Uncle Mo colt sets record at New York-Bred Yearling Sale

Mo Diddley, a son of Uncle Mo from the family of champion Bear Now, became the highest-priced yearling ever sold at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Preferred Sale when he was bought on Sunday by Everett Dobson's Cheyenne Stables for $450,000.

The price for the colt consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, as agent, highlighted the auction that was held on a single day after the first session on Saturday was postponed due to a severe thunderstorm that struck in Saratoga Springs just as the sale began.

Instead of the consecutive night sessions that are designed not to conflict with the afternoon racing programme at nearby Saratoga racecourse, Fasig-Tipton opted for a single seven and a half hour session.

Fasig-Tipton reported 177 horses were sold for gross receipts of $13,672,500, down 8.1 per cent from the 2015 gross of $14,876,500 for 182 horses sold. The average declined 5.5 per cent from $81,739 to $77,246 and the median fell from $65,000 a year ago to $60,000.