NEWS
Barretts hopes market can build on recent success
Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 9:58 PM
by Pete Denk
Last week, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March sale of selected two-year-olds in training gave juvenile sellers good news in the form of improved average price and median and a declining buy-back rate.
Barretts Equine Ltd. hosts its March sale of selected two-year-olds in training in Pomona, California, on Monday beginning at 2 p.m. PDT. Sellers hope the juvenile market is not hung over from its first event that remotely resembled a party in a long time.
Many of the biggest national players or their representatives have visited the sales grounds at Fairplex Park, in addition to at least three Japanese buyers.
“Darley, and Demi O’Byrne, the Yoshida family, and Jess Jackson’s bloodstock agent, John Moynihan, are all here,” said Barretts Vice President and Controller Bill Baker. “I’d say the quality of our horses is pretty good. We were just trying to find athletes, and I think we succeeded. They trained very well.
“I’m encouraged by the OBS sale last week. It was very strong, and we had a lot of Southern California trainers come back and say they couldn’t buy anything. I think we’re probably okay, but it’s hard to ever feel confident in this economy.”
Barretts cataloged 134 horses, ten more than last year, thanks to the return of longtime Barretts supporters such as Murray Smith and Becky Thomas, both of whom missed the 2009 sale.
“We took a big hit last year, but we’re the only select two-year-old sale that went up in numbers this year, although it was only slightly,” Baker said.
At the 2009 sale, Barretts reported 51 horses as sold for total receipts of $6,285,500 and an average price of $123,245.
With only two days between Friday’s breeze show and the sale, trainers and agents were finding time between racetrack responsibilities to pop over to the sales grounds.
A consensus choice for sale topper had yet to develop as of Sunday night, but there were a number of candidates. The Unbridled’s Song colt out of the young Storm Cat mare King Shooting Star from Wavertree Stables, agent, seemed to fit the role with his $225,000 yearling price, one-furlong workout in :10, and positive appearance at the barn.
Murray Smith brought a particularly deep consignment that includes colts by Pure Prize, More Than Ready, and A. P. Warrior who worked bullets at their respective distances, as did California-based John O’Hara, whose top horses included colts by Tale of the Cat and Stormin Fever.
Jerry Bailey and Lance Robinson brought colts by Forest Wildcat and Henny Hughes that could sell at or near the top of the market.
“I think it’s a very good group of horses,” said Barretts Vice President of Sales Kim Lloyd. “We have a bunch of great athletes, and we hope that translates on sale day.”
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
