Grant Jumps into the Fray Early at Fasig-Tipton July…
The action had barely gotten rolling at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton July Breeding Stock session when Stuart Grant of The Elkstone Group went to $150,000 for Hip 421, a daughter of Too Much Bling out of stakes winner Kimbell’s Prada (Authenticate). The bid represented the third-highest price of the breeding stock session. Consigned by Stuart Morris, agent for Far From Over/Fountain of Youth Dispersal, the 8-year-old mare was sold with her 2021 Violence filly alongside and is back in foal to the Hill ‘n Dale sire.
“She had a really beautiful foal, that’s what attracted me,” said Grant. “The foal really sold the mare. When a mare produces a foal like that, it can only help the mare.”
Grant, who indicated he owns shares in the hot young stallion, continued, “There is a Violence in her belly, and I own a couple of shares of Violence. If she keeps producing foals like this one, I’ll be very happy.”
Asked if the price tag was what he had in mind, he said, “She was the one I really loved [in the broodmare session]. I thought she would bring less, I stretched to get her. If somebody had gone to $150-200,000, she would have been gone. So, that was top dollar for me.”
Earlier in the session, Grant purchased Hip 402, Medea (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), privately post sale for $40,000. A two-time Grade III winner, the 12-year-old mare is a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner High Yield (Storm Cat). Already responsible for a 2-year-old unraced colt by Classic Empire and a yearling colt by Mastery, she was sold in foal to Violence.
“I really like Violence, he stands for $25,000 so I thought she was good value.,” he said. “I definitely thought that one slipped through.”
Able to secure two out of three on his wish list during yesterday breeding stock session, Grant was pragmatic about the market on a whole.
“This is not the time that people sell broodmares, so it is a bit difficult to assess the market,” he opined. “I’m here trying to get some breeding stock and I was hoping a few would slip by, although I got pushed to my maximum on my top pick. So I guess even though people might not be here for breeding stock, if they see something they like then they’ll take a shot.”
