Quality Road colt leads seven-figure bonanza at Keeneland September opener

Cover image courtesy of Keeneland

A total of 114 horses sold Monday for a gross of US$57,095,000 (AU$83,095,000). The average of US$500,833 (AU$728,900) was up 25.46 per cent from last year's opening session and the median rose 38.46 per cent to US$450,000 (AU$654,900).

“It was a great day, from beginning to end,” said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. “And to see as many people in the sales pavilion as we did, the packed house, all of those people in the seats, was really exciting. I think it's a testament to the excitement about racing and our sport, in the state of Kentucky, in particular, and we had a lot of principals here. Which was what we want. We want the principals to be back and enjoying this tremendous sport and looking to find their next champions. The atmosphere was fun, the energy was high. It's been that way for the last three days, so to see it culminate with the prices and results we saw today, is really exciting.”

Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy, added: “Just looking at the raw numbers, these are figures we haven't seen in recent years. With nine million-dollar horses in the first session, I think that's the first time since 2007. The first Hip through the ring brought US$850,000 (AU$1,237,000). Hip 8 brought US$1.2 million (AU$1,746,500).

“The energy that was building, that was something we were leaning into, but it was the focus that we worked on with the breeders and the consignors that we needed the best physicals. We were recruiting buyers to come to the sale and now, with the elimination of travel restrictions, people were more encouraged to come back. The enthusiasm for racing at the moment has us in a little bit of a golden era and I think we've got to learn how to not take anything for granted and find how we can develop and work forward on this. Because I think we've got a group of young stallions and a lot of breeders who are producing a really high-quality product.”

Quality Road Colt Brings US$2.5 million

In the moments leading up to the arrival of Hip 97 in Keeneland's ring, a wave of anticipation rippled through the crowd. When the dust had settled, the son of Quality Road realised the highest price of the afternoon when landing a US$2.5 million (AU$3,638,500) final bid from the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Talla Racing and Woodford Racing. The bay was consigned by his breeder Stonehaven Steadings, who also stayed in for a piece of the colt.

“He was just a great physical,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “When you see a physical like that you have to stretch a little bit. A lot of good buyers are well prepared and they have a lot of capital behind them. They are the type of people that usually get what they want. And when you get a number of people who usually get what they want lining up, you have to pay the price.”

Out of Graded stakes-placed mare True Feelings (USA) (Latent Heat {USA}), the colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Feeling Mischief (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and stakes-placed Royal Act (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}), a US$500,000 (AU$727,700) Keeneland September purchase.

Already familiar with the family, West Point and Talla Racing partnered to secure this colt's half-brother by Justify (USA) for US$1.55 million (AU$2,255,800) at this venue last year. According to Finley, Monday’s purchase will go to California-based John Sadler.

Explaining the additional allure in the colt, Finley added, “Quality Road generally produces big, pretty horses and those are the ones that usually perform well on the track. I think this horse is the same type of horse and we hope to get to Saturday afternoon with him.

“We knew he was a special type physically, but when he started to develop as an early yearling, he really developed that walk that he has and that really sold him out there,” added Stonehaven Steadings' Aidan O'Meara. “He really held his own as a Book 1 yearling as a May baby which is very unusual. He had a very forward physique.

“We had nearly 250 shows with him. And he still came up here and bombed around like a boss. The most exciting thing about him, he's still such an unfinished specimen. Who knows what the potential might be with him going forward.”

Bounding’s filly headed to Maher and Eustace

Later on in the afternoon, a Curlin (USA) filly out of Champion New Zealand sprinter Bounding (Lonhro) was purchased by Ciaron Maher Racing for US$250,000 (AU$363,800).

Catalogued as Hip 158, the filly was offered by Denali Stud, acting as an agent for Stonestreet Bred and Raised, and she is the fourth foal out of the daughter of Lonhro, whose seven career wins are headed by a victory in the G1 Railway S.

