By Bill Giauque
The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s open session of the fall mixed sale concluded on a positive note with the average up 27.8%, the median up 37%, and the gross up 30%. The average was $6,114, the median was $3,700, and the gross was $1,131,000.
“The gross was higher, the median was higher, and the average was higher,” said OBS sales director Tom Ventura about the session Wednesday, Oct. 19. “It is a sign we are coming off the bottom, but we are still climbing out of a hole.”
Another positive sign was the buyback rate of 22.3% compared to the 2010 open session with a buyback rate of 34.3%.
“The buyback rate was down significantly,” Ventura said. “Last year’s open session had 367 horses, and this year was 289. But we sold more horses this year—185 compared to 182.”
“This shows some stability,” Ventura added. “The supply was less, but we sold more horses.”
The sale topper, already named Private Money Game, a colt by Congrats , sold to Fall Bloodstock for $47,000, just $1,000 less than the top-selling weanling in Tuesday’s consignor preferred session. Consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, agent, Private Money Game, Hip No. 253, is out of Private Prom Party and is a half brother to stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Ribo Bobo.
“He is a lovely colt,” said Francis Vanlangendonck. “He will mature into a very fancy yearling.”
In appraising the sale, Vanlangendonck said, “The sale last year had the dispersals and because of that we had a better group of horses. However, I don’t think there is a lot of difference between this year and last year in terms of the market. If anything, I think this year was better.”
Another consignor, Tristan de Meric of TdM Sales, said “There are a people here willing to buy, but you have to be realistic. We did not break the bank, but we got fair money.”
Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall near Paris, Ky., found the open session more challenging than the consignor preferred session. She bought three horses the first day and one the second.
Michael Sucher went to $37,000 for Hip No. 265, Too Tall Cotton, a weanling colt by High Cotton also consigned by Summerfield, agent. The bay colt is out of Royal Cadence (by Rhythm), a half sister to stakes winner Shirley’s Legacy.
Summerfield, agent, also consigned Hip No. 313, a Congrats weanling colt that sold to Rustlewood Farm for $31,000. The bay colt is out of Sweettay (by Crafty Friend), whose dam is graded stakes winner Sweet Saree.
Sales results for the fall mixed sale are available via the Internet at the company's website at obssales.com. In addition to sales results, the site contains the latest news regarding OBS graduates, sales schedules, nominations, credit requests, travel information, and other news relevant to OBS consignors and customers.
