Lot 48, a bay filly sired by SAVOY STAMP out of RUMBLE, by GRAEME HALL, broke the record for a highest sale of a yearling at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) yearling sale at Caymanas Park yesterday.
The filly was the focus of a major bidding war, which ended in it being sold for $6.1 million, more than twice the second-highest priced horse, which was Lot 49, another filly also sired by SAVOY STAMP out of MY ANGEL, which went for $2.9 million.
Lot 48 is the sister of this year’s 1000 Guineas winner ABOVE AND BEYOND and Jamaica Oaks winner FURTHER AND BEYOND.
While her mother, RUMBLE, is the sister of 2019 triple crown winner SUPREME SOUL and former Jamaica St Leger and Superstakes winner BIGDADDYKOOL and Oshane Douse, TOBA’s Chief Executive Officer, said Lot 48’s rich bloodline was what put her in such high demand at the auction.
However, he said that the price she eventually fetched was a bit shocking.
“Her pedigree is an important part of why she was in so much demand,” he said. “SUPREME SOUL is a triple crown winner, and BIGDADDYKOOL has won many classic races, so anyone would want a horse with the bloodline of a Triple Crown winner. So that is why she fetched such a high price.
“She shattered the record, which stood at over $5 million. So we weren’t expecting this type of price, so the quality was there even though the quantity was not there.”
Douse said that that sale was a success, considering the uncertainties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The sale took a new path this year, and there was a lot of uncertainty as to how things would progress, but the support was tremendous,” he said. “We held down the fort and things turned out very well.
“There were concerns about how the online sale would work, but I believe everyone was satisfied. There were no wins online, but bets came in, which was good.
“The support we received was great, but the turnout could have been better. But most people stayed online to see if they could get a better look at how things are.”
Three other horses consisting of a bay colt and two fillies, along with Lot 49, were sold for $2 million while 19 horses were sold for $1 million or more, and 21 went for less than $1 million.
Ten horses withdrew and 12 were not sold. The total spend at this year’s sale was $68.4 million.