A massive Mr. Greeley colt finally ignited the anticipated fireworks at the second session of the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings on Tuesday night as Team Valor's Barry Irwin outlasted agent Buzz Chace to secure the sale topper for $2.2-million.
Pedigree
KING OF KINGS out of WIN MY HEART
“I expected him to go for $2.3-million," Irwin said, laughing. "That was my last bid."
Irwin then shook his head back and forth violently while emitting a high-pitched squeal to release the tension.
"He's just an incredible looking horse,” Irwin said. “I come out here with no preconceived notions, don't look at the pedigree first, and this horse just stood out. He has an incredible shoulder and just great balance. You don't see a horse that big with that kind of balance."
Consigned by Gainesway, agent, the colt is the first foal out of Win My Heart, by King of Kings (Ire), a half sister to Grade 3 winner Secret Liaison from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Fever and 1987 champion three-year-old filly Sacahuista.
The sale topper was the only seven-figure yearling on day two, but one of ten yearlings that brought $500,000 or more at the second session of the sale, which helped boost the final average to within a respectable distance of the record 2006 sale. Fasig-Tipton reported 66 horses as sold for $21,085,000 at the second session.
Overall, Fasig-Tipton reported 142 horses as sold for $41,082,000, a 2.4% decline compared with the 2006 sale. Average dipped 10.6% to $289,310, compared with $323,731 at last year’s sale. The buy-back rate remained relatively low at 24.5%.
