Hernon Drops the Hammer... Twice

courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News, 11/09/11

Michael Hernon with the mare Rhumb Line, who sold in foal to Tapit for $850,000

For a brief stretch yesterday, Michael Hernon was in the rare position of representing himself while overseeing Gainesway's sale offerings from the back of the pavilion. That's because the Irishman co-owned hips 423 and 424, the respective dam and half-sister to this year's outstanding West Coast sophomore Zazu (Tapit). Both brought top dollar for Hernon and his partner Dr. Phil Andrade. The former, the 11-year-old mare Rhumb Line (Mr. Greeley--Rose Rhapsody, by Pleasant Colony), brought $850,000 from Bowden Global Equine, while the latter, an Apr. 11-foaled filly by Birdstone, went to Dell Ridge Farm for $300,000.

"Both were here to sell, and they both had a good following," said Hernon. "We're pleased with the results. It is a strong market, and the ultimate acid-test is the market; it will tell you what your horse is worth,

"Hernon originally purchased Rhumb Line as a brood mare in partnership for $20,000 at the FTKFEB sale in 2005, and bred and sold her first foal, the group-placed Art Princess (Officer), for $65,000 as a weanling. That partnership was dissolved and another, with Andrade, was formed when Rhumb Line made $65,000 at the 2007 KEEJAN sale. The resulting foal, Star of Sapphire (Tapit), made $50,000 at auction, and was followed by Zazu, who sold for $100,000 as a weanling. David Ingordo later selected Zazu as a $285,000 KEESEP yearling in 2009, and for Jerry and Ann Moss, the filly won this year's GI Las Virgenes S. and the GI Lady's Secret S.

"Rhumb Line has been a super mare for us, and it's been a thrill this year to breed a Grade I winner," said Hernon. "It's unfortunate she missed the Breeders' Cup [with injury], but she's still got a lot of run lett in her. She beat older fillies and mares in the Lady's Secret S., and she's going to be a force next year."

Meanwhile, Hernon and Andrade sold a full-brother to Zazu to Gary and Mary West's bloodstock agent Ben Glass for $260,000 last November, and yesterday's Birdstone filly pushed Hernon's gross sales out of the mare (from two partnerships) to $900,000. Add that to the mare's price yesterday, and it's a $1.75-million return on investment.

Of the Birdstone weanling filly, Hernon said, "She was a beautiful filly, very elegant. She was a chip off the old block, just like her mom. She had great quality and disposition and class."

Despite the dual sales yesterday, Hernon isn't without a member of the family. In 2009, he brought Art Princess back into the fold, buying her as a 3-year-old broodmare prospect for $50,000. "I co-own her with [Gainesway President] Antony Beck," said Hernon. "She had a Tapit filly this year, and she's back in foal to Tapit, so I still have some of the blood, and am happy to."

Hernon added he would likely reinvest later in the sale. "I'll probably look for a nice young broodmare prospect later in the week, possibly when the market settles down and I can afford it," he said. -LM