by Michele Brewster
The 2006 Alberta Thoroughbred Summer Yearling Sale was held at the Northlands Sportex in Edmonton.
Returns were higher than last year, and whatever their preference, buyers had a good variety of horses to choose from. Price increases at the top of the market were notable, with aggressive bidding on several quality animals.
Dr. David Reid, Chairman of Horse Racing Alberta, opened the sale with some points that could be well taken in terms of purchasing that special young horse. First, you have to look at pedigree, and an individual that catches your eye.
Second, you are looking for opportunity. Some outstanding racehorses come from humble beginnings. Know that the owner needs to receive value from his or her investment, so check reserve prices.
Third, you are looking for a chance of financial return. And fourth, you are contributing to a secure future for the industry.
The Alberta CTHS Board of Directors, Sale Committee, and Manager Rennie Gellner initiated some changes to this year’s sale format, which demonstrated a positive outcome. The average was well up from 2005, and holding the sale on a dark day gave buyers the opportunity to spend the time needed to look at sale prospects. The auction was well organized and efficient. Accolades go to the sales staff, auctioneer Bobby Perlich, announcer Ron Anderson, the technologists and to the behind-the-scenes crew who kept the sale on schedule.
Topping the sale bringing $60,000 was a chestnut colt by Regal Remark, out of the dam Refined Reality. This well-developed colt was consigned by Horizon Farm Ltd., Agent, and purchased by Donver Stable. Regal Remark was the leading sire twice in Alberta, with progeny earnings of well over $12 million. Refined Reality is the dam of notable Candid Remark, also by Regal Remark, with earnings of over $182,000. Another Regal Remark, this time a filly out of Milton Road, and consigned by Horizon Farm, was purchased by Bar None Ranches for $15,000.
The high-selling filly was a gorgeous bay by Military, out of the dam Dancelena. Consigned by Highfield Stock Farm and Partners, she was purchased by Bob Butz and Randy Howg for $55,000. Military is a stakes winner of $450, 405, with four crops of racing age, earners of nearly three million in North America, including Gun Salute (six wins, $715,844).
Dancelena, who is stakes placed, (ten wins, $112,988), is the dam of Atten Hut, by Military, with earnings of $163,785. Also consigned by Highfield Stock Farm and Partners, bringing $36,500 was a dark brown filly by More Than Ready (stakes winner, $1,026,222), sire of three crops of racing age with 24 stakes winners.
This filly is the first foal from Crystal Forest (earnings of $81,790) and was purchased by Brad and Bruce MacGregor and Partners.
Al Pruss was the buyer of a chestnut colt by Marquetry and out of the dam Talicat, for $40,000. A bay colt, by Broken Vow and out of dam The Song Is You, brought $30,000. This nice colt was purchased by C.W. Matier. A dark bay filly by sire Alphabet Soup, out of Lady Glacken, was obtained by Bear Stables Ltd. for $15,000.
Highfield Stock Farm and Partners had a large consignment of 14 yearlings. Al and Bunny Noren topped the numbers with 20 consigned. Calmar Stables had 18 horses consigned, second highest in numbers.
Future racing hopefuls included Bear Stables Ltd. as the high bidder of $35,000 for a chestnut gelding by sire High Brite and out of the dam Rebel Yell. The consignor was Don Gibb. Dallas Haeberle, Agent, presented a nice chestnut filly sired by Half A Year, out of Dream Bear, bringing $10,000 with Roger Fortier as the buyer.
Red Diamond Stable purchased a dark brown gelding by Sir Cat out of Satsuma from Wye Farm for $33,500. David G. Lovlie was the consignor of a grey/roan colt by Home At Last, out of dam Sparkling Novel bringing a price of $27,000. The colt went to Esquire/Rupertus.
Also bringing $27,000 was a dark brown filly consigned by Paddockhurst Stables, Agent, and purchased by Dennis R. Ejack. She is sired by Vying Victor, and out of the mare Miss Intergreen. Paddockhurst as Agent also offered a bay filly by Cryptoclearance, out of dam Front Row Centre, purchased by Dorn Ries for $19,500.
A bay filly sired by Lit de Justice and out of dam Gold Page, consigned by Ken Anderson, was purchased for $20,000 by E. Hilton and Partners. E. Hilton and Partners also purchased a bay colt, sired by Rosetti and out of Candid Beauty for $15,000.
A handsome colt by sire Stephanotis and out of Drummers Roll, consigned by Peaceful Valley Stables, was purchased by Tom White for $36,000. A second Stephanotis consignment, this time a dark bay filly out of Mi’Daniela, brought $18,500 for Little Mountain Stables. She was purchased by Met Set Consulting Ltd.
Al and Bunny Noren were consignors of a chestnut gelding, by Valid Wager and out of Ifalferu, sold to Bar None/Central City Stables for $26,000. Bar None/Central City Stables also purchased a dark brown filly by Commitisize, out of Ispymytie for $30,000, consigned by Wye Farm.
A chestnut colt consigned by Ziptrick Thoroughbreds, and sired by Tiger Trap, out of Poised ‘n Ready, brought $21,000 to Dennis R. Ejack, Agent. Also consigned by Ziptrick Thoroughbreds was a bay colt, sired by Kiridashi and out of Graceful Music, purchased by Dennis R. Ejack, Agent for $16,000.
Dale Saunders and Partners purchased a chestnut gelding by Milwaukee Brew, out of dam Missetta, from Jim McDonald for $17,000. A bay colt, also by Milwaukee Brew, and out of Honest Grade, went to W.E. Code for $26,000. Consignor was Highfield Stock Farm and Partners.
When the final youngster had passed through the sale ring, 119 yearlings had sold for a gross return of $1,326,000. This resulted in an average price of $11,143, well up from the 2005 average of $8,621.
The Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) program maintains the mission to rebuild the industry at large, creating new farms, more good breeders and a better quality of animal. Work still needs to be done to create more confidence of buyers and encourage and support new owners to stay within the racing industry.
The fact that the sale showed a significant increase in gross sales and average is a positive indication that there is confidence in the future of racing in Alberta.
