 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Keeneland's September Yearling Sale is ramping up the excitement, with a blue-blooded colt by Justify joining the stellar line-up in Book 1. The half-brother to Group Three winner and multiple Group One-placed Clearly Unhinged has been supplemented to the opening sessions, adding further lustre to an already glittering catalogue.
The addition of this promising youngster comes as Justify cements his position as the leading North American third-crop sire. With progeny earnings soaring and an impressive tally of 13 black-type winners as of August 22, the Triple Crown hero is making waves in the breeding shed.
Spearheading Justify's charge is the phenomenal City of Troy. The three-year-old colt recently stormed to victory in the Gr.1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, demolishing the track record in the process. With career earnings now tipping the scales at US$3,028,555, City of Troy is flying the flag for his sire in spectacular fashion.
Consigned by Thorostock, agent, as Hip 372, the supplementary colt is scheduled to go under the hammer on September 10 during the second session. Bred in Kentucky by Rock Brothers Breeding, the yearling boasts an impeccable maternal line.
His dam, the Smart Strike mare Smart Win, hails from a family steeped in Group race success. Smart Win's own dam, Win McCool, claimed Group Three honours on the track, while the extended family features a host of top-level performers.
Group One winners Magnum Moon, Harmony Lodge, and Pinehurst adorn the pedigree page, alongside Group Two victors Diligence, Graeme Hall, and Sparky Ville. The family's depth is further underlined by additional Group Three winners Win Crafty Lady, Stratford Hill, We the People, First Passage, and Berned.
With a mammoth catalogue of 4,407 horses spread across 12 sessions, the 81st edition of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale promises to be a veritable feast for bloodstock aficionados. Running from September 9 to 21, the sale's online catalogue offers a treasure trove of information for potential buyers.
Prospective purchasers can peruse walking videos of the yearlings and access links to consignors' websites, ensuring they're armed with all the necessary information before raising their bidding hands.
As the countdown to this prestigious sale continues, all eyes will be on Hip 372 and his fellow Justify progeny, as the racing world eagerly anticipates the emergence of the next generation of equine superstars.