The Green Monkey shattered the world record for a Thoroughbred sold at public auction when he brought $16 million at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training at Calder Race Course. But the son of Forestry hasn’t made much news since Irish agent Demi O’Byrne bought him on behalf of Coolmore Stud managing partner John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
The Green Monkey joined the stable of multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher in April, then went to Saratoga in late July. After the colt breezed five furlongs in 1:03 2⁄5 in early August at Saratoga, Pletcher reported the colt had pulled a gluteal muscle. He has not raced yet.
“He is at Ashford Stud (Coolmore’s Kentucky division) recovering from a muscle injury; we’re hoping he’ll go back in training with Todd Pletcher in a few weeks,” said a Coolmore spokesman.
The Green Monkey broke the Thoroughbred price record set by Seattle Dancer, when he was sold for $13.1 million as a yearling to Coolmore associate Robert Sangster at the 1985 Keeneland July select auction. A half-brother to 1977 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, Seattle Dancer scored in the Windfields Farm Gallinule Stakes (Ire-II) and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Ire-II) in 1987. He also finished second in the 1987 Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I).
