The Fares Farm dispersal got off to a strong start Jan. 8 at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. Leading the first of Issam Fares' offerings was the stakes-winning broodmare Supreme, who was bought for $800,000 by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
The Fares dispersal, which is being handled by consignor Lane's End as agent, will continue selling lots without reserves Jan. 9-10. The first day of the dispersal saw 54 horses sell for $6,736,000, an average of $124,741, and a median of $102,500.
Included in those sold were 29 six-figure horses, such as Supreme, a 6-year-old daughter of Empire Maker and who is in foal to Giant's Causeway . Supreme is out of the Maria's Mon mare Mon Belle, a full sister to Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Monarchos. It is not the first time Stonestreet has shown interest in the family. At the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale, Stonestreet paid $900,000 to land a Smart Strike colt out of Mon Belle.
The second-highest-priced mare out of the Fares dispersal was French stakes winner Mousse Au Chocolat, a daughter of Hennessy, who was bought for $325,000 by Dermot Cantillon's Ireland-based Forenaughts Stud in Co. Kildare. Mousse Au Chocolat, who was sold in foal to Tiznow , won the 2007 Criterium du Languedoc Prix Paul Guichou and placed in two other group contests throughout her 11-start career. She retired from racing with earnings of $193,106. The dark bay or brown mare is out of the Miswaki mare Muskoka Dawn, who is a half sister to stakes winners Sigrun and Spectacular April. Mousse Au Chocolat is also a half sister to graded stakes-placed runner Bala (by With Approval), who is the dam of dual graded stakes victor Bay to Bay (by Sligo Bay ).
Mousse Au Chocolat's $230,000 Pulpit filly, her first foal, was the highest-priced yearling during the Jan. 8 session of the Fares dispersal. The chestnut was bought by John Stuart and Peter Bance's Nicholasville, Ky.-based Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent.
Hip Nos. 570 and 735, who are half siblings to two-time Horse of the Year Curlin , brought $140,000 and $120,000, respectively. Hip 570, a yearling filly by Distorted Humor , was purchased by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm.
Hip 735, a 6-year-old daughter of Saint Liam named Deputy Saint, was bought in foal to Lemon Drop Kid by Ben Glass, agent. Both horses are out of the Deputy Minister mare Sherriff's Deputy.
"It looks like the dispersal horses are selling very well," said Moynihan, who bought Supreme on behalf of Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. "Based on past sales, the horses out-sell themselves."
While Moynihan noted the dispersal was not to the level of last year's dispersal of the late Edward P. Evans but said it was "still a very healthy dispersal."
"We were very conservative in what we spent for these mares, we didn't over-reach, we didn't over spend," said Shannon White, farm manager of Fares Farm, prior to the dispersal. "We bought nice mares with good physicals, and they have served us well.
"In some respects, we had to compromise a little on either pedigree or performance and take a shot because those obvious mares who tick all the boxes are very expensive," White added. "But we tried to be clever with matings that physically and academically complemented the mare, and we got good foals who represent the sire and dam influences well."
Here's a list of the top 10 priced Fares Farm dispersal horses that sold Jan. 8:
Hip 605, Supreme (Empire Maker—Mon Belle, by Maria's Mon), in foal to Empire Maker, bought by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings for $800,000
Hip 489, Mousse Au Chocolat (Hennessy—Muskoka Dawn, by Miswaki), in foal to Tiznow , bought by Forenaughts Stud for $325,000
Hip 459, Lunarlady (Yes It's True—Quiet Eclipse, by Quiet American), in foal to Congrats , bought by WinStar Farm for $310,000
Hip 481, Miss Salsa (Unbridled—Oscillate, by Seattle Slew), in foal to Mineshaft , bought by Greenwood Lodge Farm for $275,000
Hip 390, Gaudete (Distorted Humor —La Comete, by Holy Bull), in foal to Unbridled's Song, bought by Brookdale Farm, agent, for William Sorren for $260,000
Hip 490, yearling filly by Pulpit—Mousse Au Chocolat, by Hennessy, bought by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent for $230,000
Hip 496, No Fair (War Chant—Little Sister, by Valid Appeal), in foal to Speightstown , bought by Becky Thomas, agent for Chester Broman for $225,000
Hip 408, Hi Beautiful (Snow Ridge—Red Hot Jane, by Premiership), in foal to Lemon Drop Kid, bought by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings for $220,000
Hip 497, yearling filly by Bernardini —No Fair, by War Chant, bought by Catalyst Stable for $200,000
Hip 728, Daguerreotype (Silver Deputy—Looking for a Win, by Crafty Prospector), in foal to Speightstown, bought by Eaton Sales Bloodstock for $200,000