Stallion sale canceled

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The mare reproductive loss syndrome in Kentucky has had its first effect on an auction. The Fasig-Tipton Company confirmed Thursday that it will not hold its Stallion Access auction of selected stallion seasons and shares in August this year, because of uncertainty surrounding the effects of the syndrome.

The wave of early fetal losses that began sweeping through Kentucky in late April prompted insurance underwriters to stop offering prospective-foal insurance, which is a popular with buyers of no-guarantee stallion seasons. Many of the seasons sold at the Stallion Access auction are no-guarantee.

"It will be very difficult to sell no-guarantee seasons without a reasonable certainty that prospective-foal insurance will be available and at a reasonable cost," said Boyd Browning, Jr., Fasig-Tipton's executive vice-president and chief operating officer.

Fasig-Tipton traditionally holds a Stallion Access auction of about 40 seasons and shares at Saratoga after the company's selected yearling sale. It conducts a similar auction in November, a second opportunity for Fasig-Tipton's subsidiary Stallion Access and its stallion-season consignors to ride out the immediate business effects of the syndrome.

"We think we're better off selling those seasons in November," Browning said. "We are seeing some improvement in the equine insurance marketplace that indicates a return to stability."

Last year's August Stallion Access auction sold 27 seasons or shares for a total of $1,045,000.

Deal for Golan said to be in works

The Racing Post has reported that Irish-based Coolmore Stud is negotiating a potential $20 million deal with Lord Weinstock to acquire his Epsom Derby candidate Golan for stud duty at the conclusion of the horse's racing career.

Golan is a son of the former Weinstock runner Spectrum, who is on the Coolmore stallion roster. Golan is Spectrum's best runner to date, with a victory in the 2000 Guineas this year by the time the negotiations started. A 3-year-old colt, Golan is a son of the Generous mare Highland Gift and was scheduled to run in Saturday's Epsom Derby as one of the race's favorites.

Going into that race, he was unbeaten in two starts and had earnings of $255,348.

"Our negotiations to purchase an interest in Golan are ongoing, but we will not interfere at all with his racing career," Richard Henry, a Coolmore spokesman, told the Post. "Coolmore are interested in the end usage of the horse, not when he is racing. Golan will continue to run for Lord Weinstock and in his colors for however long he races. We are effectively buying the breeding rights to the colt when he has finished racing."

Sadler's Wells goes 1-2-3 in Oaks

Imagine's win in Friday's Oaks at Epsom contributed to a remarkable string of accomplishments for her sire, Sadler's Wells. A 20-year-old son of Northern Dancer, he sired the top three finishers in the Oaks, with Imagine leading Flight of Fancy and Relish the Thought across the finish line. And last month, when Imagine won the English 1000 Guineas, she became the 47th Group 1 or Grade 1 winner by Sadler's Wells, breaking Sir Tristram's mark of 46 for a new world record.

Sadler's Wells, out of Fairy Bridge (by Bold Reason), stands at Coolmore Stud's headquarters in County Tipperary, Ireland.