DENALI SELLS DAM OF UNCLE MO- 4TH HIGHEST PRICE AT FASIG-TIPTON

Excerpt from TDN

Playa Maya (Arch–Dixie Slippers, by Dixieland Band), the dam of the undefeated pro-tem two-year-old champion Uncle Mo(Indian Charlie), was hammered down to Coolmore interests for $1.65 million. M.V. Magnier, son of Coolmore principal John Magnier, signed the ticket for the 10-year-old, selling in foal to Broken Vow. A group of Japanese, stationed out back under the bid spotters’ stand, were the immediate underbidders. Craig and Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud consigned the dark bay as hip 122.

Uncle Mo, a “TDN Rising Star”, took the GI Champagne S. at Belmont, then knocked one out of the park with a dominating win in Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Uncle Mo is owned by Repole Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher.

“She’s a very nice mare, and the horse [Uncle Mo] was very impressive over the weekend, and we really liked her,” said Magnier, who stood along the inside rail of the rear walking along with Paul Shanahan and two other associates. Magnier said it was undecided whether the mare would stay in America at Ashford or head to Coolmore’s operation in Ireland. “We’ll talk about it,” he said. “There are no immediate plans, but
we’ll think of something.”

Playa Maya is by Arch, sire of Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame and recognized as a very good turf sire. Playa Maya herself won on the sod, and Magnier confirmed the versatility in her pedigree added to her appeal.

“There’s a couple of options open there, so we’ll have to go to the drawing board,” he said about mating decisions. As the interview wound down, Magnier was asked by
a reporter, “If Uncle Mo didn’t win Saturday, do you buy this mare?” Magnier considered the question for a second and then said with a smile, “She’s a nice mare and he’s a very good horse–and he did win.”