Worldventurer * Photo by Coady Photography

Wednesday’s Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale on the grounds of Lone Star Park concluded with significant increases across the board and a big price in the new Horse of Racing Age portion of the auction as Texas-bred multiple stakes winner Worldventurer sold for $150,000. All the important figures were up compared to last year, even without the inclusion of the three older horses at the end of the sale.

The average price increased nearly 20% to $23,564, the median jumped almost 43% to $20,000, buy-backs improved to 30.2% from 32.8% and the gross came in at $1,743,750, up from $1,575,100 for last year’s larger catalog.

A 2-year-old filly by Kitten’s Joy went for $130,000 as the highest priced juvenile. The Kentucky-bred, consigned by Mike Neatherlin as agent for James Tolliver, is a full sister to Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Derby Kitten and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) runner-up William’s Kitten. Named Ring Bit, the filly worked an eighth-mile in a co-fastest time of :10 1/5 and sold to Sallusto & Albina, agent.

Worldventurer, a gelded son of Valor Farm stallion Wimbledon, went to Bryan Anderson, agent. Bred by Clarence Scharbauer Jr. and sold for $14,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Texas Summer Yearling Sale, Worldventurer won three stakes and earned $207,932 for owner Wesley Melcher before going through the ring. The 3-year-old was also named last year’s Texas Champion 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding. Twin Oaks Training Center, agent, consigned Worldventurer.

Other regional stallions and horses also found success at the sale. In addition to being the sire of Worldventurer, Wimbledon also sired the highest-priced Texas-bred, hip #5. Consigned by Hebert Bloodstock, agent, and purchased as a private sale by Jerry Cate and Ela Racing Stable, the filly named Winehouse is a half sister to three stakes horses. Texas stallion Special Rate, who stands at Key Ranch near Salado, had progeny sell for $25,000, $24,000 and $15,000 among five that went through the ring. All-time leading Texas stallion Valid Expectations, who stands at Lane’s End Texas near Hempstead, had a filly sell for $20,000.

Among horses from the Sooner State, an Oklahoma-bred filly by Oklahoma stallion Podium sold for $22,000 from the consignment of Robert Brewer, agent, to buyer Spaeth Mfg. and Machine Shop Inc. Podium stands at Caines Stallion Station near Wynnewood. Another Oklahoma-bred by an Oklahoma stallion, a filly from the first crop of Mighty Acres stallion The Visualiser, sold for $20,000.

Bryan Anderson was the leading buyer with two head for $210,000, and Twin Oaks Training Center topped the consignor list with 14 sold for $416,000.

To view the hip-by-hip results, click here.

A complete recap will appear in the May/June issue of Southern Racehorse.