Forestry colt brings record $16 million

Hip 153 sold for a world record $16 million  (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) A colt by Forestry, Hip No. 153, sold for a mind-boggling $16 million at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale on Tuesday. The colt, consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, agent, is the most expensive horse ever sold at public auction. Demi O'Byrne, who typically represents the Coolmore partnership headed by John Magnier and Michael Tabor, signed the sales ticket on the unraced juvenile after a prolonged bidding duel with John Ferguson, who typically represents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. The colt blazed one furlong in a bullet :9 4/5 at the under tack show on February 19. He is the second foal out of the winning Unbridled mare Magical Masquerade, a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 juvenile winner Magicalmysterycat (Storm Cat). His granddam, multiple Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Nannerl (Valid Appeal), won 10 of 38 starts and earned $553,465. The bay, who descends from the same female family as multiple Grade 1 queen Fact Finder (Staff Writer), sold for $425,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale. The previous all-time auction record was set in 1985 when BBA, agent for Robert Sangster, paid $13.1 million for Seattle Dancer at the Keeneland July Selected Yearling Sale. Trainer Dale Romans, agent, bought the second-highest price horse at the sale when he went to $2.2 million for Hip 35, a colt by Storm Cat, who was also consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, agent.

The colt is the third foal out of multiple Grade 3 winner and $496,860 earner

Brushed Halory (Broad Brush), a half-sister to Grade/Group 2 winners Halory

Hunter (Jade Hunter) and Van Nistelrooy (Storm Cat), as well as Grade 3 winners Prory (Procida) and Key Lory (Key to the Mint).

At the first under tack preview, the bay worked an eighth-mile in :10 2/5.

O'Byrne also purchased a colt by Mr. Greeley, Hip 194, for $2 million.

Consigned by Nick de Meric, agent, the chestnut is out of stakes winner Peaks Mill

(Stalwart), a half-sister to 1983 Demoiselle S. (G1) winner Qualique (*Hawaii),

who is the granddam of 2005 champion and dual classic winner Afleet Alex

(Northern Afleet) and stakes winner and $384,079 earner Unforgettable Max

(Northern Afleet).

At the first under tack preview, the Mr. Greeley colt worked an eighth-mile in :10 2/5. The

youngster previously sold for $190,000 at the 2004 Keeneland November Breeding

Stock Sale and $180,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

In addition, O'Byrne signed the ticket for a filly by freshman sire Johannesburg, Hip 198,

for $1.1 million. Consigned by Leprechaun Racing, agent, the dark bay filly is

the first foal out of the unraced Unbridled mare Piedras Negras, a half-sister

to Group 3 winner Jack Sullivan (Belong to Me).

The lass zipped a furlong in :10 1/5 at the February 19 preview. She

previously fetched $75,000 as a weanling and $112,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton

Kentucky July auction.

Among the horses Ferguson purchased was Hip 248, a colt by Golden Missile,

who was hammered down for $2 million. Consigned by O & H Bloodstock (Terry

Oliver & Bo Hunt), agent, the bay is the second foal out of the winning Silver

Deputy mare Silverdew.

The colt drilled a furlong in :10 1/5 at the first under tack show. He

previously sold for $175,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

The sales company reported 154 horses sold for $62,187,000. This was up 24

percent from 2005 when 147 horses were purchased for $50,132,000. The average

price jumped 18.4 percent, from $341,034 to $403,812, while the median price

remained steady at $200,000.

For complete results, visit fasigtipton.com.