California, Pennsylvania, and Japanese buyers converged on Barretts for the March 2-year-olds in training sale, resulting in a strong auction, particularly at the top end. California-based Stonestreet Stables outbid Pennsylvania’s EQB for the sale topper, a son of Pomeroy purchased for $625,000.
The March 21 sale averaged $100,709 for 55 sold to gross $5,539,000. The average increased 11.1% over the 2010 average of $90,652, while the median of $70,000 jumped 16.7%. In addition, the buy-back rate fell to 23.6% (17 of the 72 through the ring) from 31% last year.
“There was great energy from beginning to end,” said Kim Lloyd, vice president of sales for Barretts. “It was strong all the way through.”
The catalog offered 105 horses, down from 135 in 2010, with 33 withdrawn prior to the sale. Barretts moved the sale to the evening, something the company first tried for its yearling sale last fall.
“I think the evening works well, especially with a smaller amount of horses,” said William S. Baker, vice president and controller for Barretts. “It makes it more special.”
John Moynihan, an advisor to Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables, attended the sale with Scott Blasi, who handles trainer Steve Asmussen’s string at Santa Anita. Moynihan bought the sale topper, a half-brother to graded winner Expect an Angel out of the Caller I. D. mare Leah’s Angel. Eddie Woods consigned the colt.
“Eddie has been telling me about this horse since February,” said Moynihan. “The colt’s got a great mind, and he looks like he can go right on.”
Moynihan said that the sale topper would go to Blasi at Santa Anita before eventually joining Asmussen’s Kentucky division.
The colt, bred in Florida by David Robbins, impressed Woods from the very beginning. The sale topper had been purchased by Quarter Pole Enterprises for $75,000 from the Abbie Road Farm consignment to the 2010 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s August yearling sale.
“I’ve always liked Pomeroy,” said Woods. “This horse was a big strapping colt with a good walk. He’s been very straightforward. He just goes from one step to the next without any ‘to do’.”
Several Japanese groups accounted for 11 of the purchases at the sale. Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International Inc. accompanied Japanese agent Chikura “Riki” Takahashi at the sale. They led all buyers, getting four for a total of $990,000. Those included the second-highest-priced horse, a son of Corinthian—Hollow Miss, by With Approval. Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables Inc. sold the colt for $380,000. The colt, bred in Kentucky by Curtis C. Green, had been purchased by Dapple Bloodstock for $130,000 from the Highclere Sales consignment to the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.
Second among buyers was Patrice Miller of EQB Inc. as agent. She was also the underbidder on the sale topper. Miller¹s four purchases as agent totaled $765,000 and included, for $210,000, the highest-priced filly, Naropa¹s Holiday (Harlan's Holiday--Naropa, by Pleasant Tap). Miller¹s most expensive purchase was $340,000 for a son of Tapit --Sawgrass Express, by Roman Diplomat.
Bred in Kentucky by David Garvin and Gabriel Duignan, Naropa's Holiday had gone through the sales ring once before, when bought by Equine Studies for $90,000 from the Paramount Sales consignment to the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale.
The Tapit colt was bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm and was initially consigned by his breeder to the 2010 Keeneland January sale, where he was bought by Chestnut Valley for $100,000. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency to the 2010 Keeneland September sale, the colt was reported sold to Dapple Bloodstock for $60,000.
