Impressive Results Continue at OBSAPR

By Jessica Martini & Justina Severini
    Wednesday’ third session of the OBS April sale saw another day of strong trade, with gains across the board and, through three days, figures remained well ahead of last year’s record-setting sale. Of the 237 horses offered Wednesday, 190 hips sold for a gross of $15,666,000. A total of 49 horses failed to sell for a buy-back rate of 20.5%. The session average of $82,453 was up 28.7% and the session median of $52,000 was up 30%. 
    Through three sessions, a total of 581 horses have sold for a gross of $43,635,000 and average of $75,103–up  22.4% from last year’s three-day figure. The median was up 27% to $47,000. 
    “It was another great session,” remarked OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “It continued the momentum that we’ve capitalized on the last two days. I was pleasantly surprised that momentum has continued from day one and just keeps building up. It’s just been a strong, solid market.” 
    A pair of colts shared the top session price of $700,000. The first one to pass through the ring was hip 630, a colt by Curlin, who was consigned by Old South Farm and purchased by Fog City Stables. Hip 741, a Northwest Stud-consigned colt by Bernardini–was purchased by Donato Lanni on behalf of an undisclosed client. 
    Wojciechowski commented, “The horses that have sold over the last three sessions–the Curlin that sold for $700,000, the Bernardini that sold for $700,000, it just speaks to the evolution of the April sale.” 
    Once again, De Meric Sales was the session’s leading consignor with 20 horses sold for a total of $1,808,000. 
    Monday’s buy-back rate, which was reported at 23.5%, dropped to 17% after the post-sale purchases were calculated.