Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Two horses are set to go through the ring for Highgate Sales this month with exciting racing prospects Ribbon Falls and Virulente (FR) consigned at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton.
Heading to the Fasig-Tipton April Digital Sale is the French-bred Al Wukair (Ire) daughter Virulente (FR).
Starting her career in her home country, Virulente (FR) was quickly snapped up by American owners and finished just 2 ½ lengths behind the winner in the G3 Jimmy Durante at Del Mar in her U.S. debut. She comes into the sale off a Starter Allowance victory on April 15, her second win in five starts.
Virulente (FR) comes from two lines that get better at three and older. Al Wukair (Ire) won a Group 1 at three and his sire beat the great Goldikova among others in his three Group 1 wins at three as well.
Her own dam improved as a runner at four and five and that mare’s sire Fastnet Rock has seen his daughters throw top older horses. Among those older stakes winners are the Group 1 winning duo of Gytrash and Tivaci –who both won their Group 1s at four.
The Fasig-Tipton April Digital Sale opens on April 21 and runs through April 26.
A 3-year-old son of hot young sire Classic Empire, Ribbon Falls walks into the pavilion as Hip 72 during Keeneland’s Horses of Racing Age Sale.
Ribbon Falls is ready to run for his next owner after making his debut on the turf in late March and working regularly at Palm Beach Downs. Those works include three bullets in the last two months on both the dirt and the turf.
A February-born colt, Ribbon Falls has all his conditions intact for new owners and is eligible for the richest “Ship and Win” program yet available in California. He was good looking enough to bring $340,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale when signed for by the Coolmore partners and has every right to improve with age.
Classic Empire was a Champion 2-Year-Old but also proved to be an eye-catching 3-year-old. That season he registered a victory in the G1Arkansas Derby and a second in the G1 Preakness Stakes, only a head behind the winner, in addition to a fourth in the G1 Kentucky Derby. Ribbon Falls’ dam found her best stride as an older horse, winning five straight at five and concluding her career with a stakes victory during that streak.
The Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale takes place from 6:30p.m. ET on Friday, April 29.
For more information on these two offerings or to schedule inspections, contact Jill Gordon at jill@highgatesalesky.com.
