Keeneland September Continues with $1.3million Nyquist Colt

Media Release - Friday September 13

CHC Inc., Maverick Racing and Siena Farm paid $1.3 million for a colt by Nyquist and John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock paid $1.2 million for a son of the same stallion to lead Thursday’s fourth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and increase the total number of horses to bring $1 million or more during the 2024 edition of the auction to 36. Meanwhile, the momentum of Week 1 continued to drive significant gains again today, resulting in double-digit growth in gross, average and median prices.

Week 1 began Monday, Sept. 9, and featured Books 1 and 2 of more than 1,100 horses, among the sale’s finest individuals based on pedigree and conformation, in the catalog. The format was designed to offer the largest number of exceptional horses possible to major domestic and foreign buyers before the sale takes a one-day hiatus on Friday, Sept. 13.

On Thursday, a total of 216 yearlings sold through the ring for $63,046,000, up 18.17% from last year’s comparable session when 207 horses brought $53,351,000. The average of $291,880 increased 13.25% over $257,734 in 2023. The median rose 25% from $200,000 to $250,000.

Cumulatively at the close of Week 1, 640 horses have grossed $252,528,000, an increase of 7.78% from last year’s $234,300,000 when 637 horses sold. The average of $394,575 rose 7.27% from $367,818 in 2023, while the median of $300,000 remains unchanged from last year.

$1.3million Nyquist colt from Spa Treatment

“It was a great day. We are very pleased; it was very strong,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The median is up 25% over last year, which is a metric that we always use and that lends to the fact that it was really difficult to buy a nice horse. Everyone was fighting over the ones they wanted, and it was a very vibrant trade.

“It’s nice to see them (buyers) eyeballing each other,” Lacy said. “We saw Michael Acosta from Jebel Ali Stable buying four and we’re seeing the Japanese very much in play still. There are a lot of Irish here that are looking to buy for pinhooking and Coolmore bought today. It’s a very, very vibrant and broad marketplace still. It gives you the feel that a lot of these people are not going anywhere. They’re going to be around next week.”

“To sum up Week 1, we want to thank the breeders and consignors that supported us. This is a great crop of yearlings. They’ve been very generous in what they’ve sent to us to catalog,” Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “We’re really pleased with the depth of the buyer base. The buyers have come back in force and really been here to challenge each other. We’re seeing evidence that buyers are extending their stays and new people are showing up, and this bodes really well into next week. The quality will stay strong for several days to come. We’re looking forward to it, the momentum in there, and it should be a great week next week.”

Advertisement

Purchased by CHC Inc., Maverick Racing and Siena Farm, the session topper is out of Spa Treatment, a winning daughter of Bernardini, and from the family of Grade 1 winner Joe’s Tammie and stakes winners Silver Knockers and Manipulated. He was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent.

“Nyquist over Bernardini is a great cross,” Elliott Walden of Maverick Racing said. “That cross works very well. It’s a high-statistical cross, and he’s a beautiful horse – one of our favorites of the sale. Book 1, Book 2 – it didn’t matter. We were very bullish on him.

“Book 2 has been very strong,” Walden added, “and it’s a competitive market for the good horses.”

“He was always a beautiful colt, and we felt like Book 2 would suit him better: He would stand out,” consignor Ron Blake said. “He had such presence in the way he carries himself in everything he does. He is first class, and the buyers could see that. It’s always hard to get those kinds of numbers. We knew we had a lot of people on him, but we just didn’t know if it would go that far. He deserved it.”

Resolute Bloodstock paid $1.2 million for a colt by Nyquist from the family of Grade 1 winners Sydney’s Candy and Exchange. Consigned by Indian Creek, agent, he is out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Candy Swap and is a half-brother to stakes winner Bluegrass Parkway.

“I like the way that (Nyquist) horses have run,” John Stewart said. “There is nothing but upside there. Then the physical of the horse; it was our top colt for the day. I was joking around that I was waiting for that horse for four hours, and there was no way I wasn’t buying it. Whoever I was bidding against on the phone I was just watching thinking, ‘I’m going keep going. Let’s go.’ ”

Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek said the colt’s movement and energy stood out.

“He is just one of those horses that really shows that he wants to do it,” Sutherland said. “I think he is going to want to train and be forward in everything that he does. He never got tired. He is a feel- good type of colt, and I think that translated well to what we asked of him here at the sales. He didn’t let us down at all.”

Resolute Bloodstock was Thursday’s leading buyer, spending $2.55 million for three horses. The group included a $750,000 filly by Authentic from the family of champion Maryfield. Consigned by Brandywine Farm (Jim and Pam Robinson) agent, she is out of the winning Candy Ride (ARG) mare Hallawallah.

Indian Creek, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised, also consigned a colt by Curlin purchased by Jones/Everett/Arnmore, Vekoma, Belmar, Pine, Legendary for $850,000. Out of stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Lady Kate, by Bernardini, he is from the family of Grade 2 winner Princess Haya and Grade 3 winner Slew of Pearls.

