Ted Burnett’s JOSHAM FARMS sold an Ontario-foaled short yearling for $300,000 during the first session of the 2024 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale on Jan. 9 in Lexington. The colt, by Maclean’s Music from the stakes-placed mare Wild n Ready by More Than Ready, was purchased by California-based Muir Hut Stable.
Burnett had purchased Wild n Ready, a daughter of Ontario-bred stakes-winning mare D’Wild Ride, for $170,000 as a racing or broodmare prospect from the 2018 Keeneland November sale. The mare produced a son of West Coast in 2020. Wild n Ready was sold last fall at the Keeneland November sale for $60,000 in foal to Maclean’s Music to Highfield Bloodstock.
Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale ended Thursday after four days of solid results that indicated the continued demand for quality individuals, from newly-turned yearlings to successful race fillies and in-foal broodmares. Three horses – led by broodmare prospect Prank at $1.6 million – sold for $1 million or more, equaling the most seven-figure horses at the sale since 2013 and the first such sales since 2019.
“The January Sale continued the consistent and stable market environment we saw last fall,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Quality individuals were highly prized, and the competition from a global buying bench drove healthy results. We thank all our participants for their support and wish everyone a successful breeding season.”
Gross sales for horses sold through the ring during the auction, held Jan. 8-11, were $38,330,300 for 831 horses, down 15.59% from last year’s $45,408,300 for 962 horses. Cumulative average price of $46,126 dipped 2.28% from $47,202 in 2023. Median price declined 21.05% from $19,000 to $15,000. The RNA rate was 22.84% versus last year’s 22.92%.
On the Canadian buying front, owner and trainer DALE DESRUISSEAUX added to his broodmare band with DARK CORNER, a grey mare by Into Mischief. The mare was purchased for $25,000 and is in foal to Nashville.
STEVE KEMP paid $35,000 for the mare TEXAS GEM (Tiznow) in foal to Independence Hall and she is being sent to new Ontario stallion Gufo. Kemp also bought the Distorted Humor mare KUNDRAY in foal to Liam’s Map for $52,000.
DAVE COTEY purchased a two-year-old by Catholic Boy for $2,500 and another by Thousand Words for $3,000.
SPRING FARM was the listed buyer for PREVAILING PARTY, a four-time winner by Midnight Lute in foal to Higher Power, for $6,000.
AGAINST THE WIND (Debra Rombis) paid $2,500 for an Ontario-bred two-year-old filly by top young stallion Danish Dynaformer.
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