THE first week of selling at the Keeneland September Sale concluded on Thursday with a fourth consecutive day of spirited trade and strong results.

For the second consecutive year, this week featured Books 1 and 2 during the first four days, when more than 1,100 horses were catalogued. The sale took a one-day break yesterday.

“It’s been an excellent week one,” Keeneland director of sales operations, Cormac Breathnach, said. “We had a 10% bump in average and median over what was an exciting week one last year. The RNA rate for this week is 25% versus 30% last year. So everything is trending in the right direction.”

To date 669 horses sold for $236,990,000, producing an average of $354,245 and a median of $275,000. Compared to 2021, the gross is up 18% from $200,419,000, while the average is 10% above last year’s $323,256, and the median increased 10% from $250,000.

A striking feature of the trade at the highest level was the consolidation of the 30 seven-figure lots when it came to the sire profiles. Just eight stallions had progeny in this group, with multiple champion Tapit having a single millionaire yearling. Into Mischief and Quality Road dominated, with half of the group between them, Spendthrift’s three-time champion Into Mischief getting the nod over Lane’s End’s Quality Road by one, eight against seven.

Quality Road was, however, responsible for the best of the week, sold in the first session on Monday. Leading the nine yearlings sold for $1 million or more on the day, the most seven-figure lots sold on day one for 15 years, was a colt by the sire of Emblem Road and City Of Light for $2.5 million, the highest amount paid for a yearling in North America and the second-highest price recorded anywhere in the world this year.

“It was a great day from beginning to end,” Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said: “We have a lot of principals here, which is what we want.”

Golden era

Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said: “With the enthusiasm for racing at the moment, we’re in a bit of a golden era.”

A noteworthy feature this week was the participation of Shadwell Farm at the sale, purchasing three fillies for $2.1 million.

The sale-topping colt sold to Talla Racing, Woodford Racing and West Point LEB for the highest price recorded at the September Sale since 2019. Stonehaven Steadings consigned the colt, who is a half-brother to stakes winner Feeling Mischief and from the family of champion Wait A While.

“From the moment he was born, he’s been special,” Aidan O’Meara of Stonehaven Steadings said. “He is a beautiful physical. It’s the most special moment we’ve had in the history of the farm.”

West Point’s Terry Finley said the colt will be trained by John Sadler.

Turning to the Constitution

A PROVEN sire on dirt and turf, WinStar’s Constitution had a pair of millionaire yearlings, and both were among the top 10 lots during the week.

On Tuesday, Dana Bernhard purchased the $1.8 million colt who is out of Grade 1 winner Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker, and he is a three-parts brother to Grade 1 winner Valiance. The colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency,

“He’s one of the best colts we’ve seen in this crop,” Mark Taylor said. “He’s beautifully bred. 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.”

At the same session, and on behalf of an unnamed client, bloodstock agent Richard Knight spent $4.15 million for five horses. They included three of the session’s highest-priced yearlings: a colt by Constitution, who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Kimari, for $1.3 million, a Gun Runner filly, who is a full-sister to recent Grade 2 Prioress Stakes winner Wicked Halo, for $1.1 million, and a filly by Justify from the family of champion Halfbridled for $1.05 million.

The $1.3 million colt is out of Grade 3 winner Cozze Up Lady. “He was absolutely my pick coming in here,” Knight said. “I loved him from the moment I saw him. I thought he was everything we came here to look for. Delighted to get him.” The colt was consigned by Jacob West’s Highgate Sales who are selling at the September Sale for the first time.

Top-notch colts bookend trade

TWO colts, sons of Curlin and Quality Road, were among the highlights on days one and four.

The son of Curlin out of Grade 1 winner Carina Mia sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys for $1.7 million. From the family of Grade 1 winners Miss Match and Miss Linda, he was consigned by Hill ‘N’ Dale Sales.

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni signed for Thursday’s $1.7 million bestseller, a colt by Quality Road from the family of Grade 1 winner Joking and Grade 2 winners and sires Tale Of The Cat and Fed Biz. Consigned by Nardelli Sales, he is out of the winning Street Sense mare Act Now.

“He’s a lovely horse we bred and raised,” Rodney Nardelli said. “He’s got everything. He’s been nice all his life. We’re appreciative of Keeneland’s format and the support of the buyers. Most of the major players were on him.” Lanni said the colt will go to trainer Bob Baffert.

The agent also purchased four other seven-figure yearlings for SF/Starlight/Madaket, two colts by Into Mischief, and sons of Gun Runner and Quality Road.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys made a second highly-significant purchase on Monday when they went to $1.5 million to acquire a Gun Runner filly who is the first foal of a winning Tapit full-sister to Grade 1 winner Time And Motion. This was the best price of the week for a filly.

“She’s a lovely filly with beautiful stretch and scope,” consignor Darby Dan’s Renee Logan said. “She is from a marvellous, classic Darby Dan family. She’s going into great hands.”

Gun Runner colt with Irish connections

M.V. Magnier is listed as one of the group who purchased a son of Gun Runner, through Justin Casse, from Peter O’Callaghan’s Woods Edge Farm. The colt is out of stakes winner Kathballu, and from the family of Grade 1 winner Friendly Michelle. .

“I would say all the big money was on him,” O’Callaghan said. “It seemed like they all followed him up here. He was just a lovely, lovely colt, very much in the mould of his sire. He was a very nice colt when we bought him [as a weanling for $185,000] and did fabulous.”

“Everyone likes Gun Runner these days,” Casse said. “They all seem to have tremendous walks and smooth movement. He has a very good top line, He comes from a good nursery; they raise a good horse. When you have the opportunity to partner up with Coolmore, you have to take it.”

Magnier purchased a colt by Justify from the family of champion Rushing Fall for $1.1 million. Consigned by Denali Stud, he is out of stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Milam, by Street Sense. Also for the same amount was a colt by Curlin from the family of Grade 1 winner Jack Milton who sold to MV Magnier and Repole Stables. Consigned by Hinkle Farms, he is out of stakes winner Orbolution.