Big Breeders' Cup Connections to Hill 'n' Dale Consignment

John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency will offer a typically deep and high-end consignment at Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale starting Tuesday, and several of those offerings could look even better depending on what happens at Del Mar this weekend.

Twirl (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a late supplement to the sale consigned as hip 366A and in foal to Hill 'n' Dale resident Curlin, has two relatives eyeing Breeders' Cup titles. Her multiple Group 1-winning full-sister Misty for Me (Ire) is the dam of Roly Poly (War Front), a three-time Group 1 winner this season for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore contingent who will contest the GI Breeders' Cup Mile; and the same connections' U S Navy Flag (War Front), who tries the dirt in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile off of back-to-back victories in the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. and G1 Darley Dewhurst S. Misty for Me's Grade III-winning daughter Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) sold to Bobby Flay for $1.6 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Originally campaigned by the Coolmore partners to a stakes win and two group placings overseas, Twirl raced in the States for Sikura, and hit the board in another black-type event before being retired. The now 8-year-old had a War Front colt bred by Sikura in 2015 before he sold her privately.

“I used to own the mare–I don't own her any longer–but I presented the idea [to sell her] to the current owner,” Sikura explained. “If there was a perfect mare of the moment, she would be it, and this would be the time [to sell]. She has two wonderful fillies–a Bernardini yearling and a Tapit weanling–and she would never be for sale if she didn't have those fillies. It's an opportunity to look at the marketplace, and she'll be for sale. It's a chance to buy a fantastic young mare with her whole breeding life in front of her. I believe it's going to be a very significant sale… I would think she's as well-bred as any mare you could buy anywhere, any time. That family has been perpetuated by the most important outfit in the world in Coolmore, so you're benefitting from that as well.”

Sikura noted that Coolmore was not Twirl's current owner.

“I sold her reluctantly, but I'm very happy that what I told the new owner would happen has happened,” he said. “He made a great deal buying her, and when you're running an operation like I do, the only source of income is the horse business. You have to trade and be active and take advantage of opportunities. There's nothing better than selling a horse to somebody and predicting to them all the percolation in the pedigree and then see it come true–it makes [the buyer] realize you're looking out for them. All sides are happy, which is the sign of a good deal.”

Hill 'n' Dale will also have the privilege of selling superstar Lady Eli (Divine Park) as hip 271. The ultra-talented and resilient 5-year-old is favored on the morning line at 5-2 in her final start for Sheep Pond Partners and Chad Brown in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf.

“It's hard to put into words–she's America's darling,” said Sikura when asked to speak about the opportunity to sell a mare of Lady Eli's caliber. “The story is compelling, but if you set aside the story, she's a fantastic racemare. You'd have to say she's one of the best mares of the past 20 years. She's just remarkably consistent and courageous, and [her breeder] Runnymede are great breeders. It's a great story. There are a few very unique and elite offerings in November, but none more important than her. She's really woven herself into fabric of racing, from the cynical turf writer to the $2 bettor–any way you want to look at it, you have to consider her a great mare and to be able to sell her is a great opportunity. We've sold mares of elite quality before, we've sold world-record mares, and this is the kind of thing that makes all the effort worthwhile, just to be involved in the sale of such a fantastic racemare such as her.”

While he'll certainly be pulling for her, Sikura doesn't think a win in Saturday's event will have a major impact on Lady Eli's price tag when she steps into the ring next Wednesday. The dark bay was a jaw-dropping winner of the 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and boasts five wins at the highest level and nearly $3 million in career earnings.

“I think it would just icing on the cake–it would just be a duplication of her world-class form,” Sikura said. “For her sake, I'd love to see her go out a winner in the Breeders' Cup, and I believe she deserves to be the champion regardless of the outcome… For the owners, for the horse, for everyone involved, a Breeders' Cup win would be fantastic.”

While Twirl and Lady Eli figure to feature prominently among the top lots at the upcoming breeding stock sales in Lexington, there may be more “collector's item” type mares set to sell next week than in any previous year. Sikura believes all that quality will bring out the buyers.

“Like with any event–you look at Keeneland Fall Stars weekend or Belmont Day–the more good horses that assemble in one place, the more there's a critical mass of quality, I think the broader the interest is worldwide,” Sikura said. “I see it all as positive for the sale. Everybody enjoys the opportunity to bid on these kinds of mares, and if there's four or five unique, accomplished mares versus one, I think you broaden your base of interest. It'll be interesting to watch what the highest-end mares can make. The yearling market probably hasn't quite kept up with broodmare values recently, but it remains to be seen if the [broodmare market] will continue to move forward or if there's a readjustment… Who buys them will be interesting, but I believe you can't have too much quality. This is an exciting time of year, and I think you're going to see people respond and come out to buy these high-end mares.”