A son of El Pradosold for $750,000 to keep the train moving on the fourth day of the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Buying for a European client, British bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson purchased the bay colt from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, agent for Golden Eagle Farm, in phase one of a major reduction.
"I had four horses on my final list for the day ,and obviously this colt was one of them," Watson said. "This is the right sort of horse to go to Europe. He was an extremely good-moving horse, and I love the stallion."
Bred in Kentucky by Betty Mabee and her son, Larry, owners of Golden Eagle Farm, the colt was produced from the Golden Eagle-homebred grade I winning Seeking the Goldmare Favorite Funtime. He is from the family of grade I winner Beau's Eagle, grade III stakes winner Man From Eldorado, and stakes winner Promising Girl.
"For an El Prado he stood over a lot of ground and he was correct with a very athletic walk. A true two-turn looking horse," said Bayne Welker, Mill Ridge director of stallion marketing and sales development. "He had a lot of interest at the barn and we were pleased with the result."
Watson said he was also interested in the son of Dynaformer who sold to Don Little's Centennial Farms for $700,000 earlier in the day. The Dynaformer son was also consigned by Mill Ridge.
"From a European point of view, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for us pedigree-wise," said Watson, who noted the exchange rate has been very favorable to European buyers. "I used to (take chances on American pedigrees to race in Europe), but I don't do it anymore. In years gone by, we used to have all of those Roberto-line horses and Kris S. pedigrees. Now there seems to be a bit of a shortage of stallions with pedigrees that could go to Europe. We are a bit restricted as to what we can buy.
"Mr. Greeleyhas become very popular in Europe, and Dynaformer works in both America and Europe. We are here but we are not buying the numbers we used to buy, not because we do not like the horses but because their pedigrees are not suitable for European racing."
