Corniche

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - With brisk activity at the top of the market, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training opened Tuesday with a lively day of trade topped by a $1.35-million son of Corniche. The colt was one of three to bring seven figures during the session. The entire 2025 March sale produced seven million-dollar juveniles. "Certainly an excellent day," said OBS president Tom Ventura. "We had a lot of activity in the barns during the week and expected that...

A colt from the first crop of champion juvenile Corniche (hip 95) quickly established a new high-water mark, selling to Legion Bloodstock for $1.35-million at OBS March Tuesday. Out of Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Leigh Court, the colt worked a quarter mile in :21. Bred in Kentucky by Speedway Stables, LLC, he was consigned by Pick View LLC who purchased him as a yearling at Keeneland September last year for $250,000. Represented by his first crop of juveniles, 2021 champion 2-year-old colt Corniche stands at Ashford Stud. "We bought a...

Having dealt with the rookies as a case apart, and then sought a couple of bargains at the base of the pyramid, today we move into a category that remains within the reach of many hands-on breeders--from $10,000 to $19,999--while also containing sires that can raise the bar a good deal higher. On the one hand, it includes a number of young horses still to be given adequate (if any) opportunity to show what they can do, yet already finding their books and fees eroded by still newer names. But...

TIMONIUM, MD - The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale produced strong returns at the Maryland State Fairgrounds Tuesday, with numbers up across the board from its 2024 renewal. In all, 161 yearlings grossed $4,978,100, while the average of $30,920 rose 30.4% from a year ago and the median increased 33.3% to $20,000. A year ago, 180 horses sold for $4,267,700. The average was $23,709 and the median was $15,000. "The results were very strong today," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. "I think it demonstrates that there is a viable...

by Dan Ross & Jessica Martini POMONA, CA - The Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale, held Tuesday at Fairplex, produced average and median figures largely in line with its 2024 renewal even as its clearance rate declined. A total of 140 yearlings sold for $4,603,400. The average increased 11.4% to $32,666 and the median remained steady at $15,000. In 2024, 163 head grossed $4,781,400 for an average of $29,334. With 97 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate rose to 40.8%. It was 34.8% a year ago. "The California breeding...

Editor's Note: the tables mentioned in the piece below have all been inserted into the article individually in alphabetical order. Please see those for reference. As an Englishman, I can assure my friends in the Bluegrass that America does not have a monopoly on political division. But in this rancorous age it is a comfort, either side of the water, that a mutual love of the horse can keep people not just talking, but outright friendly, who might otherwise only be yelling at each other. It is not too often...

Trade remained buoyant at the Keeneland September Sale in Lexington, with statistics continuing to increase over one year ago. With this year's gross having already exceeded figures for the entire sale in 2024, the sale generated $472,224,000 for 1,771 yearlings (through the ring) sold, which is 23.47% higher than the corresponding period last year when 1,740 horses brought $382,469,500. Average price of $266,643 is 21.31% above $219,810 from 2024, and the median of $180,000 is 20% over $150,000 last year. During Tuesday's session, Keeneland sold 276 yearlings (through the ring)...

Coffee, pens, chapstick, maybe an occasional hat. Consignors often hand out little tokens to give the memories of potential buyers a nudge into recalling their barn and their horses. But chances are you've seen someone emerging from Barn 9 on the Keeneland sales grounds in the last day or two with ice cream, which likely sounds mighty good after a day going from barn to barn inspecting horses in the full sun of an early September in Central Kentucky. Jennifer and Zach Phillips of Zen Equine, who may have their...

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX - The annual single session Texas Yearling Sale put on by the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) and hosted by Dallas-area Lone Star Park is set for 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The TTA catalogue has blossomed from 207 head in 2024 to 261 this year. The offerings include 63 from Texas, 115 from Louisiana, 30 from Arkansas and 11 from Oklahoma. An additional 22 horses have been entered for the mixed session for a total of 283. By the numbers, the 2024 edition, which showcased...

As we approach the opening of the 2025 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. In recent years, Stonehaven Steadings has been responsible for breeding a Breeders' Cup champion and Eclipse Award winner in Corniche as well as a $2.5 million Keeneland September sale topper. Today, the farm's Aidan O'Meara discusses the mating plans for Stonehaven Steadings in 2025. VENETIAN SONATA (16, Bernardini--Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City) and Miss Costa Rica...

In yesterday's edition of Value Sires for 2025, Chris McGrath profiled the stallions standing between $10,001 and $19,999, awarding the gold medal to trusty Darley stalwart Midshipman (read more here). Here, we asked the breeders to hand out their top picks for this category. ANDREW CARY GOLD: Volatile (Violence - Meloday Lady, by Unbridled's Song) Three Chimneys Farm, $12,500 The brilliantly fast and talented son of Violence is off to a very promising start at stud, already with 24 first crop winners, six stakes horses (two Grade I placed) and...

This is a fun category. Priced between $10,001 and $19,999, these stallions remain within reach of many hands-on breeders, yet include quite a few that can be legitimately described as proven. At the younger end of the scale, meanwhile, others remain full of promise. As already emphasized in this series, stallions that have shed their rookie glamor can offer real value to breeders of adequate nerve and imagination. If you're genuinely trying to get ahead of the curve, and not just cynically exploiting a vogue in which you have no...