There is no ducking the small number of entries in this year’s CTHS Horses of Racing Age Sale,  However, the 17-strong catalogue contains a solid collection of pedigree, promise and potential - not to mention a smattering of experienced claimer types that should attract a variety of wallet sizes.
 
One of the most alluring aspects of this ‘boutique’ offering is its timing. The sale comes less then a month before opening day at Hastings racetrack and represents the perfect opportunity to secure a ready-to-go runner, with the usual pain of expense associated with buying yearlings back east alleviated.
 
Some 13 hips are two-year-olds and all bar two come to the sale having already passed through previous auction rings.
 
Among the most eye-catching of the previously purchased youngsters is Hip 12, a filly by leading second crop sire LORD NELSON (Pulpit), out of an unraced Fed Biz mare who is a half-sister to multiple Graded Stakes winner, SOCIAL QUEEN (Dynaformer).
 
Unnamed, the filly was one of several two-year-olds purchased by the North American Thoroughbred Horse Company on behalf of the excellent Hole in the Wall Gang project established to boost numbers of horses racing in the Province.
 
The remaining three Hole in the Wall Gang offerings comprise: Hip 2, an ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux) half-brother to Stakes performer BAHAMA BOUND (Empire Maker); Hip 8, a FAST ANNA (Medaglia d’Oro) colt already named CURLIN ROCKS who is out of a winning Curlin mare; and Hip 13, a CROSS TRAFFIC (Unbridled’s Song) filly out of a daughter of UNCLE MO.
 
The most expensive yearling purchase in the catalogue is Hip 14, a colt by GORMLEY (Malibu Moon) out of the dual G2 winner, BRIECAT (Adcat). Named KIKI’S SUNDANCER, the colt was knocked down to Marty Miller for $35,000 at last September’s CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale.
 
KIKI’S SUNDANCER was one of many BC-bred yearlings attracting premium prices at last year’s sale, following the launch of an initiative that rewards owners of horses bred in British Columbia through increased purses. The scheme proved extremely successful and the locally bred two-year-olds offered at this auction should again be popular. 

Chief among the BC-breds could be a colt and filly consigned on behalf of by Peter Redekop. Both by PALACE MALICE (Curlin), the duo arrived in BC as stowaways in mares purchased by Redekop and neither have been offered for sale at auction previously.

The filly, beautifully named Arundel Castle, is out of CALCULATION (Hard Spun), dam of last season’s Stakes-placed performer, WHO HOO THAT’S ME (Keen Ice). The colt, meanwhile, is named ASKMENOQUESTIONS and is a three-parts brother to multiple Stakes winner GLADIATOR KING (Curlin).

The chance to obtain Kentucky bloodlines with a BC-bred suffix should ensure both Palace Malice juveniles are popular come preview day on April 2.

Local freshman sires RALIS (Square Eddie) and COUNTERFORCE (Smart Strike) were popular at the yearling sale and, as we anticipate their first runners this summer, they will again be represented at the Horses of Racing Age Sale.

SILARONE, a son of Ralis from the immediate family of leading former European performer, SAKHEE (Bahri) opens the auction as Hip 1, while the filly FORCE TO REKN WITH, who was led out unsold at last year’s yearling sale, represents Counterforce and is the third foal from local producer NOBLE PERFECTION (Majesticperfection).

While Ralis and Counterforce remain very much unproven, runners by leading young local studs LENT (Pulpit) and BAKKEN (Distorted Humor) have been enjoying excellent results on the track and they will each have progeny on offer at the upcoming sale.

Hip 6 is BLOWINGWITHTHEWIND, a colt by Lent out of the useful Second in Command mare, DANCE THE WIND; while OKANAGAN GOLD (Bakken) brings the sale to a close as Hip 17 and is three-year-old full-sister to CTHS Stakes winner DAD’s LEGACY and a half-sister to another CTHS Stakes winner in RACING FOR GOLD (Finality).

Blowingwiththewind is on of just one of four non-juveniles on offer. The other three features a duo (Hips 3 and 7) inexpensively claimed at Fair Grounds, Louisiana by Willow Creek Farm and MISS NEW SHOES (We Miss Artie) who, as Hip 16, bookends the sale with her half-brother, Silarone.

While small, the CTHS Horses of Racing Age Sale makes perfect sense for the BC market, coming as it does so close to the start of the season. With luck, it will be well supported enough to see it become a regular feature on the western Canada sales calendar.

photo by Michael Bye