THE POT OF GOLD
Many breeders and consignors got a taste of some riches on Tuesday and Wednesday when our Canadian-bred yearling sale got back some of its losses it experienced in the last 2 years.
A select yearling average price hike of 50% was bettered by a 70% rise in open yearling average price and there were quite a few smiles all around.
Even buyers who were paying more for youngsters they liked this year that last year were pleased for the breeders, the first group hammered by the preposterous move of the OLG and the Liberal government 2 years ago.
The sales topping yearling, a sharp colt by Philanthropist, who is now in South Africa, out of the Hail the Ruckus mare Uproar, sold for a whopping $325,000, the highest price for a yearling in Canada since perhaps 1987 when a Northern Dancer colt sold for $1 million.
The colt was in the middle of a firestorm of bidding between a syndicate group who had trainer John LeBlanc doing the bidding and Jim and Alice Sapara, in search of their second Queen’s Plate winner. The syndicate held out the longest, telling Leblanc earlier in the day “just get him”.
Bred by Paradox Farm, now run by Dr. Moira Gunn, whose late husband Dr. Mike Colterjohn was instrumental in bringing stallions such as Philanthropist to Ontario. The colt was sold by Mapleville Farm, the former Gardiner Farms now owned by Mr. N. Lui, but still run by Sherry McLean.
McLean admitted to being shell-shocked by the bidding war for the colt, who is a full brother to champion and millionaire Pender Harbour, who cost just $17,000 at auction.
Where the colt ends up in the next few weeks is a mystery: the syndicate did not want to be identified and the colt’s whereabouts were also kept hush-hush. However, in an interview with Thoroughblog, Dr. Gunn said “she had not decided what to do” when asked if she was one of the members of the syndicate. The colt may likely be sent right back to Mapleville for breaking and training.
Many big names were buying yearlings. MARK CASSE had not been at the sale in years and was prominent during the select session, being involved in a number of purchases. Robert Tiller and his clients Rolph Davis, Frank DiGiulio Jr and 3 Sons Racing were buying, as was Joshman Farms, Windways Farm, Colebrook Stable, and Bear Stables.
New names on the sales sheet included NICK SAMPOGNA, who owns horses trained by Pat Parente, Mickey Demers, a prominent owner at Northlands Park in Alberta and Rice Horse Stables from Florida, a pinhooking operation.
WOODBINE MILE – FIELD COULD BE 12
No Wise Dan but after 2 years of that great gelding bossing around his rivals in the Woodbine Mile, how about a wide event that is sure to be extraordinarily exciting?
There could be as many as 12 horses in the gate for next Sunday’s big race, a Win and You’re In turf mile for the Breeder Cup Mile. The Woodbine Mile is also joined by the Canadian Stakes, a Win and You’re IN Event plus the 1 1/2 mile Northern Dancer Stakes, which should set up horses for the Canadian International in October.
The favourite could be SUMMER FRONT, 2nd in a pair of Grade 1’s recently for Waterford Stable and trainer Christophe Clement. However, Woodbine based GRAND ARCH, owned by Albertans Jim and Susan Hill and trained by Brian Lynch, just missed in the Grade 2 Fourstardave to one of the top ranked milers in the world right now, Seek Again.
GRAND ARCH is on top of his form and has found that one mile is a perfect distance for him as long as he is covered up for as long as possible. In the Fourstarvdave, he moved to the lead in mid stretch but was a sitting duck as Seek Again ran him down.
TRADE STORM is set to arrive from England on Tuesday for trainer David Simcock. The 6yo horse was 3rd in the race last year when he had little pace to run at and was meeting Wise Danb.
JACK MILTON and KAIGUN go for Gary Barber, owned by Lexie Lou, the Queen’s Plate, who will be in action on Mile day in the Canadian Stakes.
POSSIBLE FIELD:
ANCIL / Farmer, Scott and Thompson, Kathy / Joan Scott – Woodbine based, just back from a Royal Ascot attempt
BEST BARD / Cinnamont Stable / James J. Smith recent allowance winner, 2nd career win at Woodbine
BOBBY’S KITTEN / Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey / Chad C. Brown – Grade 3 winning miler
DORSETT / Terry Hamilton / Brian A. Lynch – Canadian owned and trained, stakes winner
GRAND ARCH / Jim and Susan Hill / Brian A. Lynch – Canadian-owned and trained won King Edward, 2nd Fourstardave
HIS RACE TO WIN / Sam-Son Farm / Malcolm Pierce – Seagram winner (Poly), has won on turf
JACK MILTON / Gary Barber / Todd A. Pletcher – Gary Barber, won Poke S, 3rd Fourstardave
KAIGUN / G. Barber, Quintessential Racing Florida LLC & Horse’n Around Racing Stable /Mark E. Casse – won Play the King
LOCKOUT / John C. Oxley / Mark E. Casse -2nd Play the King
RIVER SEVEN / Tucci Stables / Nicholas Gonzalez 4th Sky Classic
SILVER FREAK / Raroma Stable / Brian A. Lynch – – allowance winner at Saratoga, locally based
SUMMER FRONT / Waterford Stable / Christophe Clement multiple graded SW
VIDEO OF THE FOURSTARDAVE – GRADE 2 AT SARATOGA…
GETTING THE CHROME SHINY AND READY
By Monica Rodriguez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
California Chrome lost out on horse racing’s Triple Crown but he still has fans and some of them could very well be among those who turn out to Saturday’s races at Los Alamitos Race Course.
California Chrome will have a public training session between the third and fourth race at Los Alamitos. Post time for Saturday’s first race is 2 p.m.
“He certainly has a great following,” said Brad McKinzie, vice president and spokesman of the Los Alamitos Race Course. “Having him here will certainly increase our reach.”
LEAPING LIZARDS! Something spooked this one!
and great photo emerges
Laytown races occupies a unique position in the Irish racing calendar as it is the only race event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing.
Many generations of people from the Meath area and the bordering countries have fond memories of their visit to the strand at Laytown and of the colour and the excitement of race day.
Laytown strand races have been in existence for one hundred and forty years. The first recorded meeting was in 1868 when races were run on the beach in conjunction with the Boyne Regatta.
GETTING READY FOR KEENELAND SEPTEMBER SALE!
The giant Keeneland Sept. yearling sale begins next week and there will be lots of Canadians shopping if they did not get what they wanted in Toronto last week. Some Ontario breeders are selling at Keeneland (some of them also sold in Ont. too) but certainly the goal is to lure the locals to selling locally and buyers to buy locally.
Here is a video of a Distorted Humor – Sealy Hill filly who was born on the sales grounds at Keeneland last January when mummy was sold! Courtesy DRF Breeding
