The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s annual selected sale on Sept. 4 dropped in gross and average but rose in median price.
The gross sales for 159 horses were $6,050,675 down from $6,396,369 last year for 163 horses sold.
The average price of $38,055 was down from $39,242 one year ago, the latter mark being a five year high for the annual sale.
The median price of $30,374 was up from $24,419 last year.
“Going by the strength of the market last year, the sale was a bit disappointing, said Gail Wood, the chair of the sales committee for the C.T.H.S. and a perennial leading consignor.
“We made so much progress last year but we don’t seem to be attracting new buyers.”
The number of buy-backs during the selected session was up to 59 from 48.
Most consignors felt that there were not enough buyers to go after the top yearlings while many buyers thought the best horses cost too much money.
“It’s hard to buy a quality horse,” said top trainer Robert Tiller, who bought a handful of yearlings during the evening. “They are selling very well. It’s the same old story - there is good money for the good horses.”
Topping the selected session was a handsome bay colt from the first crop of Peace Rules from the mare Sandhill Charm, by Vanlandingham that sold for $185,094.
The Ontario-foaled colt, bred by Ron Clarkson, was consigned by Richard Hogan, agent and purchased by Jim and Alice Sapara’s Winsong Farms.
The Sapara’s also bought last year’s top priced yearling, Broderick, a son of Hold That Tiger, for $226,100.
“He’s a massive machine,” said Jim Sapara. “There were a lot of nice colts in the sale. I paid a little more than I wanted to, but the good ones cost more money.”
The sales topper is the sixth foal of the stakes placed mare Sandhill Charm, who has produced three winners including stakes winner Twisted Wit, an earned of over $540,000.
“The Ontario program is second-to-none in North America,’ said Sapara, who won the 2006 Queen’s Plate with another of his yearling purchases, Edenwold. “I don’t know why the locals send some of their horses to Keeneland to sell. You can get good money for them here.”
Hogan said his sales topper sold himself not only on his pedigree page but before the crowd.
“I figured he would bring a couple of hundred thousand,” said Hogan, a longtime leading consignor at the Woodbine sale.
“He showed himself well and he had a great attitude in the ring.”
First year sires were well received at the auction as the second highest priced yearling was a colt from the first crop of champion grass horse Perfect Soul (IRE).
Hip number 112, offered by Glenn Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, sold for $151,872 to Canada Racing Partnership. The colt is out of stakes winner Showering, by Miswaki, and a half brother to stakes placed Cool Rain Falling.
The top filly in the sale was sold near the end of the auction. Hip number 229, a Tiznow miss out of Grade 3 stakes winner Flashy n Smart, by Smarten, sold for $118,650, to trainer Mike DePaulo as agent for the partnership of Sniderman and Berg. The filly, a half sister to stakes placed Flashy Thunder, was sold by Huntington Stud Farm Corp., as agent.
All amounts in U. S. currency. 2006 conversion: $1.00 Canadian = $0.90440; U.S. 2007 conversion: $1.00 Canadian = $0.94920 U.S.
