b'salesY e a r L I N G S|horses and some years you have good crops and some years you have bad crops, and this was a good one. For depth and breadth, I thought the yearling market this year was the best Ive seen since 2008.With a revamped format that began with a select four-day Book 1, Keenelands September sale attracted a broad group of international buy-ers, including Sheikh Mohammed, who made his first appearance at the Kentucky auction in nearly 10 years. While the sheikhs Godolphin operation is consistently among the leading yearling buyers, there was no doubt the groups spending ramps up when he signs off on the purchases personally.However, it was Ireland-based Coolmore Stud that took home the top-priced yearling of 2018, going to $2.4 million for a War Front colt consigned to Keeneland by John Sikuras Hill n Dale Sales Agency. Produced from the grade 1-winning Smart Strike mare Streaming and descending from the female family of Hall Anne M. eberhArdtof Famer Rags to Riches, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Hill n Dale Equine Holdings and the Stretch Run Ventures of Sikuras father-in-law, Ed McGhee.Fasig-Tiptons Saratoga auction was toppedA Pioneerof the Nile filly was the sole weanling sold in North America in 2018 to bring seven figures.by a Medaglia dOro colt purchased for $1.35 million by a partnership consisting of West PointQuality of $67,384, with a $30,000 median. Thoroughbreds, Rob Masiello, Chris Larsen, and Siena Farm. Consigned by Taylor MadeFasig-Tipton Kentuckys one-day The Sales Agency on behalf of breeder WinStar Farmofferings, November Sale saw 60 weanlings average (which retained 10% interest with the new own- $161,300 on total receipts of $9.6 million ers), the colt is out of the stakes-winning Wildcatand a $112,500 median.Heir mare Cocos Wildcat. end users The sole seven-figure weanling sold in The auction was bittersweet for Fasig-Tipton,2018 in North America (compared with as the horses on offer were the last group of year- three at $1 million or more in 2017) was lings selected by the team under the direction ofspark demand a Pioneerof the Nile filly purchased by the late Bill Graves, who died in May at age 70.Mandy Popes Whisper Hill Farm for $1.9 An astute horseman involved in many facets ofmillion at Fasig-Tiptons mixed sale, a sale the industry, Graves had directed Fasig-Tiptonsrecord weanling price. Consigned by Taylor selection team for 26 years. By Ron Mitchell Made Sales Agency on behalf of Three He was with us throughout the selectionChimneys Farm, the filly was produced process and putting together the catalog, saidAnother strong year for weanlingsfrom three-time grade 1 winner Stopcharg-Browning of Graves, while choking back tears.was driven by stiff competition betweeningmaria, who was also bought by Pope for We barely established a record, by a couple ofpinhookers looking to re-sell at future$4.4 million.hundred-thousand dollars. I dont know if youauctions and end-users seeking to lockThe weanling and the mare together believe in divine intervention, but Im not goinginto perceived lower prices than theyhelped sell each other, Pope said.to ask any questions. might have to give for the same stock asWhisper Hill, in partnership with Three Current trends point to a continuation ofyearlings. Chimneys, also took home the high-the yearling markets bull ride in 2019 barringWhile gross receipts of more thanest-priced weanling from the Keeneland unforeseen circumstances. $76.6 million were up over 2017 due toNovember Breeding Stock Sale, going to Assuming there are no dramatic changes inincreased numbers offered and sold, the$800,000 for an attractive New York-bred the worldwide economic climate or worldwideaverage and median prices of $63,755daughter of Tapit out of champion La political climate, I would expect to see a similarand $27,000, respectively, were downVerdad consigned by Eaton Sales on behalf marketplace in 2019, with emphasis on quality,slightly from the records set in those twoof Sheila Rosenblum of Lady Sheila Stable Browning said. We are dealing with a stratifiedcategories last year. and Edition Farm.marketplace, but I think most of us dealing inAt Keenelands marathon NovemberExecutives with both Fasig-Tipton the marketplace know what to expect. Its justBreeding Stock Sale, there were 937and Keeneland said one factor driving the a matter of producing the product the marketfoals of 2018 reported sold for moremarket is greater participation by end-users demands.than $63.1 million, an average pricewho historically have been more active 8711_Sales_use.indd 87 3/21/19 3:00 PM'