$560,000 Quality Road colt tops solid second day of trade at Fasig-Tipton

Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky October Yearling Sale hummed along at a measured pace on the second day, with a son of Quality Road leading the way when selling to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $560,000.

The Ontario-bred colt, consigned by Anderson Farms, is out of the stakes-placed Bernardini mare Pearl Turn and is a half brother to Gretzky The Great, a precocious son of Nyquist who won this year's Summer Stakes.

Fasig-Tipton reported that 241 yearlings were sold on Tuesday for turnover of $7,996,600, an average of $33,181, and a median of $15,000.

From 776 yearlings catalogued for the first two sessions, 489 yearlings were sold for a total of $16,390,500, an average of $33,518 and a median of $15,000. At the same point a year ago, 500 yearlings had been sold for $19,199,100 at an average of $38,398 and $15,000 median.

Based on sales volume on-site and via online and telephone bidding during the first two days of the four-day auction, there appears to be little, if any, residual effects from Covid-19 on the October marketplace.

"I think it's more of the same," said Andrew Cary of Cary Bloodstock. "If you've got a horse that everyone wants, there is still a lot of competition for them. If you've got the right sire, the horse vets good and is an athlete, there is still a lot of demand. They may be bringing a little less than in normal years.

"Maybe an average horse is more discounted than usual. If there is anything negative on the vetting, there are enough horses available that people can wait for the next one. Having clean vetting on the selling side is critical."

Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning jnr said: "There was solid trade again today, with a very respectable RNA (reserve not attained) rate. The average is down slightly from last year at this point, although not dramatic. There has been a legitimate marketplace that's been fair for both buyers and sellers. There would be no significant gap between the leading buyer and the tenth leading buyer in terms of activity."

"Credit for the buy-back rate goes to the sellers for being realistic in their expectations. Consignors and agents have educated their principals to the realities of the marketplace and there are horses that continue to get sold post-sale."

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