Gross, Average Increase at Canadian Select Auction

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's annual select sale of Canadian-bred yearlings realized increases in gross and average Tuesday night at the sales pavilion at Woodbine racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Propelled by the recent installation of Polytrack at Woodbine plus one of highest purse structures in North America, hundreds of buyers boosted the sale's average yearling price of $43,390 (Canadian funds), up 11% from 2005, the highest average in six years. In total, 163 yearlings sold for $7,072,500, up 20% from last year‚s gross of $5,898,500 for 151 yearlings. The median price was $27,000.

Topping the sale was a chestnut colt from the first crop of champion 2-year-old Hold That Tiger (by Storm Cat) out of the Forty Niner mare Brittan Lee that sold for $250,000 to Jim and Alice Sapara's Winsong Farms. The colt was bred by Bill Diamant and Vicki Pappas and sold by Gail Wood's Woodlands Farm, agent. That partnership bred this year's Queen's Plate winner, Edenwold, who was purchased from 2004's sale by the Saparas for $100,000.

Second-highest price at $200,000 was brought by a Cherokee Run colt from the consignment of Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent. Trainer Alec Fehr was the buyer. The colt is the first foal for the stakes-winning Smart Strike mare Noble Strike.

The top filly of the sale was a chestnut daughter of Broken Vow   out of the Vice Regent mare Regent's Fancy, the dam of stakes winners Byzantine and Pete‚s Fancy. The filly was sold by agent Richard Moylan to Hugh Graham, signing as agent for Morgan Firestone.

Julie Coulter, general manager of the C.T.H.S. (Ontario division) reported that 22 yearlings sold for $100,000 or more, up from just nine in 2005.