LEXINGTON, Ky. – European Champion LADY AURELIA led a record-breaking renewal of The November Sale on Sunday, overseeing an historical high in gross sales of nearly $89.5 million and a strong across-the-board market for racing prospects, broodmares, and weanlings. The sale kicked off at 3 PM, and featured 22 horses which sold for $1,000,000 or more.
The sale topper entered the ring shortly before 9 PM. Offered as Hip 200 by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, LADY AURELIA drew a top bid of $7,500,000 from Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. The four-year-old SCAT DADDY filly was offered as a broodmare prospect. LADY AURELIA was a Champion in France and England at two, capturing the Prix Morny (G1) in France and the Queen Mary S. (G2) at Royal Ascot in England in 2016. Last year, she returned to Royal Ascot to defeat older males in the King’s Stand S. (G1). The first US-based horse to win a Cartier Award, LADY AURELIA raced predominantly in Europe, but broke her maiden on the dirt at two in track record time at Keeneland and defeated older fillies and mares in the Giant’s Causeway S. on turf in her three-year-old debut at that same track. LADY AURELIA won five of her 10 starts, with three additional Group 1 placings, for earnings of $834,945.
“[We had] a remarkable night of sales this evening,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “It’s a testament to the men and women who own the horses and the men and women who consign the horses. They entrusted their best with us.”
The evening’s top-priced broodmare was multiple Grade 1 winner STOPCHARGINGMARIA, who sold for $4,400,000 to Whisper Hill Farm late in the session. Offered as Hip 234 by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the seven-year-old TALE OF THE CAT mare was offered carrying her second foal, by three-time Leading Sire TAPIT. A three-time Grade 1 winner and eight-time graded stakes winning earner of more than $3,000,000, STOPCHARGINGMARIA sold at this sale as a broodmare prospect in 2016 for $2,800,000 to Three Chimneys Farm.
Whisper Hill Farm went to $1,900,000 for STOPCHARGINGMARIA’s first foal, a weanling filly by PIONEEROF THE NILE who preceded her through the ring as Hip 233, also from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency. That price established a new November Sale weanling record, nearly doubling the record set last year when a pair of weanlings sold for $1,000,000 each.
“Last year we were fortunate enough to have two million-dollar weanlings,” added Browning, recognizing the strength of the weanling market. “I think [that] encouraged a lot of folks to present us with better quality weanlings in 2018 than we had in the past.”
Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier went to $3,500,000 to secure DADDYS LIL DARLING, the highest price paid last night for a racing/broodmare prospect. A Grade 1 winner and multiple graded stakes winning millionaire, DADDYS LIL DARLING was offered as Hip 180 by Gainesway, agent for Normandy Farm. The four-year-old daughter of SCAT DADDY is a product of the late Nancy Polk’s exceptional breeding program.
“We’ve got a really good team, a group of people that work really hard, care about customers, care about the business,” concluded Browning. “I think everyone is kind of proud tonight. I know I am.”
Overall, 140 horses changed hands for $89,473,000, eclipsing last year’s then record gross of $74,200,000 by more than 20%. The average was $639,093, fourth best in the sale’s history and less than a point down from $645,217 in 2017. The $327,500 median was the second highest in sale history, up 31% from $250,000 last year. Twenty-two horses sold for seven figures to 16 unique buyers, up from 19 seven-figure horses last year.
