Fourth session sees 18th millionaire

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Keeneland's September yearling sale threw off its 18th millionaire yearling Thursday when Charnwood Stable of Newmarket, England, purchased a Medaglia d'Oro filly for $1.1 million.

Charnwood, the racing stable of London-based Dr. Karen Sanderson, will send the filly to Newmarket trainer Paul D'Arcy. Tom Evans's Trackside Farm agency, representing a partnership headed by Rob Whiteley's Liberation Farm, was the consignor.

The dark bay or brown filly cruised past the early session-leading price of $600,000, the price Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum's Shadwell Estate Co. paid for a son of Afleet Alex and Solvig.

The Thursday session, the fourth overall and the second non-select session, saw activity from a wide range of buyers, including Sheikh Hamdan's brother, Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, who was among the unsuccessful bidders for the session-leading $1.1 million filly. Also bidding on the daughter of Amizette was Coolmore Stud.

The filly is a half-sister to Group 3-placed King of Rome.

The Keeneland September sale, which has a record catalog of 5,555 yearlings this year, continues through Sept. 23. There will be no selling on Sept. 12, the auction's dark day, but sessions then resume daily at 10 a.m.