3 minute read
Nine lots sell for US$500,000 or more with session topped by Regal Glory and Danceforthecause.
Five-year-old mare Regal Glory, who is by former Arrowfield shuttler Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux), was the joint top lot sold during the second session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale on Tuesday when bought by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm for US$925,000.
Sold by Lane's End as agent for the estate of Paul Pompa, Regal Glory was offered as Lot 403 and is out of the Grade 2 winning More Than Ready (Southern Halo) mare Mary's Follies making her a half-sister to Japanese Grade 3 winner Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and dual Grade 3 winner Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway). She was sold as a racing or breeding prospect.
Later on in the session another mare sold for that same price when Gainesway Farm went to US$925,000 for Danceforthecause (Giant's Causeway). Sold as Lot 587, from the Sam-Son Farms dispersal, the mare was offered in foal to Twirling Candy (Candy Ride) with the resultant foal being a full relation to Grade 2 winner Rideforthecause who is one of two winners produced by Danceforthecause to date. Her other winner is the Canadian Grade 1 winner Say The Word (More Than Ready).
"She is a really beautiful mare and has been such a good producer already," said Gainesway Director of Bloodstock and Racing Alex Solis II, who signed the ticket. "I feel this is the best Sam-Son family there is with Dance Smartly as the second dam and Smart Strike right there on the page."
Overall on Tuesday 247 lots were sold for US$23,319,400. With 18 per cent more horses sold this year compared to last, the aggregate rose 70 per cent, up from US$13,668,300 a year ago. The average sat at US$94,411, up 44 per cent from US$65,399, whilst the median was US$40,000, up eight per cent from the corresponding session a year ago.
"The power of the dispersal was very obvious today with nine of the top ten prices paid for horses from the dispersals," Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said. "These dispersals are bittersweet, but we appreciate the trust they put in Keeneland to put the show on today.
"The opportunity, especially with the Sam-Son Dispersal, to get into these mares has been limited over the years," he added. "People are hungry to get into these strong female families. The same is true for the mares owned by Mr. Pompa. Breeders are looking for blue skies ahead and they have to have the product to produce yearlings to sell."
The Pompa Dispersal generated sales of US$4,037,000 and included four horses sold for US$400,000 or more. The Sam-Son Dispersal was the session's leading consignor with sales of US$6,733,000 that featured six horses bringing US$400,000 and more. The operation was founded in 1972 by the late Ernie Samuel and still run by his family with Sam-Son bred and raced horses having earned four Eclipse Awards and producing 44 graded stakes winners.
