TURNOVER at the 12-day Keeneland November Sale which concluded last Saturday dipped slightly when compared with last year’s day longer auction, but the average rose by 3% and the median performed more impressively, surging 22% ahead. Twelve months ago the dispersal sale of Conquest Stables realised more than $11 million. Keeneland vice president of racing and sales Bob Elliston said. “Buyers are positive about the economy and the horse industry, and they are enthusiastic to invest, often more than originally budgeted, in that outstanding individual.”

Purchases at the top of the market were spread among a diverse clientele. Fourteen different buyers representing interests in the USA, South America, Ireland, England and Japan accounted for the 18 horses sold for $1 million or more. In all buyers from 20 countries bought horses at the November Sale.

The $6 million paid by Magnier for sale-topping champion and multi-millionaire Stellar Wind made him the sale’s leading buyer by gross. The mare will be retired and bred to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Medaglia D’Oro was the leading covering sire with nine mares sold for $7.91 million.

Boosting interest in the November Sale were the first foals by American Pharoah, Honor Code, Carpe Diem, Liam’s Map, Bayern, Summer Front, Tapiture and Lea. Keeneland director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell said. “Both pinhookers and end users were buying. Pinhookers have done well so they were back in force. End users, many of whom breed their own horses, have decided that the November Sale is a good place to buy. That dynamic created added competition.”

American Pharoah’s five weanlings sold for a total of $2.08 million and an average of $416,000. His sire Pioneerof the Nile was the leading sire of weanlings by aggregate, represented by 10 foals that sold for a total of $2.955 million.

Taylor Made Sales Agency ranked as the sale’s leading consignor, selling 224 horses for $23,652,500. Korea’s K.O.I.D. was the leading buyer by number of lots bought, acquiring 59 horses for $1,564,000.