Keeneland Yearling Sale Continues Bullish Run

Edited press release
Keeneland's September Yearling Sale continued to post significant gains on Wednesday, driven in part by an active contingent of international buyers.    

Keeneland sold 293 horses for $12,112,700, an increase of 13.8% over 2005 when 295 horses brought $10,642,900. Average price for the day of $41,340 rose 14.6 percent over last year's comparable session average of $36,078. The median price of $30,000 was up 11.1% over the $27,000 posted in 2005.

"This sale continues to reflect the global marketplace and our emerging markets initiative," said Tom Thornbury, Keeneland's associate director of sales. "The recent success of Keeneland graduates in Mexico has elevated the sights of our Mexican clients. They are arriving earlier and buying more expensive bloodstock. We're also seeing atypical buying trends with regard to our Southern Hemisphere clients, particularly buyers from Argentina and Chile. They usually buy broodmares, but they're now showing great interest in our yearlings."  

Through nine sessions, Keeneland has sold a total of 2,316 horses for gross receipts of $377,183,700, up 3.8% over the corresponding period in 2005 when 2,353 horses were sold for $363,219,400. The average of $162,860 increased 5.5% over the $154,364 recorded in 2005, while the median of $80,000 rose 6.7% over last year's $75,000. 

"It's a good, solid sale," said Pope McLean, of Crestwood Farm. "At this point, a good individual will sell themselves and a lesser quality horse will be tough to sell. That's nothing new. But I think this year the good horses are selling even better than they were last year. We've seen a lot of active buyers, and it appears another wave of new buyers is coming in for the final days of the sale."

Robert Courtney, Jr., of Crestfield Farm, echoed those sentiments. "Overall, we're very pleased," he said. "Keeneland graded deeper into the middle market (Books 3, 4, and 5) this year - and it's made the sale even better. We're not only seeing the 'mom and pop' operations, but leading buyers are still looking. These days (of the sale) are where the racehorses come from."

Cecil Seaman, as agent for Robert B. Trussell, Jr., signed the ticket for the day's highest-priced yearling, paying $250,000 for a colt by Malibu Moon  . Consigned by Castleton Lyons, agent, the colt is out of the Bluebird mare Shoofha, a full sister to Delilah, highweighted older mare on the European and English Handicaps.

The September Sale continues through Monday, Sept. 25. Sessions start at 10:00 a.m. daily.