By Adam Corndorf
One of Argentina's most famous and historic farms, Haras La Biznaga, dispersed its stock of broodmares Sunday at Sociedad Rural Argentina's Tattersalls, ending an era of 40 years in which the Blaquier family farm was deeply involved with the breeding and horse racing world.
It took auctioneer Carlos Ezcurra and his hammer barely more than six hours to break brick by brick a large piece of the modern history of Argentine racing and breeding, and nine of the 10 top prices were acquired to travel to other lands, with Carlos Heller's Haras Don Alberto buying six of those lots.
There was more than $5 million USD collected by the end of the auction, necessitated by owner Carlos Blaquier's manager retiring and no interest from his sons to helm the business. The average price was $37,430 USD. The two biggest prices represented a new local record for a public auction, with Don Alberto acquiring GSW Giant Remex and GSP Giant Marked, both by Giant's Causeway, for $260,000 apiece .
Not far from them was Sand Puce (Footstepsinthesand {GB}–a winner of 18 races, nine of the graded stakes variety–who was bought by the same farm at $235,000, 5,000 more than it cost Carlos Heller and his people to secure Group 1 winner Boca Inc (Include).
Federico Iguacel, as an agent, acquired Stormy Atorranta (Bernstein)–dam of Classic Winner Atomica Oro (Orpen)–and Stormy Pursuer (Bernstein)–the dam of Champion Hat Puntano (Hat Trick {Jpn})–also for foreign clients, at $160,000 and $155,000, respectively, while GSW South Berk (Southern Halo) reached $150,000, again for Don Alberto.
One has to go down to the eighth-highest price to find an Argentine farm, Diego Zavaleta's Embrujo, which with a final offer of $135,000 left with Stormy Sober (Bernstein), the dam of Champion Sociologist Inc (Include).
La Biznaga, which raised Argentine Triple Crown winner Refinado Tom (Shy Tom) and stood champion sires Bernstein and Include among others, took the first step of three that make up its total settlement; they will sell their yearlings and weanlings in two different sales later in the year.
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