Abolengo Select Sale: A storied auction and the final ring appearance for the legendary Equal Stripes

The legendary farm will showcase the crème de la crème of its production this afternoon at the San Isidro Tattersall, highlighted by the highly anticipated first crop of champion Ivar

In House, a standout daughter of Ivar and a half-sister to G1 winners Intense for Me and In Your Honour / (ARG Sales)

The Haras Abolengo Great Select Sale is traditionally a milestone of every season for several reasons. Speaking of one of the emblematic nurseries of national racing is already a major detail; its continued relevance with great victories ensures that owners and professionals focus on the products offered; and, of course, the "golden genetics" shining in bold in the catalogs are dazzling.

In this regard, 91 percent of the colts and fillies that (Arg) Sales will market this Tuesday at the San Isidro Tattersallare siblings to G1 winners or placed, siblings to stakes winners, or out of stakes-winning mares or producers who are sisters to stakes winners. Such a concentration of quality is not easily achieved.

However, beyond these impressive figures, for Julio Menditeguy and his entire team, this will not be just another auction. The sale marks the beginning of the end for one of the most important stallions of all time in the country: Equal Stripes.

The brilliant bay’s name is more than just a brand at Abolengo. He was born there and returned there after a notable campaign, starting from the bottom and quickly becoming a symbol. The breeder still recalls that many farms supported the son of Candy Stripes at the beginning, a major gamble that turned out wonderfully. The idea that "unity is strength" became a reality.

Equal Stripes has sired—so far—10 champions: El Kodigo, Blue Stripe, Paulinho, Cooptado, Care Lady, Gamuza Fina, Nicholas, Keane, Tetaze, and Shakita. The list extends to 27 if we count G1 winners. Chapeau.

"Equal Stripes achieved everything and has been very important to us all these years. It’s inevitable that bringing his last crop to the ring leaves us with a bittersweet feeling," says Menditeguy. At the same time, a new era begins: "But we are also bringing the first generation of a crack like Ivar (Agnes Gold), whom we have supported greatly and in whom we have great confidence," the breeder explains.

Abolengo also offers offspring by the established Cosmic Trigger (Lizard Island) and Daddy Long Legs (Scat Daddy), as well as sons of Treasure Beach (Galileo)—sire of 9 G1 winners—and the second crop of Pneumatic (Uncle Mo), which continues to generate high expectations.

Reviewing the catalog, it is impossible to overlook In House, a filly by Ivar and the great Intense Look (Halo Sunshine), a winner of 10 races and stakes who became a phenomenal producer at the stud. She has produced Intense for Me (Fortify), winner of the G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini; In Your Honor (Asiatic Boy), hero of the G1 Estrellas Classic; In Her Honour (Exchange Rate), winner of the G2 Eliseo Ramírez; G1-placed International Look (Cosmic Trigger); and is the granddam of graded-placed It’s Love (Cosmic Trigger) and It’s My Look (Equal Stripes).

There will also be plenty of interest in Paxy (Cosmic Trigger), sister to champion Paulinho and G1 winner Positive Mind; Care One (Cosmic Trigger), brother to champion Care Lady and G2 winner Carteame; Satori (Daddy Long Legs), brother to G1 winner and record-setter Satu; Rocknroses (Fortify), full brother to G1 winners Roman Joy and Joy Rosy; Got Skill (Pneumatic), brother to champion Galicado and G1 winner Got Talent; Niña Cósmica (Cosmic Trigger) and Game Changer (Daddy Long Legs), out of G1 winners Stormy Niña and Gamuza Fina, both siblings to multiple stakes winners; or Earth Goddess (Cosmic Trigger), full sister to four-time G1 winner Earth God.

The fabulous pedigrees continue across nearly every one of the 70 products that will be in the sales ring this afternoon starting at 3:00 PM at the San Isidro Racecourse, where nostalgia and hope will mix as owners and trainers put their knowledge to the test to find a horse with a future.