OBS fall mixed sale aims to ride momentum

As the North American sales calendar begins to turn from the yearling season into the breeding stock season, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. President Tom Ventura is hopeful that the run of good fortune established in recent auctions will carry into the OBS fall mixed sale.

The two-day sale will begin Tuesday with a consignor-preferred session starting at 1 p.m. Eastern, and will conclude Wednesday with an open session beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The sale rides an incredible wave of market momentum, both locally and industry-wide. All three of the OBS juvenile sales this spring posted record figures, and several major yearling sales across the country finished with numbers not seen since before the economic swoon in 2008.

“The 2-year-old market was very strong, and the yearling market followed suit,” Ventura said. “For the mixed sales, I think the quality will be in demand, and part of that is the tightening of the foal crops. The supply has shrunk significantly from four or five years ago, and the market in general is a little better, so you’ve got some things working in your favor to believe that it’ll continue for the time being.”

While optimistic about the sale’s prospects, Ventura was sure to note that the long-term nature of the breeding stock auction market was cause to maintain reasonable expectations.

“The mixed sales are usually slowest to respond to the changes in the marketplace because of the length of time for mares to actually have their foals, and they’re the furthest from the racetrack,” he said. “If we have a solid sale, that’ll just be another indicator that the market has rebounded.”

This year’s catalog features 386 horses, 8 percent fewer than last year’s edition.

The sale will be one of the first opportunities for buyers to buy weanlings from the first crops of several young sires at public auction. Among the stallions who will be represented by their first foals in this year’s sale are Adios Charlie, Big Drama, Cape Blanco, Crown of Thorns, First Dude, General Quarters, Gone Astray, J P’s Gusto, Paddy O’Prado, Telling, and Wilburn.

“These stallions either had their race record, their pedigree, or both that have been their selling points,” Ventura said. “Now, this is their first opportunity to put the horses that are in their first crop through the sales ring and see how they’re received by the buyers.”

Last year’s OBS fall sale opened with gains in its consignor-preferred session, with 123 horses sold for $1,740,900, up 57 percent from 2011. The average sale price rose 7 percent to $14,154, while the median price of $11,000 was a 29 percent improvement.

The select session was topped by a weanling Scat Daddy colt who went to bloodstock agent Tom McCrocklin for $55,000.

The 2012 open session ended with 164 sellling for a total of $1,212,500, up 7 percent. The average price climbed 21 percent to $7,393, and the median increased 42 percent to $5,100.

OBS FALL MIXED SALE
When: Tuesday, 1 p.m. Eastern (preferred); Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. (open)
Where: Ocala Breeders’ Sales Complex
Phone: (352) 237-2154
Catalog: 174 horses in the preferred session, up 1 percent from 172 last year; 212 horses in the open session, down 15 percent from 248 last year.
Recent history: The 2012 preferred session of the sale posted significant increases while selling 123 horses for a total of $1,740,900, an average price of $14,154. Gross increased 57 percent, and average was up 7 percent. Tom McCrocklin, agent, bought a Scat Daddy weanling colt out of Placerita, consigned by Bobby Jones Equine, agent, for $55,000 to top the preferred session. Last year’s open session of the sale posted increases while selling 164 horses for a total of $1,212,500, an average price of $7,393. Gross receipts increased 7 percent, and average was up 21 percent. Jose Uzcategui bought a 4-year-old Pulpit mare named Decisive in foal to Kitten’s Joy, consigned by Ramsey Farm, agent, for $50,000 to top the open session.
Internet: Live streaming at www.obssales.com