At A Glance
The Day 2 session had 235 horses sell for US$47,382,000 (AU$72,784,721).
The average of US$201,626 (AU$309,760) was up 37.66% from last year's Book 2 opener and the median rose 12.50% to US$225,000 (AU$345.720).
The auction had its 18th seven-figure offering when the Raging Torrent Syndicate bid US$1.3 million (AU$2 million) to acquire the 5-year-old broodmare Anywho (Medaglia d'Oro)
104 weanlings sold at an average of US$176,923 (AU$271,816) and a median of US$150,000 (AU$230,450). At the corresponding session a year ago, 86 weanlings sold for an average of US$126,279 (AU$194,000) and a median of US$90,000 (AU$138,270).
Australian buyers have been active over the first two days, with B2B Throughbreds, Milburn Creek and Kellie Avison featuring on the buyers list.
The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which opened with a strong Book 1 session Tuesday, continued its momentum with the first of two Book 2 sessions with strong demand for both mares and foals Wednesday.
“It was outstanding,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said of Wednesday's session. “Coming off yesterday, it was really positive across all the metrics. And I think we improved the position today. The gross was up 61% over last year, the scratch rate was down, and our clearance rate was up to 78%. It was really healthy across the board.”
For the session, 235 horses sold for $47,382,000 (AU$72,784,721), the average of $201,626 (AU$309,760) was up 37.66% from last year's Book 2 opener and the median rose 12.50% to $225,000 (AU$345.720).
Tony Lacy | Image courtesy of Keeneland
The auction had its 18th seven-figure offering when the Raging Torrent Syndicate bid US$1.3 million (AU$2 million) to acquire the 5-year-old broodmare Anywho (Medaglia d'Oro) from the Grovendale Sales consignment.
“The mares were very strong,” Lacy said. “Anybody looking for a quality mare really had to step up and pay.”
“The mares were very strong, Anybody looking for a quality mare really had to step up and pay.” - Tony Lacy
Lacy continued, “I think it's a bullish market. It feels like people are very aggressive going for what they want. There is more of an eagerness, an enthusiasm for breeding–and it's a domestic demand primarily, which is very encouraging. There are a lot of new people getting in the game and there are a lot of breeders who felt like they needed to refresh their broodmare bands. The breeders recognize that mediocrity is not rewarded.
“Quality is what they are looking for and they are focusing in on. And when quality gets rewarded, it incentivizes breeders to keep stepping up their programs. I think that's only (good) for the gene pool and for the industry as we move forward.”
“Quality is what they are looking for and they are focusing in on. And when quality gets rewarded, it incentivizes breeders to keep stepping up their programs.” - Tony Lacy
The competition for weanlings remained fierce Wednesday, with 104 weanlings selling for an average of US$176,923 (AU$271,816) and a median of US$150,000 (AU$230,450). At the corresponding session a year ago, 86 weanlings sold for an average of US$126,279 (AU$194,000) and a median of US$90,000 (AU$138,270).
“The weanling market was extremely strong,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “We nearly doubled the number of six-figure foals from the corresponding session last year. If you look at the $300,000 and up foals, there were 17 today. There were seven in the session last year. And those 17 today are by 13 different sires. There is depth to the market and that bodes well, both in the range of what's available, but also the buyer base. That's the most rewarding part of all.”
Cormac Breathnach | Image courtesy of Keeneland
A pair of weanlings by first-crop sires shared top honors during Wednesday's session, with a filly by Cody's Wish bringing US$550,000 (AU$845,130) from Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds early in the session matched later in the day by a colt by Elite Power purchased by Glen Hill Farm.
Bolt d'Oro's Anywho Snapped Up for $1.3 Million
Continuing its robust spending in Keeneland's Book 2 opener, the group listed as Raging Torrent Syndicate dug in for another seven-figure purchase on Wednesday when extending to $1.3 million (AU$2 million) for MGSP Anywho (Bolt d'Oro).
The ticket was signed by Paul Curran representing Ace Stud. Entering stud at Lane's End, Raging Torrent won the GI Malibu Stakes, GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile and G2 Godolphin Mile.
Hip 290, consigned by Grovendale, was sold in foal to Not This Time.
“Well, it's just really cool,” said Grovendale's James Keogh. “It's always lovely to sell a horse for a million dollars. And, you know, she was a lovely, lovely mare, and she came from a tremendous female family, and she was just impossible to fault.”
Hip 290 - Anywho | Image courtesy of Keeneland
The daughter of SP Fancy and Flashy (Zensational) is a half-sister to Grade III-placed Wipe the Slate (Nyquist). Anywho was bred in Kentucky by Brookfield Stud.
Campaigned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, the 5-year-old was retired with a trio of wins and earnings of just under US$250,000 (AU$384,170). During her career, she also finished third in the GIII Rancho Bernardo Stakes and in her sole start in 2025, in the GIII Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita.
