Fasig-Tipton will conduct its 90th Saratoga Select yearlings sale on August 2 & 3 and vendors will be hoping Sheikh Mohammed is on the grounds again this year.  The Dubai ruler attended the 2009 Spa Sale and he was the catalyst for an 11% increase in the overall average of US$328,434.  

On Day 1 last year, Sheikh Mohammed paid $5.5 million for three of the top four lots including a $1.5 million filly by Medaglia d’Oro.  He returned the following evening to buy colts by Storm Cat ($2.8 million), Distorted Humor ($900,000) and Medaglia d’Oro ($875,000).  

“Sheikh Mohammed particularly enjoys watching horses by his own stallions,” Darley’s chief representative John Ferguson said after the 2009 Saratoga Sale.  “When he sees a good looking yearling by one of his stallions, he’ll take a very serious look at it.”

Significantly, Darley’s rising tide of up-and-coming stallions are well represented at the 2010 Saratoga Sale led by Medaglia d’Oro (11 lots), Street Sense (11), Hard Spun (10), Bernardini (4) and Henny Hughes (4).

Earlier this month, the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select yearling sale delivered encouraging results for Darley’s young brigade at the Lexington sale grounds.  Street Sense (Street Cry) completed the 2006-07 BC Juvenile – Kentucky Derby double and he collected the highest price for any first-year sire with a colt that made $250,000.

The Street Sense colts at Saratoga include:
Lot 53:   Half-brother Hennessy sire Wiseman’s Ferry
Lot 83:   Son of G1 Seattle Slew filly Lakeway (Mother Goose St, Santa Anita & Hollywood Oaks)
Lot 95   Three quarter brother to Champion South American colt Tomcito (Street Cry).
Lot 98   Half-brother to G1 United Nations Stakes winner Request For Parole (Judge T C).