An impressive-looking chestnut son of Mr. Greeley was purchased for $800,000 by Shadwell Farm's Rick Nichols to lead the afternoon session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
The colt, who was consigned by Peter O' Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm. was bred in Kentucky by Green Gates Farm, and was produced from the Lure mare Mastsue, who raced in Europe. He is from the family of European champion Kooyonga.
“His mama ran in Europe and we’re concentrating more on Europe," Nichols said. "We’re trying to buy some for both the American and European stables, but this one particularly will probably be programmed for the European stable. Mr. Greeley has done very well there."
Earlier in the day Nichols paid $600,000 for another son of Mr. Greeley from the consignment of Three Chimneys Sales, agent. Nichols said that colt would also be pointed toward a European racing career.
Speaking of Mr. Greeley, Nichols said, "He is a sire that can get a runner who can go a little distance of ground. With us, we can look for turf horses and dirt horses. Our primary focus is on Europe, so anything we find that can go to the turf, we are very interested in it."
"Mr. Greeley seems to have gone to the next level over the last year or so," O'Callaghan said. "We thought he had a shot to bring a lot of money. But you never think a horse is going to bring that kind of money. I knew he’d come in here and make $350,000 or $400,000, but $800,000 you can't expect."
Also purchased for the high six figures, a son of Smart Strike was purchased by Asian Bloodstock Services for $700,000 from the consignment of his co-breeder, Robert Courtney's Crestfield Farm. The colt was bred in partnership with Rick Stivers.
"The colt had a certain presence about him; he was a nice horse with a big hip and a big shoulder," Courtney said of the colt. "He just looked like a racehorse. We never had any issues with the colt, not scoping problems or X-ray problems. He was raised in a run-in shed like any other horse, nothing special. We just treated him like a horse."
The son of Smart Strike was produced from the Wild Again mare Flashy, who Courtney purchased for $420,000 at the 2005 Keeneland November mixed sale while in foal to Smart Strike from the consignment of Mill Ridge Sales, agent.
