|
51.
$2 Million Belong To Me Filly Tops At Keeneland
|
16/07/2002 |
|
|
|
A filly by Widden Stud’s shuttle stallion Belong To Me topped the opening session of the Keeneland July Selected Yearling Sale. John Ferguson, acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed, bid $2 million for the chestnut filly, the first foal out of Personal Ensign Handicap (G1) and Ruffian Handicap (G1) winner Tomisue’s Delight (A.P. Indy). Fillies dominated the opening session accounting for all 10 of the highest priced lots.
BELONG TO ME
The worst fears of vendors were realised as business pessimism and a nervous Wall Street contributed to a fall in aggregate of 39% while the average declined 34.6 percent from last years opening session. After 22 of the original 100 yearlings catalogued were withdrawn, 78 yearlings were offered with just 41 selling for a gross of $15,740,000. That was down from last year when 44 brought $25,847,000. The average price of $383,902 was down from last years $587,432, while the median price of $290,000 was down 22.5 from last years $375,000. The pass-in rate was particularly disappointing 47.5 percent.
Keeneland Sales director Geoffrey Russell expressed his disappointment in the results. “We didn’t see ourselves taking a big hit like we did.”
The session topping Belong To me filly was consigned by Lane's End Farm, which was making reappearance at the July Sales for the first time in three years after selling the majority of its yearlings at Keeneland in September.
The winner of over $1.2 million Tomisue’s Delight is a daughter of Ashland Stakes (G1) and Acorn Stakes (G1) winner Prospectors Delite (Mr. Prospector) the dam of Willowbend Stud’s Monashee Mountain (Danzig) which sold for $1 million at the July Sale in 1988.
.
“She is a top filly with a top pedigree,” Ferguson said. “She’s a daughter of a Grade winner, and there aren’t very many of them.”
He added that Sheikh Mohammed, who races as Godolphin, may want to race the filly in California but that he wouldn’t make that decision until he comes to Kentucky in September.
The only other yearling to make more than $1 million on the opening day was a filly by Gone West out of Primedex (Deputy Minister), which was also consigned by Lane’s End Farm. A half-sister to Grade 2 winner Prime Directive (Tactical Advantage) the filly was purchased for $1.35 million by leading trainer D. Wayne Lukas acting for longtime clients Robert and Beverly Lewis and the Overbrook Farm of W.T. Young.
“She’s a magnificent filly. She has a beautiful body and her conformation is outstanding and you just have to look at her catalog page,” Bob Lewis said.
The Lewises bought two other horses earlier in the session—a Silver Deputy filly for $575,000 from Paramount Sales, as agent, and a colt from the first crop of Exploit for $325,000 from Winter Quarter Farm, as agent.
Former Arrowfield shuttle stallion Unbridled’s Song remains extremely popular in the States. A filly out of the Capote mare Irish Coco made $500,000 a handy profit on the $300,000 she cost just 6 months ago at the Keeneland January Sale.
Top Ten Priced Lots - Day 1.
Lot 94 f Belong to Me-Tomisue's Delight (A.P. Indy) - John Ferguson Bloodstock - $2,000,000
Lot 75 PRIMEWEST f Gone West-Primedex (Deputy Minister) - Robert B. and Beverly J. Lewis & Overbrook Farm -$1,350,000
Lot 50 f Unbridled-Ivory Idol (Alydar) - JMJ Stables Corp. $850,000
Lot 96 f Silver Deputy-T.V. Countess (T.V. Commercial) Darby Dan Bloodstock $700,000
Lot 29 f Coronado's Quest-Devine (Seattle Slew) - Winsong Farms - $600,000
Lot 5 f Silver Deputy-Apelia (Cool Victor) - Robert B. and Beverly J. Lewis $575,000
Lot 49 f Unbridled's Song-Irish Coco (Capote) - $500,000
Lot 51 f Seeking the Gold-Jeweled Crown, by Seattle Slew - John C. Oxley - $500,000
Lot 78 f Kingmambo-Reggie V (Vanlandingham) - John Gosden - $500,000
By: Mark Smith
|
|
|
