Moira Close to Most Expensive Canadian Bred Auction Purchase

When Canadian Horse of the Year MOIRA sold for $4.3 million at The November Sale last week at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky, she became the second highest-priced Canadian-bred sold at auction, according to Canadian Throughbred‘s research.

There is no central database for this information, so the following list of the top 12 prices for Canadian-breds at auction is done strictly through internet searches, the American Racing Manual, and other sources. We are open to corrections.

Yearling sales and mixed sales throughout the world have had any number of Canadian-bred yearlings, horses of racing age and broodmares, and the majority of the top 10 priciest Canadian-breds have been in the breeding stock sector.

Scroll to continue with content

TOP 12 CANADIAN-BREDS SOLD AT AUCTION

12. $1,100,000 SERGEI PROKOFIEV, yearling, 2017 Keeneland September, by Scat Daddy – Orchard Beach by Tapit

The first named foal from Orchard Beach, Sergei Prokofiev was bred by Anderson Farms and purchased as a yearling by John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor. The colt was a quick learner as he won the Cornwallis Stakes (G3) at Newmarket, the Rochestown Stakes and was third in the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Ascot. At three he won the Cork Stakes and retired to stud where he has also got off to a fast start. Sergei Prokofiev has 22 winners in 2024 and leads all first-year sires in Europe with progeny earnings over $972,000.

11. $1,300,000 CAROTENE, broodmare prospect, 1988 Kinghaven dispersal, Keeneland, by Great Nephew (GB) – Carrot Top II by High Hat (GB)

‘Bud’ and David Willmot purchased the mare Carrot Top in foal to Great Nephew at the 1982 December Tattersalls Breeding sale in England and brought her to their farm in King City to foal. The result was a lovely liver-chestnut filly they named Carotene. As a three-year-old, Carotene won two Sovereign Awards for Turf Female and three-year-old filly. She beat the boys in the Breeders’ Stakes in 1986. In the US, Carotene won the Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G1) and the Pan American Handicap (G1), also over males. She collected six Sovereign Awards in her career, earned over $1.2 million and then was sold to Darley Stud management at Kinghaven’s dispersal.

Carotene produced seven named foals and four minor winners.

10. $1,350,000 INGLORIOUS, broodmare prospect, 2013 The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky, by Hennessy – Noble Strike by Smart Strike.

A $90,000 yearling purchase by Donver Stable, the brilliant Inglorious was bred by Arosa Farms and was trained by Josie Carroll. As a three-year-old, Inglorious won the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate and was second in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G3) among other graded stakes. Inglorious was named Canada’s Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. She earned $1.4 million.

Donver Stable sold her in the fall of 2013 to Kia-Ora Stud Australia. Inglorious has produced the Group 2-placed Miss Canada and two other winners.

9. $1,400,000 INTERSTATEDAYDREAM, racing/broodmare prospect, 2023 Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale, by Classic Empire – Babcock by Uncle Mo.

Bred by the late Bill Graham’s Windhaven farm, Interstatedaydream was a short yearling when bought by Rascal Bloodstock from the 2020 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for $105,000. She sold later that year at the Keeneland September sale for $130,000 to Lehigh Bloodstock and then traded hands once again as a two-year-old when Flurry Racing Stable bought her for $175,000 at the OBS Spring Two-Year-Old Sale.

Racing for Flurry Stable, Interstatedaydream won the Black Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) in 2022 and three other added-money events, earning $689,269. The bay filly, whose dam is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Uncaptured, was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect to Repole Stable last fall, but raced just once more when seventh in the Beholder Mile (G1) early in 2024.

8. $1,500,000 HARD NOT TO LIKE, racing/broodmare prospect, 2014 Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale, by Hard Spun – Like a Gem by Tactical Cat.

Bred by Garland Williamson’s Hillsbrook Farm in Ontario, Hard Not to Like was quickly a star as she won the Cup & Saucer Stakes as a two-year-old when trained by Gail Cox. After a brief sophomore campaign, Hard Not to Like was transferred to trainer Michael Matz for an American campaign and she won the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1) and the Marshua’s River Stakes (G3).

