The Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, CTHS (Ontario) took place on Thursday and 204 Canadian-bred youngsters found new homes to embark on their racing careers.

The day began at 11:30 and ended later in the evening and it was tough sledding for a lot of breeders who were seeking buyers for their homegrown Thoroughbreds.

The buyers were mostly the same faces as recent years but the number of horses they were buying was down.

Bear Stables (Danny Dion) was back to buy a few horses after selling a lot of its breeding stock and racing stable and bigger names such as Roger Attfield, Bob Tiller, Frank DiGiulio, William Scott and Colebrook Farms bought a few.

Mark Casse had a rep at the sale who bought a horse for clients Gabe Grossberg, the Conrads and Nancy Guest.

Others, such as John Ross and Jack of Hearts Racing, bought one, John Mattine had two owners buy one each, Norm McKnight, the DiScola family, Discovery Racing, Robert Marzilli and Mike DePaulo, and Catherine Day Phillips purchased one or two.

Newcomers Jim Menzies (Piano Bar Stable) purchased two yearlings and David Rogers (vice president of international operations for McDonald’s) purchased his first yearling for $25,000.

Buyers who were willing to dish out money in the ’10’s’ of thousands were few and far between, a trickle down effect as the smaller trainers/barns at Woodbine continue to struggle while most of the races go to a small number of outfits.

The 3 sale toppers hit the $85,000 mark in bids:

Bill and Anne Scott, who buy one or two horses a year including last year’s co-sale topping filly Summer Sunday (a double stakes winner this year) bought a colt by Victor’s Cry from the dam of local stakes winner Ellan Vannin from breeders Barry and Deb Holmes. Sue Foreman, who had 2 of the top 2 six offerings in her consignment, sold this colt.

Remarkably, Victor’s Cry, who no longer stands in Ontario, had another of the sale toppers, a colt from Miss Dragonfly, dam of stakes winner Dragon’s Cry (also by Victor’s Cry). Goldmart Farms sold the colt to Barry Kerbel, an owner of Denyse McClachrie.

The third horse to reach $85,000 was a Not Bourbon colt bred by Charles Fipke that was purchased by Fipke’s trainer, Roger Attfield.

Old Forester was one of the top sires along with Victor’s Cry while newcomer Souper Speedy youngsters were well received – a colt from the dam of Pink Lloyd sold for $65,000 to Frank DiGiulio Jr as agent.

 

The raw numbers show a decrease in average price of about 7% but more horses sold for more money.

2017 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale – – Totals

Gross $3,630,000
Sold    204
Not Sold 83
Average $17,794.12
Median $10,000

2016 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale – – Totals

Gross $3,481,800
Sold 181
Not Sold 70
Average $19,236
Median $11,000

 

TOP PRICES

$85,000 – 120 unnamed Colt Bay Victor’s Cry Vulcan Rose Susan Y. Foreman, Agent for Phoenix Rising Farms William Scott  – bred by Phoenix Rising Farm (Barry-Deb Holmes)

$85,000 262 unnamed Colt Ches Not Bourbon Internallyflawless Richard G. Hogan, Agent Roger Attfield – bred by Charles Fipke

$85,000 295 unnamed Colt Ches Victor’s Cry Miss Dragonfly Richard G. Hogan, Agent Barry Kerbel – bred by Goldmart Farms

$75,000 9 unnamed Filly Bay Old Forester Peggy’sanexecutive Richard G. Hogan, Agent Bear Stables Ltd. & Colebrook Farms – bred by Colebrook Farms

$70,000 199 unnamed Colt Bay Old Forester Cosa Rara Hill ‘N’ Dale Sales Agency, Agent Roger Attfield – bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds

$70,000 310 unnamed Filly Bay Sky Mesa Mrs. Coolidge Susan Y. Foreman, Agent William Scott – bred by Track West

 

full results – http://www.cthsont.com/2017-canadian-premier-yearling-sale-results.html