Canadian select sale gross, average decline

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A $155,000 colt by leading sire Medaglia d'Oro brought the highest price during the selected session at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's annual yearling sale at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion on Tuesday.

Lana Sniderman purchased the sale topper, who is a half-brother to Le Cinquieme Essai, Canada's champion 3-year-old of 2002. Woodlands (Gail Wood), as agent, consigned the April 19 foal.

The sale suffered steep declines in both average and gross. The 155 yearlings that were sold averaged $30,142, which was 23 percent lower than last year's average of $39,131. The gross, $4,672,000, was down 20 percent from last year, when 149 yearlings realized $5,830,500.

There were 68 horses listed as not sold, compared to 65 last year.

Four yearlings brought $100,000, including two colts by the first-year sire Survivalist.

Roger Attfield bought a Survivalist offspring from Michael C. Byrne, as agent for Park Stud. The other $100,000 Survivalist was sold by Richard Hogan, as agent for Kelynack Farm, to Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

The other $100,000 purchases were a Strut the Stage colt and a North Light colt.

The sale continues Saturday with the open session, which begins at 4 p.m.