Top of the lots: Charting the ten most expensive offerings from another exciting year of bloodstock sales

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10. A Fasig firecracker

B c Into Mischief - Stellar Sound (Tapit) 

Sold by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa for Don Alberto Corporation

Bought by Coolmore and White Birch Farm for $4.1 million

The US witnessed unprecedented trade throughout the sales season, a point underlined by five of the year’s ten biggest prices worldwide being generated across the Atlantic. 

The country’s most expensive yearling changed hands in early August when Peter Brant and the Coolmore partners combined to secure the top lot at the 104th edition of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. The Into Mischief colt fetched $4.1m.

Peter Brant: signed alongside Coolmore for the most expensive yearling in the US this yearCredit: Fasig-Tipton Photo

The youngster is the first foal out of the Grade 2-placed Stellar Sound and hails from a family Coolmore know well, as the dam is out of a half-sister to the firm’s Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf scorer George Vancouver. 

Speaking after the seven-figure sale, Hill ‘n’ Dale general manager Jared Burdine told the BloodHorse: “When everything falls in line you get a little magic up here in Saratoga.” 

9. Equinox fever 

B c Equinox - Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute)

Sold by Northern Racing

Bought by Nebraska Racing for ¥580m 

The first foals by world champion Equinox were all the rage at the JRHA Select Sale in Hokkaido in July. The six-time top-flight winner saw 23 of his youngsters sell for an average of ¥155m (£733,150/€839,430) and a top price of ¥580m (£2.74m/€3.14m).

That sum was enough for Equinox to supply a sales-topper at the first attempt thanks to the bid of the mysterious Nebraska Racing, a group that reportedly includes new owners as well as a more established name in Japanese racing.

The Equinox foal out of Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou at Northern Horse ParkCredit: JRHA

The sales-topping colt, the only foal among this list, is the fourth produce of US champion Midnight Bisou, a five-time Grade 1 winner who was added to Katsumi Yoshida’s broodmare band at a cost of $5.5m at Keeneland in November 2022. 

Reflecting on events at the Select Sale, JRHA chairman Teruya Yoshida said: “The market at every price range was very strong through two days, and I think I have ever seen such a market in the world.” 

8. Yoshida goes from seller to buyer

Just F Y I

4yo b f Justify - Star Act (Street Cry)

Sold by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa

Bought by Katsumi Yoshida for $4.5m 

If the Equinox colt out of Midnight Bisou showed Katsumi Yoshida’s strategy at work, then results from the Fasig-Tipton November Sale proved the Northern Farm principal was taking the view that if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it by giving $4.5m for dual Grade 1 scorer Just F Y I. 

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner was offered in foal to six-time champion US sire Into Mischief. 

“She's a very big mare with a very good frame,” said Northern Farm representative Shingo Hashimoto. “I think she will match many types of stallions in Japan. Of course it would have been better if we could have bought her a little cheaper, but she’s one of those horses that's going to be very expensive; it’s a very tough market.” 

Hashimoto’s latter point was proved in no uncertain terms by Just F Y I’s price making her only the fourth-most expensive lot at this year’s ‘Night Of The Stars’ sale.  

7. Puca on parade

Puca

13yo b m Big Brown - Boat’s Ghost (Silver Ghost) 

Sold by Elite

Bought by Raging Torrent Syndicate for $5m

Puca has been something of a regular at the November Sale, heading through the Fasig-Tipton ring on four occasions. Her value has appreciated each time, which is no mean feat considering she cost John Stewart $2.9m in 2023. 

However, her breeding record had also improved in the intervening years, as she is now the dam of not only Kentucky Derby scorer Mage and his Belmont Stakes-winning half-brother Dornoch, but also this year’s Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby scorer Baeza too.

Puca: dam of Dornoch, Mage and Baeza ahead of the Fasig-Tipton November SaleCredit: Fasig-Tipton Photo

Those exploits prompted the Ace Stud-affiliated Raging Torrent Syndicate to sign the ticket at $5m during her latest turn through the ring. 

"Anywhere you go in the world, she’s a phenomenal, phenomenal mare,” Ace Stud’s bloodstock and racing manager Paul Curran said. “That’s really, really special now that she’s ours.”

6. Amo Racing pick up Book 1 baton

B c Frankel - Aljazzi (Shamardal) 

Sold by Newsells Park Stud

Bought by Amo Racing for 3,600,000gns

Amo Racing’s remarkable Book 1 spending spree was one of the stories of 2024. The question heading into this year’s sale was: would Kia Joorabchian repeat the feat? 

We did not have to wait long to find out, as he duly bid 3,600,000gns for just the 15th lot into the Newmarket ring.

The colt in question is by Frankel and out of the Royal Ascot winner Aljazzi. This makes the youngster a brother to the Frankel filly who topped last year’s Book 1 when Joorabchian bid an even more punchy 4,400,000gns. She has been named Partying and is in training with Kevin Philippart de Foy.

