Bidding was hot during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November select mixed sale Nov. 5 in Lexington. The auction enjoyed hefty increases in its gross revenue, average price, and median price while the buy-back rate dropped significantly. Fourteen horses brought individual prices of $1 million or more."It was a fantastic horse sale," said Fasig-Tipton president Walt Robertson. "We had some really, really great mares -- both young mares in foal and top mares off the racetrack -- and they really sold well."The final figures were 170 horses sold, a gross of $64,130,000, and an average of $377,235. The median was $175,000. Compared to a year ago, the gross soared 99.3% and the average rose 31.3%. The median was up 103.5%. In 2005, 112 horses grossed $32,183,000 and averaged $287,348. The median was $86,000.The buy-back rate decreased from 31.3% in 2005 from 24.1% this year.Grade I winner Sharp Lisa, fresh off a sixth-place finish in the Emirates Airlines Breeders' Cup Distaff Stakes (gr. I), topped the auction at $3.4 million. BBA Ireland purchased the 4-year-old daughter of Dixieland Band, with Adrian Nicoll signing the sale ticket."She obviously was a very good race filly, and she ran well yesterday (in the Breeders' Cup)," Nicoll said. "I liked her phsysically, her page (in the catalog), and her racing ability."During the bidding, Nicoll stood with a large Coolmore Stud contingent that included Demi O'Byrne, Paul Shanahan, and Clem Murphy. Nicoll said Sharp Lisa would be owned by an international partnership, but declined to provide the names of any of its members.Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Sharp Lisa will not run again. Nicoll wasn't sure where she would be sent for breeding, but said a visit to George Washington, who is scheduled to enter stud in 2007, was possible. A European champion, George Washington finished sixth in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered By Dodge (gr. I). He raced for Susan Magnier (the wife of Coolmore Stud's managing partner), Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.Produced from the 10-year-old Dynaformer mare Winter's Gone, who is a half-sister to grade I winner Bien Bien, Sharp Lisa won four of her 18 career starts. She scored in the 2005 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) and two other graded events. Sharp Lisa earned $658,100.Summerly, who captured the 2005 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), brought the auction's second-highest price, going to Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt's Kentucky-based WinStar Farm for $3.3 million."This was a mare that we had to try to get, so we went past our target number," said Doug Cauthen, WinStar's president and chief executive officer. "Physically she's awesome; she has great balance. We thought she was the prettiest mare in the sale."Summerly will be bred to Distorted Humor , who stands at WinStar. A 4-year-old daughter of Summer Squall, she won six of her 13 career races and earned $891,633. Her dam, 10-year-old Here I Go, is a grade III-placed daughter of Mr. Prospector.Eaton Sales consigned Summerly as agent.Hip-by-hip results from Fasig-Tipton
Sale Leaders
Sharp Lisa, sale topper at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale.
Anne M. Eberhardt