The purpose of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale is “to fill a need,” according to Bayne Welker, the company’s vice president of sales. For anyone seeking a mare for the rapidly approaching breeding season, the auction, which is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Lexington, is the place to be.
“There are always stallion managers who still need a few mares to fill stallion books,” Welker said, “and there is always somebody who needs a mare to breed on a stallion season. There are some interesting sorts in this catalog that fit those bills.”
Among the top prospects in the catalog is Peach Brew, winner of the Arlington Oaks (gr. III) and the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Stakes in 2009. The 5-year-old daughter of Milwaukee Brew , listed as Hip No. 138, also finished third in the 2009 Iowa Oaks (gr. III).
Consigned by Legacy Bloodstock, agent, Peach Brew has captured five of her 25 career races and has earned $320,322. She will be offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.
Peach Brew, who is out of the winning Hickory Ridge mare Georgia Ok, is a half sister to She’s All In (by Include), who won the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Stakes in 2010 along with the Ladies on the Lawn Stakes. She finished second in this year’s Pippin Stakes.
Also scheduled to be sold is Lovely Golda (by Montbrook), a winning half sister to 2010 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I) winner Turbulent Miss (by Congrats ). Out of the unraced Forestry mare Roger’s Sue, 4-year-old Lovely Golda (Hip No. 88) will be offered as a racing or broodmare prospect by Three Chimneys Sales, agent.
“Some people need cash flow, so that’s usually why they put nice short yearlings in the sale,” Welker said. “Many times they sell very well because they really stand out in the group.”
Stallions with yearlings cataloged include Afleet Alex , Candy Ride , First Samurai , and Indian Charlie.
In a new twist, a portion of the sale has been devoted to no guarantee stallion seasons. The seven seasons (Hip Nos. 170-176) set to be offered are to the successful sires Malibu Moon , Medaglia d'Oro , More Than Ready, Sky Mesa , Speightstown , Bluegrass Cat , and Congrats .
“I think they will kind of spice up the sale a little bit in the middle, giving people an opportunity to have access to some very nice seasons that they couldn’t get at the farms,” Welker said.
Fasig-Tipton officials are approaching the auction, which has 321 lots in its catalog, with “cautious optimism,” Welker reported. Key business figures improved earlier this year at mixed sales conducted by the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. and Keeneland, and there have been other indications that the worst of the downturn that has plagued the Thoroughbred auction business in recent years has passed.
“From the research and buyer recruitment that we’ve done, it seems like buyers are a little bit more willing to wade back into the market,” Welker said. “Some of the mystery of the marketplace has been taken out of the equation, the fear has dissipated some, and people have a greater understanding of where they’re at and are a little more confident.
“A lot of people have done their culling and taken horses out of production that just weren’t doing it for their operations. But once you’ve done that, you also have to look for replacements. That’s probably what we’re seeing in the marketplace right now, a shuffling of portfolios with everybody gathering up and moving forward.”
Selling will begin at 10 a.m. (EST) at Fasig-Tipton’s Newtown Paddocks complex.