Orb Colt Tops Fasig Tuesday

Hip 759 | Fasig-Tipton

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LEXINGTON, Ky – After a strong opening session Monday, numbers dipped off during the second day of the Fasig-Tipton October Fall Yearling Sale in Lexington Tuesday, even as the buy-back rate improved. A colt from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Orb (hip 759) brought the day's top price when selling for $300,000 to Tony Dutrow's Team D partnership.

“The average and median were a little bit lower today,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “I think if you spoke to people on the grounds, just because of the way the catalogue fell, the consensus might have been that this was the lightest group of horses at the upper end. And a couple of big horses can really influence the average of a sale that averages in the $30,000-35,000 range. Overall, I thought trade was very consistent and very similar today to yesterday and I think there are some nice horses tomorrow.”

During Tuesday's session, 251 horses sold for $7,162,700. The average of $28,537 was off 22.2% from last year's second session, while the median fell 37.5% to $10,000. Through two sessions, the cumulative average of $31,125 is off 10.6% from last year's four-day sale and the median is down 20%.

While the median and average were down, the buy-back rate through two sessions of the October sale improved to 27.7%. It was 32.2% after two sessions a year ago.

“I think every sales company professional would tell you, at the end of the day, they would rather get horses sold,” Browning said. “I think the people that are transacting business with you are wanting to turn their product into cash. So I would always lean towards trying to improve the buy-back rate and hope you don't see any dramatic shift in the statistics.”

Kerry Cauthen, whose Four Star Sales consigned Tuesday's second-highest priced offering, has found the October sale strong across the board.

“You're putting together a market that is books 1 through 6, so that's asking a lot of the buyers,” Cauthen said. “We're finding that the top end, as it has done all year long, has done very well. But we are finding buyers at, what I think are reasonable and fair prices, down to the low part of the market–the book 6 relative horses–and I think they are bringing fair prices. It has kept up through mid-day Tuesday and I hope it keeps up all the way through to the end.”

The October sale concludes with a final session Wednesday, with bidding beginning at 10 a.m.

 

Orb Colt on Top at Fasig Tuesday

Trainer Tony Dutrow had to fly home to New York, but bloodstock agent Bo Hunt deputized to secure a colt by Orb for Dutrow's Team D partnership for a session-topping $300,000 during the second day of the Fasig-Tipton October sale Tuesday.

“He is a lovely horse, a really nice colt,” Hunt said after signing the ticket on hip 759. “Mr. Dutrow really liked the horse. He had to catch a flight back to New York, so he asked me to bid on the horse for him. That was probably as high as he was going to go on him. He was very happy to get the horse bought.”

In recent years, the Team D partnership has campaigned 2014 GIII Sanford S. winner Big Trouble (Tiz Wonderful), as well as 2013 GII Futurity winner In Trouble (Tiz Wonderful).

In addition to the session-topping Orb colt, Team D was also the name on the ticket Monday for hip 201, a colt by Tale of the Cat purchased for $150,000.

Hip 759, from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Orb, is out of the unraced Zealous Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to graded stakes winners Friel's For Real (Sword Dance {Ire}) and Ryan's For Real (Sword Dance {Ire}). The yearling's third dam is Beaty Sark (Deputy Minister), the dam of graded stakes winner Ivanavinalot, who produced unbeaten champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro).

The dark bay colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency on behalf of breeders Fred Hertrich and John Fielding. Hertrich purchased Zealous Gold for $50,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November sale.

“He was one that we were specifically targeting this later sale with,” Taylor Made's Mark Taylor said of the May 23 foal. “I think it really paid off because Mother Nature does more to bring these horses along than anything we can do prepping. He was just much more mature, filled out and physically ready than he was a month ago. He had the pedigree–we ran an ad the other day highlighting that he was from Songbird's family, but the whole pedigree is really strong. He had the whole package, which is what it takes in this market.”

Taylor continued to see plenty of strength at the top end of the market as the October sale neared the conclusion of its second session Tuesday.

“All of our horses who have sold the best at this sale are basically bringing about 50-100% more than what I've appraised them for,” Taylor said. “Now the rest of them, you have to be very careful.”

Gemologist Colt Sparkles at Fasig

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan went to $290,000 to secure hip 561, a colt by Gemologist out of Starlicious (Cape Town) from the Four Star Sales consignment.

Ryan, who was bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, admitted the yearling's hot freshman sire was a large part of his appeal.

“The Gemologists are well-grown horses, they will stretch, but they've got plenty of pace–which they showed at the 2-year-old sales and now they're showing it on the racetrack,” Ryan said.

From his first crop to race, Gemologist has been represented recently by GI Frizette S. winner Yellow Agate and GIII Futurity winner Theory, as well as graded placed Spirituality.

Of the yearling, Ryan added, “This was an impressive horse, a big strapping horse. There was no genius needed to pick him out. We have to pay for those kind and I knew we'd have to stretch for him. I think he's the best colt in today, in fact, he might be the best colt in the sale, in my opinion. I think he is Grade I caliber.”

The bay colt, bred by Graeme Lang, is out of Starlicious, a half-sister to stakes winner Really Crafty (Crafty Prospector).

“He was a very nice colt and he was bred and raised by great folks,” said Four Star's Kerry Cauthen. “He just put all the pieces together. Gemologist has got everything going on and there is nothing that can help a sale like a hot sire.”

More Than Ready Colt for Pinhooking Group

A colt by More Than Ready got Tuesday's second session of the October sale off to a quick start, selling for $230,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Josh Stevens.

“I bought him for a partnership that's not fully put together yet, but it's for a new group of guys who will pinhook him,” Stevens, who previously worked at Margaux Farm before going out on his own two years ago, commented.

Hip 428, consigned by VanMeter-Gentry Sales and bred by Olin Gentry and Gaines-Gentry Stallion Holdings, is out of Ruban Bleu (Broken Vow) and is a half to graded stakes placed Tiznow R J (Tiznow). Gentry purchased Ruban Bleu, with this foal in utero, for $360,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January sale. The yearling RNA'd for $325,000 at last month's Keeneland September sale.

“He was gorgeous,” Stevens said of the yearling. “He has more size and scope than a lot of More Than Readys and he looks like he'll have the ability to go two turns. And his half-brother is a really good horse. It can be hard to find that combination of pedigree and individual at these later sales, but he really stuck out for us. He looks like the type that could get you to the Derby, which is everybody's dream.”

Of the yearling's price tag, Stevens added, “We chased a couple yesterday and it was very competitive, so we knew we would have to pony up for this one this morning. If I'd been able to get him for less than that, I would have thought it was a real deal.”

 

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