Boosted by the Sheikh Mohammed stimulus package, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale got off to a sizzling start Aug. 10 in New York at a time when the struggling economy is causing prices to fall at other Thoroughbred auctions. The gross revenue for the 76 horses that sold was $25,470,000, which was a whopping 40.3% increase from the opening session a year ago. The average price grew 10.7% to $335,132, and the median price increased 6.4% to $250,000.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
A muscular bay son of first-crop sire and champion Bernardini became the first horse to command seven figures Aug. 10 during the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction, bringing $1.2 million from Sheikh Mohammed.
Monday, August 10, 2009
An offspring of Medaglia d'Oro commanded the highest price thus far at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale July 21 when Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock agent John Ferguson went to $425,000 for a bay filly.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The declines were in line with expectations during the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton July select yearling sale. Buyers and consignors had predicted the market would be down significantly, and there were no surprises July 20 in Lexington.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sheikh Mohammed's agent, John Ferguson, went to $400,000 to acquire a son of Birdstone as the top-priced offering at the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale in Lexington July 20.
Monday, July 20, 2009Royal Ascot winner Jealous Again has been bought by Sheikh Mohammed. Formerly trained by American handler Wesley Ward, the filly turned in a hugely impressive display in the Queen Mary Stakes (Eng-II) last month, bursting out of the stalls and showing far too much speed for the opposition to finish five lengths clear.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Medaglia d'Oro, the leading second-crop sire and one of the hottest sires in North America right now, has been purchased by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation and has been relocated to Darley's farm near Lexington, it was announced June 5.
Friday, June 05, 2009
A strapping A.P. Indy colt became one of the most expensive horses ever sold at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training when he brought $675,000 April 20. Jimmy Bell, the president of Sheikh Mohammed's Darley America operation, signed the sale ticket in the name of John Ferguson Bloodstock as the auction began its four-day run in Central Florida with increases in the number of horses sold, gross revenue, and average price.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tackling the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, Fasig-Tipton's Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training suffered some bumps and bruises, but also scored a couple of minor victories. The number of horses sold rose from a year ago while the buy-back rate declined. Meanwhile, the gross revenue fell 25.5% and the average price dropped 31.5%. The median price was down 34.8%.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Cup o' Joe, a handsome Medaglia d'Oro colt, became the highest priced horse sold so far at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training when he brought $1.6 million from Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager John Ferguson.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009Sheikh Mohammed topped trade at the Tattersalls December breeding stock sale for a third consecutive day, paying 1.8 million guineas for Lady Marian (by Nayef), winner of this year's Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I), Dec. 3 in England.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008Trainer Jim Bolger's dual group I-winning Saoirse Abu was the star of the opening session of the Tattersalls December breeding stock auction in England, selling for 1.95 million guineas (about $3.1 million) to Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager, John Ferguson. The 3-year-old daughter of Mr. Greeley scored in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix (Ire-I) and Moyglare Stud (Ire-I) Stakes in 2007.
Monday, December 01, 2008
The opening session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale generated some fireworks, but the results were a lot less spectacular than in 2007 when the gross revenue ($109,064,000) and the number of horses sold for $1 million or more apiece (28) established world Thoroughbred auction records for a single sale session. Also last year, Playful Act set a $10.5-million world mark for a broodmare or broodmare prospect, which since has been eclipsed by Better Than Honour's $14-million price.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Away, the dam of the ill-fated Eight Belles, was purchased for $2.5 million during the opening session of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 3 at the Central Kentucky auction house.
Monday, November 03, 2008Representing Sheikh Mohammed, John Ferguson went to $2.3 million to acquire grade I winner Shadow Cast during the afternoon portion of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 3 at the Central Kentucky auction house.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Representing Sheikh Mohammed, John Ferguson went to $2.3 million to acquire grade I winner Shadow Cast during the afternoon portion of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 3 at the Central Kentucky auction house.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Selling as a racing or broodmare prospect, grade I winner Hystericalady was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor, John Ferguson, for $3 million during the early portion of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
Monday, November 03, 2008
America once ruled the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). But "quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.' " With a synthetic surface introduced for the first time this year, leveling the playing field for the Europeans, Raven's Pass, like Edgar Allen Poe's mysterious bird, came tapping at our chamber door...then busted it down.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008A Marju - What a Picture colt topped the second session of Book 2 of Tattersalls October yearling sale in Newmarket, England, Oct. 14, bringing 170,000 guineas from Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager, Angus Gold. Agent Larry Stratton was the immediate underbidder on the colt, which was consigned by Willie Browne's Meadowlands Stud.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008Sheikh Mohammed's adviser, John Ferguson, and Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estates Co. dominated the top end trade in Newmarket, England, Oct. 13 during the opening session of Book 2 of Tattersalls' October yearling sale.
