Boosted by quality offerings in the dispersal of Al and Nora Figliolia’s Westbury Stables, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. fall mixed sale enjoyed major upswings in gross of 48.3% and average price of 27.8% from a year ago during its two-day run, Oct. 19 and 20, in Central Florida. The median price rose 19% while the no bid/buy-back rate dropped from 40.9% in 2009 to 34.9%.
“We certainly were helped by the dispersal,” said Tom Ventura, the general manager and director of sales for OBS. “Younger mares with some quality and good-looking weanlings with some sire power did fine; we saw plenty of (buying) activity for them. But the horses in the lower end of the market are still struggling.”
The gross for the 347 horses that sold was $3,468,900. The average was $9,997 and the median was $5,000.
The Westbury dispersal, which was handled by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield sales agency, generated a gross of $908,700. The 20 head that sold included the $250,000 sale topper, Zehoorr, and Chasenthebluesaway, who brought $100,000.
George and Karen Russell’s Rustlewood Farm near Reddick, Fla., purchased Zehoorr, who is out of grade I winner Nany’s Sweep (by End Sweep) and is a half sister to Canadian grade III winner She’s Indy Money (by A.P. Indy). An unraced 5-year-old daughter of Storm Cat, Zehoorr was sold in foal to Tiznow . She produced a filly by Bernardini in 2009 and a filly by Indian Charlie earlier this year.
“She was a special animal and she would have brought that kind of money anywhere,” said Barbara Vanlangendonck of Zehoorr. “She’s got a big Quarter Horse hip and a big stride when she walks. She’s also turned into a good broodmare and is throwing some very nice babies.”
Baccari Bloodstock bought Chasenthebluesaway, a 9-year-old winning daughter of Real Quiet. Sold in foal to Indian Charlie, the mare is out of the stakes winner Miss Gibson County (by Winrightt) and is a half sister to added-money winner Gibson County (by In Excess).
Eight of the Westbury horses that were offered, including Zehoorr’s weanling Indian Charlie filly, were bought back. But according to Barbara Vanlangendonck, they probably will be consigned to sales early next year in Florida or Kentucky.
“At the last minute they (the Figliolias) decided to put reserves on some of their horses because the economy is so bad,” Vanlangendonck said. “They do plan to go through with the dispersal; it’s because of family health reasons. But it’s not easy emotionally when you’ve put your heart and soul and money into it (the horse business) like they did, so it (the dispersal) is going to trickle just a little bit.”
The Figliolias, in the name of Westbury, bred grade III winners Awesome Chic and Denis of Cork.
The results for the consignor preferred session Oct. 19, when 166 horses were sold (and all the Westbury horses were offered), included a gross of $2,600,200. The average was $15,664 and the median was $7,500. Compared to 2009, the gross rose 77.1% while the average increased 40.9%. The median price was up 25%.
But Oct. 20’s open session turned in a much weaker performance. The 181 horses that sold grossed $868,700 and averaged $4,799. The median was $2,700. The gross was about the same as it was last year, falling less than 1%. But the average was down 7.9% and the median dropped 10%.
Sweet Baby Jane, an 11-year-old daughter of Kingmambo, was the most expensive horse sold during the open session even though she wasn't in foal, bringing $35,000. Off The Hook, agent for Farm III, purchased her from Ramsey Farm, agent. Produced from the winning Pass the Line mare Sweet and Dandee, Sweet Baby Jane is a half sister to stakes winner Fiery Lakeand is the dam of grade II winner Reb.
“For the better horses we offered here, there were plenty of buyers and plenty of money,” Barbara Vanlangendonck said. “But today (during the open session), there was one horse after another that was an ‘RNA’ or a no bid. Basically, I think the market has spoken and has said, ‘You can’t afford to keep or breed these inexpensive mares in this economy.’ That’s the bottom line.”
