Germany's premier yearling sale, which took place on Saturday at Baden-Baden, saw sharp increases in gross revenue, average price, and median price, helped by the presence of John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock adviser.
Ferguson bought two colts for Godolphin at the BBAG sale, paying the top price of 400,000 euros (approximately $482,720) for one by Acatenango out of Quest of Fire (by Rainbow Quest). The colt is closely related to Prospect Park, runner-up in Longchamp's Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I). Ferguson also paid 75,000 euros ($90,510) for a Big Shuffle colt.
Turnover rose to 5,250,500 euros ($6,336,303) (169 sold, 75.8%) from 3,707,000 euros ($4,473,608) last year (164 sold, 66.1%), up 42% with the average rising by nearly as much -- 31,068 euros ($37,493) from 22,603 euros in 2003. The median nearly doubled to 29,000 euros ($34,997) from 15,000 euros.
