Ave Sells for $1.4 Million

Grade I winner Ave became the first horse to bring a seven-figure price at the Keeneland January horses of all age auction when she sold for $1.4 million three-quarters of the way through its first session. Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm of Japan purchased the 5-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer, who was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, Jan. 10 in Lexington.

“She is good-looking and has good conformation; she’s a well-balanced mare,” said Dr. Yoshiro Nakaji, a spokesman for Shadai, through a translator. “She will be a nice broodmare.”

Ave will be retired from racing and sent to Japan to be bred, according to Nakaji, who is a veterinarian. Three Chimneys Sales, the auction division of Robert Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm, consigned the dark bay or brown mare to the sale.

“I think it was a strong price, but at the end of the day it makes sense,” said Three Chimneys Farm president Case Clay. “She has a fabulous European pedigree. She is a group stakes winner in Europe, a grade I stakes winner in America, and she ran in Japan. She is a very international mare.”