Ashado!

[Nancy T]

Sells for NINE MILLION ! Summer Wind Dancer one of my favorites sold for a respectable half million or so herself, she is a beauty

[ZiaLand]

Is that a record for a mare?

Laurie

[austique]

Darley ended up with her and the price is described as shattering the North American record for a broodmare sold at auction and remember she was open

[Sam]

Darley ended up with her and the price is described as shattering the North American record for a broodmare sold at auction and remember she was open

I think the previous record was 8.3mil (I'm tempted to say that was Kostroma?) and the mare was in foal. Not sure if they distinguish between open and IF mares, though.

[austique]

Its the record for broodmare/broodmare prospects. Record was set in 2003 by Cash Run for $7.1 million and I believe she was in foal.

[Coquinerie]

Makes you wonder what the more highly respected, PROVEN, youngish broodmares would go for if they went to auction such as Serena's Song, Toussaud, My Flag, Viviana, Flanders, etc.

[Tairaterces]

Sells for NINE MILLION ! Summer Wind Dancer one of my favorites sold for a respectable half million or so herself, she is a beauty

SWD sold for $650K

T

[LSB]

Makes you wonder what the more highly respected, PROVEN, youngish broodmares would go for if they went to auction such as Serena's Song, Toussaud, My Flag, Viviana, Flanders, etc.

More highly respected than Ashado? She is everything the market currently wants. She's young, beautiful, and highly accomplished--and looked every bit the star during the long bidding process.

I can't imagine Toussaud--at 16, nevermind her health problems--or Viviana (15), Serena's Song (13) Flanders (also 13) or My Flag (12) even approaching a price like that. I would imagine that most Thoroughbred breeders believe that their best years are already behind them.

[Coquinerie]

Although you make a very valid point with the "young is vogue" I in no way believe that if Toussaud, Serena's Song or My Flag were in the sale this afternoon they wouldnt have taken the title as sales topper from Ashado. Those 3 mares would make 9 million back in 3 foals or less. I dont think there's a chance in hell Ashado would outsell them. Ashado was/is a big fish in a big pond, but lets not forget she WAS the jewel of the sale. Add one of these ladies in there and it wouldnt have been such a big jewel. What I originally said was more of a comment on the market then an actual hypothetical question, but lets be real... those mares (at least in Serena's Song's case) are the most sought after foals in the yearling sales from the two big buyers. They would jump on them like a fat kid on a cupcake.

[LSB]

I'd put Toussaud at 1-2M absolute tops, and maybe not that high. She only has a very limited number of foals left to produce. Viviana (is she still alive?) in the same range. Serena's Song, maybe 3M. Neither of the other two would even come close.

I hope some other posters weigh in on this. I'd be curious to hear other opinions.

[austique]

I think to top her you are going to have be under 10 yo of similar racing talent (thats hard right there) and have produced something significant within the first few foals. Ashado was exceptional for three years. She will undoubtedly secure a second Eclipse this year and you can breed her to just about any commercial line out there.

My Flag, Flanders and Serena's Song have each had one big horse with Serena's Song betterinf the other two by managing a GR II winner and a minor stakes winner in addition to Sophisticat. Toussaud probably has her best years behind her and Viviana is listed as deceased.

Possibly the only one who could top Ashado is Azeri in foal to the right stallion.

[Coquinerie]

Now I normally am in agreeance with everything you usually have an opinion about on this board but Toussaud at 2 million tops? WHAT?!?!?!

Ticket to Houston, a 12 yo Houston mare sold for 2mil today with a multiple G2 winner and one other stakes winner to her credit.

Wife for Life, an 11 yo Dynaformer mare sold for 2.2 mil and yes, her first foal is a G1 winner, she's not *much* younger than the mares you said were "too old" to make a major impact on the sales.

I think the biggest thing you have to look at is the fact that not very many proven, absolute top tier mares ever SEE a sales ring once they've proven themselves. They're too valuable a commodity. In fact, what you ARE seeing is many of their highly respected daughters picking up TOP prices on their mother's efforts in the shed.

Lets look at a few "older" mares from last year and what they brought in the ring--

Profit Column, a 93 model brought 1.6 mil.
Halo America, a 90 edition brought 1.45 mil.
Storm Beauty, a 95 model brought 2.2 mil.
Words of War, a 89 model brought 1.95 mil.
Fashion Star, a 92 edition brought 1.3 mil.
Helsinki, a 93 model brought 3.9 mil.

All good mares and good producers, but no where near the class (at least as of yet) as the mares I mentioned yet none of them are exactly spring chickens but still brought million plus bids.

Again, I will say it till im blue in the face, the top tier broodmares do NOT SEE the SALES RING but on the unusual occurance they do, they will bring just as much if not more than the young mares off the track or infoal for the first time.

Ashado brought 9 million and thats extremely impressive, in this market, she's probably worth every penny, but I highly doubt she would have brought that if she had to compete with the ("old") Grand Dames that are cherished by their owners, and who's daughters and sons are sought after in public auction by all those who have the means to play at the very top. Would the mares I mentioned bring 9 million? Possibly. Possibly not. But I dont think Ashado would have seen 7 million if one of the big girls was in the sale as well. She would be competing for the sale "highlite sell".

[Coquinerie]

Did Viviana pass? Thats a shame. One of the best producers in the last 10 years.

[nferro9925]

All I can say is it's about time the mares got the right recogniztion (& price)
for their accomplishments.

[LSB]

Toussaud is a 16, soon to be 17, year old mare in poor health. Her current owners must count each foal she produces as a blessing, but I doubt that anyone thinks there will be many more.

Nine million dollars if she were to walk into the sales ring today (aside from the fact that she physically could not walk that far)? I think you're dreaming.