Bounding herself is out of Group 3 winner Believe ‘N’ Succeed (Exceed And Excel), making her a half-sister to the ill-fated G1 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The filly is third of her offspring to be offered at public auction with her first, subsequent winner Aussie Pride (USA) (Curlin {USA}), having been purchased by Godolphin for an eye-watering US$4.1 million (AU$5,967,000) at 2019 edition of the same sale, while her filly by Medaglia D’Oro (USA) was passed in last year.

The filly, who is also a half-sister to winning War Front (USA) filly Lolloping (USA), is likely to arrive in Australia early next year.

Three Chimneys buys out partnership on Curlin colt

Three Chimneys Farm wasn't ready to part with their Curlin (USA) colt (Hip 169) bred in partnership with Hill 'n' Dale, so they went to US$1.7 million (AU$2,474,100) to buy out John Sikura's operation Monday in partnership with Ron Winchell.

“He is a really lovely colt out of a great mare, who was sold to Japan,” Three Chimneys' Doug Cauthen said. “Having seen him grow up, he really continued to improve. Everybody liked him and Mr (Goncalo) Torrealba and his family wanted to have something out of that mare. Hopefully he will go on and do good things.

“He is a really athletic, medium-sized horse, who moved wonderfully. He was only on the improve. Everybody that looked at the horse was very positive about him, which makes you feel good. He vetted well. Hats off to the partnership. This was one of the last two horses in the group.”

Three Chimneys purchased Hip 169's dam Carina Mia (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) for US$410,000 (AU$596,700) at the 2014 Keeneland September Sale. She won a trio of Graded events, topped by the G1 Acorn S. Hill 'n' Dale later bought into the mare and they sold her for US$2.6 million (AU$3,784,000) in foal to Uncle Mo (USA) at last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

Winchell and Three Chimneys support Gun Runner

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys joined forces to purchase a daughter of their Horse of the Year Gun Runner (USA) (Hip 87) for US$1.5 million (AU$2,183,000). The bay was bred by the Gun Runner syndicate in partnership with the Phillips family, who consigned her under their Darby Dan Farm banner.

“Obviously, we like to support Gun Runner,” said Ron Winchell. “We are partnering with Three Chimneys to support our stallion. We are always happy to buy a nice filly out of a Tapit mare.”

The filly's pedigree features Winchell runners from top to bottom being by their dual Eclipse winner Gun Runner out of a daughter of their Grade 1 winner and top stallion Tapit (USA). Winchell has enjoyed success with the Gun Runner-Tapit cross already thanks to Wicked Halo (USA), who captured the G2 Prioress S. at Saratoga. The cross has also produced G3 Charles Town Oaks winner Society (USA).

“The price and the physical kind of match,” Winchell said. “When they look that good, they bring a lot of money. This cross has worked a couple of times. We are hoping to go back to that well.”

Fletcher gets Into more Mischief

Frank Fletcher has enjoyed a good bit of success with a daughter of Into Mischief (USA) in his homebred, multiple Graded stakes placegetter Frank's Rockette (USA). He returned to that well on Monday with agent Donato Lanni going to US$1.25 million (AU$1,819,200) to secure Hip 52 on his behalf.

“Frank is a longtime friend and client,” said Lanni, who did his bidding alongside the filly's future trainer, Bob Baffert. “He is very unique. He is great for the business. He has had some luck with Into Mischief and he liked the filly a lot. He said, ‘Buy me one filly’, so I wanted to make sure she was the right filly.”

Breeder Stoneway Farm acquired Hip 52's dam Song Of Spring (USA) (Spring At Last {USA}) for US$80,000 (AU$116,400) as a yearling at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton October Sale. She won four of her 16 races, including Keeneland's G3 Allaire du Pont Distaff S., and this is her first foal. Hip 52 hails from the female family of dual Grade 1 winner Dream Rush (USA) (Wild Rush {USA}), dam of Grade 1 winner Dreaming Of Julia (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}), who in turn produced multiple Grade 1 winner Malathaat (USA) (Curlin {USA}).

