A half-brother to 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver, already named Superfection, was the highest-priced yearling of the Saratoga Selected Sale, selling to Sheikh Mohammed for $1.2 million on Monday evening, August 8th.
Superfection was the only seven-figure yearling to sell on Monday, and matched the sale’s overall high-price when another colt sold to Sheikh Mohammed on Tuesday evening.
Monday’s million-dollar yearling is a chestnut son of Medaglia d’Oro bred in Kentucky by Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm. He is out A.P. Indy’s daughter Supercharger, also the dam of 2011 Grade 3 winner Brethren. Supercharger is a full sister to Sheikh Mohammed’s Grade 1 winner Girolamo, and to the dam of Grade 1 winner and highly regarded young WinStar stallion Bluegrass Cat.
Speaking to the media about Superfection after Monday’s sale, Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock advisor John Ferguson said, “Sheikh Mohammed loved the horse the moment he saw him. WinStar sent the mare to Medaglia d’Oro and he’s had an outstanding start, so it’s the combination of a great stallion and a breeder being brave enough to send a fantastic mare to Medaglia d’Oro at a time no one was sure (how good a sire he would be). All credit and well done to them. I think they got a very good price for a lovely horse.”
WinStar President Elliott Walden told TDN that selling the session topper was a hard decision. “Obviously, with this colt, there are a little bit of mixed emotions about selling him. But John [Ferguson] and Sheikh Mohammed have been very supportive of our program over the years, and I think they’ve bought a good one here. We loved this colt from day one. It’s a beautiful thing when a plan comes together.” Comparing the yearling with his Kentucky Derby-winning half-brother, Walden said, “He is a little bigger at this stage, a little bit stronger than Super Saver, but he has Super Saver’s balance and athleticism. He’s a great mover. We’re excited to see what happens…We want to be reputable sellers–we love to get our horses sold.”
Selling as Hip 56 of 80 cataloged for Monday evening, Superfection was widely touted as the potential sale topper. “He’s just an outstanding athlete, who showed himself off time and again,” Ferguson said. “He marched up and down the shed row without a care in the world…I’ve said it before, but it’s incredibly difficult to breed a horse that looks like that. Obviously, the mare has produced a Kentucky Derby winner. But not only that…it’s a fantastic family.”
Superfection was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. His dam has produced two Graded stakes winners from her first three runners, and the second dam has produced four stakes winners plus the dams of millionaire Grade 1 winner and current WinStar stallion Bluegrass Cat and millionaire Molto Grande.
WinStar Stablemates members can watch exclusive video from the sale. Click Here
