The Fall Sale Generates Electricity
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
by Suzie Teater
On the evening of Oct. 28, as the final gavel dropped, TSE/Tattersalls recorded the highest average per horse sold since the Fall Sale of 1997. The anxiously awaited Callaway Hills consignment brought top prices, and other sessions were strong as well, resulting in the third highest average in the history of TSE/Tattersalls. Three days of rain and cold couldn’t dampen the atmosphere inside the pavilion; the Fall Sale generated all the heat and electricity required for a successful sale on its own.
A strong catalogue of 450 entries comprised the sale. The average per horse sold was $6,938, a 53 percent increase over the 2005 Fall Sale. RNA’s (Reserves Not Attained) remained consistent at six percent while outs registered 17 percent. Friday’s evening session was an affirming testament to the success of the Callaway breeding program, and other sessions achieved sizeable accomplishment from their exceptional offerings.
TSE/Tattersalls welcomed the prestigious consignment from Callaway Hills Stables with an exclusive session on Friday evening. A packed house was seated and ready to do bidding on 49 entries from the renowned stable located in New Bloomfield, Mo. Each of the entrants catalogued for Friday night was a product of the historic Callaway breeding program, and each entrant exchanged hands with no reserve. The average per horse sold during the session was $22,839. Tony Weldon represented Callaway Hills with her attendance as the consignment was offered to the public.
The highly anticipated Callaway’s Born With Style turned up the temperature as soon as she entered the pavilion. This exceptional mare is the current Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited (Division 1) Reserve World’s Champion and she justified her title for the bidding public. The dynamic young mare is by World’s Champion and high percentage sire, CH Callaway’s Born To Win. Her first dam is Callaway’s Sunshine And Clover, by the Callaway foundation sire, World’s Grand Champion CH Will Shriver. Impeccably presented under saddle by head trainer Burt Honaker, the handsome chestnut mare entertained a responsive audience. Bidding was fast and active before settling on a $210,000 price for purchase from Robin Vuillermet and Bill Beckley of Killingworth, Conn. Callaway’s Born With Style will now be under the direction of Smith Lilly, Princeton, W.Va.
Ricky Cook, Louisville, Ky., selected several consignments from the Callaway Hills offering. His premier purchase came with a signature on a ticket for $210,000 for the three-year-old show prospect, Callaway’s Clemency, now under the ownership of Frank Cook and Bruce Williams. An exquisite chestnut mare, Clemency is by World’s Champion CH Caramac, sire of 2006 world titleholders My Chanel, Callaway’s Lil Abner and Callaway’s Connotation, among others. Her dam, Callaway’s Bluegrass Girl, is a full sister to Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion CH Callaway’s Forecaster. Presented under saddle, Callaway’s Clemency lit up the gallery with an electrifying presence and gameness, requiring her stablemate, Callaway’s Born With Style, to share her sale topper status.
The two-year-old, Callaway’s Azul, was catalogued as “broke to ride,” and it soon became apparent that she had been doing her homework. With perfect carriage, she engaged the gallery with her under saddle work. This quick study is by World’s Champion Callaway’s Blue Norther, sire of World’s Grand Champion CH Callaway’s Forecaster and well-known World’s Champions CH Callaway’s Born To Win, CH Callaway’s Sugarplum. Her first dam is Callaway’s Sedosa, a full sister to nine-time World Champion CH Will’s Bulletin, 2006 Five-Gaited Stallion World’s Champion Callaway’s Extra Extra. Lora Johnstone signed the $95,000 ticket, purchasing the smart consignment for Platinum Stock Farm, Charleston, W.Va. Azul will reside at Mercer Springs Farm, Princeton, W.Va., under the direction of Smith Lilly.
Callaway’s Cumulus brought an understated elegance into the ring as he entered the gates of the historic Red Mile pavilion. With Burt Honaker again in the irons, the two-year-old chestnut demanded attention with an animated trot and alert demeanor. Staying put and focused, the young gelding demonstrated his proficiency and willingness to work the ring. By Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Callaway’s Cloud Nine, by Callaway’s Full Power, the youthful consignment demonstrated that quality is more important than chrome. Captivating the crowd, Callaway’s Cumulus took leave with an $82,000 bid from Amanda Simpson, signing the ticket on behalf of John and Susan Aschenbrenner, Urbandale, Iowa.
The opportunity to purchase a breeding stallion from the famed Callaway line drew the attention of the crowd and kept the bidding lively. Charismatic and gifted, Callaway’s Happy Cross presented a beautiful picture as he was led down the straightaway to a $70,000 final bid from Fox Grape Farms, Inc., Roanoke, Va. By CH Caramac, Callaway’s Happy Cross is a full brother to multi-titled three-gaited World’s Champion CH Callaway’s Career Girl. The impeccably bred entry has already sired winners from his get of 23 registered foals.
Another Ricky Cook selection was the two-year-old consignment, Callaway’s Drama Mama. The chestnut filly, shown in hand, is by CH Caramac and out of Dear Brat, a half sister to the dam of World’s Champion Worthy’s Dear One. Her second dam is Reserve World’s Champion Dearest One and her third dam is the two-time Three-Gaited World’s Grand Champion CH Oak Hill’s Dear One. This royally bred young mare sold for $50,000.
