The Goffs November sale concluded on Saturday with across-the-board increases and strength in both the foal section and the breeding stock section, the latter of which was fueled by a record-priced filly.
Irish Oaks winner Chicquita dropped the hammer for 6 million Euros, or about $8,134,722 in U.S. funds, on Friday to lead the opening session of the Goffs November breeding stock sale and become the highest-priced filly or broodmare ever sold in Europe at public auction.
A test for first-year-covering stallions came during the major Kentucky mixed sales in November, which was the first opportunity for many buyers to purchase mares in foal to these stallions. An outstanding performance as a covering sire can help provide a glimpse of the stallion’s commercial interest and the strength of his initial book.
Weanlings from several other first-crop sires also were well received at the sales, however, and one in particular reaped a six-figure average from his group, with particular success during Keeneland’s early and middle rounds: Castleton Lyons’s champion Gio Ponti.
The Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland November breeding stock auctions annually showcase highly anticipated weanlings from first-crop sires, and several from this year’s cohort found favor among buyers, led by Ashford Stud’s Uncle Mo, whose fast start at the November sales echoed his accomplishments on the racetrack.
No matter how you slice it, business has been good at the major Kentucky mixed sales. Gross sales, as well as average and median prices, were up almost across the board during the one-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select fall mixed sale and the first three books of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, comprising the first six of 10 sessions. One particular indicator that gave industry stakeholders a sense of optimism about the health of the mixed market was a significant and consistent drop in the buyback rate.
The Keeneland November breeding stock sale came to a close on Thursday, showing marked improvement in all economic indicators compared with last year’s auction, including a median sale price that equaled the all-time record.
Wednesday’s penultimate session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale continued the positive trend of the marketplace, with another round of improved figures as the auction moved into Book 5.
The Keeneland November breeding stock sale continued on Tuesday with another day of gains, highlighted by notable racing and breeding prospects offered during the auction’s horses of racing age portion.
The Keeneland November breeding stock sale headed into its final four days as Monday marked the first of two Book 4 sessions. The sale posted sizable gains in all major economic figures during the session, indicating that the strong results from Books 1-3 were carrying over into the middle-market offerings in Book 4.