Hard Not to Like was sold by Williamson through agent Michael Byrne at the 2014 Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale and purchased by Speedway Stable, Peter Fluor, and K.C. Weiner. She won consecutive Grade 1s in 2015, the Diana and Gamely Stakes for her new owners. Hard Not to Like won eight of 122 races and $1.2 million for her various owners. The grey mare was then offered at Keeneland November in 2015 and bought by DATTT Stable.

As a broodmare, Hard Not to Like has produced five named foals including graded stakes-placed Faustin (Curlin), a one-time winner who was an $800,000 purchase at the OBC April Sale in 2022. The mare’s first four yearlings that sold brought a total of $1.6 million and only one is a winner.

7. $1,600,000 SAHLABIYA, yearling, 2020 Keeneland September sale, by Medaglia d’Oro – Orchard Beach by Tapit.

David Anderson’s Anderson Farms sold two of the most expensive Canadian-breds from his mare Orchard Beach including this filly who was bought by Shadwell Stable. In her third career start, Sahlabiya finished third to Moira in the 2022 Woodbine Oaks. She later won a maiden race on the grass at Ellis Park and is unraced since December 2023.

6. $2,000,000 WONDER GADOT, racing/broodmare prospect, 2019 The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky by Medaglia d’Oro – Loving Vindication by Vindication.

Following a championship racing career in which she won the Demoiselle Stakes (G2), the Mazarine Stakes (G3) as a two-year-old and the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown at three, the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, Wonder Gadot was sold by owner Gary Barber to K Farms of Japan. She retired with a record of five wins in 18 races and $1.2 million in earnings.

Wonder Gadot’s first two foals, At First (Into Mischief) and Off the Chain (Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), are Japanese-breds currently unraced.

Wonder Gadot’s half-sister Hard Not to Love is also on this list as the fourth most expensive Canadian-bred.

5. $2,200,00 HARD NOT TO LIKE, broodmare, 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, by Hard Spun – Like a Gem by Tactical Cat. (See first entry at #8)

4. $3,200,000 HARD NOT TO LOVE, broodmare prospect 2021, The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky. by Hard Spun – Loving Vindication by Vindication.

Bred by Anderson Farms, Hard Not to Love was originally a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by West Point Thoroughbreds and Vosburgh. Despite losing an eye in an injury as a young horse, Hard Not to Love. a half-sister to Canadian champion Wonder Gadot, won the La Brea Stakes (G1) and Santa Monica Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Hard Not to Love raced for West POint, Mercedes Stables LLC, Scott Dilworth and Dorothy Ingordo.

3. $3,500,000 BALLYDOYLE, yearling colt, 1981, Keeneland July, by Northern Dancer – South Ocean by New Providence

Bred by E.P. Taylor’s Windfields Farm, Ballydoyle set a world record for a yearling price in 1981 when purchased by Robert Sangster. The half-brother to champions Storm Bird and Northernette won just once from four career races. He went to stud at Vine Hill Ranch in California and was a modest sire.

2. $4,300,000 MOIRA, five-year-old racing or broodmare prospect. Ghostzapper – Devine Aida by Unbridled’s Song.

Bred by Adena Springs and originally a $150,000 yearling purchase by X-Men Racing, a new group of owners, many Canadians, put together by bloodstock agent Donato Lanni.

Moira, trained by Kevin Attard, won the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate as a three-year-old and was named Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and Horse of the Year. At the completion of 2023 campaign following a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita, Moira was sold by X-Men, Madaket Racing and SF BLoodsotck for $3 million at The November Sale, but essentially returned to most of her original owners.

This year, Moira was bought by Yulong, a famous racing and breeding operation in Australia.

1. $8,250,000 IMPERIAL FALCON, yearling colt, 1984 Keeneland July, Northern Dancer – Ballade by Herbager

Bred by E.P. Taylor’s Windfields Farm, Imperial Falcon was sold in the heyday of the Northern Dancer yearlings that were hot commodities and is the fifth most expensive yearling sold at auction in North America. The winning bidder was the British Bloodstock Agency of England for Robert Sangster.

A half-brother to champion Glorious Song and US stakes star Devil’s Bag, Imperial Falcon won two of three career starts before a training injury ended his racing career. The horse entered stud at Brookdale Farm in Kentucky and later stood in Florida, Pennsylvania and Louisana. He was sold for $20,000 at the 2001 Keeneland November sale and went to stud in Michigan before he died the next year.