Olmos has knack for spotting good yearlings
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Leif Nordahl, president of the British Columbia division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, is hopeful but realistic about what to expect at the 2009 yearling and mixed sale that will be held at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley on Tuesday.
A total of 156 yearlings have been cataloged, down from 173 last year. In 2008, the average price for a yearling was $11,148. The top-priced yearling, a colt by Black Minnaloushe out of Sinibion, was purchased by Glen Todd for $57,000 out of last year's sale.
"I'm hoping for a good sale," said Nordahl, who took over from Dixie Jacobson as the president of the CTHS this year. "We have to be realistic, though. I know that sales are down everywhere. But I think this is one of the best catalogs we have had in a while and maybe the quality of the horses being offered will help offset the poor economy."
Following Juan Olmos around at the sales preview on Monday might be a good idea on whom to look for as a potential star. The past two years Olmos bought El Sinaloense and Huitizilopochtli out of the sale. El Sinaloense went on to become the champion 2-year-old in B.C. in 2008. Huitzilipochtli, purchased for $16,000 by Olmos last year, is just about a lock to win the same award this year. Undefeated in four starts, Huitzilipochtili will be the odds-on favorite in the $60,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Hastings on Sunday.
Olmos said that the most important thing he looks for when selecting yearlings is if they have good win-early breeding.
Hip No. 126 certainly is certainly bred to win early. A filly by Mazel Trick out of Ayne Z, she is a half-sister to El Sinaloense, who won four stakes races at 2. Mazel Trick is among the leading sires in Canada. Two other foals out of Ayne Z also won at 2, including Clear to Canada, who will be making his second start in the Sales Stakes. By Storm Victory, Clear to Canada won his debut in a maiden special weight race on Aug. 28.
There are 12 yearlings by Vying Victor being offered. This is the second to last crop by Vying Victor, who is the all-time leading sire in B.C. He died in 2008.
Hip No. 35 and Hip No. 36 are both by Vying Victor and are closely related.
Hip No. 35 is a filly out of La Belle Creole, which makes her a half-sister to three stakes winners - Suva who earned $235,877, CTHS Sales Stakes winner Gotta Find Bubba, and La Belle Fleur, a multiple stakes winner with $145,512 in earnings.
Hip No. 36 is a colt and is the first foal out of La Belle Fleur.
Hip No. 22 figures to attract a lot of attention. A filly by Regal Intention, she is a half-sister to Dancing Allstar. The champion 2-year-old filly in Canada in 2007, Dancing Allstar has won nine races for earnings of $504,482.
A half-brother to Grade 3 Ballerina winner Against the Sky goes as Hip No. 98. He is by Orchid's Devil. Against the Sky was the champion older filly or mare in B.C. last year and she recently won the B.C. Cup Distaff.
First crop sire Quiet Cash will be represented by five horses. A son of Real Quiet, Quiet Cash is a multiple stakes winner with $355,541 in earnings. He was the champion handicap horse and sprinter in B.C. in 2005.