Good Magic colt tops Keeneland Book 4 Monday session at $700,000
The Book 4 opening session of the 80th Keeneland September Yearling Sale was headlined by a Good Magic (Curlin) colt realising US$700,000 (approx. AU$1.082 million) early in the day from Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket. Gainesway consigned the session-topping colt as hip 2009 to the Monday session.
“We all liked him and thought he could top our session,” Brian Graves, general manager for Gainesway, said. “It was a heck of a war that we didn’t see coming at that level. I think the market is starting to thin out for good colts that pass the vet work by proven horses, and Good Magic is one of the best young stallions in the industry right now. Smart people bidding, and the result was unexpected.”
The colt, out of the young Bernardini (A.P. Indy) mare Beauty Buzz, is from the family of producer Star of Goshen (Lord At War), dam of multiple Grade 1-winning sire Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker), and Grade 2-placed Forefathers (Gone West). Both horses were campaigned by Zayat Stables.
The partnership of SF/Starlight/Madaket, with Donato Lanni as agent, has made 20 purchases so far for gross receipts of US$12,590,000 (approx. AU$19.46 million) at an average price of US$629,500 (approx. AU$973,160) per head to be the cumulative leading buyer.
Day seven concluded with Gainesway continuing their reign as leading consignor; during the seventh session they sold 31 horses for gross receipts of US$3,735,000 (approx. AU$5.77 million), at an average of US$120,484 (approx. AU$186,260). Cumulatively, they have sold 116 head for a gross of US$42,277,000 (approx. AU$65.35 million) and an average of US$364,457 (approx. AU$563,420).
“We are having a heck of a sale so far; we’ve been the leading consignor in each session we sold,” commented Graves. “It’s a testament to our clientele and how their horses ranked in the scheme of things. I have spent the last 25 years of my life building to this level, and if we were the leading consignor for the Keeneland September Sale, it would be a monumental achievement.”
Trainer Kenny McPeek made a splash on Monday, purchasing six yearlings for a gross of US$800,000 (approx. AU$1.23 million) at an average price of US$133,333 (approx. AU$206,120) to be the day’s leading buyer.
The session concluded with 319 yearlings being traded of the 372 through the ring for gross receipts of US$25,218,500 (approx. AU$38,990,300), down 10.2 per cent over the previous year. The average price declined 7.4 per cent to US$79,055 (approx. AU$122,200), and a median of US$62,000 (approx. AU$95,850) shows a 3.3 per cent increase.
During the 2022 seventh session, Keeneland reported 329 horses sold of the 373 to go under the hammer for a $28,098,000 gross. An average price of $85,404 and a median of $60,000 was recorded.
“I think the individuals were as good as they could be on a widespread basis,” agent Steven Young said on Monday. “There was terrific money for horses all week long. I think we were the direct underbidder on more horses this sale than any other sale I have been to. I think if these horses are brave and lucky, there will be many graduates from this sale
Cumulatively, to this point, 1,596 yearlings have changed hands of the 1,990 on offer for a gross of US$356,988,500 (approx. AU$551,939,910), suitable for an average price of US$223,677 (approx. AU$345,800) and a median of US$150,000 (approx. AU$231915).
To this point, last year, 1,648 horses had sold of the 2,008 offered for gross receipts of US$367,371,000, at an average of US$222,919 and a median of US$150,000. There were 360 yearlings who failed to meet their reserve, representing an RNA rate of 17.9 per cent.