Europeans Busy At Kentucky Fixtures

Fasig-Tipton sales grounds | Fasig-Tipton

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LEXINGTON, KY–Kentucky's best-of-the-best breeding stock sessions took place on Tuesday evening and Wednesday in Lexington, where Fasig-Tipton's November Sale-'Night of the Stars'-and Keeneland November's single-session Book 1 generated solid trade. While the gross ($68,011,000), median ($300,000) and average ($531,336) all took minor tumbles at Fasig-Tipton from a catalogue about 30 horses smaller, 18 fillies and mares sold for seven-figures headed by the $5-million GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize). Last year, Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) had topped the sale at $7.5-million.

At Keeneland on Wednesday, the gross climbed 14.5% to $70,449,500 from a slightly larger book. Like Fasig, the average ($432,206) and median ($300,000) were slightly down. Keeneland Book 1 was topped by Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), a dual Grade I winner, granddaughter of Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady (Dehere) and half-sister to Omaha Beach (War Front). Take Charge Brandi was bought for $6-million at this sale in 2015 by Hill 'n' Dale Farm and the Bernick family, and on Wednesday Hill 'n' Dale bought out its partner.

European visitors were significant contributors to the bankrolls at both sales. Qatar Racing was involved in some big-ticket items in a new breeding stock partnership with Hunter Valley Farm, which is owned and operated by a group of Irishmen. At Fasig-Tipton they secured the 4-year-old filly Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the GI Frizette S. at two, for $2.1-million. The partnership added Grade I winner Nereid (Rock Hard Ten) at Keeneland for $1.25-million. Qatar Racing, Hunter Valley and Marc Detampel campaigned Nereid's first foal, the stakes winner and GIII Indiana Oaks second Figarella's Queen (Medaglia d'Oro). The 11-year-old mare was sold in foal to red-hot U.S. sire Quality Road.

Galvin said of the partnership, “We are going after those high- end type mares. The mares will stay in the U.S. and more than likely it will be commercial. They are existing people we just kind of put together for these last two purchases.”

Qatar Racing's David Redvers also signed at Fasig-Tipton for the $1.2-million Diva Delite, the dam of this year's standout American 4-year-old dirt filly Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) and the stakes-placed 3-year-old Stage Left (Congrats). Diva Delite was sold in-foal to Triple Crown winner and first-crop covering sire Justify.

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer were at Fasig-Tipton on Tuesday with their racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau, and they took home the 4-year-old mare Nootka Sound (Lonhro {Aus}) for $835,000. The Grade III winner is carrying her first foal, by Medaglia d'Oro.

China Horse Club signed for five mares in foal to their Triple Crown winner Justify through the two days of sales, three of those by Galileo, and the operation's Michael Wallace confirmed that they are all headed to Ireland to bolster the Club's broodmare band there. First up at Fasig-Tipton was the listed-winning Easter Lily (Ire) for $850,000. Wallace signed at Keeneland for Hourglass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to Shamardal, for $1.1-million; C'Est Ca (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Grade I winner A Z Warrior (Bernardini) for $600,000; Media Mischief (Into Mischief), a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane winner Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) for $550,000; and Costa Del Sol (Istan), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and sire Mark Valeski (Proud Cititzen), for $280,000.

John Malone, the largest landowner in the U.S. and a billionaire businessman and media mogul, is the owner of both Bridlewood Farm in Florida and Ballylinch Stud in Ireland. Malone was in Lexington alongside Ballylinch's John O'Connor, and he signed under Bridlewood/Ballylinch Stud for the 8-year-old Crowley's Law (GB), who was Group 3-placed in England and Grade I-placed in the U.S., also in foal to Justify for $700,000. Bridlewood/Ballylinch also signed for the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Barkaa (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) off the track for $150,000 at Fasig-Tipton, and the 4-year-old maiden mare Colonia (Fr) (Champs Elysees {GB}) for the same price at Keeneland on Wednesday evening. Barkaa and Colonia head to Ireland, while plans for Crowley's Law are as-yet undecided.

Agent Hugo Merry struck at the top of the market at Keeneland on Wednesday on behalf of an undisclosed client when going to $1.2-million for the supplementary entry Purely Hot (Pure Prize). The 11-year-old mare in foal to the good young sire Union Rags is the dam of this year's GI American Pharoah S. winner Eight Rings (Empire Maker), one of the top 2-year-olds in the U.S. Haras d'Etreham and Meridian International teamed with Runnymede Farm to purchase Molly Corbin (War Front), a half-sister to Peeping Fawn (Danehill), for $600,000.

BBA Ireland was the name on the ticket for three mares at Keeneland, including Sotto Voce (Tapit), a full-sister to young Coolmore stallion Cupid in foal to that one's barnmate Justify for $850,000.

It was impossible, too, to ignore the Japanese presence at the two sales. Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida spent $6.65-million on five mares at Fasig-Tipton, including the $2.7-million dual Grade I winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in foal to Quality Road, while K I Farm spent $2-million on Canadian champion and multiple Grade I-placed Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro). Shadai Farm signed for one at Fasig-Tipton and four at Keeneland, headed by the $2.3-million Eskimo Kisses (To Honor And Serve) in foal to Curlin. Haruya Yoshida, the younger brother of Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida, took home two from Keeneland. Harry Sweeney's Paca Paca Farm was also active throughout both sessions, mostly signing for foals.

Keeneland November continues through Nov. 17.

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