Cover image courtesy of Keeneland Sales
Content courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News America
Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation made the day’s two biggest purchases, going to US$2.5 million (AU$3.65 million) to acquire a Tapit (USA) half-brother to GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (USA) from Hinkle Farms and later spending US$2.15 million (AU$3.13 million) for a Stonestreet-bred colt by Medaglia d’Oro (USA) from the Denali Stud consignment.
In addition to their pair of US$2-million (AU$2.195 million) purchases, the operation purchased a second Medaglia d’Oro colt for US$600,000 (AU$875,000). Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Company was the session’s next leading buyer with five yearlings purchased for a total of US$3,060,000 (AU$4.45 million).
“It was incredible,” Keeneland’s Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said of Monday’s results.
“Obviously, Sheikh Mohammed carried a bunch of the water today,” Elliston said. “What a tremendous supporter he is of Keeneland and we couldn’t be more proud of that.
"Sheikh Hamdan [of Shadwell], as well, was up there; the Japanese got in there and bought; Larry Best had a good day–he got a few nice ones. I saw a lot of domestic bidders who were in there punching away, way late in those extended rounds but who didn’t get it done. That gives me enthusiasm [going forward] because we’ve got two more days of Book 1.”
The Hinkle family’s Hinkle Farms sold a pair of seven-figure yearlings Monday in Lexington. In addition to the session topper, the farm sold a colt by Curlin for US$1.05 million (AU$1.53 million).
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t stop and say something about the Hinkles,” Elliston said. “What a day they had–two millionaires. What a tremendous family. Tom, Henry and Anne Archer are loyal Keeneland customers and we couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Monday’s leading consignor was Gainesway, which sold 11 yearlings for a total of US$5,425,000 (AU$7.9 million) and, in addition to the US$2.5-million (AU$3.6 million) session topper, the farm’s marquee stallion Tapit also was represented by the session’s third-highest priced yearling, a US$1.5-million (AU$2.18 million) full-brother to champion Unique Bella.
During Monday’s opening session, 107 yearlings sold for US$46,231,000 (AU$67,381,682) for an average of US$432,065 (AU$629,734) and a median of US$325,000 (AU$473,687). With 44 horses reported not sold, the clearance rate was 70.86%.
While last year’s select Book 1 session of the September sale was four days, Keeneland has shortened Book 1 to just three sessions this year, making direct comparisons inexact. However, last term’s first session saw 138 yearlings gross US$48,620,000 (AU$70,863,650). The session average was US$352,319 (AU$513,504) and the median was US$260,000 (AU$378,950). The clearance rate was 65.1%.
“I’ve heard it said that this might have been the lightest of the three sessions, which I’m struggling to believe with seven millionaires,” Elliston said. “If that’s the case, and with what we’ve seen in terms of active trade today, we’re still up for some pretty solid returns I think.”
Seven million-dollar babies
Sheikh Mohammed stands champion Nyquist, from Seeking Gabrielle (USA) (Forestry {USA}) under his Darley banner, and he acquired a second yearling half-sibling to the 2016 G1 Kentucky Derby winner for US$2.5 million (AU$3.65 million) on Monday in Lexington. The session-topping Tapit colt was consigned to the sale by his breeder, Hinkle Farms. A few hours later, they hit another home run when a colt by Curlin summoned US$1.05 million (AU$1.53 million) from Shadwell.
Team Godolphin paid US$1.75 million (AU$2.55 million) for the War Front (USA) filly out of dam Seeking Gabrielle here 12 months ago. She was subsequently named Maria Rosa (USA) and sent to Great Britain.
“He’s a half-brother to Nyquist, and the Hinkles do a great job breeding and raising their horses,” said Godolphin representative Anthony Stroud.
“We bought the half-sister here last year by War Front and she’s going very well. So, he was a very nice horse and Sheikh Mohammed liked him very, very much. He was one of our picks of the day, Sheikh Mohammed’s pick of the day, and that was it, really; fantastic pedigree, good physical and he’ll be an exciting prospect.”
"He was a very nice horse and Sheikh Mohammed liked him very, very much. He was one of our picks of the day." - Anthony Stroud
The Bandoroff family’s Denali Stud enjoyed a banner day at Keeneland September Monday, selling a US$2.15-million (AU$3.13 million) colt by Medaglia d’Oro and a Curlin colt and filly for US$800,000 (AU$1.16 million) each.
Hip 138 was offered on behalf of Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet and purchased by Godolphin, which also purchased the session-topping Curlin colt.
“He’s by Medaglia d’Oro, who stands at [Darley] Jonabell, Sheikh Mohammed really liked him and he’s a very smooth-going horse,” said agent Anthony Stroud after signing the ticket.
“It’s always nice to get off to that sort of start,” said Conrad Bandoroff. “We knew coming into the day that we had three very nice horses with the right pedigrees.
“The first two horses brought US$800,000 (AU$1.16 million), and then obviously you knew on 138 that he was popular and had all the right people [interested], but you never let your expectations get that high. He was an incredible physical. Stonestreet raises as good a horse as anybody in the business, and he’s really a testament to the evolution of their program: a homebred, who was a Grade 1 winner from one of their best mares."
"You knew on 138 that he was popular and had all the right people [interested], but you never let your expectations get that high." - Conrad Bandoroff
Shortly before creating fireworks as sellers, Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables made one of Monday’s biggest purchases, going to US$950,000 (AU$1.38 million) to secure a filly by Medaglia d’Oro.
“She had beautiful balance, she was a very sturdy-looking Medaglia d’Oro filly. You know I like those,” Banke, who campaigned champion Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro), said.
Trainer Todd Pletcher was left signing the US$1.5-million (AU$2.18 million) ticket on hip 185 Monday for a powerful ownership trio of Mike Repole’s Repole Stables, Vinnie Viola and Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier.
“He’s a beautiful horse, well bred–everything you look for in one,” said Pletcher. “I’ll talk to all the guys and come up with a plan, but he’ll go to Ocala eventually and I hope he turns out to be as good as he looks.”
Already named Golden Whim (USA), he is out of an unraced full-sister to Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor), who took the 2007 GI Haskell Invitational S. under Pletcher’s tutelage.
A colt by Tapit, a full-brother to champion Unique Bella, will be heading to Japan, but connections are already hoping for a return trip for the yearling. Bloodstock agent Hiroyasu Takeuchi made the winning US$1.5-million (AU$2.18 million) bid to secure the grey colt (hip 172) on behalf of new owner Yuji Hasegawa.
“The plan is to take him back to Japan and hopefully take him on the Japanese road to the Kentucky Derby and bring him back over here as a Derby horse,” Takeuchi said through an interpreter.
Familiar names
China Horse Club were active on Day 1 of the sale, in their partnership with Maverick Racing signing for three colts.
The first of their purchases was a Medaglia d'Oro colt for US$200,000 (AU$291,500) from Woodford Thoroughbreds, an Into Mischief colt from Vinery Sales for US$560,000 (AU$816,200)and a colt from the first crop of Champion Sprinter Runhappy (USA) for US$575,000 (AU$838,062) from Eaton Sales.
Former Darley shuttler Medaglia d'Oro ended the day as leading sire, with seven horses sold for US$890,000 (AU$1.29 million).
The second American crop of Coolmore shuttle sire American Pharoah (USA) were well received off the back of early strong performances from his first runners. His ten yearlings averaged US$317,500 (AU$462,756), with a top price of US$575,000 (AU$838,062).
Conversion rate (as at 10th September, 2019): US$1 equal to AU$1.46.
