| A magnificent
Storm Cat colt from the Mr. Prospector mare Tacha, topped the second session of the
Keeneland July Selected Sale, knocked down to Demi O’Byrne for a cool US$3.1 million
dollars. With Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer
maternal sire and grandsire respectively, it’s likely that this yearling will
eventually find it’s way into the stallion ranks of Coolmore Stud for whom
O’Byrne acts.
However, not even the receipt of this multi-million dollar
purchase could arrest the downward slide experienced at the opening session.
Seven seven-figure babies boosted the session average to
US$579,239 compared to US$830,333 last year. At the end of trading eighty-seven horses
sold, two fewer than last year, for an average of $487,184, representing a drop of around
31.4%.
Top priced filly of the sale, a half-sister to Chief
Bearhart, made US$2.8 million early in the session. She too was by Storm Cat, a result
that ensured the Overbrook Farm resident top stallion honours (with just three sold).
Joining yesterday’s US$2 million Belong to Me filly as
the only other multi-million dollar purchase was a filly by Gone West from a sister to
former Champion Filly Pleasant Stage. She brought US$2.1 million. With his seven yearlings
sold Gone West averaged US$964,285, a clear indication of the esteem in which his stock is
held. The son of Mr. Prospector, who stands at Mill Ridge Farm, Kentucky, for US$125,000,
is currently ranked ninth on the Leading Sires table.
Top ten sires were (in order) Storm Cat (three sold), A.P.
Indy (one), Gone West (seven), Seeking the Gold (three), Belong to Me (three), Mt.
Livermore (one), Silver Deputy (two), Unbridled (three), newcomer Coronado’s Quest
(two) and Kingmambo (seven). |