“When she arrived on the grounds, we saw how good she was,” said consignor Pat Costello of Paramount Sales. “She is very athletic and the first foal out of a Grade 2 winner. She is just beautiful.”

Half to Triple Crown hero Justify to Japan

Horse of the Year Justify (USA), a son of Scat Daddy (USA), might have wowed American fans during his Triple Crown-winning season, however, it was Japanese agent Hideyuki Mori that stepped in to secure his half-brother by Curlin for US$1.2 million (AU$1,743,400) Monday afternoon at Keeneland.

“I really liked the way he moved. Physically, he really looks like a standout,” said Mori. “I look at the horse first, and if the page fits, that's nice.”

The eighth recorded offspring of Graded-placed mare Stage Magic (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}), the chestnut is also a half-sibling to late G3 All American S. scorer The Lieutenant (USA) (Street Sense {USA}).

“I thought he was a fantastic colt,” enthused his breeder John Gunther. “He was a late May colt, so he had a lot more developing to do (as compared to March foal Justify). I think if he was a bigger colt, he would have brought a lot more money.

“I think this colt will be about 16.2 (hands) by the time he finishes growing. He's very intelligent and easy to be around. When you see him running in the field, you can say to yourself, 'There is a runner.'”

When asked about the hammer price, Gunther admitted, “I was hoping he'd stay in America, of course, but the Japanese bought him. It breaks my heart not to see him race here; but, you had to be satisfied with the amount you got.”

He continued, “I hated to sell him. I tried to stay in on him. I spoke to some others who had some interest in him so I could stay in for half, but I guess they thought the price was too high. I think that was mainly because he is a late foal. I think he is going to be awesome-looking in three to four months from now.

“Justify was unbelievable,” he said. “I can't say enough about him. Justify and (GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero) Vino Rosso were probably the best two yearlings we ever sold, looks-wise. He would match those two in about three to four months.”

Well-bred Quality Road filly first to seven figures

It didn't take long for sparks to fly during Keeneland September's opening session on Monday. Hip 8, a regally bred daughter of Quality Road, was the first to hit the seven-figure mark, summoning US$1.2 million (AU$1,746,400) from Claiborne's Bernie Sams, who was acting on behalf of an undisclosed client.

“I bought her for a farm client,” Sams said. “We tried to buy a couple fillies up in Saratoga and didn't have any luck. She was on the top of his list today. It is a good pedigree and good family that is tough to get into. We have a couple branches of the family at Claiborne now. It is exciting. Hopefully she can run.”

Consigned by Gainesway, Hip 8 is out of Princesa Silvia (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), who was purchased by breeder Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $US1.4 million (AU$2,034,000) at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.

The 9-year-old mare is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (USA) (Saint Ballado {USA}), Grade 1 winner Funtastic (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), stakes winners Congressionalhonor (USA) (Forestry {USA}) and Quiet Giant (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}), dam of Horse of the Year Gun Runner, a son of Candy Ride (Arg).

Lukas fires late

Just when it appeared that the opening day's activity was winding down at the Keeneland September Sale, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, flanked by BC Stables' John Bellinger and Brian Coelho, fired their best shot of the day, landing Hip 176 for US$1.15 million (AU$1,670,800), a son of Quality Road.

Bred by WinStar Farm, the foal is out of stakes-placed Checkupfromzneckup (USA) (Dixie Union {USA}), the dam of Grade 3 winner Carribean Caper (USA) (Speighstown {USA}).

“He had a great physique, a real positive eye to him, he seemed like he was really alert,” explained co-owner Brian Coelho. “We liked the pedigree on him and he was one of our top picks of today (Monday).”

Lukas said, “I liked the balance and size. He had enough pedigree to make something of him.”

Lukas, who enjoyed a successful Saratoga meet with seven wins and six seconds from 31 starts while finishing 12th overall in the trainers’ standings, echoed the sentiment.

“The sale is hot,” he affirmed. “Maybe a little less at the very top, but in the middle is very, very strong. We went after four or five nice horses, and couldn't get them. It was very competitive.

