The list of leading third-crop sires from the recently concluded Keeneland September sale is a near-mirror image of the second-crop sire list for North American racing this year.
According to statistics contained in BHNOW’s exclusive Data Digest, the third-crop sire list from the sale was headed by Street Cry and Johannesburg, the respective leader and second-leading sires by second-crop sires of runners this year. The third-crop sire list from the sale consists of stallions whose third crop of foals are yearlings of 2007 and are on the second-crop sire list for racing.
A PDF report that can be downloaded for free by BHNOW subscribers (anyone who is a Blood-Horse magazine subscriber and sets up a free account), Data Digest is a special 26-page report that breaks down the Keeneland sale into numerous tables and charts to benefit owners, breeders, and their agents.
Not surprisingly, Street Cry tops both lists, ostensibly due to the success of the foals from his first two crops to race. The 9-year-old son of Machiavellian who stands at Darley has been represented by 10 stakes winners so far, and he has 2007 progeny earnings in excess of $5.4 million.
That success, which includes his son, Street Sense, winning this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has translated into success in the sales ring. At Keeneland, 24 yearlings sired by Street Cry averaged $192,250, a healthy return on his $30,000 stud fee in 2005, when this crop of yearlings was conceived. Only five Street Cry yearlings did not meet their reserves at Keeneland.
Second in sales and purses Is Johannesburg, the Ashford Stud stallion whose 48 Keeneland yearlings sold for an average $140,667, with only six RNAs. An 8-year-old son of Hennessy, Johannesburg has 2007 progeny earnings of $3.28 million with six stakes winners, including Scat Daddy, to his credit.
Third-leading third-crop sire at the fall yearlings sale, Rock of Gibraltar, is the only one in the top 10 not based in the U.S. The stallion, who stands at Coolmore in Ireland, had all four yearlings offered at Keeneland yearlings sell for an average $128,250. He is among the leading sires in Europe, with converted 2007 earnings of $1,199,633.
Following the ‘Rock’ on the list of leading third crop sale sires (with their respective second-crop race earnings rank in parenthesis) are: Include (third), Orientate (fourth), Officer (seventh), Yonaguska (fifth), Jump Start (ninth), and Mizzen Mast (sixth).
Comparing the third-crop sire list from the sale with the second-crop earnings list indicates a direct correlation between success on the track and in the sales ring.
