Three Witches brings $1.7 million in Book 2 finale; business figures down from 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Graded stakes winner Three Witches, off a strong run at the Breeders' Cup less than a week ago, sold for $1.7 million on Friday at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, which concluded Book 2 with some declines compared to last year.

Through the first three sessions of this sale, comprising the single-session Book 1 and the two-day Book 2, Keeneland reports 564 horses sold through the ring, prior to any private sales, for gross receipts of $123,860,000. Through the same three sessions of last year's sale, 547 horses sold for $142,807,000.

The cumulative average price stands at $219,610, down 16 percent from $261,073 at this point last year. The year-to-year drop in average price is not a surprise, as last year’s Book 1 to start off Keeneland November was particularly strong, led by a pair of Eclipse Award champions in $5.5 million Midnight Bisou and $3 million Shamrock Rose.

Additionally, last year's Book 1 session was supercharged by an additional $4.6 million from the sale of an interest in Flightline, who just days before had completed his unbeaten championship campaign with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland.

The median is down 14 percent, at $150,000 compared to $175,000 at this point of last year’s sale. The cumulative buyback rate is 31 percent, compared to 26 percent last year.

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“It was a solid day of trade," Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said following Friday’s session. "I think from start to finish, it felt a little more consistent and healthy today, the clearance rate was better. It certainly is a little bit of an adjustment through the marketplace. But, you know, I think everybody felt very pragmatic about it, and people were not disappointed. A lot of people had a very good day. It was an encouraging day.

“When we saw Three Witches go through the ring for $1.7 million, going to a client that is pretty established internationally, that’s really encouraging. We’re seeing that international investment is still here. The money is still here for the right horses."

Three Witches won the Grade 3 Princess Rooney in October at Gulfstream Park in her stakes debut, then was third, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Rifa Mustang Europe Ltd. Was listed as the purchasing entity on the sale ticket.

“We bought her on behalf of a significant investment based in Australia and Europe,” Barry Bowditch, representing the buyers, said. “She’ll stay here in America and we’ll try again on the racetrack, which is exciting. For a mare that raced five days ago, in one of the strongest Breeders’ Cup races of the weekend, she looked so well and handled it so well, the trip back. You just feel that the best of her racing is yet to come.

“It will be great to have a new investor racing horses here in America. She’ll race next year. We’re discussing who to train her with at the moment.”

Three Witches, a 4-year-old Into Mischief filly, owns a career record of 8-3-1-3. She is a half-sister to graded stakes winners Kid Cruz and Spellbound, the latter the dam of graded stakes winner Soothsay. Their second dam, stakes winner Voodoo Lily, is also the granddam of Stage Magic, who produced Triple Crown winner Justify.

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Three Witches was consigned by Indian Creek, as agent.

"Obviously, the filly was well received, and we knew she was a standout both physically and with her race record and pedigree," Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek said. "Anytime you get over a million dollars, it’s pretty special. It exceeded our expectations, and we’re just thrilled.”

The Keeneland November sale continues with no breaks through Nov. 16, with Books 3, 4, and 5 consisting of two sessions each. The single-session horses of racing age sale, broken out into its own separate event last year, follows on Nov. 17.

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