The opening session of the 2007 Keeneland November mixed sale got off to a strong start Nov. 5 with a host of top-class broodmares and broodmare prospects selling for seven-figures during the first five hours of action.
Though the first 160 hips, the broodmare Evil is leading all rivals inside the sale ring after being purchased for $2.7 million by Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor John Ferguson. Evil, who sold in foal to Bernardini, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
One of the most anticipated offerings of session one, Fleet Indian, by Indian Charlie, failed to sell after bidding stopped at $3.9 million. Fleet Indian, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency for her owner, Paul Saylor, was offered carrying her first foal, a Storm Cat colt.
"She was a gorgeous mare," Ferguson said of Evil. "As far as individuals go she was one of the most attractive mares here today. Her first foal, Tiz Wonderful, was very talented and he was a horse that was a good-looking yearling and breezed really well at 2 and ended up being a good horse, who obviously ended up having a soundness issue. This mare is in foal to Bernardini (who stands at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud) a horse that we are very excited about. We are hopeful that we will get a good-looking creature out of this mare. "
Produced from the Mr. Prospector mare Lit'l Rose, Evil is a half-sister to stakes winners Prussian Blue and Handsome Hunk.
Evil has a 2-year-old Proud Citizen colt and a yearling Exchange Rate filly. She did not produce a foal in 2007.
The second highest-priced offering of the day, grade I winner Amorama, went to Andreas Putsch for $2.1 million. Amorama sold in foal to Ghostzapper from the consignment of Hidden Brook, agent for Adena Springs.
Putsch said Amorama, winner of the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) and John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT), would be sent to France.
Putsch said he has about 15 broodmares and recently purchased a farm near Deauville, France. He added that he liked everything about the mare except for the price he had to pay for her.
Adena Springs purchased Amorama for $1.05 million at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton November selected mixed sale.
After multiple grade I winner Fleet Indian left the sale ring unsold, Saylor did not comment.
Duncan Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency said one possible reason for her not meeting her reserve was that there are not too many buyers in the industry that could afford a price tag in the high seven-figure range. Taylor said he thought Fleet Indian was one of the nicest mares in the sale and could be one of those mares that many breeders will look back on as one that got away.
Carrying Saylor's colors in 2006, Fleet Indian reeled off six consecutive victories in added-money events. She began the streak in the Next Move Handicap (gr. III) and continued it in the Sixty Sails (gr. III), Obeah, and Delaware (gr. II) Handicaps. Her last two wins came in the Personal Ensign and Beldame Stakes (both gr. I).
Fleet Indian suffered her only 2006 loss in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. She was the favorite in the race, but broke down. Saylor had entered her in the Keeneland November sale last year, but scratched her following her injury. She also was entered in the Keeneland January auction earlier this year and was scratched after undergoing surgery for her injuries.
Fleet Indian earned $1,704,513 during her competitive career and won 13 of her 19 races while trained by Todd Pletcher. She won a 2006 Eclipse Award as the champion older mare.
Other interesting offerings to go through the sale during the first few hours include:
• Bushfire, a 4-year-old daughter of Louis Quatorze purchased for $1.85 million by Terry Yoshida of Shadai Farm.
Suzanne McNew of Shadai, said the bay filly, sold as a broodmare prospect, would be sent to Japan for breeding purposes.
Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Bushfire was bred in Florida by Moneau Bloodstock International and Mandolynn Hill Farm. She was trained by Eddie Kenneally for Ron and Ricki Rashinski.
Bushfire ended her racing career with a record of 6-0-1 from 13 career starts. She earned $802,507. Her major stakes wins came in the Mother Goose, Ashland, and Acorn Stakes (all gr. I).
• Right after signing the ticket for Bushfire, Yoshida went to $1.4 million for the Devil's Bag mare Buy the Sport, who sold in foal to Unbridled's Song. Buy the Sport was consigned by Hidden Brook, agent for Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm. Buy the Sport will also be sent to Japan.
Produced from the D'Accord mare Final Accord, Buy the Sport has a yearling colt by A.P. Indy and a weanling Ghostzapper filly.
Stronach purchased Buy the Sport, in foal to A.P. Indy, for $1.15 million at the 2005 Keeneland November mixed sale.
• Bloodstock advisor Lincoln Collins went to $1.9 million for the Sadler's Wells mare Winds of March, who sold in foal to Kingmambo. Consigned by Lane's End, agent, Winds of March was purchased on behalf of Leonard Riggio of My MeadowView Farm.
Winds of March was produced from the Chief Singer mare Alidiva and is a half-sister to English group winners Taipan, Ali-Royal, and Sleepytime. She is also a half-sister to grade II winner Oonagh Maccool.
Winds of March produced a Gone West filly in 2007.
• Dr, Jens von Lepel, general manager Audley Farm in Virginia, went to $1.2 million to purchase grade III winner Untouched Talent from the consignment of Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency. The daughter of Storm Cat out of the grade III winning A.P. Indy mare Parade Queen was sold in foal to Unbridled's Song.
John G. Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale purchased Untouched Talent for $850,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale.