“She is obviously a well-raced filly and the covering sire was very popular with us,” said Curran. “We have bought a couple of mares covered by Not This Time. He is just a phenomenal stallion. He seems to be the real deal in the sense that going from a very small fee to where he is now at $250,000 is a testament to him.”
Outlining what the team is looking for to visit their new stallion, Curran said, “We are trying to support our new stallion Raging Torrent and she is going to go to him. We are trying to pick up a couple of nice mares with some nice covers to them and she fit the bill.
“She is a nice high-profile mare to send to him. We are trying to get some quality mares to him with some runners on the ground and she is perfect for that.”
We really liked the Medaglia d'Oro broodmare line as well, that was a factor as well. I think she'll suit Raging Torrent very well. We're pleased we got her.”
Raging Torrent Syndicate's other purchases on Wednesday include hip 260, Very Scary (Connect), who brought US$625,000 (AU$960,400) and was also a member of the Grovendale consignment.
Hip 260 - Very Scary | Image courtesy of Keeneland
The Raging Torrent Syndicate was the leading buyer on Wednesday with two purchases generating US$1.925 million (AU$2.6 million). Through the first two days of selling at Keeneland, the operation led all buyers with five purchases totaling US$5,225,000 (AU$8 million)
Australians active over the first two days
The talented Bullet (USA) (War Front {USA}) was purchased by Milburn Creek in partnership with Twin Palms Stud for US$475,000 (AU$730,000). The talented mare was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for the DJ Stable Curated Reduction.
Bullet was a dual winner as a 2-year-old, including in the Listed Woodbine My Dear Stakes and the Listed Gulfstream Park Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes.
She boasts a powerful pedigree, being out of the winning Tapit (USA) mare Marlinspike (USA), who is a half-sister to Irish Surf (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}). Two other half-sisters have also produced stakes winners.
Hip 328 - Bullet | Image courtesy of Keeneland
Bullet’s grandam, Surfside (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}), was a Champion 3-year-old filly in America and a four-time Group 1 winner.
Another Australian purchase on Day 1 came from Kellie Avison, who acquired Fashionably Fab (Can) (Silent Name {Jpn}) for US$300,000 (AU$461,000). Fashionably Fab is a 10-time winner, including twice at Group 3 level and five times at Listed level.
B2B claim a stakes-performed mare from a family well known to Australians
It was easy to see why Dashingly caught the eye of Australian buyers B2B Thoroughbreds, who went to US$400,000 (AU$614,470) to secure the daughter of Liam’s Map (USA).
Dashingly is a four-time winning sprinter who has also been placed twice at Listed level. She is out of Tiger Silk (All American), a three-time winner in New Zealand who was placed in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes.
Tiger Silk is a half-sister to Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), a three-time Group 1 winner, and also a half-sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner and now stallion Stronger.
Hip 217 - Dashingly | Image courtesy of Keeneland
It is, without question, a mare brimming with Australasian black type form.
Ricky Surace Jnr from B2B Thoroughbreds commented about the purchase "As soon as Dashingly walked out of her box we knew we had to try and buy her, the family with Lady Shenandoah featuring is very sought after in Australia and she was incredibly well bought in that insane market.
"I guess she is returning home in a sense."
Green Knows Who's Ticket
Bloodstock agent Finn Green, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, went to US$750,000 (AU$1.16 million) to acquire the 4-year-old broodmare Who's Ticket (Quality Road) (hip 267) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment on Wednesday at Keeneland. The bay mare, in foal to Practical Joke, is a daughter of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway). Her second dam, Charming (Seeking the Gold), produced Omaha Beach, and third dam Take Charge Lady (Dehere) produced champion Will Take Charge. It was a family Green got to see up close when he served as racing manager for 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man.
“I stepped into the receiving barn at Santa Anita in 2013 for the Breeders' Cup with Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge came in,” Green recalled. “So we go all the way back to that point with this family. You don't get many Grade I-producing mares that repeat in multiple generations. So pedigree is very important to the client.”
Hip 267 - Who's Ticket | Image courtesy of Keeneland
The mare, bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Three Chimneys Farm, was purchased by Glen Hill Farm and Three Chimneys for US$450,000 (AU$691,480) as a weanling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale. She was followed into the Keeneland ring Wednesday by her first foal, a colt by Munnings bred by Three Chimneys and Glen Hill, who sold for US$450,000 (AU$691,480) to Glen Hill Farm.
Of plans for the mare, Green said, “(The client) may even go to New York with her. But she will come back to a Kentucky stallion.”
