Jean McLean Davis Consignments Top TSE/Tattersalls Fall Sale
Monday, November 3, 2003
Two geldings consigned by Jean McLean Davis and bred at her legendary Oak Hill Farm in Harrodsburg, Ky., were the high sellers at the TSE/Tattersalls Fall Sale, held October 23 - 25 in Lexington, Ky. The already proven six-year-old three-gaited mount, Sir Andrew topped the sale at $55,000. Expertly presented by Melinda Moore, the son of Oak Hill’s Dear Sir demanded attention as he boldly took control of the straightaway and performed three gaits to perfection. Dr. Jerry Mayes of London, Ky., purchased the formidable campaigner whose performance brought an appreciative round of applause as he exited the sale pavilion.
The Man Of The Hour was the second of Jean McLean Davis’ consignments to procure high dollar. Neva VanEss and Marlene LaFleur of Verona, Wis., jointly signed the $28,000 ticket to become new owners of the five-gaited entrant. A seven-year-old gelding by World’s Grand Champion Man On The Town, he was started late and had been shown only lightly, earning top ribbons each time he competed. He appeared settled and prepped for an ambitious career as Melinda Moore effortlessly guided him through five gaits, demonstrating his ability to make an exciting and fresh addition to the 2004 show circuit.
Top selling entrants were distributed throughout the four sessions of The Fall Sale. Faye Dunaway WRF received a final bid of $27,000 from Chelsey Stone of
Campbellsville, Ky. The five-gaited mare is by World’s Champion CH Heir To Champagne and her dam is a full sister to World’s Champion CH Wall Street Week.
Faye Dunaway was shown successfully in the junior gaited division and was cataloged as ready for a juvenile or amateur rider. Colored and chromed, she showed the same sporty attitude and ability of her sire, attributes that should make her popular in the ring. Consigned by James W. Orr of Lee’s Summit, Mo., she was represented by Larry Hodge of Springfield, Ky., as agent, and was presented by Gregory Maldonado.
Friday’s evening session hosted the second annual UPHA Classics Incentive Yearling Sale. Top honors in this session went to After Sunset, a consignment from Linda M. Weber of Floral City, Fla. The stunning bay stallion is by CF First Night Out, sire of World’s Grand Champion CH Yes It’s True, World’s Champion I’m First, etc. His dam, Copper Sun, is a full sister to three-gaited World’s Champions Caramba Rhythm and Tango Rhythm. Abbott Wilson of Davison, Mich., acted as agent as he presented After Sunset to the gallery. Charisma and athleticism brought fast bidding, with the gavel falling on a $27,000 final offer. Jan Lukens of Ravena, N.Y., became the new owner with Lisa McMackin mediating the sale. This yearling, along with the others sold in this special offering, will be eligible as a three-year-old in 2005, when shown in UPHA Classics Classes, to compete for incentive money raised from the proceeds of Friday evening’s session.
John Biggins of Simpsonville, Ky., was up for the June Bilsborough, Dallas, Texas, consignment I Share The Secret. A $26,000 signature from Cathy Hackney on behalf of Gayle Kennedy of Franklin, Tenn., sealed the purchase of this full brother to World’s Champion Keep The Secret. Shown successfully this past year in the three-year-old park pleasure division, this chestnut gelding looked to be a grand prospect for his junior year. After establishing his strength with an impressive trot, he willingly returned to the flat walk and should easily establish himself as a recognizable force in the show ring.
Sacre Bleu was game and “all go” as she hit the arena, and she never let down as the bidding progressed. Shown as an open horse, the majestic chestnut mare covered the straightaway with an enveloping stride, and seemed to take ownership of the pavilion. The three-gaited mare by General Steel has garnered wins at major shows across the country for consignor I-80 Auto Parts, Inc., Gary, Ind., and was expertly presented for public offering by John Conatser of Carriage Lane Farm, Nicholasville, Ky. Randy Cates made the final $24,000 bid for Sarah Gray of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Marlene LaFleur and Neva VanEss had come to Lexington to buy horses, and they found what they were looking for when they selected Harlem’s Recollection. One of two top horses they purchased from the sale, this bay gelding brought $22,000 and will join The Man Of The Hour for the trip to Verona, Wis. Larry Hodge acted as agent for the Joan A. Hamilton entry from Springfield, Ky. The junior three-gaited bay gelding by Harlem Globetrotter was presented by Gregory Maldonado. The entertaining and well-bred colt showed enough talent for the three-gaited division, and yet his accommodating disposition left many options open for the new owner.
High Time’s Sweet Rob Roy was one of two five-gaited consignments to obtain a $20,000 bid for possession. Offered in the first session, the high-headed bay gelding was ridden by Rick Peel as agent for Laura Pugh of Evansville, Ind. Enjoying the support of the gallery, the son of Supremacy’s High Time never backed an ear or slowed as he entertained bids. His impressive performance secured a new home for him at Four Willows Farm, Greenwood, Ind.
Selling in the final session was the Penny and/or Stanley Cukay, Champaign, Ill., consignment, Highpoint’s Redwood. By CH The King Of Highpoint, this chestnut gelding was the winner of the Five-Gaited Junior Exhibitor 15-17 Stake at the 2003 Lexington Junior League Horse Show. Billy Greenwell put Highpoint’s Redwood through five-gaits and earned a $20,000 sales slip signed by Linda Shelor of Crestwood, Ky.
In many respects, the TSE/Tattersalls Sales can be viewed as a microcosm, reflecting the overall condition and health of the Saddlebred industry in its entirety. The Fall Sale was no exception. A workman-like quality was present as a record number of horses were sold. Large crowds arrived Thursday morning and returned for each session; a good work ethic was in attendance as bidding remained steady and focused until the final gavel sounded.
“We have seen our average for horses sold progressively increase over the course of this year, while our OUTS (horses cataloged but not sold in the ring) have drastically declined,” stated TSE/Tattersalls President Ed Teater. “The Fall Sale was both a buyer’s and seller’s market. An equilibrium was achieved and maintained, and a balanced sale is something we strive for,” he explained.
The average for horses sold during The Fall Sale was $3,890. Outs declined to a record establishing 17 percent while RNAs (Reserves Not Attained) held at the standard 8 percent of horses cataloged.
The first of a series of three sales hosted by TSE/Tattersalls for 2004 will be The Spring Sale, scheduled for April 16 - 17. For more information, contact Teater Saddlebred Enterprises, Inc., 205 Parks Lane, Nicholasville, KY 40356, phone (859) 885-7283 or fax (859) 887-5790.
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