The only horse in the great sire Storm Cat’s final crop scheduled to sell at public auction as a juvenile didn’t find a new home April 11. Instead, the colt was bought back by his owner, Kaleem Shah, for $375,000 at the Keeneland sale of 2-year-olds in training in Lexington.
“I was disappointed, more for it to end on that note than anything else,” said Florida horseman Eddie Woods, who consigned the bay juvenile as agent. The colt was one of only three live Storm Cat foals born in 2009.
“I think (the buyers) penalized the horse too much because of the guy who owned him, and there was way too much thinking going on. (Shah) really wanted to sell the horse. He bought him back at what I thought was a very reasonable amount. I thought we could get it done, but we didn’t. But in the end, it’s no big deal. If the horse wins a stakes or something like that, he’s a valuable horse.”
Shah stood with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and others during the bidding. Baffert conditions horses for Shah.
“He’s a nice horse,” Baffert said of the Storm Cat colt. “I don’t know why (Shah) put him in the sale. He’s fine and sound; I like him. I don’t mind having him. He’ll go to California now.”
Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds, Rancho San Miguel, Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, and NETP bred the colt in Kentucky. He is out of 1997 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) winner Halo America (by Waquoit), and is a full brother to Irish stakes winner Marino Marini , who finished second in the 2003 Malibu Stakes (gr. I) and 2002 Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I).
Shah purchased the colt for $320,000 from Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale. The 2-year-old worked an eighth of a mile in :10 April 7 during the under tack show prior to the Keeneland juvenile auction.
Storm Cat was pensioned late in the 2008 breeding season because of fertility problems, and the 28-year-old grade I-winning son of Storm Bird still resides at the Central Kentucky nursery where he stood, Overbrook Farm. He was North American’s leading sire by progeny earnings in 1999 and 2000.
The other members of Storm Cat’s final crop are The Last Meow, a filly out of grade III winner Richwoman (by Successful Appeal ), and Cat’s Alibi, a filly out of the stakes-placed winner Western Princess (by Gone West).
The Last Meow was a $220,000 buy-back when consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, to the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction. Cat’s Alibi was purchased for $285,000 by Chiefswood Stables from Denali Stud, agent, at the 2010 Keeneland September sale.