Rhodes River Ranch bought the high seller at the Marketplace Sale during the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Markel Futurity Sales, buying a sorrel colt it owned as a foal.
The Marketplace Sale rounded out a full day of sales at the NRHA Futurity, which condensed all of its sales into one day, Dec. 3. In the Marketplace Sale, Hip 4021, Shiners Topgun, sold for the highest amount during the sale, bringing a bid of $69,000 from Rhodes River Ranch for consignor Smith.
Shiners Topgun
Rhodes River Ranch sold the 2019 sorrel colt (by Colonels Shining Gun) to Smith as a foal, and trainer Sean McBurney was excited to have him back in their program. He particularly likes the colt’s dam, The Prima Ballerina (by Topsail Whiz).
“She was a super nice mare to ride,” McBurney said. “I only rode her like three times, but she felt really nice.”
The Prima Ballerina earned more than $34,000 and was Reserve Champion in the Wild Card Reining Challenge Non Pro Stakes in 2017. McBurney’s goal with her colt is to try to expand Rhodes River Ranch’s business.
“He just seemed like a nice colt,” McBurney said. “He’s a very smooth-muscled colt. His conformation, I think, is really good. I think he’s a spectacular individual.”
Other High Sellers
Hip 4051, Buzz Liteyear (Wimpys Little Step x Moonstone Mega x Marthas Mega Jac), brought the second-highest bid when the hammer fell at $50,000. Cade McCutcheon bought the 2019 buckskin colt, who was also consigned by Smith.
Buzz Liteyear is a brother to NRBC Derby Open finalist Wimpys Mega Step, an earner of $68,000. His dam is an earner of $53,000. The colt is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC.
Two horses brought the third-highest bid of $31,000. The first, Hip 4029, was SS Diggin For Chex (Pale Face Dunnit x Chexynic x Boomernic), a 2019 sorrel colt consigned by Heritage Farms, an agent for Korey Wright.
Jimmy and Nancy Nichols purchased the colt, whose great grand-dam is Santalina Command. She earned $10,000 and produced four money-earners, including AQHA Reserve High Point Junior Reining Champion Peppy N Company. SS Diggin For Chex is enrolled in the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC.
The second colt to bring a $31,000 bid was hip 4039, SS The Wimp Doctor, another 2019 sorrel colt consigned by Heritage Farms as an agent for Tyler O’Neal. SS The Wimp Doctor (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Hermosa Wimpy x Wimpys Little Step) is a brother to Xtra Handsome Shiner, a finalist in the NRHA Futurity Open L3. He is enrolled in both the NRHA Nomination Program and the NRBC.
