Nyquist proving stallion ability

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nyquist is teed up for success in coming years, thanks to the support he received following his strong freshman season. That support is coming to fruition, with multiple Grade 1-winning 2-year-olds in the crop on the track and multiple seven-figure yearlings from the crop at the sales.

Nyquist sired the top two lots in the Keeneland September yearling sale’s Book 2 portion, with a $1.3 million colt to China Horse Club, WinStar Farm’s Maverick Racing, and Siena Farm, and a $1.2 million colt to John Stewart’s Resolute Racing. He also had a $1.15 million colt sold in Book 1, to SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables.

Nyquist “doesn’t take any introduction anymore,” SF’s Tom Ryan said. “He’s clearly a top-flight stallion.”

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Nyquist, standing at Darley, was the 2015 Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old and 2016 Kentucky Derby winner. His current 2-year-olds represent the crop conceived after he was the leading freshman sire of 2020 – and that crop includes a pair of Grade 1 winners in Spinaway heroine Immersive and Del Mar Debutante winner Tenma. He also is the sire of Grade 1 winners Randomized and Johannes this season to rank as a top 20 general sire.

Nyquist is averaging a career-high $390,041 from 33 yearlings sold through Sept. 12, his highest average since his anticipated first crop finished at $226,625 in 2019. His top lot, the $1.3 million colt at Keeneland, is out of a Bernardini mare – the cross responsible for Immersive as well as Grade 1 winner and Canadian champion Gretzky the Great and graded stakes winner Encino.

“Obviously, Nyquist over Bernardini is a great cross,” WinStar executive Elliott Walden said.

Stewart also spoke highly of Nyquist after landing his high-ticket colt, out of a Candy Ride mare.

“I like the way that his horses have run,” Stewart said. “I really think that there is nothing but upside there.”

The colt was consigned by Indian Creek, as agent.

“The stallion speaks for himself,” said Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek. “He can do no wrong right now.”

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