As ever, the best pages are sparking the most competition in the sales ring, and therefore the Don Alberto Corp team knew they'd have to dig deep into their pockets to secure hip 353, the young Tapit mare Modeling. That operation's Fernando Diaz-Valdes noted, however, they didn't expect to have to go past $2 million, but in the end they held sway to secure her for $2.85 million.
A daughter of Teeming (Storm Cat), Modeling is a half-sister to GI Hollywood Starlet S. winner Streaming (Smart Strike) and Canadian stakes winner Cascading. Her second dam, 2007 Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), produced back-to-back GI Belmont S. winners Jazil (Seeking the Gold) in 2006 and Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) in 2007, and is also the dam of GII Peter Pan S. winner Casino Drive (Mineshaft) and Breeders' Cup Marathon victor Man of Iron (Giant's Causeway). Better Than Honour set a world record of $14 million for a broodmare at this sale in 2008 when Southern Equine Stables bought out Hill 'n' Dale to own the mare outright. Better Than Honour is herself out of the Grade I winner Blush With Pride and therefore a half-sister to Maryinsky (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who has laid the foundations for a dynasty of her own through her Classic-winning daughter Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and Group 1 winner and young sire-son Thewayyouare (Kingmambo).
Modeling, an unraced 2-year-old in foal to Distorted Humor on an April 9 cover, was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale, which has already experienced much commercial success with the family. John Sikura's operation sold Teeming to Josham Farm for $1.5 million at this sale in 2001, and was also the consignor of her weanling Bernardini filly that fetched $1.475 million at Keeneland November in 2008.
“She's such a well-bred mare, so we knew from the beginning to get her would be a difficult task,” Diaz-Valdes reflected. “We're happy. We didn't expect it would cost that much, but now that it's over there's nothing we can do. We didn't expect her to get over $2 million, but the market is the market, and there's nothing that we can do.”
Diaz-Valdes said no discussions had yet taken place as to who Modeling could be bred to next, but that a mare of her caliber, “has to go to the top stallion in the country.”
Don Alberto was back in action a short time later to secure the 5-year-old Galileo (Ire) mare Precious Stone (Ire), in foal to War Front, for $1.8 million. Out of Anna Karenina (Green Desert) and a full-sister to multiple group winner Battle of Marengo (Ire), Precious Stone was a dual winner at three in Ireland for the Coolmore partners and trainer David Wachman. She was consigned by Eaton Sales, carrying her first foal, as hip 382. Diaz-Valdes insisted after signing the ticket that Don Alberto was finished buying for the year. The operation bought a total of five mares at Keeneland November for $7.75 million.
“To have a Galileo mare in foal to War Front, what a great combination,” he said. “We'll hope for the best.”
–Kelsey Riley
Another Belle for Don Alberto…
It has been a busy year for Ciao Bella. The 5-year-old Giant's Causeway mare won her seasonal debut, a Gulfstream Park optional claimer, by 5 3/4 lengths for owner Michael Tabor Feb. 18 before jetting off to Kentucky for a date with Speightstown Mar. 17. Thirteen days later, Ciao Bella was back in the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher in Florida and recorded a career high when winning the GIII Rampart S. by 4 1/2 lengths. That proved the gray's ultimate career outing, and she is now in Kentucky to stay after being picked up by Don Alberto Corp for $1.6 million yesterday.
Don Alberto owner Liliana Solari was all smiles after signing for the mare.
“She's a very nice mare, and she has a very good pregnancy,” Solari beamed. “We want to have good mares on the farm. You have to have good mares and breed to good stallions.”
Asked about how she was willing to go for Ciao Bella, Solari explained. “We always see how the price goes, and if we're willing to we'll go up.”
Solari revealed that Don Alberto Farm currently has about 67 mares at it's Kentucky based at the former Vinery Stud, but the original farm in Chile, Haras Don Alberto, which was founded in 1987, has 300 horses. Solari pointed out that the business plan includes not only buying top-class mares, but also standing stallions of the highest quality. Amongst the stallions leased by Haras Don Alberto for Southern Hemisphere services are Mastercraftsman (Ire), Henrythenavigator, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), Proud Citizen and Dylan Thomas (Ire).
“So we have good mares for all those,” Solari said. Ciao Bella was the second buy of the day for Don Alberto; they went to $800,000 for another mare in foal to Speightstown, Touching Beauty (Tapit) (hip 216), early in the session. Click herefor a recent TDN feature on Don Alberto Farm.
Ciao Bella was consigned as hip 272 by Four Star Sales, and that operation's managing partner Kerry Cauthen was understandably delighted after sending through his highest-ever priced broodmare.
“It was definitely at the outer regions of what we might have expected,” Cauthened commented on the price. “Clearly, she was an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous mare with one of the nicest personalities. She was everybody's dream. On price alone, she's the nicest mare I've ever taken through. If you look at her physically, she's the nicest mare I've ever had. We really did feel like she could make the million dollar mark.”
Describing the market thus far, Cauthen added, “I've brought through three horses so far, but watching the market [Tuesday] and dealing with the three I've had [yesterday], it's fantastic. There are a lot of people that are looking for the right horses. If you bring up a special one you're going to get well rewarded. I'd say it's pretty strong right now. The good ones are really getting a premium. I'm a seller, so this is my kind of market.” –Kelsey Riley
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