According to Howard Hamilton, president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), the breeding industry has to breed more horses for sale in order to have a profitable sale.

The 2023 Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) Mixed Sale of yearlings and two-year-olds reached a total of $86.1 million.

The sale, which took place on Sunday, November 12, in the official car park at Caymanas Park, had 64 lots listed but only 55 went through the ring, 49 yearlings and six two-year-olds (three local-bred and three overseas entrants).

Lot #12, a chestnut filly by Bern Identity out of Pomeroy’s Secret consigned by Hewan Elliott was the topper, going for a sale’s price of $4.2 million. The filly was purchased by Jason DaCosta.

Pomeroy’s Secret has already produced Secret Identity, also by Bern Identity, a winner of five races and earnings of over $5 million.

“I think it [the mixed sale] went extremely well. The number of horses we had were quality horses, and I want to thank the breeders for the support they have given to TOBA Sale,” Hamilton told the Jamaica Observer‘s The Supreme Racing Guide.

“I am very disappointed with a number of the large breeders, such as Orange Valley, Paradise Farm, and others, who have not been supportive of the sale, but that’s life, and we will go ahead and try to improve the quality of the horses coming into the sale.

“We need to breed more horses; that’s why we have brought in the two-year-olds, who will race and be going into the breeding shed afterwards, to improve the quality of the horses being bred,” he further stated.

Lot #1 – a bay colt by Here Comes Ben out of Princess Shine foaled on March 22, 2022, and consigned by Fitzroy Glispie sold for $3.5 million; Lot #3 – a bay filly by Heade Fund out of So Smooth foaled on February 28, 2022, and consigned by Lakeland Farms sold for $3.1 million; and Lot #57 – a bay colt by Soul Warrior out of Lady Najariya was sold for $3 million were also some eye-catchers.

Other notable sellers were:

Lot #41 – chestnut colt by Soul Warrior out of Queen of Bagdad sold for $2.5 million

Lot #24 – a bay colt by Aveenu Malcainu out of Eighteen Karat sold for $2.4 million

Lot #32 – a bay filly by Sensational Slam out of Cup O Tea sold for $2.4 million

Lot #45 – a chestnut filly by Seeking My Dream out of Dancing Donut sold for $2.1 million

Lot #51 – a chestnut filly by Soul Warrior out of My Elle Belle sold for $2 million

Lot #54 – a bay colt by Aveenu Malcainu out of Ruby Rose sold for $2 million

Meanwhile, the foreign-bred two-year-olds outpriced the local-bred two-year-olds.

Foreign-bred two-year-olds:

Lot #62 dark bay or brown filly by Wicked Strong out of Clever Cassie – $2.3m

Lot 63 chestnut filly by Union Rags out of Palace des Voges – $2.8m

Lot 64 bay filly by St Patrick’s Day out of R Caribbean Queen – $3m

Local-bred two-year-olds:

Lot #59 bay colt by Patton Proud out of Finally Ritta You – $1.4m

Lot #60 bay filly by Casual Trick out of Lady Belridge – $1.7m

Lot #61 bay colt by Sunshine N Shadow out of Money Move – $1.3