Ciaran and Amy Dunne's Wavertree Stables reset the top of the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale standings March 11 with a $2 million filly by Nyquist (Hip 372), who was purchased by Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing.
The bay filly was the second progeny of Nyquist sold for seven figures by Wavertree at the OBS March sale, having sold a $1.2 million colt (Hip 88) to Morplay Racing and Marquee Bloodstock during the sale's opening session March 10.
Both Nyquist juveniles were brilliant during the under-tack show. Hip 372 breezed a furlong in the co-fastest time of :09 3/5, while Hip 88 breezed a furlong in :09 4/5.
"That's beyond all expectations," Ciaran Dunne said about the $2 million sale. "You hope, but someone always tells me, hope is not a good strategy.
"She's by probably one of the top five stallions in the country, if not the top three. She's a beautiful physical, she had an unbelievable work. She vetted clean, and if you can't sell her, you just need to quit selling."
yquist has proven to be a cornerstone for Wavertree Stables, with Dunne consistently realizing significant returns on the stallion's progeny. In 2021, he topped Fasig-Tipton's The Gulfstream Sale with a colt by Nyquist that brought $2.6 million from Coolmore. Three years later, a colt by Nyquist out of Deja Vu brought $1 million at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Dunne's success with Nyquist progeny is headlined by grade 1 winners Tenma and Cavalieri. Tenma topped the final session of the 2024 OBS Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale when agent Donato Lanni went to $850,000 on behalf of Baoma Corp., while Cavalieri commanded $900,000 from Speedway Stables a year earlier at the same sale.
"He's put a lot of meals on the table," said Dunne about the stallion. "We were very lucky that we were associated with Mr. (Paul) Reddam, and he raced him, so obviously we were exposed to a lot of them, and from day one they were just good horses. We kind of got a little bit of a leg up on everybody else, and for us he's just the gift that keeps on giving."
Hip 372 is out of the Lucky Pulpit daughter Smooth and Savvy, who is a half sister to grade 1 winner Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute). She was a $300,000 yearling purchase by Forest Bloodstock at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Hannah Jennings, who signed the ticket on behalf of Boyd Racing, was thrilled to secure the filly for newcomers Randy and Jenny Boyd.
"She was just an absolute queen," said Jennings about Hip 372. "The whole week, she was super professional. Obviously, her stride was fantastic on the track, and physically, she's everything we could want.
"Plans are to be determined on the trainer, but I think a lot of them would be happy to open a stall for her."
Jennings acknowledged the competitive market, but did not think she would have to stretch to $2 million to secure the filly.
"It's been so tough," she said. "We knew we would need to stretch for her, but we never thought we'd have to stretch that far; but when the horse is the right one, everyone's on them.
"Ciaran Dunne sold two grade 1-winning Nyquist fillies out of OBS sales, so hopefully we can be the third."
Dunne's Wavertree Stables led all consignors for the second session, with seven juveniles bringing a total of $4,570,000. Boyd Racing's single purchase of Hip 372 put them in front of all buyers by gross on Day 2.
At the end of the day, 143 horses had changed hands for a total of $28,012,000, including private sales, seeing a 20% increase from last year's corresponding session, where 147 juveniles brought $23,263,500. The average was up 24% to $195,888 from $158,255, with the median up 36% to $95,000 from $70,000. Forty-two horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in an RNA rate of 23%.
The final session of the OBS March Sale continues with hips 545-816 set to head to the ring beginning March 12 at 11 a.m. ET. As of Wednesday evening, OBS had reported 65 outs.
