Which sale might be best?

[henthorn]

I have two yearlings this year and hope to sell them both.

Both are Kentucky-bred (KTDF). Pedigrees are in the database.

April 6th is a good-sized, well-conformed filly by Sligo Bay out of Shake on It. Her name is Starlight Bay. Dam's second runner is due to hit the track this spring, and first is a multiple allowance winner of only about $40K. First dam was a winner only, and second dam a multiple stakes winner. The filly is also eligible for European Breeders Fund (EBF), since her sire was born in Ireland and eligible; already Breeders Cup nominated. No obvious faults, but haven't vetted her yet.

May 20th is a refined smallish colt by Silver Ghost out of Spanish Guitar '98. He is otherwise okay, just young and small. First and second dams are multiple stakes winners, and no runners yet for dam. Three stakes horses under second dam. His name is Ghost Hunt.


I'm thinking Keeneland September for the filly, with addition of the EBF nomination. For the colt, maybe Texas, or FT Midlantic. Anyone have an opinion? I could keep him and race him.

[Sierra]

For the colt, I would recommend you consider the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale in October. If he is a small foal, the later date might give him a little extra 'growing up time.'

Also, a look at Silver Ghost's yearling sales of 2005 reveals that his two highest sellers of the whole year -- both colts -- actually sold at this particular sale. It appears he warrants respect there as a sire, unlike in Texas, unfortunately (site of his second-lowest-selling yearling of 2005*, another colt).

Here are Silver Ghost's 2005 yearling sales stats:

Yearlings: 28 reg fls., 11 off., 10 sld., $13,640 avg. (44.25), XSF 1.36, $11,500 med. (46.12), 5 c. $17,500 avg., 5 f. $9,780 avg., [lifetime avg: 240 sold, $28,044]

f, Golden Court (FTMSEP354) Paramount Sales, agt. Jose Arceo $9,500
c, Military Maid (NYSSEP81) Topsmeade LLC, agt. ($5,000) RNA
c, Military Maid (FTKOCT617) Holly Valley Thoroughbreds, agt. Timothy C. Grams $10,000
c, Montana Cottonwood (FTMSEP570) Thornmar Michael V. Pino $28,000
c, Pancho's Senorita (TEXAUG385) Whitton Sales, agt. John C. Pittman $7,500 *
c, Paris Gem (FTMSEP630) Paramount Sales, agt. Robert J. Harris, agt. $22,000
f, Sleep Away Camp (KEESEP4616) Gainesway, agt. Michael E. Lauer, agt. $13,000
f, Somethingbeautiful (FTKOCT876) Old Frankfort Stud, agt. Eric Hale $1,400
f, Sweet Hawaii (KEEJAN937)Sparksview Farm, agt. Desperado Stables, Inc. $10,000
c, Top Corsage (KEEJAN1329) Eaton Sales, agt. Chesapeake Farm, agt. $20,000
f, Victory Roll (FTMSEP13) Normandy Farm LLC Elkstone Group LLC $15,000

Good luck with your decisions.

[henthorn]

Thanks so much, Sierra. Just what I was looking for, from someone objective's viewpoint. Last year's Midlantic sale was in September, not October, however.

[Sierra]

You're certainly welcome.

It might have been held in September in years past, but be sure to note that the 2006 FT Midlantic Sale is scheduled for October 2-4:

http://www.fasigtipton.com/calendar/sal ... ar2006.htm

[FloridaGators]

Do you have any pictures of the Silver Ghost? Perhaps you'd be interested in bypassing the expense of sales prep, commissions, etc and sell privately? I may be interested...

[henthorn]

Gator, I sent you a PM. Other inquiries also welcome.

[Derring]

Henthorn;

Spanish Guitar spurred my memory about another foal--Music Fest by Festival of Light. Do you still own her or was she sold? I apologize if this has already been discussed (bad short term memory loss--what were we talking about?).

I like to follow the foals of his only crop. I also like that there is no inbreeding until the 5th generation.

[henthorn]

Hi, Derring. I sold Music Fest at the August FT Texas sale last year to a breeder from Louisiana. He thought she would be a nice broodmare for his stallion Toolighttoquit. I hope I convinced him to race her first, as she is just now two. Nice, big filly; a real tomboy!

[henthorn]

Now things are "shaking out" more clearly. Starlight Bay is now both Breeders' Cup nominated, European Breeders' Fund nominated, and nominated to the September Keeneland sale. I spoke to Jim Cullen at Adena Springs, KY, which stood Sligo Bay last year. He says the yearlings are "squatty-bodied", and look to be precocious, with likely sprint ability. They aren't planning to sell theirs, but race them. I waited to decide about Keeneland until (hope against hope) her half-brother Motion Approved raced in the stakes yesterday at Fonner Park and placed!

With her three year old and two year old half-sisters gearing up to race this year, hopefully we'll have not only black type under the first dam on the catalog page, but updates as well.

Ghost Hunt is in a growth spurt, and should be marketable by October, so I plan to send him to Midlantic sale, unless he sells sooner privately.