Oriolo Brings the Year's Highest Price at Santa Inés Select Sale

Stud Tonio went to US$136,000 to secure the son of Il Campione and Group 2 winner Orpen Moon (Orpen)

The Haras Santa Inés Gran Venta Selecta of 2024 foals produced one of the season's headline results last Friday, with Oriolo bringing US$136,000 to establish a new high-water mark for the Argentine sales season.

Purchased by Stud Tonio, the chestnut surpassed the US$129,600 paid for Got Skill (Pneumatic) at the Haras Abolengo sale and the US$108,000 realized by Doble Apuesta (Fortify) during the Haras Vacación auction.

Conducted at the farm of Alessandro Misserocchi and organized by (Arg) Sales, the son of multiple champion sire Il Campione was the subject of an extended bidding duel before ultimately joining the ranks of the successful buyer.

Catalogued as Hip No. 16, the colt is the first foal out of the accomplished Orpen Moon (Orpen), winner of four races at San Isidro and Palermo, including the Clásico Carlos Tomkinson (G2).

The mare is a full sister to Olena, herself the dam of outstanding performer Violeta M (John F. Kennedy), and belongs to the celebrated "O" family that enjoyed tremendous success, particularly at Haras La Quebrada, through names such as Oceanside (Babor), Orca (Southern Halo), Octante (Babor), Oh Toss (Egg Toss) and Ondina Dubai (E Dubai).

In a genuine curiosity, the second-highest price of the sale belonged to a 2024 colt born on the European timetable, making him already eligible to race against members of the current juvenile crop.

A striking physical specimen, Valery Blame, by Blame (Arch), arrived in Argentina in utero when his dam Stormy Atorranta (Bernstein) was imported from the United States.

She has already produced Argentine Group 1 winners Atómica Oro (Orpen) and Atiko Rye (Catcher In The Rye).

After more than ten minutes of spirited bidding, Stud Las Monjitas secured the bay for US$93,000, outlasting trainer Alfredo Gaitán Dassié in one of the day's most memorable exchanges.

Completing the top three prices was Montpellier, another colt, by Fortify out of Marsigliese (Mutakddim), a Group 3 winner and dam of Group 1 heroine Martana. The family also includes Marina Azul (Jump Start), producer of Peruvian stakes winner Nightwish (Orpen).

Acting on commission, trainer Juan Saldivia signed the ticket on the Oct. 26-born bay after bidding US$88,000.

Among the fillies, the session topper was Karima, a daughter of Il Campione and Kat Moon (Jump Start), a maternal sister to champion Kalithea (Exchange Rate) and stakes winner Kaif (Catcher In The Rye).

She was purchased by Stud La Rosaura for US$70,000.

In total, the 40 horses sold—one failed to appear and six were RNA's according to the auctioneer's hammer—generated gross receipts of US$1,322,000, with an average of US$33,050 and a median of US$27,600.

With a strong crowd in attendance, Haras Santa Inés welcomed clients to its home base for the first time to showcase the best of its 2024 crop, producing encouraging results and the highest-priced horse sold in Argentina this year.

As has so often been the case, the farm's unwavering commitment to elite bloodlines paid dividends.