it in Kentucky, it’s not going to be a pleasant experience when it goes through the sales ring. It’s a matter of grit your teeth and take what the market gives you, and often it’s not going to be a real positive economic outcome.

“But based on the feedback from our sellers who brought quality horses, it was a successful sale, and I think they’ll have confidence to bring more quality horses here in the future.”

Bloodstock agent Bill Lockridge, agent, bought the sale topper, going to $340,000 to secure Grade 2-placed winner Lavender Sky from the consignment of Three Chimneys Sales, agent.

Lockridge said he bought the broodmare prospect on behalf of an overseas client, who wished to remain anonymous. Lockridge was drawn to Lavender Sky, a six-year-old Mt. Livermore mare out of Munnaya, by Nijinsky II, because of her pedigree.

“Kamar, her third dam, is one of the great mares of all time,” Lockridge said. “I love the whole pedigree.”

Canadian champion Kamar is the dam of Canadian champion Key to the Moon, Grade 1 winner Gorgeous, 1990 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Seaside Attraction, and Jood, the dam of 2001 European Horse of the Year Fantastic Light. Seaside Attraction produced champion Golden Attraction, Grade 1 winner and sire Cape Town, graded stakes winner and sire Cape Canaveral, and group stakes winner and Group 1 stakes producer Red Carnival.

Bred in Kentucky by Gainsborough Farm, Lavender Sky retired with two wins from 19 starts and earnings of $195,852.

“I’ve bred my share of good horses, and most of the mares I’ve had success with were mares that could run,” Lockridge said. “But also they have to be out of one of the blue hen families, and certainly this mare is. I learned a long time ago that the mares who beat this mare are no more likely to have a top horse than she is. She couldn’t beat the best, but she ran with the best. And given her pedigree, I’m just crazy about this mare. She is very correct. I wish she was a little larger, but she’s very well made.”

The second-highest price of the day came at the end of the sale when Grade 2-winning stallion prospect Bear’s Kid sold for $260,000. Consigned by Glenmalure Farm, agent, the seven-year-old Lemon Drop Kid horse out of Grade 1 winner Tap to Music, by Pleasant Tap, sold to the Novel Group. 

The third-highest price and first among the racing prospects was $235,000 for stakes winner Julia Tuttle, a Grade 3-placed five-year-old Giant’s Causeway mare out of a full sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Candy Ride (Arg).

Summerfield, agent, consigned Julia Tuttle, a winner of four of 20 starts with earnings of $185,051. Bowden Global Bloodstock purchased Julia Tuttle and plans to keep her in training.

Consignor Andrew Cary of Select Sales, which offered 30 horses and sold 22 for $237,700, summed up the market.

“The horses that have less-than-ideal catalog pages, spotty produce records, older mares, or a less-than-perfect foal, there’s just no bottom to the market at all,” Cary said. “We sold a couple good-looking, young broodmare prospects, and that’s what everyone wants.

“There were no surprises. This market was what we expected. The bottom is pretty low and the highs aren’t as high as they used to be, but we’re moving most of them along, and that’s why we brought them here.”

Pete Denk is sales editor for Thoroughbred Times