PATRONS of reigning USA Champion First Season Sire Congrats are reaping the rewards on the track and in the sale ring after a string of his high priced youngsters have changed hands so far this year.
Congrats’s current crop of two-year-old’s (2nd crop) have proven to be a particular favourite with buyers. 20 Lots from Congrats second crop have been sold at US auctions this year for a total of US$2,623,000 and an average of $131,150 (median $100k) representing over ten times the stallion’s 2008 fee ($12,500).
The striking son of A.P Indy was the surprise packet of his generation as the sire of 22 individual two-year-old winners including two Grade 1 winners and a further 13 Stakes horses from his first crop. Congrats has already produced a first crop 3yo Stakes winner this season and his progeny give every impression of improving with maturity as their sire did.
Buyers who recognised Congrat’s potential in his debut season have been resoundly rewarded as the success of his opening crop carries over into the new season.
There was heavy demand for Congrat’s second crop at the prestigious Ocala Breeders’ March sale where agent Seth Semkin forked out $350,000 for an outstanding colt who breezed his quarter mile in a slick :21.2s.
”I like his performance on the track, and he seems like the right sort,” Semkin told Thoroughbred Times’ news editor Ed DeRosa
”We tried to get a filly by him at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of selected two-year-olds in training, but we were outbid. (New owner) Mr. B. Wayne Hughes was excited at the chance to get this one, but we knew it wouldn’t be a secret.”
A stallion of considerable ability, Congrats moved from Florida to Kentucky this season and will shuttle to Australia in August for the southern hemisphere season.
