Callaway’s Guy Park Tops Roster at $160,000 Robertson Equine Logs Strong Spring Sale Results
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
On Day 1 of the Robertson Equine Sales LLC’s Spring auction, the auctioneer’s hammer fell on transactions of more than one quarter-million dollars worth of American Saddlebreds; consigners and RES principals were understandably pleased. According to President Jimmy Robertson, the single-day sales tally was among the best the show-horse auction market has seen in recent years.
And then it got bigger. By the end of Day 2, sales totaled approximately $850,000. Robertson, notorious for frowning in photos, even displayed a toothy grin. “We’re so pleased to see the saddle horse market looking healthier,” he said. “As a third-generation Saddlebred breeder, I’m especially glad that our Spring Sale has made a strong and optimistic statement of confidence about our breed.
“This was a monumental week for the Saddlebred industry.”
Headlined by the Michael and/or Jonna Curry Dispersal of 109 horses, the Monday-Tuesday event on April 7 and 8 opened to a receptive, mixed crowd at the Shelby County Fairgrounds, Shelbyville, Ky. The Curry farm’s breeding stock generated a strong response from bidders; even the many yearlings and two year olds that made their first trip away from the farm’s pastures and arrived still wearing their winter coats were the subject of much interest. “It speaks to the quality of these bloodlines and a knowledgeable group of buyers,” Robertson said. “The outstanding broodmares also represented the program nicely and well justified their sales prices.” Callaway’s Gale, a lovely grey broodmare (WGC sire WC Callaway’s Blue Norther x Callaway’s Carina by CHCaramac) drew a final nod of $10,000 from Melinda Moore, Lawrenceburg, Ky., and Anne Neil of Blythewood Farms LLC chose Gale’s full sister Callaway’s Love Me True, a nine year old, for $15,000.
On Tuesday morning, 22 selected Curry consignments were introduced to a standing-room-only crowd, many of which remained most of the afternoon. In a spirited bidding session that quickly reached $33,000, Elisabeth Goth LLC chose Callaway’s Photo Opportunity, a broodmare sired by Supreme Heir and out of Callaway's Carousel (BHF). Havana Rumba, a proven gaited gelding consigned by B & T Vonderschmitt LLC, was claimed by Melinda Moore for $40,000. Moore also chose Guy On The Prowl, a three-year-old prospect, for $26,000, and Prince Of Prowlin found a new home with Shawn Stachowski, who landed the final bid at $28,000, both from the Curry Dispersal.
It was the “big boy” of the catalog, though, that cast an electric and for a few moments eerily quiet atmosphere in the sales arena. The Curry Dispersal culminated with the acclaimed Callaway’s Guy Park, sire of 2013 WC You Can Kall Me Lucky, WC Good Fellows Park, WC Caroline Brackenridge, RWC Guy From Vegas, ASR Sweepstakes winner Park Avenue Diva, and more. The 15 year old stallion, impeccably turned out and led by trainer Todd Graham of Royal Winds Farm, West Virginia, solicited a final bid of $160,000 to a familiar name on his ownership record: a determined Michael Curry, who dissolved his former partnership in the complete dispersal and reclaimed the horse himself. The emotional Graham shared with announcers Tom Biederman, Jim Price and Walt Robertson that the stunning former show horse “is the nicest horse I’ve worked in my lifetime.”
The remaining Tuesday consignments were also well received, and thanks to viewers online with R.H. Bennett’s Richfield Video Webcast, phone bidding was robust.
Total Consignments 165
Fall Of The Hammer Sales Approximately $850,000
Withdrawn/“Outs” 13, or 7 percent
Reserve Not Attained 4, or .024 percent
Average (Mean) Sale Price $5,902
Robertson said operations were smooth and enthusiasm was high. “We were forced to sell several horses out of the ascending hip-number sequence when we were presented with several dozen additional consignments late into our planning stage,” he chuckled, noting that it prompted the sales firm to publish an addendum to its regular catalog. “But we made it work, thanks to our cooperative consigners and staff.”
Another benchmark set by Robertson Equine Sales was the test run of RESnetSM, a custom database system that permits entries, hip numbers, barn and stall assignments, necessary paperwork, complete invoicing and more to be handled in a Web cloud-based secure environment. The Robertsons, sporting smartphones and tablets in the sales lane, could instantly access up-to-the-minute statistics and information at any point during the auction. “We believe we’re the only equine auction house of our size or in our area to have its own completely custom data system,” Helen Robertson said. RESnet integrates with the popular RobertsonEquineSales.com site that permits consigners to upload entries and media. An online year-round buyer-registration feature speeds check-out on sale day, she pointed out. It’s clear the Robertsons are deploying strategies to augment the traditional, dignified sales ring with the most dynamic technology available. “It’s our investment in ensuring the show horse live auction market will continue to be available to consigners and buyers in the future,” said Helen.
Autumn Sale dates are Friday and Saturday, October 31 and November 1, at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Visit RobertsonEquineSales.com for details.
Contact: Jimmy Robertson, 502.802.6977 or [email protected]
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