The 2013 NCHA Futurity Sales averaged $21,323, just $47.00 shy of the all-time record of $21,370 set in 2006. Net sales for the 618 lots that sold was $13,177,650; 82 percent of the 811 lots offered were sold.
“It was a fantastic sale,” said Milt Bradford, a Western Bloodstock founding partner. “Prices stayed steady all week, completed sales were great, and the Select Yearling Sale and Gala was a bigger success than anyone expected for its first year.”
The high seller overall during the Futurity Sales, A Smooth Satin Doll at $210,000, came from the Select Yearling Sale & Gala, a totally new concept conceived by Barwick this year. Fifty of the cutting industry’s best yearlings were spotlighted for sale, after prospective buyers enjoyed dinner served by candlelight and a video presentation honoring the dams of each yearling.
A Smooth Satin Doll, by Smooth As A Cat and out of top 10 producer Autumn Boon, was consigned by Tommy Manion and purchased by Lynn Leedy, Aubrey, Tex. The second-highest selling yearling filly was Smoothee Lou at $157,000. The Smooth As A Cat daughter out of Louella Again, by Dual Pep, was purchased by Miller Wade Smith, Geary, Okla. from Oxbow Ranch. Smith also purchased the high-selling yearling stallion, Denvers Purdy, by Metallic Cat, for $150,000 from Tejas Trading Company.
The 2013 NCHA Futurity Sales, kicked off on Monday, December 9, with the NCHA Futurity 2-Year-Old Sale, where Metallic Little Cat, a red roan Metallic Cat filly, trained and consigned by Hayden Upton, brought $190,000. Later in the week, buyer Rusty Simpson, Nemo, Tex., would see his very first cutting horse purchase (during the 2012 NCHA Futurity Sales), Dual Smart Kitty, sired by Dual Smart Rey, win the NCHA Open Futurity under Clay Johnson.
Fourteen-year-old Dual Pep daughter Zee Dually, earner of $228,410 and a leading producer, also sold for $190,000, along with three embryos, two by Smooth As A Cat and one by Hydrive Cat. Consigned by Frank and Belinda Vandersloot, she sold to to Tommy Manion.
Kittyswood, a 4-year-old Woody Be Tuff daughter in training with Steve Oehlhof, was the high-selling show horse at $125,000. Robert Ballard was the consignor and she was purchased by Alvin Fults.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support of the consignors and buyers this year,” said Barwick. “I hoped to make a big splash the first year out. I think we accomplished that and I am already working on things to improve and make bigger and better for next year.”
For complete NCHA Futurity Sales results, visit the website at www.westernbloodstock.com