Keeneland’s gross sales floor have been buzzing with optimism and visitors forward of its September Yearling Sale, which begins Sept. 9 and runs by means of Sept. 21. If the power generated by the sturdy begin to the yearling gross sales season is any indication, the momentum is certain to hold by means of the sale, which options 4,407 horses cataloged.
“I believe everybody within the barns has been very pleased with the variety of consumers which are right here. I believe that is been very, very sturdy,” mentioned Tony Lacy, Keeneland’s vp of gross sales. “You’ve got seen plenty of faces that haven’t been right here in a variety of years, and so they’re again and discovering plenty of high quality inventory. We’re listening to from the consumers that that is among the greatest horses they’ve seen in Guide 1 in a variety of years, in order that was very optimistic.”
Consignors have echoed Lacy’s optimism.
“Visitors has been good. We have checked out our present depend versus final yr, and it is just about spot on. I really feel good,” mentioned Mark Taylor, CEO and president of Taylor Made.
“The visitors’s been the identical as final yr, actually I believe the numbers are the identical, and we had a very good yr final yr,” echoed Carrie Brogden of Machmer Corridor.
Brogden commented on the excessive quantity of yearlings cataloged by the identical sires that make up a big portion of Guide 1, together with offspring by Curlin (32), Not This Time (28), Into Mischief (47), Gun Runner (40), and Justify and Uncle Mo each represented with 20. Offspring by these six stallions make up greater than 50% of that catalog.
“I really feel fortunate, we have now seven horses right here, and all by seven completely different stallions,” she mentioned.
“The consumers, they’re making an attempt to type out, ‘Properly I am touchdown on this one,’ however invariably they land on one they can not afford,” Taylor added. “So they may cross one up early, then they get shut out and return. I believe the buy-back charge on the primary day all the time tends to run a little bit greater, after which it type of corrects, and also you get post-sale stuff accomplished.”
For the fourth yr, the format of the September Sale will stay the identical. There are six catalogs, every with two sale days. Guide 1 will start at 1:00 p.m. ET with 176 horses cataloged for every day; Guide 2 will begin at 11:00 a.m. Sept. 11; 380 horses are cataloged for the primary day, with 372 to observe. Sept. 13 will likely be a darkish day, and no sale will likely be performed. Books 3-6 will start at 10:00 a.m.
“I believe the visitors’s been nice, there are a large number of contributors; some contributors we’ve not seen in fairly some time. There have been plenty of optimistic feedback in regards to the horses which are right here and so they’re keen on shopping for them,” mentioned Kerry Cauthen of 4 Star Gross sales.
4 Star Gross sales gives a particular prospect in Hip 53, a half sister to grade 1 winner and 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale/4 Star Gross sales graduate Randomized . The bay filly is by first-crop yearling sire Maxfield , and out of the Elusive High quality mare French Passport .
Potential consumers yearlings forward of the Keeneland September Sale
Final yr, the primary day of promoting generated gross receipts of $57.7 million from 119 head, together with 9 offered put up sale. The typical was $485,042 with a median of $400,000. The RNA charge was 20.8% with 30 horses failing to fulfill their reserve.
Eight horses offered for $1 million or extra throughout final yr’s opening session, with an Into Mischief filly topping the day at $2.3 million from Gainesway’s consignment.
Donato Lanni was the main purchaser final yr with a complete of 20 horses purchased, and a gross of $12,590,000. Gainesway offered 137 horses for a complete of $43,573,000, and a median of $318,051 to be the main consignor.
“I really feel prefer it’s been stable and I believe there’s good power from the consumers right here, and I count on to get off to a very good begin after which simply construct momentum and get stronger because the sale goes on,” mentioned Taylor.
The Keeneland September Sale has produced world-class runners to the likes of Dornoch , winner of the 2024 Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2); Muth , winner of the 2024 Arkansas Derby (G1); Randomized, winner of this yr’s Ogden Phipps (G1); and millionaire and a number of grade 1 winner Vahva , amongst many others.
“The desk is ready, we have got the proper folks right here, and we have got the proper horses,” mentioned Lacy. “The atmosphere may be very optimistic. We look ahead to a very good, sturdy first week and hopefully that momentum flows into the second week,”
Keeneland has listed 31 outs as of Sept. 8, 145 will head to the ring Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET within the Keeneland Gross sales Pavilion to kick off Guide 1.
