The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale has a new price leader. An Arch filly brought $260,000 at about 2:30 p.m. EDT during the auction's second session Oct. 25 in Lexington. The previous high was the $210,000 commanded by an Unbridled's Song–Pure Symmetry filly earlier in the day.
Bloodstock agent Steven Young signed the sale ticket for the $260,000 yearling.
“I have a lot of respect Arch fillies to begin with, both on the racetrack and after they go home,” Young said. “She has got a lot of attributes you would like. I thought she pretty much stuck out as one of the best fillies in the sale.”
The bay yearling is out of the winning Royal Academy mare Royal Sanction and is a half sister to Ronja (by El Corredor), who captured the 2010 Dusseldorfer Henkel-Stutenpreis in Germany. Royal Sanction is a half sister to grade II winner Regal Sanction (by Regal Classic) and grade III winner Nonie’s Dancer Ali (by Danzatore).
“Her page (in the sale catalog) is nice, but it’s all about physicals,” Young said. “She’s got a good walk to her, she’s got a good mind on her, and she’s got terrific balance. She’s got every reason to be a good horse. I thought she was special, so I knew she would cost (a lot).”
Young declined to reveal the filly’s new owner but said he had bought horses before for that particular client.
“It’s not Mr. (Nicholas) Brady or Ramona Bass,” he said.
James M. Herberner Jr., agent, consigned the filly to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall auction. Louisa Lenehan's Virginia-based Lochlow Farm bred her in Kentucky. Herberner was scheduled to offer her in the Keeneland September yearling sale earlier this year, but she was scratched.