McKinzie half-brother to Kentucky Derby hero Mage tops third Keeneland session
A half-brother to Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) winner Mage (Good Magic) topped the third session of the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland, selling for US$1.2 million (approx. AU$1,863,200) to agent Dottie Ingordo, signing as Mayberry Farm.
She said the bay colt, a son of McKinzie (Street Sense) consigned as Hip 669, was acquired for Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable.
“He’s a very athletic colt, and we would like to have a nice colt,” said Ingordo. “And obviously, there’s a fabulous pedigree and a young mare, so it has a lot of positives. And you always want one with a lot of presence, and he has that.”
Ingordo’s other purchases on Wednesday for Mayberry Farm were four fillies: Hip 451, a US$875,000 (approx. AU$1,358,599) Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday); Hip 478, a US$485,000 (approx. AU$753,000) daughter of Violence (Medaglia D’Oro); and Hips 607 and 693, both daughters of Twirling Candy (Candy Ride) for US$575,000 (approx. AU$892,800) and US$600,000 (approx. AU$931,600), respectively.
Mayberry Farm led day three after spending gross receipts of US$4,210,000 (approx. AU$6,536,800) on five yearlings at an average price of US$701,667 (approx. AU$1,089,500).
CRK Stable runs primarily on the West Coast, with the Searings campaigning past Grade 1 winners Express Train (Union Rags), Switch (Quiet American), Beyond Brilliant (Twirling Candy), Exaulted (Twirling Candy) and Honor A P (Honor Code).
Robert Clay’s Grandview Equine bred Hip 669, mating Puca (Big Brown) with McKinzie, a Grade 1 winner during his initial season at stud in 2021.
McKinzie’s first foals are yearlings of 2023.
“Breeder Robert Clay and Grandview liked McKinzie a lot,” said Romain Malhouitre of Runnymede Farm. “People were asking about him, and I said he was the best mix between the sire and mare; both are up there on quality.
“We cannot thank Robert Clay and Grandview enough. He has everything to do it right.”
Hip 669 was the second seven-figure yearling for Runnymede on Wednesday and its third of the sale’s initial three days. The Runnymede-consigned Hip 614 was the second-leading yearling of the Wednesday session, with the Gun Runner (Candy Ride) colt selling for US$1.15 million (approx. AU$1,785,600) to Repole Stable and Spendthrift Partners.
Keeneland reports 223 horses of the 292 to go under the hammer during the third session sold for gross receipts of US$66,414,000 (approx. AU$103,120,000). The average price rose 2.1 per cent to US$297,821 (approx. AU$462,400) and a median of US$250,000 (approx. AU$388,200), posting an increase of 6.4 per cent over 2022.
“I think we have to be very pleased with the way the day turned out,” said Keeneland vice-president of sales Tony Lacy. “Being on par with last year’s figures – averages, median, gross – we’ve got to be very pleased. Early in the day it was a little slower, but it picked up and charged on very strongly right to the end.
“It was great to see the active trade, especially anything buyers engaged on. Buyers are finding it very competitive on the buying side, but they’re finding a lot of quality horses out there. It bodes well for tomorrow.
“Buyers are demanding in what they’re looking for. When they are spending large amounts of money, they know exactly what they want, and they are fairly particular on that. For the most part, people are happy with the quality of horses here.”
During last year’s third session, 240 horses of the 296 through the ring were traded for a gross of US$70,010,000 (approx. AU$108,703,500). An average price of US$291,708 (AU$452,900) and a median of US$235,000 (approx. AU$364,800) was recorded.
Session three saw five horses bring seven figures or more by sires Gun Runner (Hip 614 – US$1.15 million) (approx. AU$1,785,600); Into Mischief (Hip 521 – US$1.1 million) (approx. AU$1,707,900); McKinzie (Hip 669 – US$1.2 million) (approx. AU$1,863,200); Tapit (Pulpit) (Hip 589 – US$1.1 million) (approx. AU$1,707,900); and Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) (Hip 528 – US$1 million) (approx. AU$1,552,700)
Wednesday’s top ten horses sold to seven distinct buyers for US$700,000 (approx. AU$1,086,900) or more.
Cumulatively, over the past three days of selling, 459 horses have sold of the 590 through the ring for a gross of US$187,919,000 (approx. AU$291,779,000), recording a 0.3 per cent increase over the previous year. Suitable for an average price of US$409,410 (approx. AU$635,600), up 3.8 per cent and a median increase of 8.3 per cent at US$325,000 (approx. AU$504,600).
At this point in the sale last year, 475 yearlings had been traded of the 578 to go under the hammer for gross receipts of US$187,305,000 (approx. AU$290,825,600). An average price of US$394,326 (approx. AU$612,200) and a median of US$300,000 (approx. AU$465,800) was made.
Gainesway continued to reign supreme as leading consignor by gross with 23 yearlings sold for gross receipts of US$10,400,000 (approx. AU$16,147,900), at an average of US$452,174 (approx. AU$702,000) per head.
“We want to make sure it’s the best for the selling clients – obviously, it’s a little frustrating for buyers sometimes when they aren’t getting everything they want, but that’s good as well,” said Lacy.
“It’s challenging on both sides of the coin in a good way. It was a very dominant domestic market today, but the international buyers were active at a lower price and I think they will be very active for a while. The strength of the domestic buying bench was very evident.”