The Santa María de Araras Annual Sale: Chasing the dream of the next elite runner

The Brazilian operation is set to sell 50 head this Wednesday, carrying a storied track record of marketing elite Grade 1 performers

Vortice, brother to champion Village King / (ARG) SALES

The string of yearling auctions continues this Wednesday with Haras Santa María de Araras taking center stage for its traditional Annual Sale. The event will offer 50 yearlings from the 2024 crop in a 100% online format, organized by the (Arg) Sales auction house.

Bidding is already underway, featuring the farm's traditional discount incentives, with the virtual closing set to begin at 6:00 p.m. local time. The catalog showcases a powerful roster of established sires, including Daniel Boone (Put It Back), Cityscape (Selkirk), Japan (Medaglia D'Oro), Hit It a Bomb (War Front), and Imperador (Treasure Beach). Additionally, the sale will feature members of the highly anticipated first crops by champion Ivar (Agnes Gold) and Capensis (Tapit).

The Brazilian nursery has built a stellar reputation over the years for selling elite performers through its auctions. This decorated list of Grade 1 winners sold at public sale includes stars such as Honest Boy (Heliostatic), City Banker (Lode), Tiger Feet (Campanologist), Honey Rose (Lode), Vespaciano (Daniel Boone), Modern Greek (Bernstein), Hole In One (Heliostatic), Fantastic Four (Forestry), and Vanguarda (Sekari), among others.

Among the standout lots, few command more attention than Vortice, a colt by the notable Ivar out of Villard (Pleasant Tap). He is a half-brother to the Horse of the Year and multiple champion Village King (Campanologist), and to the stakes-placed View On the Top (Seattle Fitz).

Also by Ivar is Hamburgo, the first foal out of the talented Hony Boone (Daniel Boone), winner of the Sibila (G2)and Omega (G2). This pedigree traces back to one of Julio Bozano’s most emblematic families—that of Sings (Utópico) and Bleding (Utópico), which produced Honey Rose, Hole In One, and Honest Boy.

Catalog number 6, Salzburg King (Daniel Boone), is a full brother to Brazilian Grade 1 winner Silenciadora, while Quick Plum (Daniel Boone) is the third foal out of Grade 3 winner Queen Plum (Orpen).

Quelle Max (Daniel Boone) boasts an impressive pedigree as well, being out of the stakes winner Quelle Beaute (Silver Deputy). She is already the dam of stakes winner Queen of the Stone (Daniel Boone), stakes-placed Quebra Nosez (Pure Prize), and Belquis (Exchange Rate)—the latter being the dam of Grade 1 star Helquis (Wild Event)and stakes winner Jumping Flight (Catch a Flight).

Other highlights include Quarantine (Japan), a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Quechua (Pure Prize) and Grade 3winner Queller (Roman Ruler); Sushi Miss (Japan), a full sister to Grade 3 winner Sapporo; and Crispina (Imperador), a daughter of Grade 2 winner Cincinnati Flower (Pure Prize).