La Quebrada Reduction a Success

On a considerable tract of land just about an hour due west of Buenos Aires, Argentina, sits the Ceriani family's Haras La Quebrada, home to stallions and mares, past and present, that have helped shape the country's Thoroughbred breed. Some of South America's most prominent and important breeders turned up at the farm earlier this week with the unique opportunity to buy into some of the stud's families, as Hernan III and his sister Maria Ines Ceriani, have taken the decision to significantly downsize the operation. And by all accounts, the event was a tremendous success.

“It was a different type of sale with a different feel, as it was the restructuring of one of the most important farms of the last 40 years,” commented Antonio Bullrich, whose company conducted the auction. “I am not only happy that it was a successful sale, but also for the Ceriani family, who are still going to produce a huge number of champions. They certainly know how to do it.”

Over the course of two days of selling May 23 and 24, each of 202 mares was sold without reserve. Trainer Alberto Gaitan was the winning bidder on the sale's top offerings, hip 34, the 6-year-old Dolce Diva (Arg) (Luhuk), at Ar$1.9 million (US$118,750). The chestnut mare, offered in foal to former U.S. multiple graded winner Endorsement (Distorted Humor), won two of her three career trips to the post, including a Group 2, and is a half-sister to GSP Il Dolce (Arg) (Luhuk). Dolce Diva's second dam Sweet Halo (Arg) (Southern Halo) produced MGSW & G1SP Sweetly (Arg) (Luhuk).

Endorsement was also the covering stallion for hip 8, the second mare to fetch a final bid in excess of US$100,000. The dam of G1SW Arte Pop (Arg) (Mutakddim), Arteba is kin to SW & G1SP De Troy (Arg) (Southern Halo), while SW & GSP second dam Aquarelle (Arg) (Logical {Arg}) is responsible for La Galerie (Arg) (Southern Halo), champion 2-year-old filly and a Group 1 winner at home and multiple Grade II-placed in the U.S. for Cobra Farm and Robert Clay. Arteba was purchased by Dr. Alejandro Miserocchi's Haras Santa Ines. The latter is perhaps best known as the breeder of 2006 U.S. Horse of the Year and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes), also victorious in the G1 Dubai World Cup.