$200,000 Giant's Causeway colt tops Fasig-Tipton opener

The yearling's second dam, the winning Balinese (Nijinsky II), is a full

sister to multiple Group 1 victor Mashaallah, a highweight in both Ireland and

Italy; Grade 1 heroine Folk Art; and multiple stakes-winning and Grade 3-placed

sire Sportin' Life. Other notables in the family include English highweight

miler, classic winner and sire Mark of Esteem (Darshaan) and Japanese champion

Eishin Champ (Mi Cielo).

That top price was nearly matched much later in the day when a Smart Strike

colt commanded $190,000 from Kirkwood Stables, agent. Offered by Warrendale

Sales, agent, the Virginia-bred sported Hip 321.

The April 22 chestnut was making his third appearance at auction. As a

weanling at Keeneland November, he was sold for $220,000 as part of the complete

dispersal of the Edward Evans Estate. The colt returned to Keeneland this

September, but RNA'd for $235,000.

The yearling was produced by the stakes-placed Rap and Dance (Pleasant Tap),

making him a half-brother to stakes winner Rap Tale (Tale of the Cat) and to the

stakes-placed Cherokee Rap (Cherokee Run).

Rap and Dance is in turn a half-sister to Grade 1 stars Another Review

(Buckaroo) and No Review (Nodouble), and she is a three-quarter sister to

multiple Grade 2 winner Dance Colony (Pleasant Colony). This family is also

responsible for Blueskiesnrainbows (English Channel), winner of this year's

Grade 2 Swaps and third in the Santa Anita Derby, and further back, Grade/Group

1 heroine Nobiliary (*Vaguely Noble) and world-class sire Lyphard (Northern

Dancer).

Wounded Warrior Stable secured a colt by Malibu Moon for $175,000. Lane's

End, agent, consigned the dark bay as Hip 352.

The February 12 Kentucky-bred is the second foal from the winning Right Place

(Petionville), who is a full sister to multiple Grade 2 victress and Grade

1-placed Runway Model. They are also half-sisters to multiple Grade 2-placed

stakes scorer Mambo Train (Kingmambo) and to the stakes-placed Texas Kitty

(Forest Wildcat).

The yearling's second dam, multiple stakes winner Ticket to Houston

(Houston), is in turn a half-sister to Grade 3 queen Sea Ditty (Afleet), the dam

of Grade 3 victor M B Sea (Alphabet Soup).

Zayat Stable went to $170,000 for a Smart Strike filly, also from the consignment

of Lane's End, agent. The Kentucky-bred bay entered the ring very early in the

session as Hip 6.

Out of the winning Kelly Pond (Deputy Minister), the March 31 foal is bred on

the same Smart Strike/Deputy Minister cross as two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. 

Kelly Pond, who has produced the Grade 3-placed Clear Pond (Dynaformer), is

herself a half-sister to Grade 1 hero Talinum (Alydar) as well as French

classic-placed Gharam (Green Dancer).

The yearling's second dam is Grade 3 queen and influential matron Water Lily

(Riverman). Prominent among her descendants are German highweight Notability

(King's Best), Group 3 scorer and French classic-placed Simeon (Lammtara), Grade

1-placed stakes winners Great Notion (Elusive Quality) and Tamweel (Gulch) and

current English juvenile Master of War (Compton Place), who is a stakes winner

and multiple Group 2-placed.

The three-day sale runs through Wednesday, with each session opening at 10

a.m. (EDT).

For the complete catalog, updates, the latest outs as well as live video of

the sale, log onto

www.fasigtipton.com.