Ace Stud buys three mares as Keeneland November sale opens with gross up 32 per cent

Ace Stud, the Yulong-linked UK-based operation run by Harris Li, bought three in-foal mares for a combined US$1.86 million (A$2.67 million) on the opening day of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale, where turnover rose by almost a third on last year.

The most expensive of the three was multiple graded stakes winner Elm Drive, who cost US$900,000 (A$1.29 million) from Airdrie Stud, agent. She is in foal to Into Mischief. Elm Drive won the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar in August 2021 and retired with five wins from 21 starts and earnings of US$610,800 (A$876,000).

Ace Stud, which is managed by Paul Curran, bought another mare in foal to Into Mischief. It paid US$750,000 (A$1.08 million) for Stormcast, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. Stormcast won the Bison City Stakes and the Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes in 2024, the latter over seven furlongs on the Woodbine all-weather.

The operation’s third buy was a Churchill mare in foal to Leinster, bought for US$210,000 (A$301,000) from Paramount Sales. She is out of Ishvana, dam of Comanche Brave.

Keeneland sold 152 horses through the ring on Tuesday for US$95,929,000 (A$137.51 million), up 31.9 per cent on the corresponding session in 2025. The average rose 5.9 per cent to US$631,112 (A$905,000), while the median fell 5.3 per cent, from US$422,500 (A$606,000) to US$400,000 (A$573,000). Twenty-three horses made US$1 million (A$1.43 million) or more, compared with 17 a year ago.

Quietside topped the session at US$5.2 million (A$7.45 million), becoming the highest-priced mare sold at auction in North America this year.

Stone Farm, agent, sold the four-year-old Malibu Moon mare, a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 placegetter carrying her first foal by Nyquist, to Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds, owned by Peter and Bonnie McCausland.

Erdenheim led the buyers on US$7.8 million (A$11.18 million) after adding Grade 1 winner Kilwin for US$2.6 million (A$3.73 million). Kilwin ran fourth in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and BBN Racing had bought her as a yearling at Keeneland in 2023 for US$225,000 (A$323,000).

Ahavah, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Vahva in foal to Gun Runner, was second best at US$4.8 million (A$6.88 million) to Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa. M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm paid US$3.1 million (A$4.44 million) for Grade 2 winner Admit, in foal to Life Is Good. Claiborne Farm sold her from a family it has held since around 1951 and was also buying on the day.

“We bought a few mares today – just trying to get some new blood infused into our broodmare band. Buying has been tough. We have had to pay more than we were hoping to,” Claiborne’s Walker Hancock said.

Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm said much the same after paying US$2.9 million (A$4.16 million) for Flag Day, from the Earle Mack dispersal.

Pope said she “was hoping (Flag Day) would be around two (million dollars), but everything’s bringing a lot of money, and if you want these kinds of mares, it’s what you have to do.”

Godolphin bought Expensive Queen, a daughter of Lope de Vega and dead-heat winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, for US$2.1 million (A$3.01 million).

Al Ruwais Stables gave US$2.4 million (A$3.44 million) for Eve of War, dam of Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up The Puma. The top weanling was a US$1.3 million (A$1.86 million) Justify colt, a full brother to Two Thousand Guineas winner Ruling Court, bought by Magnier and White Birch.

“We’re almost double the gross from two years ago. This is a trend we’re seeing in the confidence in Keeneland — what we do and the efforts we put into recruiting, not just domestically but internationally,” Keeneland vice-president of sales Tony Lacy said.

The sale continues on Wednesday (local time).