The 2017 Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) Yearling Sale, which was held in the official car park at Caymanas Park on Sunday, failed to meet its usual high standards.

The total sales amount on the day was $67.3 million – a decrease of $8.7 million from last year’s total of $76 million. The 2015 sale recorded a whopping $113 million, compared to 2014 which generated $88.7 million while 2013 brought in $81.9 million.

A mere 86 lots were on offer, of which 16 lots were withdrawn and a further one lot was unsold, leaving only 69 lots available for bidders. Twenty-five lots were sold for over $1 million, while 38 were bought for between $500,000 to $1 million. Sixteen lots went below $500,000.

Despite the decrease in the number of yearlings on offer, Peter Asher, vice president of TOBA, said that things should be sorted out for next year’s sale.

“I thought it (the sale) went quite well. We didn’t have the number of horses we would have wished for because the foal crop this year was very bad. These horses would have been born two years ago – that was before Supreme Ventures Limited took over operations of the racetrack this year.

“So the fact that SVL has taken over and things have started to improve, I think the foal crop will go back up. But two years ago, the foal crop was the worst it has been in many, many years. Going forward, I think that once purses start coming up, people will start to invest more in buying horses.

“There is an initiative now with the Jamaica Racing Commission and the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission to spend money to actually bring in fillies who will race and then go on to the stud farms. We hope to implement that next year, and that will help the breeding industry thereafter,” Asher said.

One positive that be taken out of the Yearling Sale was the purchase of a record-equalling $5million yearling. Lot 70, a chestnut filly by Market Rally – Miss Chestnut, offered by Ham Stables Limited, was purchased by trainer Anthony Nunes for one of his Trinidad and Tobago clients. Pontius Pilate, a chestnut colt by Forest Danger – Sea Treaty, was the sole record leader that was purchased at the 2015 Yearling Sale by Shivam Maharaj.

“That horse is a full sister to Mark My Word. She is a good-looking filly and the client in Trinidad wanted her, so whatever the price would be, they would have paid it,” Nunes informed.

Lots 20, 60, 71 and 80 drew some attention at the sale. Lot 20, a chestnut colt by Nuclear Wayne – Brown Sugar, was sold for $2.5 million; Lot 60, a chestnut colt by Blue Pepsi Lodge – Soca Dancer, was sold for $2 million; Lot 71, a bay colt by Nuclear Wayne – Classic Princess was sold for $2.5 million, and Lot 80, a bay colt by Western Classic – Sea Treaty was sold for $3.5 million.

Other notable purchases on the day were:

Lot 11, a chestnut filly by Blue Pepsi Lodge – Onemorefashion – $1.5 million

Lot 55, a chestnut filly by Blue Pepsi Lodge – Good Prospect – $1.5 million

Lot 59, a chestnut filly by Western Classic – Wheels Of Law – $1.8 million

Lot 65, a bay colt by Adore The Gold – Shanda D – $1.6 million

Lot 75, a chestnut colt by Soul Warrior – Supa Lei – $1.5 million

Lot 78, a chestnut filly by Traditional – Power To Peace – $1.9 million