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| Staff Writer |
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The second day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington saw buyers vying for top-quality bloodstock, with several youngsters reaching seven-figure prices. The star of the show was a colt by Not This Time, who commanded an impressive US$1.3 million bid from Belladonna Racing.
Consigned by Glennwood Farm, the colt (Hip 286) caught the eye of Paul Manganaro, who said: "Like the saying goes, 'You can't put a saddle on a pedigree,' so the physical was what really made him. He's always had class every time we went to look at him. He looked like he had that 'it' factor in him. We want big races and we want the two-turn dirt type horses, and we think he can be that."
The ticket was signed by agent Cherie DeVaux, who will train the colt. Belladonna Racing's Bruce Fenimore added: "We're looking for quality. We want to win the big races, so we know we have to go out and spend the money on real quality and that's what we're doing."
Mayberry Farm secured a striking chestnut colt by Constitution for US$1.2 million. Consigned as Hip 283, the youngster was a favourite among CRK Stable's Lee Searing's team.
"He is a beautiful horse and I had five women who scouted him out," Searing said. "How do I not buy the horse when they say this is the best horse we've found so far?"
The colt will be broken at Mayberry Farm before being trained by either John Shirreffs or Peter Eurton on the East Coast.
Runnymede Farm's president Romain Malhouitre praised the colt: "From the day he was foaled he was such a big individual. A powerful horse with a lot of bone and a great mind. If they all could be like him it would be unbelievable. They always exceed expectations."
Three Chimney Farms' stallion Gun Runner continued his strong showing at the sale, with his sixth seven-figure yearling of Book 1. A filly out of the Flower Alley stakes winner Awesome Flower sold for US$1.05 million to Windancer Farm Holdings.
Gun Runner, currently third on the general leading sires list by progeny earnings, has sired four Gr.1 winners this year. His success on the track is translating into strong demand for his offspring in the sales ring.
The second session produced five other yearlings that reached the million-dollar mark, including:
• A Not This Time colt out of stakes winner Stillwater Cove, sold to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for US$1 million.
• A Justify colt out of Undercover Justice, purchased by China Horse Club, Maverick Racing, and Siena Farm for US$1 million.
• A Maxfield colt, half-brother to 2023 champion turf male Up to the Mark, sold to M.V. Magnier for US$1 million.
• An Into Mischief colt out of stakes winner Cariba, bought by agent Mitsu Nakauchida for US$1 million.
• An Uncle MO colt out of Spring Eclipse, also purchased by Nakauchida for US$1 million.
The Keeneland September Yearling Sale has a history of producing top-class racehorses. Previous graduates include American Pharoah, the 2015 US Triple Crown winner who went on to win the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic, and Justify, who completed the Triple Crown in 2018.
As the sale continues, buyers are showing a willingness to invest heavily in well-bred youngsters with potential to shine on the track. The strong prices reflect optimism in the industry and a belief that these yearlings could be the next generation of champions.
With the quality of bloodstock on offer and the fierce competition among buyers, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale is living up to its reputation as one of the most important auctions in the global thoroughbred calendar. As the sale progresses, all eyes will be on which other future stars might emerge from this year's catalogue.