Megan Jones, bloodstock agent for trainer Danny Gargan, said she bought the colt for “most of the guys” who own Belmont (G1) winner Dornoch. Gargan trains Dornoch.

“This is the first horse we bought today,” Jones said. “We love Curlin and (his son) Good Magic (sire of Dornoch). Danny’s had three Good Magics and three graded stakes winners for (the group). We love Curlin and Good Magic, and we feel safe and happy there.”

“(The atmosphere at Keeneland) it’s amazing,” she added. “It’s great for horse racing and breeders. (The market is) incredibly strong and if you love a horse that does everything right, it’s very hard to take it home.”

“It (price) exceeded our expectations by a little bit,” Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek said. “He’s just a really solid colt – a beautiful mover. He handled the sale. He was well received. There was a lot of activity on him, especially this morning when things really picked up. There was spirited bidding.”

Two colts sold for $825,000 apiece.

Windancer Farm Holdings paid the amount for a son of Into Mischief from the family of Grade 1 winners Fabulous Notion, Cacoethes, Fabulously Fast and City of Light. Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, he is out of the Quality Road mare Mighty Road.

“He was a really special colt,” Price Bell of Mill Ridge said. “He was the first from Mighty Road, a very good 2-year-old who sold for $1 million (at a 2-year-olds in training sale). She had a lot of ability. The colt has a ton of class. Margaux Farm raised the horse, and we had the privilege to consign him. He was a star from the beginning and had a lot of interest from a lot of good judges. What a sire Into Mischief has been. He throws all shapes and sizes, and the beauty is they all like to run.”

Also selling for $825,000 was a son of Not This Time purchased by Belladonna Racing, Cherie DeVaux, agent. Sarah and Leo Dooley’s Norevale Farm, agent, consigned the colt, whose dam is Allusion, by Street Cry (IRE). A half-brother to Grade 2 runner-up Common Defense, who was on the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve trail, the colt is from the family of Grade 2 winner Fearless along with Grade 3 winners Altesse and Far From Over.

“We’ve had a good sale,” Sarah Dooley said. “We knew we had good horses coming in here, and it’s nice to see that vindicated. Every day certainly won’t be like this, but it’s great when the puzzle pieces come together. We’re going to enjoy it – and it’s hard work – but in a couple months it will be on to the next batch.”

A colt from the first crop of Charlatan who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Bell’s the One and Grade 3 winner King Cause sold to Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable for $775,000. Airdrie Stud Raised and Offered consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 2 winners Tap Day, Possible Mate and Fairy Garden.

Thursday’s leading consignor was Taylor Made Sales Agency, which sold 33 horses for $7.98 million.

Keeneland Release

Advertisment
More Reading...
Godolphin Plunder Goffs Orby Day 2 – 2million Frankel Colt the Star
Godolphin swept into action during the second session of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale purchasing the top three lots that included a €2million Frankel colt and a €1million Frankel filly, while Yulong also made their presence felt securing a Night of Thunder filly for €600,000.
Youngsters Impress at MM Breeze Ups
The build up to this month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has heated up with three successful breeze up sessions conducted across three states.
First Settler Electric in G2 Danehill Stakes
Two promising colts, First Settler and Reserve Bank, trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, fought out the finish of Saturday's Group II Danehill Stakes (1100m at Flemington and are expected to face off again in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Stakes-Winning Mare Casino Princess on Gavelhouse
Five years after being bought on gavelhouse.com for just $5,000, stakes-winning mare Casino Princess (NZ) (Casino Princess) is being re-offered as a valuable broodmare prospect on Gavelhouse Plus.
850,000 Blue Point Filly Tops Goffs Orby Day 1
Lively demand from a diverse international buying bench saw 80 yearlings command six-figure sums in the opening session of the Goffs Orby Sale Book 1 with Darley shuttler Blue Point (IRE) producing the top lot of the session.
Fastnet Rock Quinella in G1 Turnbull
If we needed a lesson as to why the Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been so amazingly successful we got it in the $750,000 Group I VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington where the Chris Waller trained NH bred stablemates Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (IRE) went to the line locked together.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 4
Here is the full list of 50 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Starry Heights Triumphs in Kalgoorlie Cup
There were seventeen stakes races Australia-wide on Saturday, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better ride than Willie Pike's on the favourite Starry Heights in the Listed XXXX Kalgoorlie Cup (23000m).
SWs- well-related mares & exciting shares headline October (Early) Sale
Snitzel mare Angel Flight, being offered with a So You Think filly at foot, is one of several standout entries in the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale, which is now open for bidding.
Galileo's Land Legend Wins a Drama Packed G1 Metropolitan
The French-bred import Land Legend (FR) earned Chris Waller a sixth win in the James Squire Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, a first Group 1 for Reece Jones and an astonishing 102nd Group 1 winner for Galileo, but it did not come without drama.