The second day of selling action at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale got off to a strong start when two of the first 10 hips sold for seven figures or more.
Kentucky-based bloodstock agent John Moynihan got the party started when he went to $1.05 million for the first hip through the ring, a striking gray or roan son of Unbridled's Song named Ballyhoo out of the Miswaki mare Bally five. The colt was consigned by Lane's End, agent.
Moynihan said the gray or roan colt was purchased on behalf of an undisclosed domestic partnership which plans to race him.
"I thought he was one of the prettiest horses in the sale," Moynihan said. "We expected to have to pay for him."
The colt is a half-brother to grade II winner Yarrow Brae (by Deputy Minister) and is from the family of grade II stakes winner Esteemed Friend.
The colt was bred in Kentucky by Frank and Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm.
About nine hips later Demi O'Byrne, representing Coolmore, went to $2 million for a striking son of A.P. Indy out of the Unbridled mare Blithe.
The bay colt is from the family of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Fusaichi Pegasus , who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
O'Byrne, who did his bidding from the back of the sale pavilion, said the colt resembled Fusaichi Pegasus. "He is just a good horse," O' Byrne said of his purchase.
Team Coolmore has experienced racing success in 2007 with A.P. Indy offspring. Michael Tabor owns Rags to Riches who won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and became the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in 102 years.
Consigned by Lane's End, agent, the colt was bred in Kentucky by Sha-li Leasing Association.
The seven-figure party continued at the Central Kentucky auction house with bloodstock agent Lincoln Collins signing the ticket for two seven-figure purchases.
Collins, on behalf of Leonard Riggio's My MeadowView Farm, went to $1.2 million for a son of Mineshaft out of the English group I winning Red Ransom mare Casual Look.
The bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Lane's End Farm owner William S. Farish and consigned by Lane's End.
The colt is from the family of French group winner Shabby Chic and winner Fashion Statement.
He then paid $1.7 million for a well-balanced bay son of A.P. Indy from the consignment of Three Chimneys Sales, agent. Collins signed the ticket Three Chimneys Farm, agent.
"He is for an undisclosed Three Chimneys client who plans to race him," Collins said. "He was a very nice colt that I had been tracking for some time."
The colt was produced from the Storm Cat mare Desert Tigress, a sister to English group III winner Hurricane Cat, and was bred by Kincorth Investments. The colt's second dam is Filly Triple Crown winner and champion Sky Beauty. He is also from the family of grade I winners Maplejinsky and Pleasant Home.
Also included in the seven-figure party was a $1.2 million daughter of Storm Cat, named Fashion Storm. The Lane's End-consigned filly was purchased by Gerald Ford's Diamond A Racing.
Bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Farm, the filly was produced from the Chief's Crown mare Fashion Star and is a half-sister to grade I winner and stallion Eddington.