By Christie DeBernardis
The Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale will start Monday, Feb. 5, and run through Tuesday, Feb. 6, with 574 horses catalogued to sell.
The original catalogue was comprised of 517 horses and an additional 57 horses have been added in a supplemental catalogue. The additional entries will sell during Tuesday's session.
Last year, Fasig-Tipton saw record numbers for their February sale with the mare Cinnamon Spice (Candy Ride {Arg}) topping the auction at $700,000 compared to 2016 when the top lot brought $395,000. In total, 351 horses sold during the 2017 renewal for $9,501,800, up 15% from 2016. The average for 2017 was $27,071, which was an 11.7% increase, and the median was $9,000.
“Going through the catalogue, I don't expect to see record highs on the top end, as far as setting any new price records,” said Bayne Welker, Fasig-Tipton's Vice President of Sales. “But, I think overall, there are some very nice offerings in the sale as far as young mares carrying foals by commercial stallions. The sale has always been very strong for the maiden fillies that are coming off the racetrack and going into the breeding shed. Those with a race record and some pedigree have always been very sought after. As far as short yearlings, we are up in numbers there, over 200 offerings and that part of the market has been very vibrant and strong and expected to show the same.”
As for how he expects this year's number to compare to those seen in 2017, Welker said, “I think we will see similar numbers. In an open sale, that you aren't necessarily recruiting for time in and time out, the market itself and what is put in front of you is going to dictate how those numbers swing. But, I think we will see comparable number to last year.”
The top yearling in 2017 was an Uncle Mo colt named Makes Mo Cents, who hammered for $172,000. This year, yearlings represent a range of sires, including stalwarts such as Giant's Causeway, Distorted Humor and the late City Zip; and hot young sires like Honor Code, Violence, Verrazano, Animal Kingdom and Tapiture.
Mares are also being offered in foal to a varied list of stallions, such as Will Take Charge, Summer Front, Overanalyze, Cairo Prince, Malibu Moon, Kitten's Joy, and Into Mischief. Some of the sale's strongest offerings include a pair of mares in foal to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (hips 494 & 533); and a half-sister to “TDN Rising Star” and impressive recent allowance winner Army Mule (Friesian Fire) (hip 429), who sells in foal to Overanalyze.
“I think that will always help,” Welker said. “We have two mares in foal to a Triple Crown winner that has been extremely popular in the market place. I think they are going to be choice offerings.”
Selling gets underway in Newtown Paddocks Monday at 10a.m.
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