The runaway train that had been the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale hit a slight speed bump during its 10th session Nov. 14, with gross, average, and median all falling off slightly while the number of horses sold were up compared to figures from last year.
A total of 266 horses were sold for $6,295,500, a decrease of 0.6% over 2006’s comparable session gross of $6,333,100, yielding a 10.3% decrease in average to $23,667 and a 12.5% slip in median to $17,500.
While the session totals slipped, the cumulative totals continue to rise. Through 10 sessions, the gross is up 7.7% to $328,069,900, the average is up 7.7% to $136,298, and the median is unchanged at $55,000.
“The clearance rate was very high, above 80% today,” said Keeneland’s director of sales Geoffrey Russell. “We saw strong domestic participation, which was supported by regional and emerging market buyers.”
The session-topper was the 4-year-old mare Thunder Bayou who was purchased for $180,000 by Occidental Thoroughbreds. The daughter of Thunder Gulchout of the stakes winning Storm Catmare Bayou Storm was sold carrying her first foal by Broken Vow from the consignment of Hartwell Farm, agent.
Bred in Kentucky by Green Lantern Stables, Thunder Bayou is from the family of champion Halfbridled, multiple grade II winner and millionaire Lu Ravi, and stakes winner At the Half.
Keeneland’s November Sale continues through Nov. 19. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. daily.