LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Point Ashley, the winner of last year's
Del Mar Debutante, sold for $1.8 million at auction Monday to
highlight the first day of Keeneland's January sale.
John Sikura, the owner of Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington, said
the price was right -- just $300,000 over the filly's reserve -- to
add her to his stable.
"She's a beautiful filly, very fairly priced," Sikura said.
"A world of ability, a great physical horse. I'm trying to really
assemble a group of elite broodmares and prospective broodmares.
She fits all the criteria."
The bay filly, by former Horse of the Year Point Given and out
of Golden Thatch, was foaled May 14, 2004.
She was listed in the catalog as either a racing or breeding
prospect. Sikura said he hadn't decided whether she would race
again, although a tax exemption request on the sale slip signaled
she might be used as a breeding horse.
"Now that I own her, I'll have to figure out what I'm going to
do with her," he said.
In recent sales, Sikura has been an active buyer of broodmares.
During Keeneland's November sale, he paid $6 million for
5-year-old mare Madcap Escapade, the winner of the 2004 Ashland
Stakes, and $4.5 million for her dam, Sassy Pants.
"We try to find those sort of gems that fit," Sikura said.
"There's not that many of them."