Monday, October 13, 2008
A resilient book 1 of Tattersalls' October yearling sale finished with an average price of 121,515 guineas, just 5% down from last year, while the 85,000-guinea median rose 6%. The 49,821,000-guinea aggregate for the 410 horses sold (from 532 offered) Oct. 7-9 in England was down 23%, but the catalog was smaller than the 2007 edition.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
John Magnier's Coolmore Stud buying team topped day two of Tattersalls' October yearling sale in England when spending 650,000 guineas on a Montjeu half-brother to dual French group I winner Vespone (by Llandaff). Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Goff was the immediate underbidder on the colt, which was consigned through Caroline Green's Templeton Stud to the Book 1 portion of the auction.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008The Book 1 portion of Tattersalls' October yearling sale in England saw trade broadly on a par with last year during its first session. With this year's sale reduced from four days to three, Tattersalls did not issue comparative figures, but the 114,227-guinea average price Oct. 7 was down just 1% from the comparable figure on last year's opening day with a larger catalogue. The 80,000-guinea median price fell 7.5% and the 15,078,000-guinea turnover rose 3.5%.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008Dubai pumped more money into the select sessions of the Keeneland September yearling sale than it did a year ago even though Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager, John Ferguson spent less. And buying entities associated with Dubai also bought more horses.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
John Ferguson, the bloodstock manager Sheikh Mohammed, took a break from his busy schedule to talk to the media Sept. 9 during the second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. He answered questions and responded to observations about Sheikh Mohammed's buying strategy during the auction and indicated that some people might be overanalyzing what he is doing.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager, John Ferguson, had some advice for shoppers during the Keeneland September yearling sale's opening day, which suffered downturns of 16.8% in gross revenue and 7.7% in average price from 2007. "If somebody is thinking of buying a racehorse," he said, "this is a good time to do it because I think there will be value to be had throughout the course of the year. The market is probably a little sticky."
Monday, September 08, 2008
Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor John Ferguson goes to $3.1 million to secure daughter of A.P. Indy during opening session of Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 8.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Dan Pride, the new executive vice president and chief operating officer of Fasig-Tipton, is going back to his auction roots in the Thoroughbred industry.
Friday, September 05, 2008The Arqana yearling sale at Deauville, France, ended up in all areas after the fourth and final day Aug. 18, with the aggregate nearly reaching 40 million euros.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud was a powerful force on the second day of the Arqana yearling sale in Deauville, France, Aug. 16, buying the top two lots.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Fasig-Tipton will pay the nomination and entry fees for the horses sold at its recent Saratoga select yearling auction that are pointed to any of the six graded stakes for juveniles at Saratoga in 2009. It's just one of what could be many initiatives as the company attempts to reinvent itself.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride for Darley in Australia.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A classic good news/bad news scenario loomed a day before Japan's key bloodstock market was to open, leaving both buyers and sellers alike wondering how the Japan Racing Horse Association's three-day select sale would unfold.
Sunday, July 13, 2008$11.7-million Kingmambo colt carries Godolphin colors to victory at Newmarket
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
The purchase of Fasig-Tipton by Dubai-based Synergy Investments will be finalized May 30, according to Boyd Browning, Fasig-Tipton's executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager John Ferguson and Bob Ingham locked horns Tuesday during the third session of the Inglis Easter national yearling sale in Australia, and the battle produced a stunner. Ferguson was the winner, landing a Redoute's Choice colt for Aust$2.5 million (approximately $2.1 million in U.S. funds).
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Boyd Browning said the sale of Fasig-Tipton will provide more resources for the auction company, which hopes to promote the business and recruit new owners.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Synergy Investments Ltd. will take over Fasig-Tipton, which holds auctions in Lexington, as well as New York, Maryland, Florida, and Texas.
Thursday, April 10, 2008A handsome chestnut Pure Prize colt will be joining Sheikh Mohammed's international racing operation after being purchased by Darley USA president Jimmy Bell for $550,000 Tuesday afternoon, about two hours into the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. (OBS) March select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Fasig-Tipton select juvenile auction has lost momentum following a glorious run that peaked with a series of world records in 2006 and 2007.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A strapping son of Street Cry was the early standout Tuesday at the Fasig-Tipton Calder select sale of 2-year-olds in training, bringing $2.1 million from Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager John Ferguson at Calder Race Course.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Consignors are busier than usual heading into Fasig-Tipton Calder juvenile sale.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Ashado will be bred this year to Street Sense's sire, Street Cry.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Keeneland's record-setting November breeding stock came to a close Nov. 19, setting a new standard for gross receipts of $340,877,200.
Friday, December 14, 2007An electric day's trade in Newmarket at the December Sale yesterday produced an aggregate of over 36 million gns ($70,718,740), the highest turnover ever seen in a day at a European bloodstock auction with no less than three lots making 3 million gns ($5.89 million) or more.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007John Ferguson purchased a quartet of 3-year-olds for a total of 10.1 million gns ($19,840,540) on a lively opening breeding stock session of the Tattersalls December Sale in Newmarket yesterday. He also set a new European record for a filly when he bought Satwa Queen for 3.4 millin gns (nearly $6.7 million).
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Sales stepped up a notch at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in Newmarket yesterday with John Ferguson stealing the show when spending 400,000gns on an Oasis Dream (Green Desert) colt out of King's Stand Stakes (Eng-gr. II) winner Dominica (Alhaarth).
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Gross revenue climbed at Keeneland during the second session of the November breeding stock sale while the mare Island Sand sold for $4.2 million.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The opening session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 5 featured Playful Act's world record auction price of $10.5 million, which made her the most expensive broodmare or broodmare prospect ever sold.
Monday, November 05, 2007Efforts by officials of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky to attract top young race fillies paid off with the Nov. 4 mixed sale getting the fall auction season off to a good start.
Sunday, November 04, 2007