Playful Act sells for world record $10.5 million

Last updated: 11/5/07 9:12 PM

A spirited bidding war erupted between rival superpowers for Playful Act, sparking a world-record price for a broodmare

(Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

John Ferguson paid a world record $10.5 million for English Group 1 heroine PLAYFUL

ACT (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) at Monday's opening session of the Keeneland November

Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Kentucky. The five-year-old mare was bred to Kingmambo

but is not in foal. She was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency,

agent for the Sangster family's Swettenham Stud.

Ferguson was bidding on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin

Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Archrival Coolmore was likewise intently

pursuing Playful Act, and the contest drove up her price until a new

world record for a broodmare was established.

The $10.5 million figure eclipsed the previous mark for a broodmare,

the $9.358 million paid for Magical Romance (Barathea [Ire]) in England

last year. Moreover, it was the third highest price ever paid for a

horse at Keeneland, topped by the $13.1 million for Seattle Dancer at

the 1985 Keeneland July sale and

the $11.7 million paid for a son of Kingmambo at the 2006 September

Yearling sale.

Ironically, the late Robert Sangster was himself one of the partners

involved in the purchase of Seattle Dancer.

"The record sale of Playful Act is a fitting tribute to Robert Sangster and his family for everything they have done here at

Keeneland," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales.

"This was a mare that Sheikh Mohammed was determined to have,

especially coming from the consignment of Robert Sangster," Ferguson

said. "I tip my hat to him for having the determination to go after

her."

Playful Act, who was cataloged as Hip

No. 231, produced a filly by Giant's Causeway earlier this year.

The highweight filly at two on the English Handicap, Playful Act won three of

four starts, including the Fillies' Mile S. (Eng-G1) and May Hill S. (Eng-G2). At

three, she won the Lancashire Oaks (Eng-G2) and finished second in the Irish

Oaks (Ire-G1). During her racing career, she earned $485,838 from a record of

8-4-2-0.

Playful Act is a full sister to English Group 2 winner Percussionist, and a

half-sister to three black-type winners, including multiple English Group 2

winner Echoes in Eternity (Spinning World). She is out of English Group 3 winner

Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk), who is a half-sister to 1993 Charles H. Strub

S. (G1) winner Siberian Summer (Siberian Express).

Shadwell Farm went to $4.5 million in order to acquire multiple Grade 1 queen

SPUN SUGAR (Awesome Again), who was cataloged as Hip 294. The five-year-old

mare, in foal on a March 6 cover to A.P. Indy, was consigned by Hidden Brook,

agent for Adena Springs.

Spun Sugar won the 2006 Apple Blossom H. (G1) and Go for Wand H. (G1). At

three, she captured the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2), finished second in the Alabama

S. (G1) and Mother Goose S. (G1), and third in the Coaching Club American Oaks

(G1). She earned $929,171 from a record of 13-6-3-1.

Spun Sugar is a full sister to Daaher, who rolled to a 2 1/4-length victory

in the Jerome H. (G2) on October 7 at Belmont Park. She is out of multiple

stakes winner Irish Cherry (Irish Open), a full sister to stakes-winning, stakes

producer Taft Lil Queen.

Hip 174, Irish Group 3 winner KAMARINSKAYA (Storm Cat), sold for $3.2 million

to Kern Lillingston Association, agent. The four-year-old mare, in foal on a

February 20 cover to Kingmambo, was consigned by Lane's End, agent.

As a juvenile, Kamarinskaya finished second in the Flame of Tara S. and third

in the C L Weld S. (Ire-G3) at the Curragh. Kamarinskaya broke her maiden in the

Leopardstown One Thousand Guineas Trial S.

(Ire-G3) and then was unplaced in two fillies' classics. The dark bay earned

$97,810 from a record of 7-1-1-2. She was sold for $2.2 million to Skara Glen

Stables at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Selected November Sale.

