THE most telling statistic from a strong renewal of the Keeneland January Sale was the impressive 47% increase in the median price to $22,000. It came following a significant reduction in the catalogue, with 17.5% less horses bringing the sale from four to three days’ trade.

A 13% drop in turnover was therefore unconcerning, supported by a 6% rise in the average price to $48,825. The clearance rate did, however, drop four points to 76%. Reflecting on trade, Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said: “Overall, it was a good sale.

“We have to look at it in the context of the different format. If you look at through-the-ring numbers from last year’s four-day sale to this year’s three days, we have a much higher median.

“We already have 38 horses sold for $1.6 million in post-sale with more to come. Average is off a tick with fewer horses. We’re down 13% in gross. So really results are in step with last year.”

Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy was similarly positive, saying: “It’s encouraging in that nothing is overheated; the market is very steady, very consistent. Sellers for the most part have been very happy. It’s been very fair, and that’s something everyone is pleased with. Consistency is the key.”

Broodmare for Barronstown

“There were a lot of international buyers,” Lacy added. “More so from Europe than we expected. Great participation from buyers from the Middle East, Australia and Japan.”

Three mares shared top lot status at $700,000, and the purchaser of one will be familiar to Irish readers. David and Diane Nagle’s Barronstown Stud will take ownership of Pretty Birdie, after Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace provided the winning bid, before signing as Avenue Bloodstock, the agency of Mark McStay.

The Grade 3 winner was consigned by Gainesway on behalf of the estate of the late John Hendrickson, following the sudden death of the horseracing philanthropist at the age of 59 in August. Hendricksen raced horses under the banner of Marylou Whitney Stables, established by his late wife, for whom Pretty Birdie was a fourth generation home-bred.

Offered with a maiden cover to Candy Ride, she had fetched $1.1million at the venue in November, but was returned by Stonestreet Stables when she was found to be cribbing. After her latest sale, Wallace commented: “She was a mare we loved from the moment we saw her.

“I think the plan is for her to stay in America (at Ashford Stud). She’s very well covered at the moment, so we’ll see what the foal is like, but hopefully you’ll find that she’ll go to Justify.”

Partnership dissolved

Fellow Grade 3 winner Delahaye set the top price just six lots earlier, when knocked down to Three Chimney Farms, who had bred the Medaglia d’Oro mare and raced her in partnership with William H Lawrence.

Kerry Cauthen of consignor Four Star Sales commented: “Great price for a Grade 3 horse. She is beautiful. And as has consistently happened year-round and year after year, if they are as pretty as that and show the performance, there are plenty of people who want to buy them.

“(The price) was a little better than I thought she would bring. I thought she was a $500,000 to $600,000 (price), but I really felt like she could have gone on a little bit. It is just a matter of finding two people who want the same thing.”

The third and final mare to fetch $700,000 was the appropriately-named Love To Shop, who was offered by Claiborne Farm during the second session. Pin Oak Farm are the new owners of the five-year-old Violence mare, who won a stakes race at her trainer Kevin Attard’s local track of Woodbine, and finished second in three graded races.

“That was huge,” said Jacob West, Claiborne’s Stallion Seasons and Bloodstock Manager. “To be quite honest, that (price) exceeded a little bit of our expectations. She was such a beautiful filly. We’re just happy to hear that Pin Oak got her. She’s going to a great home, and she’ll get every opportunity.”

Irish interest

Irish readers will be familiar with the mare who led early trade, the Eaton Sales-consigned Dubawi mare, Prettiest. Out of Matron Stakes heroine Alice Springs, the Coolmore home-bred was Group 3-placed as a three-year-old for Aidan O’Brien, having previously finished fourth in the Albany Stakes.

Offered in foal to Justify, she was knocked down to Greenwell Thoroughbreds for $525,000, a marginal mark down on the $575,000 she was retained for in November.

The highest-priced weanling of the sale was a colt by the top-class Tapit, sold by his sire’s base of Gainesway to JPM Bloodstock for $400,000. Gainesway’s General Manager Brian Graves later revealed that the colt was a foal share, adding: “I thought it was a very fair price for this horse”.

Luke Bleahen was among the Irish pinhookers present, securing a colt from the first crop of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal for $55,000. BBA Ireland was another familiar name on the buyers’ sheet, going to $65,000 for Witchy One, a Smart Strike mare who has produced two blacktype horses to date.

Padraic Gahan, best known for his role as bloodstock and consigning executive at Baroda Stud, signed for the Night Of Thunder mare Kick A Rhyme at $30,000. A winner at three, she is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Alflaila, out of the blacktype Oasis Dream mare Adhwaa.