Tuesday, September 10, 2002
Keeneland September sale opens amid uncertainty
By STEVE BAILEY
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Sluggish summer yearling sales have those in the thoroughbred industry hoping for a rebound this fall.
Keeneland's September Yearling Sale, the world's largest with more than 4,300 horses on the auction block over a 12-day span, should provide an early gauge of the health of the breeding market.
“We expect to be down from previous years. The question is how much,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales.
“This sale has been increasingly popular because it consistently proves to have horses for every profile of buyer. And this is one of the strongest catalogs we've ever put together for the September sale.”
Russell called Keeneland's July Select Sale disappointing after a 33 percent drop in sales from the 2001 event. Fasig-Tipton's sale at Saratoga Springs also declined by a similar percentage.
Keeneland President Nick Nicholson cited a host of factors behind the sagging sales numbers.
“What this sale is up against is what's going on in the outside world, everything from the economy and stock market to the possibility of war with Iraq to the Sept. 11 anniversary,” he said.
“What kind of effect are those things going to have? We'll just have to wait and see. But the horse part, things like the catalog which we have control over and can actually do something about, is in great shape. I feel good about it.”
A total of 195 horses were sold Monday for $50,431,000, an average of $258,621. Last year, 156 horses sold during the first session for $60,331,000, an average of $387,737.
The horses failing to reach their reserve prices on the first day fell from 88 last year to 77.
“If the horses are selling, the market is great,” said Hap Proctor, farm manager/general manager for Leonard Lavin's Glen Hill Farm. “Everything I've bid on has sold. I think the people who are here came to buy.”
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas made the biggest splash of the day Monday, spending $2.4 million on a Danzig colt. The colt, out of Alydar mare Aquilegia, is a full brother to European star Bertolini.
Lukas said he did not know which of his clients would end up owning the colt in partnership.
Irish veterinarian Demi O'Byrne bid $2,150,000 to acquire a Seeking the Gold colt for the Coolmore partnership that typically includes Michael Tabor and John Magnier.
The bay colt is a half-brother to French Group 1 winner Ciro. The dam, Gioconda, is a half-sister to champion Bosra Sham and to French highweight Hector Protector.
“He had a spectacular pedigree,” said O'Byrne. “He's very good looking and is a great mover.”
O'Byrne said the colt would be sent to Ballydoyle in Ireland to be trained.
Several horses topped the seven-figure plateau early in Monday's session.
A Storm Cat colt went for $1 million to Jeanne Vance, who championed former Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid during his 3-year-old season.
Soon after, an A.P. Indy colt out of the Nureyev mare Wild Planet was purchased for $1 million by Jayeff B Stable.
O'Byrne also bid $1.2 million for a full sister to North American-leading money-winning mare Spain.
The bay daughter of Thunder Gulch out of stakes-winning Drina, also was bought on behalf of Coolmore and will remain in the United States for training.
Later, John Ferguson bought a Deputy Minister colt on behalf of the Maktoum family's Godolphin operation for $1,650,000. The bay colt is a half-brother to South African stakes winner Glory Gulch.
Included in the sale are full brothers or sisters to Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled's Song, Spain, Belmont winner Commendable, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Concern and champion 3-year-old Thunder Gulch.
There also will be multiple yearlings by popular sires A.P. Indy, Deputy Minister, Gone West, Kingmambo, Saint Ballado, Seeking the Gold, Storm Cat, Unbridled, Unbridled's Song and Wild Again.
The first 604 select yearlings were scheduled to go through the ring during the sale's initial two sessions Monday and Tuesday.
Following two open sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, the sale will take a one-day break before finishing up with eight more sessions ending Sept. 21.
Sports Stories
Reds 9, Pirates 8
Reds Box, Runs
Reds left to guess on budget for '03
Left shoulder injury ends Casey's season
Sasaki says elbow OK
Sosa fed up, wants changes
Ballplayer's kindness honors mother's heroics
Cardinals 3, Brewers 0
Cubs 3, Expos 2
Astros 6, Rockies 5, 10 innings
Athletics 2, Angels 1
Giants 6, Dodgers 5
Frerotte says he'll play with a bum thumb
LeBeau: We will fix it
Stats paint a stark picture
Brown concerned with fan support after defeat
Browns get encouraging report on Tucker
To Browns fans, it's Rudd - as in Mudd
Cowboys sign Darnay Scott
NFL coaches take it on the chin in Week 1
No debating real national pastime anymore
Texans still glowing after their victory over Cowboys
Williams inks Dolphins deal
Pats rough up Steelers on MNF
Mountaineers are first, Buckeyes later for UC
Boys golf leaders, results
Girls golf results
Boys soccer results
Girls soccer results
Field hockey results
Girls tennis results
Volleyball results
Keeneland September sale opens amid uncertainty
