Offspring of Maxfield dominate Firmamento's Spring Sale

Max Champion commanded the sale's top price on Thursday in Villa Elisa when he was knocked down for US$ 50,000 to trainer Lucas Gaitán, acting on agent

As anticipated, the offspring of Maxfield (Street Sense) served as the primary points of reference throughout the latest edition of the Gran Venta Primavera featuring yearlings from Haras Firmamento, held this Thursday at the Villa Elisa Tattersall under the auctioneering of Antonio Bullrich S.A.

Topping the price charts was Max Champion, a dark bay colt foaled October 26, for whom trainer Lucas Gaitán, acting as agent, submitted a final bid of US$ 50,000 following a sustained bidding duel.

Part of the first of two crops left in Argentina by the Darley stallion, he is a half-brother to stakes winner Champion Craf(Mastercraftsman). Both are out of Champion Day (Harlan's Holiday), a two-time winner on the track and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Giacom (Giacomo), as well as stakes winners Colombina (Mastercraftsman) and Jane Cash(Johannesburg)—the latter the dam of Grade 2 winners Master Johnny (Mastercraftsman) and The Great Cash (The Great Day).

The second spot on the leaderboard belonged to Handsome Max, another son of Maxfield, who was secured for US$ 41,000 by Lucas Ventura. Foaled August 16, the colt is a half-brother to Pretty Rimout (Remote), tracing back to a family that delivered outstanding success for Firmamento and previously for Haras Happy End—the same line responsible for champion New Dandy (New Noble) and Grade 1 winner Nice Tradition (Search Tradition), among others.

Rounding out the top three prices was Max Evangel (Maxfield), the second foal out of Clásico Venezuela (G2) heroine Evangel Nistel (Van Nistelrooy), who features Grade 1 winner Evo Emperor (Emperor Jones) on his catalog page. His final drop of the hammer reached US$ 31,000.

The 32 yearlings through the ring—with only 2 missing the engagement—generated a total gross of US$ 603,600, yielding an average of US$ 18,862.50 and a median of US$ 17,513.