BBAG Yearling Sale 2016

The BBAG Yearling Sale, which takes place next Friday at the sales complex next door to the racecourse at Iffezheim , is by far the most important thoroughbred sale in Germany and now attracts owners, trainers, agents and other buyers from all over the world. This year´s catalogue is arguably the strongest ever and the encouraging results from Deauville last week and from Goffs this week suggest that the sale will be a success. MD Carola Ortlieb reports that “the mood is very positive at present and we expect a strong sale; we have buyers coming from the USA, from Australia (including new people  who intend to have horses in training in Germany), Hong Kong and all the usual suspects from the U.K., Ireland, France  and Italy. The large number of promising younger stallions represented is a big advantage over previous years. ”

The catalogue comprises 250 yearlings and it is quite an achievement of the BBAG to have managed this in view of the fact that the German industry currently produces less than one thousand live foals a year; there are of course a number of yearlings from other countries. especially from France, including from some high profile consignors. It is also now clear that every leading breeder in Germany now uses this sale as their most important market place, which was not always the case in the past.

This has been an excellent year for the BBAG and the results of the German classics have been a big advertisement for the sale. The Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (2,000 Guineas) was won by Knife Edge (Zoffany) was knocked down here for 43,000 euros, while runner-up Degas (Exceed and Excel), beaten only by a nose, also went through the ring but was bought in. Isfahan (Lord of England), bought here for 35,000 euros, quite a bargain considering that he won this year´s IDEE 146^th Deutsches Derby – the twelfth German Derby winner in the past thirty years to come from this sale. Dschingis Secret (Soldier Hollow), a close third in the Derby, is another BBAG graduate. The Henkel- Preis der Diana (Oaks) was won by Wittekindshof´s Serienholde (Soldier Hollow) – she is a homebred, but there are several yearlings in the sale from this immediate family, and Wittekindshof is in any case one of the top consignors.

Another family which is well represented is Gestüt Röttgen´s “D” family, of which the above-mentioned Degas is a leading member this year; it is interesting to note that the top lot at Goffs on the Tuesday of this week was another one from this highly successful line. There have in any case been several recent updates to the catalogue, for example the Brümmerhof-bred Maestro (Maxios) (lot no. 135), whose dam is a half-sister to the dam of this week´s Canadian Group Two winner Messi. Or lot no. 97, a Lord of England half-sister to the dam of Wai Key Star (Soldier Hollow), another group race winner last weekend and one of the top three-year-olds in Germany this season. The other big race in Germany last weekend was won by Dynamic Lips (Excellent Art), a half-sister to lot no. 66, a colt by Mamool.

There are several stallions standing in Germany, including many young ones, who are now well-established internationally. Soldier Hollow is probably the best known of them and he looks almost certain to be champion sire in Germany this year. He has 31 yearlings in the catalogue. Another stallion by In The Wings who is having an excellent season is Adlerflug and efforts are being made to keep him in Germany despite some tempting offers from abroad. Six of his yearlings are catalogued, exactly half the twelve foals of his born last year. Champion sires such as Areion (6) and Tertullian (4) are also well represented.

The yearlings by four first season sires, all Group One winners who retired to stud in Germany in 2014, are certain to be of great interest: Dabirsim, Maxios, Pastorius and Reliable Man. Dabirsim has now moved to Haras de Grandcamp in France, but has left behind two large crops from his time at Gestüt Karlshof. Nine of his 2015 crop of 93 yearlings will come into the ring; results from the recent Arqana sale were very  encouraging, with two yearlings selling for six figure sums.

There were great expectations for Maxios when he moved to Fährhof in 2014. A small number of his foals were sold last year and did well, now comes the acid test – 21 yearlings, a quarter of  his 2015 crop of 84, have been catalogued and there has been a great deal of interest from both domestic and foreign buyers.  Early inspection of his yearlings has already resulted in positive reviews.

Also standing at Fährhof is Pastorius, who sired 31 foals in 2015, of whom eight will be in the ring. In the case of Reliable Man, who stands at Gestüt Röttgen, we also have results from down under to guide us, as the shuttle stallion first stood in New Zealand in 2013. His yearlings did very well earlier this year in both New Zealand and Australia, fetching many multiples of his fee. His first European crop numbers 43, of whom seven will be sold at Iffezheim. Other first season sires with products at the BBAG Yearling Sale are Camelot, Havana Gold, Lethal Fotrce, Masterstroke, Most Improved and Planteur.

Successful international sires with yearlings on offer include Azamour, Cacique, Choisir, Dalakhani, Dutch Art, Exceed and Excel, Fastnet Rock, Footstepsinthesand, High Chaparral, Holy Roman Emperor, Hurricane Run, Iffraaj, Kendargent, Lawman, Lord of England, Mastercraftsman, New Approach, Peintre Celebre, Pivotal, Raven´s Pass, Rock of Gibraltar, Sea The Stars, Shamardal, Showcasing, Siyouni and Teofilo.