Abel Tasman. 
Abel Tasman. 
Abel Tasman. 
Abel Tasman sold for a record breaking $5 million dollars at Keeneland’s January Sale!
Abel Tasman is a certified champion. She ruled the track and it was no surprise that her reign continued through the sales ring. Living in th Horse Capital of the World does not guarantee that I have the freedom to see every champ, all of the time but some horses are worth my extra effort. This 5 year old mare has accomplished so much. I won’t be attending the sale until the third day but after a dark and soggy Friday I woke to a gorgeous and sunny Saturday morning. I hustled myself to Keeneland right before noon. I was far from alone as prospective buyers mingled throughout the barns inspecting the paddocks full of thoroughbreds. The sight was breathtaking and other photographers were taking advantage of the superior lighting that day. I came across a group of photographers fixed upon Abel Tasman and to my delight I later found that I was in the presence of the Eclipse Award winning photographer, Barbara Livingston. Fortunately, they recruited me to play pre-recorded knicker sounds from their cell phone to catch Abel Tasman’s attention for their photos. Abel Tasman is an Eclipse Award winner herself. She won for 2017’s Champion 3 Year Old Filly. She is currently nominated for 2018 Older Dirt Female. The fast mare won six Grade I races and accumulated nearly $2.8 million dollars in earnings. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, they knew they had a special offering. Abel Tasman, hip 288,had her own sales tent, fence and shed row signage and decor, her walker had a jacket touting her achievements and she herself wore a couture blanket as she approached the sales pavilion. Over the top, yes, and she deserved every bit of it. Her owners China Horse Club International LTD and Clearsky Farms will surely miss this special daughter of Quality Road as she sold to M.V. Magnier for Coolmore and will hopefully be bred soon to one of their local, American based, champion studs. At $5 million in this auction, she is tied with only one other thoroughbred for Keeneland’s January Sale, 2000’s sale of Mackie, who was in foal. Abel Tasman is thus the highest selling broodmare prospect of this sale’s history.
Fatale Bere. 
Fatale Bere. 
Fatale Bere. 
Fatale Bere. 
Fatale Bere. 
Fatale Bere was added to the sale as a supplement. She found herself fetching the third highest price of day 1 at Keeneland’s January Sale.
Hip 397K was Fatale Bere! She was last through the ring on day 1 of the sale but well worth waiting for. Following hips 1 through 397, Keeneland cataloged horses 397A through 397 K on Monday, 1/7/19. This mare was bred in France where she raced and won there and in the United States. This Grade 1 winner sold as a broodmare prospect to Shadai Farm in Japan. She was consigned by Elite and sold for $700,000. She will be traveling to Japan to be bred.
Rounding off the top 10 thoroughbreds by price was this bay colt, hip 131. He was sired by Street Sense and his dam was Secret Return. He brought the hammer down at $290,000. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales he was purchased by AROC Bloodstock. He looks large and strong. I hope to see him racing in a couple of years.
In addition to the top 10 thoroughbreds, ranging $290K to $5M, there were many more winners in this sale. 223 head were sold. The sale grossed over $21 million dollars. The average price per head was over $94K while the median was $39K. M.V. Magnier was the leading buyer with his sole $5M purchase. Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 50 head to earn the leading consignor title. Quality Road was the leading sire with 5 of his progeny sold while War Front was top covering sire with only 1 mated broodmare sold but grossing $750K, the sales second highest price, hip 229, A Star Is Born.
The first day was very promising and proves that the January Keeneland Sale is record breaking, ready and Abel to auction off sales graduates that will shape the breeding and racing future on a world-class level. I’ll be following along on-line until I make it to day 3. They will be selling through hip 1554. Sessions start daily at 10 A.M. ET in Lexington, KY. Check back at https://www.thoroughbredu.com/ for more thoroughbred information and adventures. Watch the sale too. http://www.keeneland.com/livevideo/sales/videowithcat.php