Practical Joke Filly Tops Ontario Sale; Average Steady

Five yearlings sold for six figures at the 2021 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale hosted by the CTHS Ontario on September 1 at the Woodbine sales pavilion. Leading the way was a bay filly by North America’s second leading freshman sire, PRACTICAL JOKE (Into Mischief) from the multiple stakes winner Ontario mare Silent Treat, by Silent Name (Jpn) who lured a bid of $180,000. Consigned by Shannondoe Farm, agent VIII, the filly’s buyer was listed as J. Nelson.

The sales topper, bred by Stablemates, will reportedly join her 2-year-old half sister, Sweet Bombolini, already placed this year, with trainer Gail Cox. Sweet Bombolini races for Stablemates.

The top colt of the sale was a $160,000 Silent Name (Jpn) yearling from the stakes-placed and stakes-producing mare Sweet Bama Breeze, by City Zip. The bay half-brother to stakes winner Will She and stakes-placed Sweet Grass Creek and Sweet Crimson was sold by Hill ‘N’ Dale Sales Agency, agent to Stuart Simon, who signed for longtime yearling sale supporters William and Anne Scott.

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A chestnut full sister to Horse of the Year and multiple graded stakes winner PINK LLOYD sold for $145,000 to Bruno Schickedanz. The filly by Old Forester – Gladiator Queen by Great Gladiator was sold by John Carey, agent for TC Westmeath Stud.

Al and Bill Ulwelling purchased two of the top five priced yearlings. A handsome colt by Tourist – Aunty Mo, by Uncle Mo was offered by Cara Bloodstock for Bernard McCormack and was bought by the father-and-son team from Minnesota for $120,000. The colt’s 2-year-old full sister Mo Touring was an impressive debut winner this summer at Gulfstream. McCormack purchased Aunty Mo carrying the $120,000 yearling for $22,000 (US) at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

A filly by first-year sire Collected from the mare Dattt Echo sold for $110,000 to Al and Bill Ulwelling. The filly was sold by Cara Bloodstock for breeder Anderson Farms. (photo courtesy Anderson Farms)

The Ulwellings added a filly who was also from the McCormack consignment. By first-year sire Collected (City), the youngster is from the stakes-placed Stormy Atlantic mare Datt Echo. The Ulwellings paid $110,000. Their trainer is Kevin Attard.

The 2021 CTHS Ontario sale saw 158 yearlings sell for $3,144,400, both numbers up from the 2020 auction. Also, the yearling average of $19,901 was up a tick from the 2020 average of $19,685.

However, the median price of $10,000 was down sharply from recent years.

“Overall, the sale held its own,” said CTHS Ontario president Peter Berringer. “There was good action and a good vibe at the sale. Lots of people were looking at horses to buy.”

The increase in gross sales and average were positive points. “If people want to race here in Ontario – and there is very good purse money for Ontario-bred horses – this is the place to buy them. The fact that we had five horses sell for over $100,000 is significant.”

Cara Bloodstock’s team with the $120,000 Tourist colt. (courtesy Cara Bloodstock)

TOP PRICES

$180,000 f. by Practical Joke – Silent Treat, by Silent Name (Jpn) – consigned by Shannondoe Farm, agent VIII – purchased by Josh Nelson who will be forming a syndicate.

$160,000, c. by Silent Name (Jpn) – Sweet Bama Breeze, by City Zip – consigned by Hill ‘N’ Dale Sales Agency, agent – purchased by Stuart Simon, agent for William and Anne Scott

$145,000, f. by Old Forester – Gladiator Queen, by Great Gladiator – consigned by John Carey, agent for T.C. Westmeath Stud – purchased by Bruno Schickedanz

$120,000 – c. Tourist – Aunty Mo, by Uncle Mo – consigned by Cara Bloodstock (Bernard McCormack), agent – purchased by Al and Bill Ulwelling

$110,000– f. Collected – Datt Echo, by Stormy Atlantic – (consigned by Cara Bloodstock (Bernard McCormack), agent – purchased by Al and Bill Ulwelling

CANADIAN PREMIER YEARLING SALE – CTHS ONTARIO

Year- Gross -Sold -Not Sold- Average- Median

2021 $3,144,400 -158 – 65 -$19,901 – $10,000

2020 2,795,300 – 142 -55 -19.685 – 14,400

2019 3,381,400 – 157 -88 -21,538 – 13,000

2018 2,816,900 – 152 -90 -18,532 – 10.750