The stately and gifted Callaway’s Front Man sold in the Friday night session for $42,000. Tannehill Farms LLC selected this two-year-old gelding with the guidance of Todd Graham, Ona, W.Va. This prospect is a son of Callaway’s Main Man and his dam, Callaway’s Bluegrass Girl, a full sister to CH Callaway’s Forecaster, is also the dam of co-sale topper Callaway’s Clemency. Callaway’s Front Man appeared justified in expectation of a promising career.
Acting on behalf of Alice Nunley, Kingsport, Tenn., Ricky Cook made the final bid on the beautiful chestnut filly, Callaway’s Stanza. She is by Callaway’s Blue Norther, and her dam is the five-gaited show mare, Callaway’s Bravura, by Bravisimo T.H. A $32,000 bid sealed the exchange on another exceptional two-year-old mare.
A host of significant consignments from the day sessions contributed to the resounding success of the Fall Sale. Most notable was the thrilling Out Of Reach, a consignment from Allison Burgess, Saint Louis, Mo. Merrill Murray, Merlin Farm, Versailles, Ky., was agent and in the irons to guide the gelding through his five gaits. The seven-year-old campaigner appeared to enjoy his time in the ring and the gallery quickly responded. Out Of Reach was shown to the 2005 Five-Gaited Open and Five-Gaited Championship at the Bonnie Blue Horse Show and the gelding stake and Five-Gaited Reserve Championship at the American Royal. With ears up and a remarkable talent, he drove the bidding to $70,000. Merrill Murray removed his hat and took a victory pass in acknowledgement of the responsive gallery. When the gavel fell, the ticket was signed by Karen Blankenship Shumate, Princeton, W.Va.
CH Shady Creek’s Genius, the consignment from Linden Isle Farms, Arlington Heights, Ill., was expertly presented under saddle by amateur rider Lindsey Bade. The three-gaited park gelding is a seasoned veteran of the show circuit, garnering championships and reserves at all the major Midwest Shows. CH Shady Creek’s Genius has earned impressive ribbons at Louisville in both the park and show pleasure divisions. He performed an expressive trot and mannered straight-line lead changes before being stripped for further inspection. Jeannette Durant of Bell View Acres, Homer Glen, Ill., acted as agent. Ownership passed to Bullet Concrete Materials, Inc., Conroe, Texas, as the bid board lit on $36,000.
Jannie Giles acted as agent for numerous consignments from Hillcroft Farm, LLC, Paris, Ky. The most noteworthy of the entrants was the junior mare, Hillcroft Her Highness. The lovely bay three-gaited pleasure mare has been shown with success, earning ribbons at Rock Creek, Lexington Junior League, Shelbyville and the Kentucky State Fair. She demonstrated her aptitude for pattern work in the pavilion, earning a $35,000 price. Hillcroft Her Highness is by the well-known World’s Champion Harlem Globetrotter, and her dam is three-gaited stakes winner Glendale’s Radiant Duchess. Fred Hensler signed the acknowledgement of purchase for his Horizon Saddlebreds, Fenton, Mich.
Harrison Shiflet perfectly presented the bay mare Gypsy Diamond for public inspection. The exciting and accomplished three-gaited campaigner has a long list of wins at major shows and appeared ready to continue that success for new owner Lori Hoelscher, New Bloomfield, Mo. By World’s Champion sire Gypsy Santana, the seven-year-old Gypsy Diamond was a consignment from Harrison and Beverly Shiflet, Mooresboro, N.C. She sold for $30,000.
A total of 11 horses sold in the $20,000-$29,000 range. They include Callaway’s Set The Bar, purchased by Sarah Rowland, Kansas City, Mo., for $27,000; Callaway’s Rosemary And Thyme, purchased by Tannehill Farms, Barboursville, W.Va., for $27,000; Heirrogant Ellie, purchased by Kay Marschel, Dallas, Texas, for $26,000; Callaway’s Air Force One, purchased by Leatherwood Stud LLC, Paris, Ky., for $26,000; Hello Boys, purchased by Judy Bures, Oakwood Hills, Ill., for $25,000; Our Red BMW LCC, purchased by Ginger Roseman, Davidson, N.C., for $24,000; Heir’s Bells & Whistles, purchased by Norine Smith, Granger, Ind., for $23,000; In Heaven’s Name, purchased by Sarah Rowland, Kansas City, Mo., for $21,000; Halle Berre, purchased by David Blevins, Newbury Park, Calif., for $20,000; Callaway’s Pretty Paige, purchased by A.E. Nelson, Santa Rosa, Calif., for $20,000; and The King’s Firestorm, purchased by Robert Gardiner, Chicago, Ill., for $20,000.
On three dark and rain-drenched days in late October, the Fall Sale cranked up the heat and turned up the lights, inviting the buying public to come in out of the cold. The response was vigorous and enthusiastic. “Competitive show horses and good show prospects for all divisions were in strong demand,” stated TSE/Tattersalls President Ed Teater. “Alan Balch and his fine staff at ASHA are to be commended for their huge effort in producing a streaming video of the Fall Sale via the Internet. ASHA provided a valuable service to those unable to attend.”
The Fall Sale is the final in a series of three for the year 2006. The 2007 Sales dates will soon be announced on the TSE web site, www.tsetattersalls.com.
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