Keeneland November: Tenth session rolls on with even returns

The sixth and final book of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale kicked off Thursday with figures comparable with last year’s corresponding session.

A total of 258 horses changed hands during the 10th session on Thursday for revenues of $2,917,500, up one percent from last year’s 10th and final session, which grossed $2,875,900 from 249 sold. This year’s renewal of the Keeneland November sale features an additional session to be held Friday.

The average sale price finished at $11,308, down two percent from $11,550 in 2013, while the median decreased 10 percent from $7,500 to $6,750. The buyback rate for the 10th session finished at 17 percent, up six percentage from 11 percent during last year’s final session.

Topping the day’s proceedings was Songs and Sonnets, a 5-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song, in foal to Alternation, who sold to Jane Buchanan, as agent, for $115,000. She was the only offering of the day to eclipse six figures, matching last year’s 10th session.

Songs and Sonnets won three of eight starts during her on-track career for earnings of $89,404, and sold on Thursday carrying her first foal. Consigned as agent by Elm Tree Farm, Songs and Sonnets is out of the Grade 3-winning Geri mare Bedanken, who is the dam of three winners from four foals to race. Her extended family includes Group 2 winner Ganges and Grade 3 winner Aploda.

A Warrior’s Reward colt led the weanling offerings, selling to Legacy Ranch for $50,000.

Bred in Kentucky by Glen Oak Farm and Two Stamp Stables, the dark bay or brown colt is out of the Italian Group 3-winning Nashwan mare Miss Nashwan, who is the dam of one winner from three foals to race. He is from the family of Italian Group 3 winner Miss Carolina.

With the transaction, the colt became the most expensive foal to sell at public auction out of Miss Nashwan. He was consigned by Gainesway, as agent.

Lane’s End Farm finished the session as the leading consignor by gross, with 17 horses sold for revenues of $269,000. Ken and Sarah Ramsey were the day’s leading buyers, with three purchases totaling $137,000.

After 10 sessions of the Keeneland November sale, a total of 2,350 horses have sold for a combined $204,830,100. The sale is outpacing the final output of the 2013 renewal by four percent, with last year’s edition finishing with $197,189,000 from 2,457 horses sold.

With one session remaining, this year’s auction has also already out-grossed every edition of the Keeneland November sale since 2007, except for the 2011 renewal which featured the high-profile dispersals of the late Edward P. Evans’ Spring Hill Farm and Prince Saud bin Khaled’s Palides Investments NV.

The average sale price through 10 sessions is eight percent ahead of last year’s final total, up from $80,256 to $87,162, while the median is ahead 14 percent from $35,000 to $40,000. The buyback rate is up from last year’s closing figure, rising from 15 percent to 21 percent.

The final session of the Keeneland November sale commences Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern.