Australia's Aquis Farm has stated its global ambition by securing the equal top lot as the progeny of Curlin (USA) drove a bumper conclusion to the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.
Aquis, which has built a substantial investment in Australia over the past few years, flexed its international muscle by combining with Lets Go Stable and Crawford Farm in paying US$1.5 million for a Curlin yearling colt out of Chilean Group 1 winning mare Wapi (Chi) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
Aquis CEO Shane McGrath teamed with bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne as well as trainer Todd Pletcher to select the colt, which was consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of breeders Don Alberto Corporation and Three Chimneys Farm.
"We’ve had Demi on board for a while and we came up here and looked at 25 colts and he said this was the one,” McGrath said.
“I came up and looked at him and I agreed with him. And fortunately, Todd Pletcher loved him as well. At the end of the day, when you have the colt of the sale, you’re going to have to step up and you’re going to have to bat up. We’re a big operation down in Australia and we want to get global.”
"At the end of the day, when you have the colt of the sale, you’re going to have to step up and you’re going to have to bat up. We’re a big operation down in Australia and we want to get global.” - Shane McGrath
Wapi, who recently died after a bout of colic, was a dual Group 1 winner in her native Chile, winning six races in total. She is out of G1-placed We Can Leave (USA) (Seeker's Reward {USA}) and this was her first foal.
Hill 'N' Dale Farms' Curlin enjoyed an amazing session with Hip 174, a colt out of G3 winning mare America (USA) (A. P. Indy {USA}), offered by Stone Farm also reaching US$1.5 million.
A partnership of West Point, Woodford, Siena, Valdes Singleton, Sandbrook and Freeman came together through agent David Ingordo to secure the colt who hails from the family of blue hen Better Than Honour (USA).
“We got a really good colt for the West Coast last night, so this one will probably stay on the East Coast,” said Ingordo, referring to Monday’s session-topping Tapit (USA) colt (Hip 80). “That is what we were expecting, between $1 million and $2 million. Those kind of horses are always going to be expensive. We got fortunate that they did not go crazy on the price.”
“That is what we were expecting, between $1 million and $2 million. Those kind of horses are always going to be expensive. We got fortunate that they did not go crazy on the price.” - David Ingordo
“He is what you want in a racehorse. He is real classic. He looks like the oil paintings they have upstairs.”
The third million-dollar colt for Curlin went to Whitehorse and Bridlewood Farm, who paid an even $1 million for Hip 159 out of stakes-placed Yes Liz (USA) (Yes It's True {USA}).
There was also another Curlin colt, Hip 134, that reached US$950,000 to Kenneth McPeek on behalf of Fern Circle
Coolmore secures top Pharoah
The second crop of American Pharoah (USA) again proved popular with Coolmore's MV Magnier paying US$950,000 for Hip 191, out of Listed winner Bon Jovi Girl (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}), the half-sister to G1 Arlington Million winner Gio Ponti (USA) (Tale Of the Cat {USA}). That makes this colt a half-brother to G3 Greenwood Cup winner You’re To Blame (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}).
“He’s a lovely horse, very well prepared,” said Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace. “He came up here and jumped through all the hoops. We loved him from the moment we saw him. We are very happy to buy a horse from Archie [St George]-he always does a great job.”
“He came up here and jumped through all the hoops. We loved him from the moment we saw him." - Adrian Wallace.
He was one of five to sell on the day by American Pharoah, who has had seven Northern Hemisphere first-season winners to date and has just arrived at Coolmore Australia for his third season.
Magnier also came together with White Birch Farm to pay US$800,000 for Hip 129, a colt out of G3 winner Super Majesty (USA) (Super Saver {USA}) while agent Steven W Young parted with US$650,000 for the highest-price American Pharoah filly of the sale, Hip 151, a half-sister to stakes-placed Mind Mapping (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) from the family of G1 Preakness S. winner War Of Will (USA) (War Front {USA}).
Frosted flurry continues
The first crop of Darley's Frosted (USA) continued to prove popular with Oxo Equine paying US$850,000 for a filly out of Listed winner Swingit (USA) (Victory Gallop {USA}), which was consigned by Denali Stud on behalf of Bayne and Christina Welker.
Frosted's (USA) first crop have continued to prove popular
"She is just a beautiful filly,” Oxo Equine's Larry Best said. “I like the cross with Victory Gallop. She looks the part. I don’t think you can lose on her long term. She is a good buy at $850,000.”
She was one of three from Frosted, who stands a third season at Northwood Park in Victoria this spring, to sell on day 2.
Darley's former shuttler to Australia, Medaglia d'Oro (USA) continued his strong week with Claiborne Farm going to US$900,000 for his filly out of Veracity (USA) (Distorted Humour {USA}), while Young paid US$850,000 for a Medaglia d'Oro colt half-brother to G3 winner Mico Margarita (USA) (Run Away And Hide {USA}) and a close relative to G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Songbird (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}).
Medaglia d'Oro has had a strong week of sales
New records set
A total of 135 yearlings changed hands over the two-day auction for a gross of US$55,547,000 with the average hitting a record US$411,459 and a record median of US$350,000. Last year, 170 yearlings sold for US$62,794,000 with an average of US$369,376 and a median of US$300,000.
Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning was suitably impressed with the results.
“It’s really pretty simple: quality sells," he said. “We had a remarkable group of horses on offer tonight and the buyers responded very favourably. You can thank the consignors and the owners and breeders who provided us with the opportunity to sell a great collection of horses tonight and over the last two nights.”
“We had a remarkable group of horses on offer tonight and the buyers responded very favourably. You can thank the consignors and the owners and breeders who provided us with the opportunity to sell a great collection of horses tonight and over the last two nights.” - Boyd Browning
“I would not have dared this morning to say we would average $442,000,” said Browning. “We are thrilled overall with the results of 2019 and we will try for 2020 to recruit an even better group of horses. We think this is the greatest place in the world to sell a nice yearling. Next year we will really be busting our tails because it is the 100th anniversary of Saratoga.”
