Fresh with a new board of directors, a new president, and a stronger catalogue, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario division) had positive results from its annual Canadian Premier Yearling sale at the Woodbine pavilion on August 28.
A total of 141 yearlings realized an average price of $26,458, up 11 percent from last year’s auction which had an average of $23,778.
The median price was up a strong 27 percent to $19,000 from $15,000.
The sale topper was hip 88, a son of leading sire Nyquist, a Kentucky Derby winner, who brought $250,000 from Kentucky bloodstock agent Clay Scherer. Bred by David Anderson’s Anderson Farms and sold through the consignment of Cara Bloodstock of Bernard McCormack, the colt’s price was the highest for a yearling in Canada in a decade.
The slick, dark bay Nyquist colt from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Mrs. Hudson is a half-brother to stakes winner Airosa, a promising three-year-old filly who is expected to contest the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, next month against the boys.
“It’s for a group to race in Canada,” said Scherer. “We look forward to seeing him on the track. He’s a lovely individual and Nyquist is a tremendous stallion. We are very excited for his future.”
The CTHS Ontario sale has sold dozens of champions including cover boys Paramount Prince, the 2023 King’s Plate winner, Champion three-year-old and now graded stakes winner, and My Boy Prince, the Champion two-year-old colt of 2023, Grade 1 placed and recently second in the King’s Plate.
This was the first sale for the current CTHS team including president David Anderson and vice-president Colleen Dalos.
With the addition of some enhanced social media and a buzz created by the successful yearling sales stakes held at Woodbine on August 25, there was an increased number of prospective buyers. Nine of the top 11 priced horses were each purchased by different buyers.
Fillies were a lot more popular at the sale than colts as only one other colt landed in the top 11 prices.
The highest-priced filly was a daughter of first-year US sire Known Agenda (Curlin), winner of the Florida Derby (G1). The bay filly from More Than Bandeau, dam of stakes winner Swinging Mandy, brought a bid of $95,000 from Tucci Stables. The filly was sold by Sue Foreman as agent for Dr. Brett and Kyle Anderson.
Foreman also sold the fourth highest-priced yearling, a filly by Souper Speedy from Sport’n Forty who brought $86,000 from Toronto owner Rob Marzilli.
The third highest-priced yearling was a filly by Mo Town from Turkmenistan, who was bred by Ivan Dalos and sold for $90,000 to the Canuck Racing Club Limited Partnership 3, a syndicate created by Donato Lanni.
The Canuck Club also purchased an $85,000 filly by Mendohlsson – Macallan Gal, sold by breeder Ballycroy Bloodstock.
Another filly that sold for $85,000 was a Dalos-bred Cairo Prince daughter of Keen Mischief bought by Derek Chin.
Some of the busiest buyers at the sale included agent Robyn Lewis, who signed the ticket on four yearlings for Jim Ensom. One of those purchases was a $72,000 filly by Game Winner from Naughty Holiday consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent. Sue Leslie, Catherine Day Phillips, Bill Tharrenos, David Rowbotham, Gail Cox, Begg Racing and Mike DePaulo also purchased several of the higher-priced yearlings.
Leading Woodbine trainer Mark Casse and wife Tina Casse bought a Cupid colt for $50,000 from Shannondoe Farm, agent II. Sovereign Award-winning owner Gary Barber bought just one, a Kitten’s Joy filly in partnership with Eclipse Thoroughbreds for $28,000 from Hill ‘n’ Dale.
TOP PRICES – 2024 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale CTHS Ontario
$250,000 – c. by Nyquist – Mrs. Hudson, by Street Cry (Ire) (consigned by Cara Bloodstock (Bernard McCormacj), agent – purchased by Clay Scherer, agent
$95,000 – f. by Known Agenda – More Than Bandeau by More than Ready – (consigned by Susan Y Foreman, agent for Dr. Brett and Kyle Anderson) – purchased by Tucci Stable
$90,000– f. by Mo Town – Turkmenistan by Candy Ride (consigned by Richard Hogan, agent) – purchased by Canuck Racing Club LLP3
$86,000 – f. by Souper Speedy – Sport’n Forty by Scat Daddy (consigned by Susan Y. Foreman, agent) – purchased by Rob Marzilli
$85,000 – f. by Cairo Prince – Keen Mischief by Into Mischief (consigned by Richard Hogan, agent) – purchased by Derek Chin
$85,000 – f. by Mendelssohn – Macallan Gal by Stormy Atlantic (consigned by Ballycroy Bloodstock, Agent) – purchased by Canuck Racing 3LP
$80,000 – f. by Practical Joke – Noon Time Shower, by Noonmark (consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dales Sales Agency, agent) – purchased by Violet Rose Partnership
$80,000 – f. by Mendelssohn – Tulane Girl, by Pioneerof the Nile (consigned by Richard Hogan, agent) – purchased by Gail Cox, agent
$80,000 – c. by Silent Name (Jpn) – Bonnie Lee, by Prospective (consigned by John Carey, agent) – purchased by Joshua Attard
$72,000 – f. by Game Winner – Naughty Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday (consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent) – purchased by Robyn Lewis, agent for Jim Ensom
$72,000 – f. by Shaman Ghost – River of Pearls by Pioneerof the Nile (consigned by Cara Bloodstock (Bernard McCormack), agent) – purchased by David Rowbotham
