Thanks in part to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed, the two-day Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, which ended on Tuesday, August 11, saw a gross increase of 45.6% over 2008 and an 11.1% increase in average price

“We had some good horses,” said Fasig-Tipton chairman and auctioneer Walt Roberston. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about. We had a blockbuster.”

The gross of $52,549,500 on 160 horses sold, as well as the average of $328,434, was the second highest in the sale’s history. The record was set in 2001 with a gross of $62,412,000 and an average of $385,259. The RNA rate fell from 26% in 2008 to 22% in 2009.

The sale topper, a Storm Cat son out of the Mr. Prospector daughter Onaga, sold for $2.8 million to Sheikh Mohammed (Skip Dickstein/Times Union photo), who purchased four of the sale’s five top-selling lots. The high-seller, On A Storm, was consigned by Lane’s End for Summer Wind Farm, owned by Frank Lyon, Jr.

In addition to On A Storm, the $1 million-plus sellers included a Medaglia filly at $1.5 million; a Smart Strike colt at $1.3 million; a Macho Uno filly at $1.2 million; and a Bernardini colt for $1 million.

Synergy Investments Ltd., a Dubai-based company headed by an associate of Sheikh Mohammed, purchased Fasig-Tipton Sale Co. in 2008. Although a long time patron through agent John Ferguson, this was the first time that the Dubai ruler has attended the sale in recent years. His purchase of 12 yearlings for $11,850,000 accounted for 22.6 percent of the auction’s gross.

Founded in 1898, Fasig-Tipton is North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company. Recent graduates include 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, and 2008 Belmont stakes winner Da’Tara.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/32358580