Cover image and article images courtesy of Keeneland Sales
At A Glance
>> Trainer Bob Baffert and Donato Lanni purchased the day’s highest-priced offering, going to US$450,000 (AU$616,500) to acquire a colt from the first crop of Unified (USA) on behalf of Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman, and Karl Watson.
>> 239 horses sold for US$18,364,200 (AU$25.26 million). The average was US$76,838 (AU$105,268) and the median was US$52,000 (AU$71,240).
>> The clearance rate of 68.48 per cent was the lowest session of the Sale so far.
>> Through the two sessions of Book 3, 439 yearlings sold for US$40,167,700 (AU$55.03 million).
>> The average for Book 3 was US$91,498 (AU$125,968) and the median was US$65,000 (AU$89,050).
Selective market
The overwhelming feeling at Keeneland was that the market was very selective.
While the auction market has been polarised for several years now, Zach Madden of Buckland Sales thinks the global pandemic and uncertainty in the economy has widened the gap.
“I think the polarisation is definitely accentuated because of how cumbersome COVID has made everything–the economy and the whole way people live. Today was a little bit up and down, but at the end of the day, I still feel like end-users are here and I feel like there may be more people in town with the shifts in books. I am still hopeful. We ended up having a pretty good day and my neighbours back at the barn seem to not be dragging their heads too much. Fingers crossed it continues.”
"We ended up having a pretty good day and my neighbours back at the barn seem to not be dragging their heads too much. Fingers crossed it continues.” - Zach Madden
Bloodstock agent Deuce Greathouse signed for six yearlings during Saturday’s session.
“Everybody is getting more selective,” Greathouse said. “You hear the sellers say the middle market is weak and all the buyers say everything they follow up there to buy is hard to buy. I think the ones you like are maybe a hair more reasonable this year. It seems like we’ve got some stuff done, it’s been difficult, but we’ve got some stuff done.”
Unified colt scores for Greathouse
Trainer Bob Baffert and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni continued to pluck the top colts from the back show ring Saturday at Keeneland, going to US$450,000 (AU$616,500) to acquire a colt from the first crop of multiple Graded stakes winner Unified from the Four Star Sales consignment.
“I like what I’ve seen by Unified,” Lanni said after signing the ticket on Hip 1769 in the name of Baffert’s “Three Amigos” clients, Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman, and Karl Watson. “This colt stood out in Book 3. There is still money here for good horses, so we paid more money than we thought. But everybody is here and the good ones cost money.”
The bay colt is out of Fay Na Na (USA) (Majestic Warrior {USA}), a half-sister to Graded-placed The Truth And K G (USA) (Successful Appeal {USA}). He was bred by John Greathouse’s Greathouse Equine and his family’s Glencrest Farm.
“Everything about him is special: his demeanour, the way he looks and the way he walks, his mind,” Greathouse said. “He’s done everything right since he got here. He showed non-stop and has not slowed down or turned a hair. He’s been an absolute champion.”
Maverick strikes for Violence colt
WinStar Farm’s Elliott Walden, bidding from the back row of the sales pavilion, went to US$410,000 (AU$561,700) to acquire a colt by Violence (USA) for the farm’s Maverick Racing division to lead early returns.
“He’s a beautiful colt,” Walden said after signing the ticket on Hip 1694. “He was our favourite horse of the day.”
Violence is having a standout year and added a third 2020 Grade I winner to his resume with recent GI Del Mar Futurity winner Dr. Schivel (USA).
“Wouldn’t be buying him last year, but you’ve got to look at them this year,” Walden said of the stallion.
As the September sale marched into its second week, Walden said, “There are some really good physicals still coming and I’m encouraged with what is in Books 3 and 4.”
Dobson over the Moon
Everett Dobson, whose Candy Meadows Sales sold a US$775,000 (AU$1.02 million) Quality Road (USA) colt earlier in the Sale, went to US$400,000 (AU$548,000) to acquire a filly by Malibu Moon (USA) (Hip 1934) from the Warrendale Sales consignment Saturday at Keeneland.
Candy Meadows Sales' Everett Dobson (right)
“Everything,” Dobson said with a laugh when asked what he liked about the yearling. “She is just the type that will ultimately hopefully come home to join the broodmare band and make really nice babies. That’s the plan anyway.”
The chestnut filly is out of Rosy Humor (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) and is a full sister to multiple Graded stakes winner Stanford (USA) and a half to multiple graded-placed Hedge Fund (USA) (Super Saver {USA]).
More Candy for The Avengers
The partnership of SF/Starlight/Madaket, nicknamed The Avengers by trainer Bob Baffert, added a third colt by Twirling Candy (USA) to its haul at Keeneland September when SF’s Tom Ryan bid US$385,000 (AU$527,450) to acquire Hip 1878 from the Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services consignment Saturday.
“He is a lovely colt,” Ryan said. “He could have been in Book 2. He’s a beautiful physical and he’s by a very good stallion. We are excited about this horse.”
"He’s a beautiful physical and he’s by a very good stallion. We are excited about this horse.” - Tom Ryan
Ryan added that he was still finding plenty of competition for the top lots as the Keeneland sale reached its one-week mark.
“I thought that was a strong price for that horse, but he’s a beautiful colt and we are big fans of Twirling Candy,” he said.
The partnership’s other sons of Twirling Candy purchased this week at Keeneland were Hip 1878, also purchased for US$385,000 (AU$527,450), and Hip 1175, acquired for US$130,000 (AU$178,100).
