Alberta sale has slim dip in average

The average price from 112 yearlings sold at Tuesday's 2007 Alberta Thoroughbred sale dropped slightly from the 2006 edition, working out to $11,016, a decline of 1 percent from last year's average of $11,143 from 119 sold.

Rennie Gellner, who soon will be retiring as manager of the Alberta division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, oversaw his final summer yearling sale.

"Overall, we were pleased the market remained strong," said Gellner.

Danny Dion's Bear Stables bought five head for a total of $148,000, including the $60,000 sale-topper, a chestnut colt by Storm Boot consigned by Paddockhurst Stables Inc.

Dion, an active bidder at major sales across North America the past few years, also signed for a $40,000 colt by Trust N Luck and a $32,000 filly by Flying Chevron.

A gray filly by Kiridashi, a stallion now standing in Alberta, went to the Workman Stable for $43,000, and a dark brown gelding by Belmont winner Victory Gallop was purchased by trainer Monica Russell, agent, for $50,000.

In total, 141 yearlings were offered at the select sale, down from 181 in 2006. There were 29 no-bids and buy-backs, down from 62 in 2006.

The gross for the one-day sale was $1,233,800 compared with the 2006 figure of $1,326,000.