The record-setting 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale posted major increases in both total receipts and median in the 11th session.

The 15-day sale experienced across-the-board declines on day ten Wednesday but rebounded on Thursday with a 20.9 % rise in total sales and a 40% increase in median, compared with the corresponding 2006 session.

Keeneland reported 259 horses from 320 offered as sold for $4,662,200 with a median price of $14,000. On day 11 in 2006, Keeneland sold 226 horses for $3,824,500 with a median of $10,000.

Average price improved 5.5% to $17,846, compared with $16,923 at the corresponding 2006 session. The buy-back rate was 19.1%, compared with 26.4% at least year’s 11th session.

“There is unbelievable strength in this part of the market,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. “We had a spectacular not-sold rate today, which demonstrates that these horses are moving on to a wide range of buyers, and that’s a very positive sign. This sale in general proves that Keeneland remains the best marketplace for horses at all price levels. We attract a large number of buyers from all ranges of the market, and that continued today.”

Big D Stables purchased three-year-old filly Whole Emblem for $130,000 to top the session. Offered as a broodmare prospect, the winning Our Emblem filly is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Top Secret and Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Tate. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Whole Emblem is out of the winning Upper Nile mare Half Secret.

A white colt named Arctic Bright brought the top price for a weanling on Thursday. Paul Megson and Berva Megson went to $80,000 to secure the Painting Freedom colt, who is the first foal out of the unplaced Reign Road mare Mesa Queen.

Joe Davis went to $80,000 to secure Tricky Causeway, a stakes winner by Giant’s Causeway who was offered as a stallion prospect by Lane’s End, agent. Tricky Causeway is a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner Rey de Cafe, and is out of the winning Private Account mare Commodities, a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner and sire King Cugat.

Through 11 sessions, Keeneland reported 2,666 horses as sold for total receipts of $322,692,100, a record for the November breeding stock sale and a 7.8% increase compared with the same point in the 2006 sale.

The sale runs through Monday with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. EST.
For hip-by-hip results, click here.
http://apps.keeneland.com/data/session.asp?SaleID=200803&Session=11