Gross up, average down at Indiana sale

The 2017 Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association fall Thoroughbred sale saw improvements in gross returns but a lower average sale price, topped by a $15,500 Caiman gelding.

The mixed auction at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind., saw 45 horses sold on Sunday for revenues of $214,700, up 83 percent from last year’s auction, when 23 offerings brought $117,550. However, Sunday’s average sale price dropped 7 percent to $4,771 from $5,111. The buyback rate finished at 20 percent compared with 36 percent last year.

Nine horses sold for $10,000 or more on Sunday, bettering the four to do so in 2016.

Gary Patrick bought the sale-topper, a $15,500 yearling gelding by Caiman named Love That Surprise. Caiman, a late son of Malibu Moon, stood at Patrick’s farm in Indiana.

The chestnut gelding is out of the winning Devil His Due mare Devilish Amour, whose five winners from eight runners includes stakes-placed Octavian Rush.

He is from the family of English Horse of the Year Zilzal; Italian champion Lonely Bird; Grade 1 winners Squander, Posse, Goodbye Halo, and Awe Inspiring; and Grade/Group 3 winners With Distinction, In Hot Pursuit, Late As Usual, and Hot Rodder, among others.

Love That Surprise was bred in Indiana by Sandra Walter, who also offered the gelding at the sale.