Keeneland sale: Yarrow Brae's sister brings $105,000 at 10th session

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A three-quarter-sister to graded winner Yarrow Brae was the session-leader Wednesday as the 11-day Keeneland November breeding stock sale approached its conclusion.

At 3 p.m., $105,000 Five Gold Rings, by Touch Gold, had the 10th session’s top price. Cataloged in foal to Indygo Shiner, she sold to Southern Equine Stables from the Lane’s End consignment.

On Tuesday, a late burst of six-figure horses, led by a half-brother to recent Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Court Vision, did not prevent the ninth session from becoming the first to post declines in gross and average since the auction began on Nov. 7.

Court Vision’s graded-placed half-brother by City Zip, Hailstone, topped Tuesday’s session at $235,000. Agent Steven Young bought the 4-year-old son of Weekend Storm. The Lane’s End agency consigned Hailstone.

Tuesday’s session ended with 260 horses having brought $4,391,700, down 23 percent from last year’s equivalent day, when 250 horses sold for $5,670,200. The session average also slid 26 percent from last year to $16,891. But median remained on par with last year’s figure at $10,000. Buybacks rose from 15 percent in 2010 to 19 percent.

Through Tuesday, the Keeneland sale has sold 2,164 horses for $205,584,600, a jump of 45 percent from last year’s total for 2,174 horses. Average price stood at $95,002, up 46 percent, and the $30,000 median was 20 percent higher than in 2010. Buybacks were the same as last year, 20 percent.