The Keeneland November breeding stock sale could generate some impressive numbers. It has two major attractions to tempt buyers with the dispersals of well-bred horses owned by the late Edward P. “Ned” Evans and the late Prince Saud bin Khaled’s Palides Investments.
In addition, the auction, which begins its 11-day run Nov. 7 in Lexington, is expected to benefit from improvements this year in the yearling marketplace and the excitement generated by the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 at nearby Churchill Downs.
Those are some of the reasons why sale company officials and consignors are anticipating a better performance than in 2010, when the gross, average price, and median price all declined.
“The Evans and Palides dispersals are big drawing cards as well as the quality of the catalog,” said Craig Bandoroff of Denali Stud. “They will bring people to town and they’re not just going to look at those horses; they’ll look at others and that’s a plus.”
According to Bandoroff, most American breeders, who are still dealing with the effects of sharp downturns in the domestic economy and the Thoroughbred marketplace three years ago, probably will shop cautiously.
“Are American breeders back on solid footing? Are they going to be actively engaged? That’s probably questionable,” Bandoroff said. “But my guess is we’ll see a lot of international participation from Japan and Australia and maybe some from Europe.”
John Stuart of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services agreed with Bandoroff’s prediction about the strength of shoppers from overseas, many of whom will benefit from currencies that are strong against the American dollar.
“When I was in Deauville (in France in August for the Arqana yearling sale), it was the Australians who were really spending the money and they all said they would be here in November,” Stuart reported. “The Yoshidas (of Japan) have been buying expensive race fillies in Europe and they were the big buyers here last fall. My guess is that they will be back here again buying.”
Keeneland management announced in late September that 3,919 lots had been cataloged for the November auction. Not long afterward, champion Blind Luck was added to the sale as a late entry.
“We think this catalog has appeal to everybody,” said Keeneland’s director of sales Geoffrey Russell.
Each of the auction’s sessions will begin at 10 a.m. (EST).