Thirty Year Farm Enters the Fray with 750K Medaglia d'Oro Buy
Thirty Year Farm made it on the board Wednesday with Golden Ghost (GB) (Medaglia d'Oro), purchased for US$750,000 (AU$1.15 million) during the second day of selling at Keeneland.
Offered as hip 413, the 4-year-old was consigned by Taylor Made Sales on behalf of the D J Stable Curated Reduction. Taylor Made Sales led all consignors Wednesday with 31 head amassing US $8.165 million (AU$12.55 million). Also on top through two days of selling, the agency sold 60 horses for US$27,205,000 (AU$41.11 million).
Bidding from the far end of the main pavilion, the operation's Matt and Kristen Esler were accompanied by their advisor, Edgewood Farm's Carson Asbury.
Hip 413 - Golden Ghost (GB) | Image courtesy of Keeneland
What was the initial attraction to the filly?
“Did you get a look at her?” Thirty Year Farm's Matt Esler asked with a laugh. “She is a really good-looking mare–definitely checked those boxes. We are bullish on Not This Time. I think she'll be a really nice broodmare.”
The English-bred filly, in foal to Not This Time, is out of G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre), a half-sister to dual Australian Group 1-winning Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko).
“Medaglia d'Oro is an A+ cross with (Not This Time),” explained Esler. “We've had some success with Medaglia d'Oro in the past, so that definitely factored into (the purchase).”
Thirty Year Farm has been gradually increasing its number of residents since the couple secured the tract of land in Saratoga, just under five miles from Saratoga Race Course, eight years ago.
Matt Esler | Image courtesy of Thirty Year Farm
Since the purchase, the Eslers have been focused on developing a blueprint that is tailor-made to their program.
“We don't try to re-invent the wheel,” said Esler. “We look for proven mares or mares with great pedigree and we are always looking for physical traits of performers.”
“We don't try to re-invent the wheel, We look for proven mares or mares with great pedigree and we are always looking for physical traits of performers.” - Matt Esler
Facing stark competition for younger race fillies and mares at this season's November sales has proven anything but easy to fill orders for most operations.
“We had a harder time buying this year than we've had in the last few years out of this sale,” Esler admitted. “We thought it was an 'us' thing. It's obviously not.”
He continued, “This year, we've had a bit of a youth movement. We have gotten away from some of the older mares and this year, they are all on the younger side. We'll also see if we can't make (race fillies/broodmare prospects) ourselves.
“Overall, we want great bloodlines and for them to have good, solid first dams.”
“Overall, we want great bloodlines and for them to have good, solid first dams.” - Matt Esler
Thirty Year Farm made its first-ever purchase at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale, securing Yanira (More Than Ready), a half-sister to Classic-producing mare Puca (Big Brown) and GISW Finnegan's Wake (Powerscourt {GB}), for US$575,000 (AU$883,290). The bay mare is in foal to Good Magic.
'Something Special': Cody's Wish Weanling Demand Continues at Keeneland
Weanlings from the first crop of Horse of the Year Cody's Wish continued to be in demand in the sales ring at Keeneland Wednesday. Randy Hartley went to U$550,000 ($844,900) to secure a filly by the Darley stallion (hip 257) on behalf of Tom Durant. The filly was bred by John Ferguson's Natalma Bloodstock, which purchased her dam, (Union Rags), for US$250,000 (AU$384,000) at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. She was consigned by Lane's End.
“We are seeing something special in the Cody's Wishes,” said Hartley. “We really wanted to try to buy one and we've gotten outbid on a few and didn't get one. I felt like this filly was the best one left, for us anyway. So we were going home with her.”
Cody's Wish had four weanlings sell for an average of US$416,250 (AU$639,450) at Monday's Fasig-Tipton November sale.
Hip 257 - Cody's Wish x Union Maiden filly | Image courtesy of Keeneland
Through two sessions of the Keeneland November sale, seven weanlings by Cody's Wish have sold for an average of US$256,429 (AU$393,930). The stallion stands at Darley for US$60,000 (AU$92,170).
“They just have substance to them,” Hartley said of Cody's Wish's first-crop weanlings. “They have got the hips, the minds, you can just tell they are born with it. It's not like they are putting it on them. And he was such a special racehorse. I bought his halter for $5,000, so surely I can buy a filly. We stretched a little bit, but she has some pedigree.”
Hartley continued, “We are looking for fillies for Tom to race and that, down the road, he can make broodmares.”
Of the competitive weanling market, Hartley said, “The market is setting the prices, so it's hard to be surprised, but yes, I am surprised. There are fewer babies here because the yearling market was so good. I feel like a lot of people are hanging on to stuff. But if you pay a lot here, and you come back to sell, there are going to be a lot of horses that we didn't see here that you are going to be up against.
“So as pinhookers, we haven't bought much to pinhook yet. We are going to try to find some here in like Book 4,” Hartley added with a laugh.
