$750,000 Empire Maker colt tops blockbuster Fasig-Tipton second session

A standout son of the late Empire Maker sold for $750,000 to top the standings at a blockbuster second session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale, which remains on track as one for the record books midway through the four-day span.

"A record-breaking session in all regards - record gross and record average for the October Sale, co-highest price ever for a colt, but more important was the continued level of activity," Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browing Jr. said. "A great RNA rate overall today. People are putting in reserves that were consistently getting doubled and tripled."

From 792 yearlings catalogued for the first two sessions, 554 yearlings sold for gross receipts of $24,977,100 for a record $45,085 average and a record $20,000 median. The cumulative RNA rate is 18.4 per cent, down from 21.4 per cent last year.

At the same point a year ago, 489 yearlings sold of the 776 catalogued for $16,390,500 at an average price of $33,518 and a $15,000 median. The record gross for this sale is $38,258,900, set in 2019, the same year the average mark of $37,955 was attained. The record median of $18,500 was set in 2014.

Fasig-Tipton reported 280 yearlings changed hands at Tuesday's session for receipts of $13,960,200, boasting an average price of $49,858 and a $25,000 median. An RNA rate of 17.2 per cent represents the 58 horses that went unsold on the second day of selling. At the same session in 2020, 241 yearlings sold for $7,996,700, with an average price of $33,181, and a $15,000 median. The 62 horses unsold represented an RNA rate of 20.5 per cent.

The new sale-topping price ranks as co-highest for a colt at the autumn yearling sale, matching a son of Saint Ballado sold in 2000.

"A record median is the greatest indicator of the depth and increase in quality. The buyers would love to buy the horses for less, but there is more competition, and the quality of horse that walks through the ring is better than we have seen previously," Browning said.

"You love to see the median increase, and it's a relevant statistic. And the average is important, too. With this sale being spread over four days of selling 1,600 horses, the average is still a good indicator of the market."

The atmosphere on the grounds continued to be vibrant, loaded with people eager to purchase horses for winter plans of breaking and training, looking forward to the 2022 race meets.

"An energetic crowd, making it a great time to be selling horses," Browning said. "One nice thing about this sale is you get to talk to people from all over the country, and there is a bounce in their step … trainers from the mid-west, east, down south, and here in Kentucky. There's some significant participation from the Latin buyers as well.

"Trainers and owners need horses, the purses are pretty darn good, and they appear to be on the increase to the horizon that will be the next couple of years."

The new sale topper, a Kentucky-bred colt consigned by Machmer Hall Sales as hip 513 was purchased over the internet by Jacob West for St. Elias Stables, who was working from the back ring at the sale.

The son of Empire Maker heralds from the female family of 2003 Gainsborough Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Musical Chimes. The colt's third dam, Note Musicale, produced five-time Grade 1-winner Music Note, the dam of this year's Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide.

Carrie Brogden, who consigned the colt, said: "The market seems good for those who jump through the hoops. I tell people that you don't need to put reserves on the other kind of horse; just let the market tell you what it's at. Hip 513 had a $24,000 reserve, so it's been a good day, but it's hard, like every day."

The second-highest price of the day came for the Canadian nursery Sam-Son Farm, who offered hip 469, a homebred Uncle Mo filly out of Song of the Lark, the dam of Up With the Birds , Canadian Horse of the Year and Canada's champion three-year-old colt in 2013. The partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables went to $450,000 to secure the promising filly.

"It's been insane, in a good way," Gainesway general manager Brian Graves said of the sale. "Full of action. It seems like more people are showing up every day. We are busy into the third day of showing horses, and it seems like people are getting shuffled back trying to find something they can make a case for. It's been a feeding frenzy."

"I think this sale has been getting better every year," said Duncan Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency. "We now see European people shopping at this sale. It's more of the same; in September it kept getting stronger and stronger."

"The nice ones are bringing good money," said prominent two-year-old pinhooker Randy Hartley of Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, who purchased a $300,000 Curlin colt consigned as hip 437 by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency. "It's been hard [to buy]. It's a pretty strong sale if you like something. I had been waiting on this colt. We haven't bought many this year."

The results of the past two days are no surprise to those who have tracked the trends seen all year at public auction.

"Everyone is trying to upgrade the quality of horses they are training and racing, which is a positive sign for our industry, both short and long term," Browning said.

"We're thrilled with today's results. Once again, it goes back to us being given better horses to sell and a strong market. The men and women trust us and bring better quality horses to the sale in both pedigree and conformation. It's a combination of factors that are getting us these results.

"Generally speaking, the percentage of horses that are coming into the marketplace today that are acceptable and of higher quality is much higher than it was five years ago."

Hips 793-1188 go under the hammer for the third day of selling on Wednesday, with the third session beginning at 10am local time (3pm BST).

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