Encouraging Stats from the 2019 Ontario CTHS Yearling Sale

The numbers are encouraging with gross sales, average price and median price all up at the 2019 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale hosted by the CTHS Ontario Aug. 29. Encouraging news as it was the second consecutive year those categories moved forward after a three-year decline.

There was a good turnout of familiar yearling buyers, some returning faces and a few out-of-towners scrutinizing one of the catalogues of Canadian-bred yearlings in recent years.

Average yearling price went over the $20,000 mark for the first time since 2015 and the top 11 horses were each bought by a different owner. However, the struggle continues for most Ontario breeders who plan matings for their mares, raise foals for a year and barely get an amount for that youngster to stay on the right side of the ledger.

Scroll to continue with content

“There isn’t any middle ground, it’s just the upper end that sells well,” said Sherry McLean, whose Northern Dawn Stable breeds and sells yearlings. “Breeders are still struggling to cover the cost of raising the horses.”

McLean was encouraged by a few more faces looking at yearlings and her farm’s stallion Reload, a graded stakes winning son of Hard Spun, had his first crop of yearlings well received. “Overall I was happy at how the Reloads sold and it will be fun to see what happens when they hit the track next year.”

The tale of the tape of the sale showed 154 yearlings sell for gross sales of $3,354,400 for an average of $21,782, up 17.5 per cent from a year ago. The median price jumped to $13,000 from $10,750. Three yearlings that broke the six-figure barrier, including two that sold for $200,000 or more bolstered the final numbers. The number of yearlings bought back, however, was identical to last year at 90, with many being taken home despite some lofty bids.

“I think that there was a better vibe, definitely more [buyer] action, more interest and more people came out,” said consignor Richard Hogan. “It definitely picked up for the first time in several years.”

Hogan believes that the critical horse shortage of runners throughout the continent led to the buy-backs.

“Somebody has to race these horses,” said Hogan “There is a real shortage of horses all over. Breeders continue to be the ones working hard to keep up with business. With expenses going up in price, the cost and care for a mare, stud fees and long hours of prepping a yearling, the breeders are still not out of the woods yet.

“We need the breeders to have good racing. These horses they are raising can do some good earning. But we need the breeders; we are on an island here.”

The top two priced horses did not stray far from the places that bred them. An attractive filly by Adena Springs North stallion Silver Max was sold by Adena Springs North, as agent to Frank Stronach, founder of the farm.

From the second crop of Grade 1 winner Silver Max (Badge of Silver) from the Holy Bull mare Holy Cargo the sales topper is a half sister to Silent Poet, winner of the Grade 3 Play the King Stakes this summer at Woodbine.

The top colt was a son of Society’s Chairman (Not Impossible) from the winning mare Jademarie, by Malibu Moon. Jademarie was raced by Robert Marzilli and trained by Mike DePaulo and this colt, bred by Marzilli, is her first foal.

The colt, sold by Shannondoe Farm, agent II, brought a bid of $200,000 from Mike Depaulo on behalf of New Generations Racing Stable,a syndicate of partners including Marzilli.

The third yearling to bring six figures was a handsome dark bay colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Tourist from the mare Classic Soul by Perfect Soul. Bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, the colt was purchased for $120,000 by trainer Elizabeth Elder on behalf of owner Rob Cudney.

Some buyers who purchased more than one horse included DePaulo, who signed the tickets for two others for a total of $84,000; Catherine Day Phillips, agent bought two for a total of $110,000; David Rowbotham bought three for $77,000; Racing Canada, Inc. purchased six for $90,000 and Domenic DiLalla bought two for $57,000.

A grey colt and full brother to Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd, was bought back by John Carey for $80,000.

YEAR # SOLD GROSS AVERAGE % CHANGE IN AVERAGE
2019 154 $3,354,400 $21,782 +17.5
2018 152 $2,816,900 $18,532 +4.1
2017 287 $3,630,000 $17,794 -7.5
2016 181 $3,481,800 $19,236 -7.6
2015* 203 $4,255,400 $20,815 -17.8
2014 195 $4,939,000 $25,328 +60.7

2019 TOP PRICES
$240,000 – Hip 115 – f. by Silver Max – Holy Cargo by Holy Bull – Consigned by Adena Springs North, agent – purchased by Frank Stronach
$200,000 – Hip 122 – c. by Society’s Chairman – Jademarie by Malibu Moon – Consigned by Shannondoe Farm, agent II – purchased by Mike DePaulo, agent for New Generations Racing Stable
$120,000 – Hip 53, c. by Tourist – Classic Soul by Perfect Soul (Ire) – Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent – purchased by Elizabeth Elder, agent for Rob Cudney
$80,000 – Hip 7 – c. by Silent Name (Jpn) – Amelia Go Home by Lemon Drop Kid – Consigned by Buttigieg Training Centre – purchased by William and Anne Scott
$70,000 – Hip 217 – f. by Point of Entry – She’s Ordained, by Ministers Wild Cat – Consigned by Keith and Rachel McClelland – purchased by Catherine Day Phillips, agent
$65,000 – Hip 230, c. by Souper Speedy – Still Searching, by Seeking the Best (Ire) – Consigned by Woodlands (Gail Wood), agent for Minshall Farms – purchased by Gus and Jim Vlahos
$62,500 – Hip 114, c. by Society’s Chairman – Hold That Sugar, by Forest Wildcat – Consigned by Shannondoe Farm, agent – purchased by Sue Leslie
$60,000 – Hip 28, f. by Flintshire – Bear’s Gem by Peaks and Valleys – Consigned by Huntington Stud Farm Inc. – purchased by John DiScola
$60,000 – Hip 59, c. Old Forester – Cawaja Beach, by Tethra Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent – purchased by Jim Bruce
$60,000 – Hip 214, co by Flat Out – She’s a Fleet, by Afleet Alex -Consigned by Susan Y Foreman, agent for Phoenix Rising Farm – purchased by Trinity Racing Stable
$60,000 – Hip 253 c. by Giant Gizmo – Trufflesfromheaven by You and I – Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency – purchased by Derek Chin

2019 TOP 5 CONSIGNORS BY GROSS SALES
Shannondoe Fam, Agent 14 $485,500
Hill ‘N’ Dale Sales Agency, Agent 26 $480,200
Richard G. Hogan, Agent 18 $403,000
Adena Springs North, Agent 6 $274,500
John Carey, Agent 12 $192,000

2019 TOP 5 PURCHASERS
Frank Stronach 1 $240,000
Mike De Paulo, Agt. for New Generations Racing Stable 1 $200,000
Elizabeth Elder, Agent for Cudney Stables 1 $120,000
C. Day Phillips, Agt. 2 $110,000
Racing Canada Inc. 6 $90,000
Trinity Racing Stable 2 $90,000

Click here for the full results.