Average, median and aggregate all up from 2021 as 13 lots sell for seven figures
Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded in Lexington on Tuesday with 13 seven figure lots selling and a son of WinStar Farm's Constitution (Tapit) topping proceedings at US$1.8 million when bought by Dana Bernhard.
During Tuesday's second session, 106 sold for US$56,565,000, at an average of US$533,632 and a median of US$462,500. The aggregate was eight per cent higher than the 2021 figure of US$52,300,000, while the average increased 14.28 per cent from US$466,964 and the median was up 15.63 per cent from US$400,000 a year ago.
During the first two days of selling, 220 horses sold for US$113,660,000, averaging US$516,636, while the median finished at US$450,000. The aggregate is 25.42 per cent up from last year's figure of US$90,622,000, while the average was 18.58 per cent up from US$435,683 a year ago and the median was 28.57 per cent higher last year's figure of US$350,000.
A total of 22 yearlings have sold for $1 million or more during Book 1 this year compared to 11 in 2021.
Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said: "With 22 horses bringing a million dollars or more, we're back to the pre-pandemic sale levels of 2018 and 2019, when the sales were really strong. It's exciting to be back.
"We appreciate the sellers, breeders and buyers who worked with us on the sale format,
"They believed in us as we tried to put together the best Book 1 we possibly could. We heard from a lot of buyers who said their short lists were long because there were so many nice horses. That was great to hear. And the results speak for themselves."
Well-related Constitution colt makes $1.8 million
The session topping Constitution colt was sold by Taylor Made Sales as Lot 311 and is out of the Grade 1 winner Last Full Measure (Empire Maker), who is already the dam of Grade 1 Spinster Stakes winner Valiance (Tapit).
"He's one of the best colts we've seen in this crop," Taylor Made CEO Mark Taylor said.
"He's beautifully bred. The blood is there. He looks like a Derby horse: a lot of presence, a big walk, a lot of substance. Very strong. We're just fortunate to have him. Congratulations to China Horse Club; they bred a beautiful horse. I think Constitution is on his way to the top. (The yearling) is a great representation of the stallion. He brought a bunch of money, which he deserved to."
Taylor Made was the session's leading consignor, selling nine horses for $5.41 million.
Constitution stood for a fee of US$85,000 this year, unchanged from 2021. He stood his first season at stud in 2016 when his fee was set at US$25,000.
Into Mischief filly sells for $1.35 million
Courtlandt Farm spent $1.35 million for a filly by Spendthrift Farm's Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Nickname (Scat Daddy). Consigned by Upson Downs Farm, agent, as Lot 359 the filly is out of the winning stakes-placed Borrego mare Nina Fever and from the family of Grade 3 winner Good Potential.
Alex Rankin of Upson Downs said the filly, who was bred by Michael Hui, is the first seven-figure yearling for his operation in 35 years of consigning.
"She's been class from the time she was born," Rankin said. "We're over the moon. I'm still trying to process it."
Knight making an impact
On behalf of an undisclosed client, British-based Richard Knight Bloodstock led buyers by spending US$4.15 million on five lots. They included three of the session's highest-priced yearlings: a colt by Constitution, who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Kimari (Munnings), for $1.3 million; a Gun Runner (Candy Ride) filly, who is a sister to recent Grade 2 winning filly winner Wicked Halo, for $1.1 million and a filly by Coolmore Stud's Justify (Scat Daddy) from the family of champion Halfbridled (Unbridled) for $1.05 million.
"Most of the time, when we go into these sales, we follow a long list and we've got a limited budget, and maybe one horse falls into our hands," Knight said.
"(Today) we've been able to highlight the nice horses, and it's been great to be competitive for them. That's what we all want to do."
Of the Justify filly, Knight said: "We all know how Justify has started as a stallion," Knight said.
"She is a queen of a filly. We are delighted to get her. She will stay over here (in America) and will be trained by Graham Motion. (The buyer) is the same partnership (that purchased the session-topper).
"The market is strong. If you want to buy the nice ones, you have to step up and pay for them. We only have a few (horses to consider); we are not following a long list. We are delighted to get the ones we have gotten so far."
