|
|
Tiznow colt goes for $265,000
English stakes heroine WAGTAIL (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]), Hip 1466, was knocked down to BBA Ireland for $210,000. The six-year-old bay mare was offered by Three Chimneys Sales, agent, and was sold in foal on an April 18 cover to Sky Mesa. Wagtail scored her signature victory in the 2006 Rosemary S. at Ascot, and she also placed in the 2007 Dick Hern Fillies' S. at Bath and the Fleur de Lys S. over Lingfield's Polytrack. Retired with a record of 12-4-0-3, $73,322, she produced her first foal, a colt by Mineshaft, this year. Wagtail is out of the winning Dancing Feather (Suave Dancer), who is a half-sister to French Group 3 diva and dual Grade 1-placed Spring Oak (GB) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]). With her second dam being 1986 Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G2) winner English Spring (*Grey Dawn II), Wagtail hails from the family of French highweight Fragrant Mix (Linamix), current French Group 1 queen Alpine Rose (Linamix), Australian Group 1 victress Allow (Rahy) and Grade 1 hero Dance of Life (Nijinsky II). BBA Ireland also snapped up stakes winner and Grade 2-placed P. S. U. GRAD (Harlan's Holiday) for $200,000, the only other lot to reach that threshold on the day. The four-year-old was consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Bluewater Sales, agent, and toured the ring as Hip 1349. P. S. U. Grad garnered the 2007 Barretts Debutante S. as a juvenile and went on to place in five other stakes, including the 2008 Santa Paula S. (G3) and the Honorable Miss H. (G2) three starts back in August. She subsequently finished fourth in the Ballerina S. (G1) and fifth in the Gallant Bloom H. (G2), advancing her mark to 18-4-4-4, $265,938. The dark bay was produced by Lo Cal Bread (Native Prospector), who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire Richter Scale (*Habitony) and Grade 3 scorer Outperformance (Aptitude). This is the family of six-time Grade 1 conqueror and $5.6 million earner Best Pal (*Habitony). Saturday's gross receipts turned downward after three straight positive sessions. On the day, 258 horses were sold for $10,837,000, a decline of 15.2 percent from the $12,786,000 realized by 230 head at the fifth session last year. The average dropped 24.4 percent, from $55,591 to $42,004, and the median fell 28.9 percent, from $45,000 to $32,000. The not sold rate decreased 40.2 percent. "Trading went very well today; the clearance rate was especially impressive," Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. "By selling their horses without reserve, Overbrook Farm helped establish the market. They deserve much credit for putting confidence back in the market." With the first five sessions of the 13-day marathon in the books, 1,049 horses have changed hands for $129,721,200, yielding a $123,662 average and a $70,000 median. Those figures represent declines of nearly 10 percent, 18.1 percent and 10.8 percent in their respective categories. By this point in 2008, 954 horses had sold for $144,067,000, resulting in an average of $151,014 and a median of $78,500. The auction continues Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. (EST). For more information, as well as live video of the sale, log onto keeneland.com.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
