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Storm Cat colt fetches more than $2 million at Keeneland

Last updated: 9/15/09 7:44 PM

Storm Cat colt fetches more than $2 million at Keeneland

Son of Storm Cat is the first foal out of

champion mare Fleet Indian

 (Photos by Z/Keeneland Association)

A day after no horse brought a seven-digit bid at the opening session of the

Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Tuesday's second session provided more

fireworks when three yearlings were sold for $1 million or more at the

Lexington, Kentucky, auction. The session topper was STORM 'N INDIAN (Storm

Cat), who went to John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, for $2,050,000.

Cataloged as Hip No. 342, the dark bay colt is the first registered foal out

of Fleet Indian (Indian Charlie), the champion older female of 2006. The New

York-bred won six of seven starts during her championship campaign, garnering

major scores in the Beldame S. (G1), Personal Ensign S. (G1) and Delaware H.

(G2). She was injured and eased during the running of the Breeders' Cup Distaff

(G1) at Churchill Downs, and retired with a record of 19-3-0-1, $1,704,513.

"Fleet Indian was a champion and a star of a mare," Ferguson commented. "He

(the colt) is very athletic with a great pedigree."

Storm 'n Indian, who was foaled on February 2, was offered from the

consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Ferguson also took home the sale's first $1 million yearling when signing for

Hip 245, a dark bay filly by Unbridled's Song out of the Grade 3-winning

Strawberry Reason (Strawberry Road [Aus]), which makes her a half-sister to the

2002 champion juvenile colt Vindication (Seattle Slew) as well as the Grade

3-winning Scipion (A.P. Indy), Grade 2-placed Blackberry Road (Gone West) and

stakes-placed True Reason (Silver Deputy). Strawberry Reason is herself a

half-sister to the Grade 3-winning Silver Comet (Flip Sal).

Stone Farm, agent, consigned the filly, who has a birthdate of February 15.

A.P. Indy colt is a three-quarter brother to leading

juvenile filly Mi Sueno

(Photos by Z/Keeneland Association)

A three-quarter brother to current juvenile filly star Mi Sueno (Pulpit)

brought a final bid of $1 million from D.L. O'Byrne. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale

Sales Agency, agent, Hip 383 is a March 15 colt by A.P. Indy.

The chestnut is the second registered foal from the Grade 1-winning Madcap

Escapade (Hennessy), who retired with a mark of 9-7-0-1, $1,052,852. Earning her

signature victory in the 2004 Ashland S. (G1), Madcap Escapade has already

produced Mi Sueno, who placed twice in maiden company at Hollywood Park before

romping home by 6 1/2 lengths in the August 7 Sorrento S. (G3) at Del Mar. She

remained at that track for the September 5 Darley Debutante (G1), which she won

by a length.

Madcap Escapade, herself produced by the multiple stakes-winning Sassy Pants

(Saratoga Six), is a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning Dubai Escapade (Awesome

Again) and the stakes-winning Real Estate (High Yield).

"Based on appearance and pedigree, he was my favorite horse of this sale,"

O'Byrne said, adding that the colt will race in the United States.

Ferguson was again the session's leading buyer, acquiring 17 yearlings for

$8,630,000.

Despite the presence of three million-dollar offerings, the second session

mirrored the opener with serious business declines. On Tuesday, 115 head sold

for $33,807,000. That represented a decline of 41 percent from the comparable

session last year when 146 yearlings brought $57,310,000. The session average

was down 25.1 percent, from $392,534 to $293,974, while the median was off 16.7

percent, from $300,000 to $250,000.

At the conclusion of the sale's first two sessions, 222 yearlings have

brought $58,756,000 in receipts. That represents a cumulative decline of 48.2

percent from a year ago when 300 horses sold for $113,357,000. The sale average

is down 33.5 percent, from $377,857 to $264,667, while the median is down 28.3

percent, from $300,000 to $215,000.

"The sale is a reflection of what's going on in the world; every other market

in the economy is down," Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell said. "On

the positive side, the results of these sessions may show the industry to be

affordable, and encourage people to buy horses. These prices, coupled with the

benefits to horse owners under the new economic stimulus bill, may be the push

some need to get involved in the industry."

The 14-day auction continues Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT). For more

information, including live video of the sale, log onto keeneland.com.

HORSES

SELLING FOR $775,000 OR MORE

HIP

 PRICE NAME,

SEX, AGE, PEDIGREE AND MATED TO (IF APPLICABLE)

 CONSIGNOR

 BUYER

342

 $2,050,000 STORM 'N INDIAN, c,

Storm Cat--Fleet Indian, by Indian Charlie

 Taylor Made Sales Agency,

agent

 John Ferguson

245

 $1,000,000 f, Unbridled's

Song--Strawberry Reason, by Strawberry Road (Aus)

 Stone Farm, agent John Ferguson

383

 $1,000,000 c, A.P. Indy--Madcap

Escapade, by Hennessy

 Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency,

agent

 D.L. O'Byrne

400

 $875,000 c, Unbridled's Song--Ocean

Drive, by Belong to Me

 Taylor Made Sales Agency,

agent

 Baccari Bloodstock for

BesiLu

274 $825,000 f, Unbridled's Song--Win

McCool, by Giant's Causeway

 Blackburn Farm (Michael T.

Barnett), agent

 Seth W. Hancock, agent

300

 $800,000 

c, Street Cry (Ire)--Call

Her, by Caller I.D.

 Four Star Sales, agent for

Glencrest Farm

 John Ferguson

288

 $775,000 c, Dynaformer--Awe That, by

Boundary

 Lane's End, agent Brushwood Stable

417

 $775,000 c, First Samurai--Preach,

by Mr. Prospector

 Claiborne Farm, agent D.L. O'Byrne

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