GISW Pinehurst Sells for Record Price in FT Digital Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

Last year's GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity S. winner Pinehurst (Twirling Candy–Giant Win, by Giant's Causeway) sold Nov. 22 in a Fasig-Tipton Digital 'Flash Sale' for a record digital sales price in the U.S. to an undisclosed buyer, according to Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales. The price also was undisclosed.

“Tom Ryan [of SF Bloodstock] called us on Wednesday of last week and we were able to open the sale up the very next day, which showed the versatility of the website and how quickly we could get everything going,” said Aaron.

Aaron said Pinehurst appealed to both owners and breeders worldwide and, as the sale progressed, they had interested parties particularly in the Middle East and the U.S. He said Fasig-Tipton had over 1,000 people log onto the website during the sale with registered bidders from all over the world. Aaron said there were a total of 41 individual bids on the horse.

“He was already a Grade I winner and a beautiful specimen,” said Aaron, “so not only did the horse really fit some races, particularly in the Middle East, but there were also a lot of breeders who were looking at him as a stallion. We had interested parties from all over the world with people from all different backgrounds interested in the horse.”

According to Aaron, the buyer wished to remain anonymous at this time as Pinehurst is ultimately going to be a stallion in the U.S. and wants to release the farm and information himself. Aaron did say he was “99% sure” the horse would be standing in Kentucky.

“Basically, what we tried to do was make it as beneficial for the buyers and sellers as we possibly could,” said Aaron. “What we have done more than anything is show just how liquid horses can be and how we can turn on a dime to provide an experience for the buyers and sellers that is equivalent to the experience they can expect at a live auction.”

In addition to winning the Del Mar Futurity, Pinehurst also won the G3 Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby in Saudi Arabia and was second in the GII San Vicente S. Trained by both Bob Baffert and John Terranova, Pinehurst's current race record stands at 7-3-1-0 with earnings of more than $1.2 million. His ownership group consisted of the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm. Bred on a similar cross to superstar stallion Gun Runner, Pinehurst was consigned to Fasig-Tipton by Elite, agent, as a racing or stallion prospect.

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