NEWS
Average rises again at OBS March sale of two-year-olds in training
Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 5:56 PM
by John P. Sparkman
Sparked by a $525,000 filly by More Than Ready and a $425,000 colt by Giant's Causeway, average price rose again at the second session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March sale of selected two-year-olds in training on Wednesday.
The 84 two-year-olds sold on the day for $9,685,000 raised overall totals to 171 horses reported as sold for $18,341,000, down 8.2% from 2009, when 206 horses sold for $19,971,000. Overall average price climbed 10.6% to $107,257, and median increased 16.8% to $80,000. The buy-back rate remained stable, well below the 42.5% rate in 2009, at 27.8%.
“We're very pleased,” said Tom Ventura, director of sales for OBS. “Statistically, all the numbers went in the right direction. More importantly, there was a deeper buyer's base here than we've seen [at the first two juvenile sales] and they weren't just kicking tires, they were buying horses.
“Horses in [the] $100,000-to-$300,000 range sold consistently. … I thought we stuck to our guns by keeping the catalog’s quality to where we had it, keeping our standards up. The buyers were here. We didn't have an oversupply of horses, and often when you stretch to make a bigger catalog those are the ones that suffer the most.”
Steve Young, agent, won a prolonged duel with bloodstock agent Patty Miller at $525,000 to secure the sale's top-priced horse, a big, chestnut filly by More Than Ready consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent.
"We tried to find a good filly in Miami but we fell in on a bunch of colts," said Young, who appeared to bid on several horses at the Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training in Miami earlier this month but did not sign a ticket. "She was the best filly in the sale. I thought she was very special. I hope she's brave and lucky. She handled the dirt really well at Jerry's and worked as well as anything on the synthetic [surface] here."
The half sister to Grade 2 winner Star Dabbler and stakes winner Run Production breezed one furlong in :10.20 at the second under-tack show.
"That was a little bit more than we thought she might bring," said Bailey, who bred the filly with partner Lance Robinson in the name of Gulf Coast Farms and consigned her to the sale. "She had like a dozen vets and they kept telling us she was the best filly in the sale, with a pedigree.”
The second session also included the sale's highest-priced colt, a $425,000 son of Giant's Causeway out of Twenty Eight Carat, by Alydar, purchased by Hidden Brook as agent for Paul Pompa Jr. Pinhooker Tony Bowling purchased the three-quarter brother to Irish highweight Heart Shaped and half brother to Grade 1 winner A P Valentine for $220,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt breezed one furlong in :10.60 at the second under-tack show.
“He's a classic-looking kind of colt, a two-turn horse,” said Dan Hall of Hidden Brook. “Paul's goal is to get back to the Derby.”
Pompa bought 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Big Brown through Hidden Brook for $190,000 at the '07 Keeneland April sale of selected two-year-olds in training. He sold a controlling interest in the eventual dual classic winner to IEAH Stables after he broke his maiden impressively in his first race as a two-year-old.
“It's been a good horse sale,” consignor Barry Eisaman said. “Consignors are getting horses sold and buyers are getting good horses. I hope it's a refreshing change for the whole industry.”
For complete results of the sale, click here.
John P. Sparkman is bloodstock editor of Thoroughbred Times
