#US RACING: OCALA BREEDERS’ SALE ENDS ON A RECORD HIGH

Please note all monetary figures in the article below are in United States dollars

Over the past four days of selling, a strong market was seen at the Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training at Ocala Breeders' Sales. The final day saw a filly by Munnings   bring $1.6M after selling to OXO Equine's Larry Best, the fifth horse to shatter the seven-figure ceiling for the sale, creating a new record for the sales company.

"It was a heck of a horse sale, we had gains on all fronts, and a record gross was made," OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski said. "It was the first time we have ever sold a million-dollar horse each day.

"You can't say enough about the quality of horses the consignors brought. The buying bench showed up with international and domestic buyers across the board. We had great participation on all fronts."

After selling Friday, during the fourth session, OBS reported 159 horses changed hands of the 200 through the ring for gross figures of $18,775,000. The final session saw an average price of $118,082 and a median of $60,000. There were 41 horses that failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 20.5%.

Comparatively, last year during the final session, 167 horses were sold of the 195 on offer for final receipts of $19,063,000 for an average price of $114,150 and a median of $65,000. The 28 horses who failed to sell represented a buyback rate of 14.3%. These figures include post-sale prices.

"The beauty of this sale is similar to the Keeneland September Sale; there is something here for everyone. Everybody comes," consignor Eddie Woods said. "There have been some great horses sold out of this sale, and it will continue to be that way. People want product and to be able to shop. Like I was telling someone earlier, 10 or 12 years ago, if you had told me we would have million-dollar horses in the April Sale, they would have laughed you out of the place."

Eddie Woods, agent, consigned the day's leading lady as Hip 1174. She breezed a fast :09 4/5 over an eighth, to be the co-fastest of the day during the under tack preview. Out of the Private Vow  mare Tensas Harbor, a multiple stakes winner in Louisiana, the daughter of Munnings was bred in Kentucky by the Cantrell Family Partnership and initially sold at the Keeneland September Sale by Woodford Thoroughbreds for $250,000.

Woods closed out session four as the leading consignor selling six head for gross receipts of $2,492,000 at an average price of $415,333. Second-leading consignor Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables sold 14 horses for final figures of $2,231,000 at an average price of $159,357. De Meric Sales completed the sale as top consignor selling 35 individuals for final figures of $9,308,000.