Successful TOBA yearling sale - colt fetches record $5 million

Three records were broken at the annual TOBA Yearling sale held in the official car park at Caymanas Park on Sunday.

First, Lot 80, a handsome bay colt by Adore The Gold out of One Big Giggle, bred by HAM Stables Limited, broke the previous record of $4 million paid for a chestnut colt by Performing Magic - Sea Treaty, bred by Everglades Farms Limited, last year.

Foaled on February 2, 2014, the stripe-face yearling attracted an opening bid of $2 million, and in the end, was purchased by trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes on behalf of Trinidadian connections.

That record barely lasted an hour. Lot 100, a good-looking chestnut colt by Forest Danger out of Sea Treaty, bred by Everglades Farms, was purchased for the record price of $5 million, again by Trinidadian connections.

Foaled on March 2, 2014, the yearling attracted an opening bid of $$55,000, and this was followed by some spirited bidding. No sooner had he surpassed the $4.8 million record, he was snapped up for $5 million by the Trinidadian Kamla Maharaj on behalf of her son, Shivam, and will be trained in Trinidad by Harriram 'Pepsi' Gobin. Kamla also purchased three other yearlings, including Lot 71, a chestnut filly by Liquidity out of Lisa Vibes, bred by Y.S. (1955) Limited for $1.8 million.

All, four, as well as the Forest Danger - Sea Treaty sales-topping colt, will leave the island shortly to be schooled and trained at Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad.

Overall, nine of the 120 yearlings sold fetched prices of $2 million and more. The others were Lot 154, a bay colt by Silent Valor out of Gem Lea, bred by HAM Stables Limited, sold for $3.5million; Lot 140, a chestnut filly by Adore The Gold - My Legacy, bred by Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany for $3.3 million; Lot 60, a grey colt by Traditional - Knightley, bred by HAM Stables, sold for $3 million; Lot 119, a chestnut filly by Traditional - Bunns of Steel, bred by Harold S. Tucker, $3 million.

Record turnover

The sale produced a record turnover of $113 million - up from $88.7 million last year. Howard Hamilton, president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association of Jamaica, said he was pleased with the numbers and is even more optimistic that the trend will continue next year.

"Yearlings purchased at these sales continue to perform well on the track in Trinidad, and this, along with the presence of the Guyanese for the first time, helped to drive the numbers," said Hamilton, who is a part-owner of HAM Stables Limited, one of the top consignors. Incidentally, the Guyanese buyers picked up three yearlings, all of whom will stay in Jamaica, according to reports.

Auctioneer was Dr Paul Wright, assisted by Matthew Pryor from abroad.

- O.C.