New York Central's international win could have ripple effect on American market

New York Central, a Grade 3 winner in Maryland last year, was purchased by Khalid bin Mishref out of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale’s selection of racing and stallion prospects last fall specifically to target the inaugural running of a major-money event in Saudi Arabia.

The $240,000 purchase price looks like a relative bargain after that plan came to fruition, with New York Central scoring a dramatic late-running victory in the $1.5 million Saudia Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, on the undercard of the $20 million Saudi Cup. With Mishref’s purchase paying off, New York Central’s success could continue to pay dividends for U.S. sellers, Middle Eastern buyers, and for Keeneland, which is set to showcase horses of racing age to the world market at both its April and November sales.

“We are expecting it to have benefits to those on the supply side, those sellers who want to take some money off the table, because they’re seeing a growing demand for those kinds of ready-made horses,” said Bob Elliston, Keeneland’s vice president of racing and sales. “And I expect as our [April sale] deadline approaches now – and we’re actually keeping it open a little bit longer – I would expect from all that we’re hearing, we’re going to see – both on the supply side and demand side – robust activity around the horses of racing age component in April.”

New York Central was one of six horses purchased at Keeneland November by Mishref, who is one of Saudi Arabia’s leading owners and a regular at prominent international sales. He also purchased Liam’s Legend, a juvenile maiden winner a few weeks prior to the sale, for $325,000. Mishref has long-term plans for both horses, as he mentioned Liam’s Legend as a prospect for the 2021 Saudi Cup and said he plans to eventually stand New York Central in Saudi Arabia to bolster the local breeding industry.

“Hopefully, he will do well for us,” Mishref said about New York Central at the time of purchase. “He looks good as an individual. I love his conformation, and he’s filled out. Hopefully, a son of Tapit will do well. He could be a stallion prospect in Saudi Arabia down the road. Step by step, we’re going to try and promote the breeding in the long run.”

Meanwhile, as Mishref’s purchase pays off, other buyers from Saudi Arabia and Middle Eastern jurisdictions, such as Dubai and Qatar, could be eyeing Keeneland for their next international runners. Ed Prosser, Keeneland’s European sales representative, and Dean Roethemeier, a relationship manager on the sales staff, spent 10 days traveling through the Middle East recently, culminating with a trip to the inaugural Saudi Cup card. They encountered plenty of interest, according to Elliston.

“Even before New York Central had won that race, they were getting a lot of feedback that there’s this increasing demand for dirt racing in the Middle East, and they’ve noticed the quality of horses that are coming through the Keeneland horses of racing age sales,” Elliston said. “If you’ll recall, in April last year, we sold [subsequent Grade 1 winner] Higher Power. There’s no question with New York Central’s win, Higher Power’s win, there is a growing recognition in that part of the world about what comes to market in Keeneland’s horses of racing age sales in April and November.”