Kia Joorabchian is all smiles after landing the 3,600,000gns Frankel colt

“Obviously if he’s a very good horse he’s going to be a stallion,” said Joorabchian, adding: “and if he’s not, he’s not going to be a stallion.” 

5. Another spicy Fasig-Tipton transaction

Shisospicy

3yo gr f Mitole - Mischief Galore (Into Mischief) 

Sold by Gainesway

Bought by Morplay Racing for $5.2m 

Shisospicy was another to be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, and did so having landed the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint only two days prior. 

When the hammer fell at $5.2m it was revealed the filly had failed to meet her reserve. However, a deal was subsequently struck that saw Morplay Racing buy out Qatar Racing’s share at the hammer price. 

“She breathes different air,” said Morplay co-founder Rich Mendez. “We truly believe that. We feel that her best is yet to come.” 

The upwardly mobile sprinter is set to remain in training for another season with Jose D’Angelo. 

4. Godolphin outgun Amo at Book 1

Ch c Sea The Stars - Crystal Zvezda (Dubawi) 

Sold by Longview Stud

Bought by Godolphin for 3,700,000gns 

Amo Racing might have won out when the Frankel colt out of Aljazzi hit the Book 1 market, but Joorabchian’s firm came off second best when Longview Stud presented its well-related son of Sea The Stars. 

On this occasion it was Godolphin, with Sheikh Mohammed himself at the centre of the huddle, who landed the spoils at 3,700,000gns. The seven-figure colt became the most expensive yearling sold anywhere in the world in 2025.

Sheikh Mohammed surrounded by his entourage at Park PaddocksCredit: Edward Whitaker

“You have to pay for the ones you really want, and he’s the one we really wanted, without doubt,” said Anthony Stroud after signing the sales-topping ticket. 

The colt is out of Crystal Zvezda, a Listed-winning Dubawi half-sister to the likes of Crystal Ocean, Crystal Capella and Hillstar. He is also a sibling to three winners, including the Listed-placed Crystal Caprice and four-time scorer Crystal Mariner. 

3. Amo on target once more

Streak Of Luck

10yo gr m Old Fashioned - Valeria (Elusive Quality) 

Sold by Taylor Made Sales Agency, for Aaron and Marie Jones

Bought by Amo Racing USA for $6.2m

Amo Racing’s colossal investment was not confined to Europe, nor just racing prospects. 

Joorabchian’s buying team landed the top lot at Fasig-Tipton’s Night Of The Stars when going to $6.2m for blue-chip broodmare Streak Of Luck. 

She is the dam of unbeaten, three-time Grade 1 winner Ted Noffey, who rounded out his season by landing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Added to her appeal was the fact she was offered in foal to sire on fire Not This Time.

Streak Of Luck strikes a pose before topping the Fasig-Tipton November SaleCredit: Fasig-Tipton Photo

“When you get a mare like that, that’s produced a horse like that, and she looks like that, she’s got a great cover – I wouldn’t say she’s cheap, but I think she’s a great long-term investment,” said Amo agent Ben McElroy. 

2. Porta Fortune

Porta Fortuna

4yo b f Caravaggio - Too Precious (Holy Roman Emperor)

Sold by Taylor Made Sales Agency

Bought by MV Magnier for 4,500,000gns 

How much for a four-time Group 1 winner and Cartier champion? The Tattersalls December Mares Sale supplied the answer when the brilliant Porta Fortuna was knocked down to Coolmore’s MV Magnier at a cool 4,500,000gns. 

The Donnacha O’Brien-trained filly landed top-flight victories in the Cheveley Park, Coronation, Falmouth and Matron Stakes. In the aftermath of her sale, Magnier revealed she would begin her breeding career with a somewhat surprising mating.

MV Magnier added Porta Fortuna to the Coolmore broodmare band at 4,500,000gnsCredit: Alisha Meeder

“She’s a very good filly, very talented, she’s got loads of quality so let’s hope she can breed something similar,” he said. “We’ve put a good bit of thought into which stallion she might visit and there’s a good chance that she could go to Starspangledbanner.” 

However, even such a hefty sum was not enough to top this year’s December Mare Sale . . .

1. Barnstorming Barnavara

Barnavara

3yo b f Calyx - Alfea (Kentucky Dynamite)

Sold by Baroda Stud

Bought by Sugar Whiskey Trading for 4,800,000gns 

There was a dramatic late twist at Tattersalls when Porta Fortuna was usurped at the head of the market by progressive Prix de l’Opera heroine Barnavara. 

The year’s highest price was reached after a clash between agent Henry Lascelles and a determined online participant, with the latter party eventually winning out at a whopping 4,800,000gns before signing the pseudonym Sugar Whiskey Trading on the digital docket.

Jonny Nolan in the Tattersalls ring with the sales-topping BarnavaraCredit: Alisha Meeder

The purchaser is believed to be another affiliate of Ace Stud, who feature elsewhere on this list having been involved in the $5m purchase of Puca at Fasig-Tipton. 

“What a buzz!” said Barnavara’s trainer Jessica Harrington. “Jeepers, I promise you that was more than my wildest dreams, it really was.”

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