$3.6-Million Mare in Foal to War Front Tops Keeneland's Opening Session
Naples Bay, a half sister to Medaglia d'Oro, sold in foal to War Front for $3.6 million
Grade 3 winner Naples Bay, a half-sister to leading sire Medaglia d’Oro carrying her first foal by War Front, sold to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier for $3.6 million to lead today’s first session of Keeneland’s 71st November Breeding Stock Sale. During the session, a total of seven fillies and mares brought $1 million or more compared to six horses that reached that mark last year, while international and domestic breeders added to their operations with high-priced acquisitions.
Keeneland sold 135 horses for $41,398,000, for an average of $306,652 and a median of $170,000. On opening day in 2013, 113 horses sold for $42,255,000, for an average of $373,938 and a median of $220,000.
“Breeding stock sales vary year to year depending on the horses in the sale,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Walt Robertson. “I thought the sale today was really strong. We sold more million-dollar horses than we did last year on the first day. Last year we had a dispersal; this year we didn’t.”
“The market was met very well at all different levels today,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. “It was strong all the way through and strong for all kind of horses, for mares in foal and for race mares. We talked to several consignors, and they were very pleased and said their expectations were widely exceeded.”
Naples Bay, a 6-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway out of Cappucino Bay, by Bailjumper, was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.
“She comes from a great family, and she’s in foal to War Front,” Magnier said. “We’re looking forward to seeing that (foal). I’m not sure what we’re going to do with her; we’ll decide over the next couple of days, but she could easily go back to (Coolmore stallion) Galileo (IRE).”
Iotapa and Stanwyck, who both raced in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Friday at Santa Anita, brought $2.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively.
Millionaire and multiple Grade 1 winner Iotapa, third in the Distaff, sold to China Horse Club. Iotapa is a 4-year-old Afleet Alex filly out of the El Corredor mare Concinnous.
China Horse Club also paid $1.5 million for Grade 1 winner Last Full Measure, a 6-year-old daughter of Empire Maker out of Grade 1 winner Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent, who is carrying her first foal by War Front.
Lane’s End, agent, consigned both Iotapa and Last Full Measure.
China Horse Club was the session’s leading buyer with six purchases totaling $5,150,000.
“We are a lifestyle, business and Thoroughbred racing club with the purpose of trying to introduce Chinese owners to elite Thoroughbred racing around the world,” said Eden Harrington, general manager of China Horse Club. “We are currently racing six parts of the world, including China, Singapore, France, Ireland and two horses in the (United) States.”
Recommended for You
“We’ve had conversations with China Horse Club all through the year,” Russell said. “Mr. Teo Ah Khing of China Horse Club is here for the first time at Keeneland. He attended the Breeders’ Cup over the weekend and enjoyed it. He’s very dedicated to expanding the interest of Thoroughbreds in China. He wants to have a strong presence in North America and Europe and certainly had a strong presence today.”
Khing’s TAK Design Consultants developed Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, and he is a partner with Coolmore in Australia, winner of this year’s Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Juddmonte International.
Lane’s End, agent, also consigned Stanwyck, a Grade 3 winner who was seventh in the Distaff. The 5-year-old Empire Maker mare, a half-sister to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo and Grade 1 winner Tiago, was purchased by Steven W. Young, agent.
Selling for $1.9 million was Grade 1 winner Egg Drop, carrying her first foal by leading sire Tapit. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Egg Drop, a 5-year-old daughter of Alphabet Soup out of the Adhocracy mare Rehocracy, was purchased by John and Leslie Malone’s Bridlewood Farm of Ocala, Fla. The Malones bought Bridlewood in August 2013.
“We’re trying to build a special program, one horse at a time,” said George Isaacs, Bridlewood’s general manager who signed the ticket for Egg Drop. “This is literally our second mare. We want to build a broodmare band of about 20-25 really special mares, and one horse at a time we’re going to do that.
“This mare had all the ingredients we were looking for: an alpha physical, beautiful mare, very good pedigree, great race record and looks like she’ll be a great broodmare, in foal to the top stallion in the country.”
Bridlewood also paid $1.1 million for Renee’s Titan, a Grade 2 winner in foal to Kentucky Derby winner Orb. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the 4-year-old daughter of Bernstein out of the Tiznow mare Titan Queen.
Selling to Sheikh Joaan Al Thani’s Al Shaquab for $1.3 million was Grade 3 winner Scarlet Strike, a 4-year-old Smart Strike filly who is a half-sister to Grade 1 Visionaire. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned Scarlet Strike, who is out of the French Deputy mare Scarlet Tango.
Benoit Jeffroy, representing Al Shaqab, said Scarlet Strike will be retired and bred next year.
“She’s a lovely filly and we really liked her,” Jeffroy said. “She’s a half to a (Grade) 1 winner and she’s by Smart Strike, who is a champion sire and a group-winner sire. She’ll probably go back to Europe.”
At $375,000, the session’s top-priced weanling was the son of Speightstown purchased by Stonestreet Stables LLC. Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Versailles Song and is from the family of graded stakes winners George Vancouver and Saarland.
The leading consignor was Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, which sold 41 horses for $14,015,000.
The 11-day November Sale continues through Friday, Nov. 14. Wednesday’s session begins at 11 a.m. ET. Remaining sessions begin at 10 a.m. The entire sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.
