A $115,000 grey colt by Cairo Prince from the Silent Name (Jpn) stakes-winning mare Hopping Not Hoping topped an encouraging 2022 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale put on by the CTHS Ontario on August 31 at the Woodbine sales pavilion. The colt, bred by Murray Smith and raised by Shaun Minshall, was sold by Woodlands Farm, Gail Wood, agent, to Dr. Robert McMartin.
The annual auction of Canadian-bred yearlings saw a whopping 95% increase in median price from $10,000 in 2021 to $19,500 this year. The sale realized a hefty 28% rise in average price from $20,027 to $25,584 and a 20% jump in gross sales from $3,144,400 to $3,837,700.
The average price of $25,584 is the highest for the sale in more than a decade (although in 2011 when the sale was split into select and open sessions, the select session averaged over $33,000).
The sale topper, hip number 130, is a son of hot sire Cairo Prince who stands for $15,000 (US) at Airdrie Stud in Lexington, Kentucky. The colt is the second foal of Shady Well Stakes winner Hopping Not Hoping.
“They were delighted,” said Wood about Smith and Minshall. “He is a lovely colt and the bidding was very steady.”
Wood also sold a filly from the last crop of top stallion Stormy Atlantic from graded stakes placed Garavogue Colleen for $75,000 for breeder Frank Mermenstein. Rick Ma was the buyer. Mermenstein had won the season to Stormy Atlantic from a Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm Kentucky promotion that offered free seasons for horses placing in a sponsored stakes race.
“We were so busy at the sale,” said Woodbine. “There was so much traffic; so many people wanting to look at horses. And the $20,000-$25,000 price range for yearlings was very solid.”
David Anderson, who sold a couple of yearlings including an $81,000 Collected colt from the mare Gauze, said the sale had a good vibe.
“It was like a breath of fresh air,” said Anderson. “It was nice to see more buyers and not just some tire kickers. The vibe was nothing I have seen in years.”
The creation of several programs for Ontario breds and Ontario sired horses, plus the Mare Purchase Program, has played a role in the improvement in the sale.
“The Ontario sired and Ontario bred bonuses and the implementation of sale credits has caught people’s attention,” said Anderson. “The middle market – that $30-$60,000 range had real strength. I am proud of our breeders. They are utilizing the programs to make a better animal and improve the breed.”
The second highest price was the $105,000 paid by Al and Bill Ulwelling for a colt by Tapiture from the Arch mare Archerette. Consigned by Richard Hogan, agent, and bred by Ivan Dalos, the colt is a half-brother to graded stakes-placed Harlan Estate.
Mike Ambler bought a Palace Malice colt for $102,000 from Ballycroy Training Centre and Villa Rosa Farm. The grey is the first foal of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Zee Ro Drop.
The top filly of the sale was a daughter of Ontario sire Reload from Spani Lou, by Spaniard and thus a full sister to stakes winner Red River Rebel. The filly was bought by Catherine Day Phillips, agent, from Northern Dawn Stables (Sherry McLean), agent.
Some of the more active buyers at the sale included the Ulwellings who also purchased a Destin Filly from Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent for $40,000 and an English Channel filly from Northern Dawn for $16,000.
Successful U.S. bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, whose X-Men syndicate recently won the Queen’s Plate with Moira, inspected all the yearlings and his new partnership, the Canuck Racing Stable, purchased several youngsters.
Lanni paid $52,000 for a Souper Speedy colt out of Two Klassy from Bernard McCormack’s Cara Bloodstock, $40,000 for an English Channel filly from Red Anna (Northern Dawn) and two Souper Speedy fillies for $26,000 and $22,000 respectively.
Owner and trainer Laura Krasauskaite bought two yearlings for Brook Smith’s Rocketship Racing, which aims to race at Woodbine for the first time in 2023. Krasauskaite signed the ticket on an $81,000 colt by Collected from Gauze, consigned by Cara Bloodstock, and a $70,000 Frosted colt out of Spider Dust, sold by Richard Hogan, agent.
“Our sales week got off to a great start with our race day at Woodbine on Sunday featuring the four sales stakes for previous sales grads,” said CTHS Ontario president Peter Berringer. “Ontario Racing’s promotion of the Sales Credit Program in 2022 has undoubtedly increased interest from our owner buyer base. We’ve also enjoyed welcoming many returning customers who we last saw pre-Covid as well as a diverse new international buyer base.”
Full results HERE.
The top-priced filly at the sale was this Reload miss sold by Northern Dawn Farm for $87,000 to Catherine Day Phillips, agent
A son of Tapiture brought $105,000 from Al and Bill Ulwelling- photo courtesy Al Ulwelling
TOP PRICES
$115,000 Gr.c. Cairo Prince – Hopping Not Hoping by Silent Name (Jpn) – consigned by Woodlands (Gail Wood), agent – Purchased by Dr. Robert McMartin
$105,000 – B.c. Tapiture – Archerette by Arch (consigned by Richard Hogan, agent) – Purchased by Al and Bill Ulwelling
$102,000 – Gr.c. Palace Malice – Zee Ro Drop by Lemon Drop Kid. Consigned by Ballycroy Training Centre, agent for Ballycroy Training Centre and Villa Rosa Farms
$87,000 – Ch.f. Reload – Spani Lou by Spaniard. Consigned by Northern Dawn Farm (Sherry McLean), agent – Purchased by Catherine Day Phillips, agent
$81,000 – Dk.b.c. Collected – Gauze by Saint Ballado. Consigned by Cara Bloodstock (Barnard McCormack), Agent. Purchased by Laura Krasauskaite, agent
$75,000 – Gr.f. Stormy Atlantic – Garavogue Colleen by Sligo Bay (Ire). Consigned by Woodlands (Gail Wood), agent. Purchased by Rick Ma.
$75,000– Dk.b.c. Old Forester – Cawaja Beach by Where’s the Ring. Consigned by Susan Y. Foreman, agent. Purchased by Three Sons Ltd.
$72,000 – B.f. Jimmy Creed – Executive Affair by Bold Executive. Consigned by Spring Farm. Purchased by Empress Racing Stable, Steve Owens, agent
$70,000 – Gr.c. Frosted – Spider Dust by Broken Vow. Consigned by Richard Hogan, agent. Purchased by Laura Krasauskaite, agent
2022 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale
Gross Sale $3,837,700.00
Sale Average $25,584
Sale Median $19,500
TOTAL Hips Sold 150
2021 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale
Gross Sale $3,184,400.00
Sale Average $20,027
Sale Median $10,000
TOTAL Hips Sold 159
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