By Michael Compton
Buoyed by a new sale topper and momentum from a robust juvenile market, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s Spring Sale continued its record pace on April 25 in Ocala, Fla.
A total of 193 horses sold on day three of the four-day auction, grossing $8,402,000. At the corresponding session last year, 209 horses changed hands for a $6,086,200 gross. The average price increased 49.5% to $43,535 from $29,121 a year ago, while the median price came in at $30,000, up 50% from $20,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 17.2% compared to 22.3% last year. Seventeen juveniles brought $100,000 on the third day compared with 11 a year ago.
“Since the first horse went through the ring it has been a strong sale,” said Tom Ventura, OBS general manager. “We are on a record pace with one day to go and I don’t see it tailing off. We still have some very high-end horses to sell on the last day.”
Topping the session and the sale thus far was hip No. 731, an Orientate colt purchased by Hill N Dale Bloodstock for $450,000. Consigned by Eddie Woods, agent, the the colt worked a co-bullet eighth in :10 during the third under tack preview a week ago.
“I didn’t think he’d bring that much,” said Woods. “But when a duel develops between bidders it always works to our advantage. We were very high on him all along. He hit all his marks. He vetted well and trained great. We’re thrilled with the sale.”
Out of the unraced Tale of the Cat mare Mir Cat, the dark bay or brown colt was bred in Kentucky by Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds. Preston Stables acquired the colt at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton October sale for $17,000.
Woods also consigned hip No. 648, a Street Sense filly who sold for $240,000 to Mark Casse, agent.
“It’s been a great sale from the very bottom all the way through to the top,” Woods said. “All the big players are playing.”
The second-highest priced horse of the day was hip No. 814, a chestnut filly by Stormy Atlantic who sold to Narvick International for $300,000. Narvick also signed for the April 24 session topper, a $400,000 Majestic Warrior colt. Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, the filly, who worked a quarter in :21 at the preview, was bred in Kentucky by White Cloud Bloodstock and Jerry and Pamela Lovinger. She failed to reach her reserve at last year’s Keeneland September Sale and was bought back for $40,000. She is out of the Gone West mare One West.
Zayat Stables secured the $270,000 bid for hip No. 802, a Brother Derek colt consigned by Eisaman Equine, agent. The bay colt, bred in Kentucky by Eico Stable, is out of the Montbrook mare Nyanza, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Sweet Nanette. The colt worked a quarter in :21 at the under tack preview.
Hip No. 685, a Greeley's Galaxy filly consigned by Nick de Meric, agent, sold to XIB, agent for $215,000. The New York-bred is out of the Bright Launch mare Maggie’s Pearle. De Meric purchased the filly last year for $25,000 out of the Saratoga Sale in August.
“We’re delighted with the sale,” said de Meric. “She was very popular all week, and rightly so. She’s a gorgeous filly. There was a wide cross-section of buyers interested in her.
“It’s been a phenomenal sale,” he added. “There is strength at every level. “If you can’t sell horses in this market, you simply can’t appraise them.”