The Keeneland September Yearling Sale hit top gear on Tuesday when a colt sold for $5 million.

Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm paid that sum for a colt by Curlin who happens to be a full-brother to multiple Grade 1-winning mare Clariere.

He is the most expensive colt purchased since 2006 at Keeneland.

Originally from North Carolina but now based in Florida, Pope (69) has consistently been one of the biggest spenders at US bloodstock auctions since 2012, the year when she spent $10 million on broodmare prospect Havre De Grace.

Pope also bought the top lot at Monday's opening session when she paid $2.2 million for a colt by Gun Runner.

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier has also been very active on the first two days of the sale. On Monday Magnier - acting with Peter Brant of White Birch - bought a colt by first-season sire Charlatan for $1.4 million.

On Tuesday, Magnier and White Birch purchased a Curlin colt for $1.3 million, and they gave $1 million for a Not This Time colt. Separately Magnier acquired a Maxfield half-brother to Up To The Mark for $1 million.

Amo Racing also bought seven-figure yearlings during both the Monday and Tuesday sessions.

Keeneland sold 14 million-dollar horses on Monday and another 16 horses reached that mark on Tuesday.

FULL REPORT ON KEENELAND SALES IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND