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Champion mare Abel Tasman sold for $US5 million to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier to lead the robust opening session of the 2019 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

The amount for Abel Tasman equals the $5 million spent at the 2000 January Sale for Mackie (Summer Squall) as the highest price in January Sale history.

Keeneland sold 223 horses for $21,052,200 for an average of $94,404 and a median of $39,000 during the first session/

Last year 186 horses grossed $13,265,100 for an average of $71,318 and a median of $45,000.

Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Geoffrey Russell said: “We were proud to offer Abel Tasman and to get the highest price for a broodmare prospect ever sold in January.

“She deserved the adoration she got and deserved the price too.

“This was a good continuation of the November Breeding Stock Sale. We are in a good market at the moment and horses are being promoted and priced well, which was reflected in the RNA rate of 29 percent.”

Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for owners China Horse Club International and Clearsky Farms, consigned Abel Tasman, a 5YO daughter of Quality Road cataloged as a broodmare prospect.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Abel Tasman recorded six G1 wins and earnings of nearly $2.8 million during her racing career.

She was the 2017 champion 3YO filly following wins in the G1`Kentucky Oaks, G1 Acorn and G1 Coaching Club American Oaks and is a finalist for the 2018 Eclipse Award as champion older mare after notching wins in the G1 Ogden Phipps and G1 Personal Ensign.

Out of the Deputy Minister mare Vargas Girl, Abel Tasman is a half-sister to G3 winner Sky Girl and stakes-placed Moonlight Sky.

Dermot Ryan, manager of Coolmore’s Ashford Stud near Lexington, said no decision had been made on which Coolmore stallion she will visit in 2019.

Taylor Made Sales Agency was Monday’s leading consignor, selling 50 horses for $9,433,000. They included four of the session’s 10 highest-priced sellers.

MV Magnier was the day’s leading buyer.

Summer Wind Equine paid the next highest price of $750,000 for A Star Is Born, a 9YO daughter of Galileo in foal to War Front.

Ardfield Bloodstock paid $375,000 for Monday’s top-priced yearling, a colt by Into Mischief whose third dam is Hall of Famer and Broodmare of the Year Personal Ensign.

Tuesday’s second session of the January Horses of All Ages Sale saw the sale of the multiple G3-winning Distorted Humor mare House Rules, in foal to Quality Road, to WinStar Farm for $750,000.

On Tuesday Keeneland sold 242 horses for $17,805,100, for an average of $73,575 and a median of $35,000.

Through two sessions of the four-day January Sale 465 horses have grossed $38,857,300 for an average of $83,564 and a median of $37,000.

With two purchases for $1,085,000, WinStar was Tuesday’s leading buyer.