Nyquist filly tops solid Fasig-Tipton October session

Agent David Meah stretched the budget given to him by owner Calvin Nguyen on Tuesday to acquire a filly from the first crop of classic winner Nyquist for $325,000, the top price paid during a strong second session of the Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale.

Consigned as Hip 703 by Gerry Dilger's Dromoland Farm, the filly bred and raised at Dell Ridge Farm was sent through the ring at the recent Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was bought back for $185,000.

In the interim, the filly's half brother, High Velocity, a Quality Road colt who was purchased as a yearling for $350,000, broke his maiden in his first start for owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Bob Baffert.

"We loved this filly," Meah said. "We went strong there, a bit stronger than we anticipated paying for her. Thankfully, I had my client on the phone and when he hears me say there is only one or two in a sale I love, he'll take a swing on both of them."

Meah said filly will be trained by Richard Baltas in California. She is out of Ketel Twist, a Grade 3-placed Dixie Union mare that is a half-sister to stakes winner Catrageous.

David Meah purchased the Tuesday session-topper at the Fasig-Tipton October SaleCredit: Fasig-Tipton Photos

"Obviously, the update with High Velocity makes it exciting," Meah said. "Before she even makes it to the races she might be worth a lot more than we just paid for her."

From 396 horses offered on the day, Fasig-Tipton reported 256 yearlings grossed $9,530,200 for an average price of $37,227, with a $15,000 median price. The session RNA rate was 23 per cent with 76 yearlings going unsold. There were also 256 yearlings sold during the comparable session a year ago, grossing $9,068,000 for an average price of $35,422 and also a $15,000 median.

With 792 head cataloged in the first two days, 500 yearlings have been sold for $19,199,100, an average of $38,398, and a median price of $15,000. Through the first two sessions, 59 yearlings have been sold for six figures, while there were 43 such transactions at the same point a year ago.

"It was a fair and legitimate marketplace," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning jnr. "There is certainly a market, ranging from $1,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. Competition still remains very intense on the horses that are perceived to be upper quality and less competition on the ones perceived to be not as high quality. I am very encouraged after two days."

The day's second-highest price of $300,000 was paid by Team Casse for an Into Mischief colt consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, followed by the $290,000 winning bid of Carlo Vaccarezza for a Street Sense colt from Hunter Valley Farm.

Out of the winning Mr. Greeley mare Irish Connection, the Street Sense colt was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin and Mr and Mrs Robert E Courtney snr and is a half brother to Grade 2 stakes winner Irish Jasper. He was acquired as a weanling for $250,000 under the Fedamore Stable name at last year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The colt was entered but withdrawn from the Keeneland September Sale.

"We paid a lot of money for him as a foal last year and we had him entered in Keeneland and he didn't go down as well as we thought," said Hunter Valley's Adrian Regan.

"We had a lot of action down at the barn and we're very happy with the price even though we didn't make a fortune on the whole deal. But that's the way it goes. That's the market. The market tells you what the horse is worth. Even with all the action we had we were very realistic with the reserve and we're happy with the price. We always want more but today we are happy."

Vaccarezza said the colt was his target for the sale.

"I came to the sale to buy this horse," said Vaccarezza, who plans to offer the colt as a pinhook at next year's Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected two-year-olds in training sale.

"I think he's a phenomenal individual. We checked probably 80 per cent of the horses here on the grounds and this horse really stood out. He vetted really well and not only that, he had perfect conformation and he's an outstanding individual."

Late in the session, a War Front filly consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, was sold for $275,000 to an entity named Cotton Plant Inc. Bred in Kentucky by Barronstown Stud, the filly produced from the Irish Group 2 winner Laughing Lashes (by Mr Greeley) had been offered at the Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale, where she went unsold on a final bid of $375,000.

The sale continues through to Thursday, with daily sessions beginning at 10am.

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