Royal Ascot dreams for Justify filly

A filly by Triple Crown winner Justify (Hip 28) was purchased for US$925,000 (AU$1,343,900) by MyRacehorse and trainer Wesley Ward with hopes of heading to the Royal Ascot meeting next summer. Consigned by Antony Beck's Gainesway, the yearling is out of San Saria (Ire) (Australia {GB}), a daughter of multiple Group-placed San Sicharia (USA) (Daggers Drawn {USA}).

“She's a beautiful filly,” Ward said after signing the ticket on the yearling. “(Bloodstock agent) Ben McElroy brought me over to see his short-list and she was certainly right there at the top of the list.

“We are really excited about her, especially to go over to Royal Ascot. She seems to have all the physical attributes, as well as the pedigree. MyRacehorse came in with the filly and we will get a group together shortly to see who is going to take what of the other part.”

Ward has become a fixture at the Royal Ascot meeting since scoring his first win at the meet in 2009.

“If you haven't been, then you should go. That will answer the question,” Ward said when asked about the meet's appeal. “It is a phenomenal place. It feels like you are back in the 1800s when you can only imagine how racing was where everybody is dressed to the nines and they have the best horses, jockeys and owners from all over the world. I would encourage everyone to go and everyone to go with one of their top racehorses so they can really experience it.”

Hip 28 was purchased by Brian Graves as part of his Fish Stables pinhooking partnership for US$300,000 (AU$436,100) earlier this year at the Keeneland January sale, before Justify's hot start at stud.

“I got lucky on that part,” Graves said of the sire's early success. “The truth of the matter is, she walked out and she stood up so pretty. She had all the perfect angles, she had an ass that was this wide.

“She looked like a 2-year-old and I just thought she was stunning. The Justify part came later. I probably would have been in trouble if he hadn't jumped up because I gave a lot for her. We are thrilled with that result. The sale has started off crazy good and it figures to be strong.”

Ryan digging for gold

A regular on the Keeneland sale's scene, agent Mike Ryan swung into action early on Monday, extending to US$825,000 (AU$1,198,600) for a filly by Medaglia D'Oro (USA). Offered as Hip 25 by Denali Stud, the bay is out of Sacristy (USA) (Pulpit {USA}), winner of the G3 Old Hat S.

“She was magnificent,” affirmed Ryan. “She wasn't inexpensive but she's by a superior sire and there was a lot of pedigree on the bottom. I knew she was going to be expensive, but I think it will be that way with anything of quality. But I thought she was an exceptional filly with a lot of quality. She had a nice size, great attitude and demeanor. Hopefully, she can go on and prove us right.”

Purchased by Don Alberto Corporation while in foal to Medaglia D'Oro for US$700,000 (AU$1,017,000) at Keeneland November in 2013, Sacristy is already responsible for stakes winner and Grade 1 stakes-placed Flor De La Mar (USA) (Tiznow {USA}), a US$500,000 (AU$726,500) buy at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale for Godolphin.

A half to Japanese Group 1 winner Mozu Superflare (USA) (Speightstown {USA}), Sacristy also produced Grade 3-placed Catiche (USA) (Arrogate {USA}).

“She gave me a great feel,” Ryan said. “We stretched a bit more than we thought we'd have to go, but for the good ones that you really want, it's the same old story.”

Of the Darley stallion filly, he added, “She was pretty typical (of the sire). Maybe a little bit neater. Some of them can be very tall, we bought New Money Honey here, who was a big, scopey filly. But this one is pretty typical. She has a lot of quality and is a very sweet filly.”

Offering an early assessment of the stock he's seen so far in the first two books, Ryan said, “There is definitely a higher concentration of good horses in Book 1. There are a lot of good horses in Book 2 as well, but they have a nice group to start off.”

The Keeneland September sale continues with a second Book 1 session beginning at 1pm (local) on Tuesday. Book 2 sessions Wednesday and Thursday commence at 11am (local). Following a dark day Friday, the auction continues through to September 24 with sessions beginning daily at 10am (local).