Sheikh Hamden’s brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, purchased a filly by A.P. Indy out stakes winner Chimmichurri for $3.1 million to top Monday’s opening day.
“He has a nice pedigree, and is a very strong, very correct individual,” said
Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell. Nichols said the colt will likely go to the New York barn of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
On Tuesday, Keeneland sold 146 horses for gross sales of $57,310,000, down 26.5 percent from the corresponding session in 2007 when 166 horses brought $77,982,000. Average price was $392,534, down 16.4 percent from last year’s $469,771. Median price decreased 9.8 percent from $332,500 to $300,000.
“We felt, and the auctioneers agreed, that even though there were no fireworks today, the sale had a good rhythm all day long,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales. “Overall, it established what the market is; everyone is here and they’ve set the value of these horses. On the positive side, the median of $300,000 is spectacular.”
Cumulative gross sales for the first two days were $113,357,000, down 22 percent from last year’s $145,377,000. Average was down 12.4 percent from $431,386 to $377,857, while the median price of $300,000 remained the same.
A total of 12 horses sold for $1 million or more on Tuesday, compared to 19 during the comparable session last year. Second-highest price of the day was the $1.25 million paid by Troy Steve Bloodstock Ltd for a filly by Giant’s Causeway out of stakes winner Alidiva (IRE). Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the filly is a full sister to stakes winner Oonagh Maccool (IRE), and a half-sister to stakes winners Taipan, Ali-Royal and Sleepytime (IRE).
Four yearlings each brought final bids of $1.2 million – a colt by Distorted Humor out of Grade 1 stakes-winner Crystal Music, purchased by Maverick Racing; a colt by Giant’s Causeway out of the Mr. Prospector mare Debit Account, bought by Padua Stables; a half-brother by Storm Cat to European stakes winners Bachelor Duke and Translucid, acquired by John Ferguson, on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed; and a half-brother by Storm Cat to Horse of the Year Point Given, purchased by Legends Racing.
Legends Racing, a partnership comprised of trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert and Nick Zito, made four million-dollar purchases on Tuesday, taking home the aforementioned Storm Cat colt; a full brother to stakes winner Half Ours for $1.15 million; a colt by El Prado (IRE) out of stakes winner Swift and Classy for $1 million; and a half-brother by Mr. Greeley to Stymie Handicap (G3) winner Windrush, also for $1 million.
Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale continues through Tuesday, September 23. There is no sale Friday, September 12. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. daily.