As the lone filly by Juddmonte stallion Kingman entered in the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase Sept. 10, Hip 473 naturally attracted the attention of buyers with her unique European pedigree.
Ultimately it was co-breeder Mick Ruis, however, who went to $500,000 to buy the striking bay consigned by South Point Sales Agency. Ruis said filly was too special to let go, and he came to the sale to buy out his partner, Christian Black, so he could race her on his own.
"(Black) bought the mare when he went back to Ireland," Ruis said. "He bought her in foal to the stallion with this filly. I'm buying out the partnership for my half. We knew we were going to have to pay quite a bit because Christian really liked her."
Hip 473 was bred in Pennsylvania in the name of Forgotten Land Investment and Ruis Racing. Her dam, Amber Romance (by Bahamian Bounty), was discovered on a trip to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018 when she was purchased for $267,183 by Karate Bloodstock from the consignment of John Troy.
"We went to Tattersalls, and it was our first venture over there," said Mike Recio of South Point Sales. "It was more a fact-finding mission, potentially—if we found something, we'd buy something. Christian bought two very nice mares, and I ended up buying a race filly who has done OK for Richard Baltas.
"There is nothing like going over to Tattersalls. The hospitality is second to none. We had a great day of finding things. We went around one corner and saw (Amber Romance) with a tremendous pedigree and so much class. Her feet weren't perfect, but we figured we could take care of them and manage her. She came over here, had a fantastic filly, and is being supported by Mick to Bolt d'Oro . She has a Hard Spun now on the ground. It's a family that just keeps giving and gets better and better and better."
Amber Romance is a daughter of Polished Gem, who was a full sister to grade 1 winner Dress To Thrill. Polished Gem produced a bevy of talented foals in Europe, including group 1 winners Search For A Song and Free Eagle, group 2 winners Custom Cut and Sapphire, and group 3 winner Valac.
Ruis said Hip 473 will likely join the barn of his daughter, trainer Shelbe Ruis, in California at Santa Anita Park.
Overall, Ruis said he was pleased with the state of the market during the two-day sale. With horses on the top end continuing to command strong prices and progeny by first-year stallions proving ever popular with buyers, the trainer said it made him hopeful for the winter, when the first weanlings by Spendthrift Farm stallion Bolt d'Oro—his former racing protégé—arrive in the sales ring.
"It's surprisingly a little bit better than what I thought it was going to be," Ruis said. "It looks like it's starting to pick up a little bit, but they're paying good money for the good ones. We're anxiously waiting because we're pretty excited about the 'Bolt' weanlings for November and yearlings for next year. People are really talking about how nice the weanlings are."
