Images: courtesy of Keeneland
The record-breaking American Pharoah filly is a half-sister to G1 winning trio Beholder (USA) (Henny Hughes {USA}), Mendelssohn (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) and Into Mischief (USA) (Harlan's Holiday {USA}) out of Leslie's Lady (USA) (Tricky Creek {USA}).
Offered by her breeders Clarkland Farm, the filly was purchased by Whisper Hill Farm, who saw off a stern bidding challenge by Godolphin, to secure her.
"You can't fault her," buyer Mandy Pope said of Hip 498, admitting that she expected to pay closer to US$4 million for the filly.
Hip 498, American Pharoah (USA) x Leslie's Lady (USA) (filly) sold for US$8.2 million to Whisper Hill Farm
"She's perfectly balanced, she's gorgeous, she's not too big, not too small. Obviously, we're hoping that Beholder hits it as a broodmare. She certainly has tremendous value should she not get to the races for whatever reason. Like everything else, it's a big gamble."
"She's perfectly balanced, she's gorgeous, she's not too big, not too small." - Mandy Pope
"[She has] a lot more pedigree than some of them, but she doesn't have the race record yet. So, we've got a lot of racing to do. I have my own training centre now, so she'll go [there] and we'll break her and we'll have a track to train her [on] and get her really ready to go. It's a whole new addition to the farm."
It was easily the highest price for a filly in the September Sale history, and the highest of any kind since the US$11.7 million (AU$17 million) paid for Meydan City (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) in 2006.
The global record for a yearling filly was the 5,000,000 guineas (US$8.3 million/AU$12.1 million) Al Shaqab Racing paid for Al Naamah (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2013.
Hip 498 leaves the sales ring as the highest priced filly in the Keeneland September Sale history
It was an amazing result for Clarkland Farm, who purchased Leslie's Lady for just US$100,000 (AU$145,000) at Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale in 2006, the year after she foaled Into Mischief, who would go on to win the G1 Hollywood Futurity S. before embarking on a wonderfully successful stud career with Spendthrift.
Clarkland sold Beholder for US$180,000 (AU$261,000) at the 2011 September Sale and sold Mendelssohn for the 2016 sale-topping price of US$3 million (AU$4.36 million). Beholder went on to win 11 G1 races, including the Breeders' Cup Distaff on two occasions, while Mendelssohn won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and the G2 UAE Derby.
He began his stud career at Ashford Stud in Kentucky earlier this year and is currently serving his first season at Coolmore Australia.
Stunning result
Clarkland’s Fred Mitchell was gobsmacked by the result.
"I don’t have any words,” he said. “It’s unreal. But in my opinion, this was the best individual the old mare has ever had. Can you believe a 22-year-old mare (in 2018) had something like this? But Leslie’s Lady, she still thinks she’s 12 or 13-years-old.”
Mitchell knew she was a particularly special filly as she developed into the likeness of her famous siblings.
“She was born with muscle,” he said. “She was correct when she was born, and she just has such a mind on her. When I watch her – compared to Beholder and Mendelssohn growing up – it looked like she had Beholder’s sprinting speed because when the other fillies came to her out in the field and were running, she was like, ‘I’ll see ya,’ and had another gear. She’s just been special since day one.”
"We dream of breeding a nice horse, and this is what it’s all about for the little consignors and the small guys. The farm has been in the family since 1774, and it’ll be there for the children for the rest of their lives. We’re keeping two fillies out of the old mare; this is the last one to sell out of her. The fillies will stay there for the kids and grandkids.”
"The farm has been in the family since 1774, and it’ll be there for the children for the rest of their lives." - Fred Mitchell
The sale was also a massive vindication for the progeny of American Pharoah (USA), whose first Northern Hemisphere crop have made a substantial impression as 2-year-olds with 12 winners, including three at stakes-level. His oldest Australian progeny are yearlings and he is currently in his third season at Coolmore Australia.
The filly was one of 26 of his second crop to sell in Book 1, which came to a conclusion on Wednesday. He finished with a sale average of US$655,577 (AU$953,000) and his gross of US$17.565 million (AU$25.5 million) was behind only Curlin (USA).
American Pharoah's first Northern Hemisphere crop have made a substantial impression as 2-year-olds with 12 winners, including three at stakes-level | Standing at Coolmore
Familiar faces active
China Horse Club in partnership with Maverick Racing finished Book 1 with eight purchases. Their top price was US$900,000 (AU$1.3million) for a colt by Quality Road (USA) then US$700,000 (AU$1.02million) for a colt by Dubawi (Ire).
China Horse Club also signed the ticket for three horses outside the partnership - a filly by Pioneerof the Nile (USA) and two American Pharoah (USA) colts , including a US$525,000 (AU$763,000) half-brother to Champion filly Peeping Fawn (USA).
Australian agent Craig Rounsefell signed for a No Nay Never (USA) colt in partnership with Radley Equine for US$210,000 (AU$305,000). He had purchased a Medaglia d'Oro (USA) colt from Group 1-placed Summer Solo (USA) off Stone Farm earlier in the sale.
Aquis Farm partnered up with Repole Stables and St. Elias to secure two colts from Group winning mares in Book 1. The first purchase was a Curlin (USA) colt from multiple Group winner Daydreaming (USA) for US$210,000 (AU$320,000) from Claiborne Farm, followed by an Into Mischief (USA) colt for US$325,000 (AU$472,000) from Juanita (USA).
Book 1 ends on massive high
There were seven other million-dollar lots on Day 3 of the sale, driving gross sales for the session to more than US$65 million (AU$94.5 million) and average price to US$524,855 (AU$763,000).
Overall, the 340 horses in Book 1 grossed US$160,463,000 (AU$233.36 million) for an average of US$471,950 (AU$686,000) and a median of US$355,000 (AU$516,000).
“I would describe today’s session as the cherry on top of the three days that is Book 1,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “That’s the way you close out a Book 1. I don't know if I have been through a session like we had today."
"It has just been incredible," Elliston continued. "It just speaks volumes to the breeders that brought these horses here and what we continue to say, which is Keeneland September is where the world comes to shop for the very best horses."
"It just speaks volumes to the breeders that brought these horses here." - Bob Elliston
Mike Ryan, agent for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, paid US$2.1 million (AU$3.05 million) for a colt by Pioneerof the Nile (USA), who is a half-brother to two-time 2019 G1 winner Guarana (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}).
Hip 519, Pioneerof the Nile (USA) x Magical World (USA) (colt) sold for US$2.1 million to Mike Ryan, agent for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds
“He’s a different colour but he reminded me of (another e Five horse) Good Magic (USA) (Curlin {USA}) a lot – his mechanics, his movement, his mind, his demeanor,” Ryan said. “He’s a May foal, but he’s beautifully made. He’s got a stallion’s pedigree."
“Based on how the market is going,” Ryan added, “We knew it would take that kind of money to buy him.”
The colt, out of the Distorted Humor (USA) mare Magical World (USA), was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, who ended Book 1 as the leading consignor with 61 sales for US$23,475,000 (AU$34.1 million).
Hip 485 filly by Empire Maker (USA) purchased for US$2 million by agent Shawn Dugan on behalf of Al Shira-aa Stables
The other US$2 million (AU$2.9 million) purchase on the day was a filly by Empire Maker (USA), picked up by agent Shawn Dugan on behalf of Al Shira-aa Stables.
"We are speechless," Dugan said after signing the ticket on Hip 485. "We are so happy. We really, really wanted her. She is a top physical and a half-sister to a champion in Jaywalk (USA) (Cross Traffic {USA})."
