Freak storm halts mixed sale

SUNDAY’s rain-interrupted Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) of Jamaica’s 2022 Mixed Sale will continue on Sunday, December 4, at Caymanas Park, a day after the US$125,000 Mouttet Mile.

TOBA president Howard Hamilton said consignors with lots who did not make it to the sale ring on Sunday now stand to benefit from the presence of overseas buyers in the island to attend the Mouttet Mile.

Sunday’s sale was on target to break all records before a freak storm, amid torrential downpour, hoisted the main tent into the adjacent car park.

“I am happy that no one was seriously hurt,” Hamilton said yesterday, pointing out that the sale had passed the $60 million, amid few withdrawals and buybacks, Lot 55 being the last yearling sold before the rains came during the lunch break.

“The average price per yearling was $1.2 million, a first in the history of the TOBA sale,” said Hamilton, who is set to step down after serving as TOBA president for 17 years.

“TOBA is urging all consignors of unsold lots, and horses that had previously been withdrawn, not to miss what is actually going to be higher bids for scarce horseflesh with the entry of overseas purchasers,” Hamilton added.

The sale got off to a rollicking $2-million start with Lot 1, a grey filly sired by Successful Native out of the left Banker mare, Runaway Julie, bred by HAM Stables Limited, grabbed by Ian Parsard.

Runaway Julie is the dam of Sotomayor (Traditional), champion two-year-old, winner of the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes in 2016.

Champion owner Carlton Watson was among the big bidders on Sunday, snapping up Lot 19, a chestnut colt sired by Hedge Fund out of Dream Big, for $3.6m. Hedge Fund’s first crop debuted as two-year-olds this season whereas Dream Big is the dam of DEJAE’S BOY (Storm Craft), a winner of eight races.

Lot 12, a chestnut filly by Sensational Slam out of Palace Gold, also went for $3.6m to share top spot with the Hedge Fund-Dream Big colt, purchased by trainer Steven Todd.

Two-time Horse of the Year Seeking My Dream, who won the Diamond Mile twice and was denied Triple Crown glory by Superluminal in the Jamaica St Leger, achieved a first when his bay filly out of Track Rose fetched $2.4m, dropping jaws as a first-crop local sire.