Kamarinskaya is a half-sister to undefeated European juvenile champion

Fasliyev (Nureyev), who won the Phoenix S. (Ire-G1), Prix Morny (Fr-G1),

Coventry S. (Eng-G3) and Marble Hill S. She is out of the unraced Mr.

Prospector mare Mr. P's Princess, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winners

Menifee (Harlan) and Desert Wine (Damascus) as well as English stakes winner

Arsaan (Nureyev). Her second dam is 1999 Broodmare Mare of the Year Anne

Campbell (Never Bend).

A filly by Pulpit was the highest-priced weanling, fetching $1.7 million from

Southern Equine Stables. The bay lass is the first foal out of 2004 Ashland S.

(G1) queen Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), who won seven of nine races and

$1,052,852. Cataloged as Hip 196, the March 14 filly was consigned by Hill 'n'

Dale Sales Agency, agent.

Madcap Escapade, a daughter of multiple stakes winner Sassy Pants (Saratoga

Six), is a half-sister to 2006 Ballerina S. (G1) victress Dubai Escapade

(Awesome Again).

FLEET INDIAN (Indian Charlie), last year's champion older mare, did not meet

her reserve and was bought back for $3.9 million. The six-year-old mare, in foal

on a February 13 cover to Storm Cat, won the 2006 Beldame S. (G1), Personal

Ensign S. (G1), Delaware H. (G2), and three other black-type events during her

five-year-old campaign. She was injured and pulled up in last year's Breeders' Cup

Distaff (G1) in what turned out to be her final career start.

Fleet Indian won 13 of 19 starts and earned $1,704,513. Cataloged as Hip 138,

Fleet Indian was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Twenty-eight horses brought $1 million or more, a record for a single session

at any Keeneland sale. The previous record for a session in November was 24

during the second session of the 2000 sale.

On Monday, 194 horses sold for $109,064,000, a single session record for a

Keeneland sale, and an increase of 30.2 percent

compared to the same session last year when 164 horses sold for $83,795,000. The

average price rose 10 percent, from $510,945 to $562,186. The median price,

however, declined 8.4 percent, from $297,500 to $272,500.

The sale continues Tuesday at 10 a.m. (EST). For complete results, visit

keeneland.com.

HORSES

SELLING FOR $2.3 MILLION OR MORE

HIP	PRICE	NAME, SEX, AGE, PEDIGREE AND MATED TO (IF APPLICABLE)	CONSIGNOR	BUYER
231	$10,500,000	PLAYFUL ACT (Ire), m, 5, Sadler's Wells-Magnificient Style, by Silver Hawk; bred to Kingmambo but not in foal	Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent for Swettenham Stud	John Ferguson
294	$4,500,000	SPUN SUGAR, m, 5, Awesome Again-Irish Cherry, by Irish Open; in foal to A.P. Indy	Hidden Brook, agent for Adena Springs	Shadwell Farm
174	$3,200,000	KAMARINSKAYA, m, 4, Storm Cat-Mr. P's Princess, by Mr. Prospector; in foal to Kingmambo	Lane's End, agent	Kern Lillingston Association, agent
125	$2,700,000	EVIL, m, 9, Hennessy-Lit'l Rose, by Mr. Prospector; in foal to Bernardini	Taylor Made Sales Agency	John Ferguson
204	$2,300,000	MELHOR AINDA, m, 5, Pulpit-Potrinner (Arg), by Potrillazo; in foal to Maria's Mon	Lane's End, agent	John Ferguson
257	$2,300,000	ROSA PARKS (GB), m, 8, Sadler's Wells-Free at Last (GB), by Shirley Heights; in foal to Kingmambo	Three Chimneys Sales, agent for Eydon Hall Farm	John Ferguson Bloodstock
263	$2,300,000	SAND SPRINGS, m, 7, Dynaformer-Lovely Martha, by Storm Bird; in foal to Kingmambo	Hill 'n' Dales Sales Agency, agent for Swettenham Stud	R B T S, agent

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