Coolmore's first-year yearling sires appear poised to play a major role before international shoppers at the Keeneland September yearling sale, as well as at the inaugural Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase.
Kentucky Derby winner Orb took some time to gather momentum commercially, with his first crop of yearlings last year receiving a measured response. But this year, the young stallion has found himself on a rapid ascent to eclipse the competition in rare fashion. Orb has found wild commercial success with two seven-figure horses this year as his first crop is still proving itself on the racetrack, and he looks poised to continue on his new trajectory heading into the bellwether Keeneland September yearling sale.
The Keeneland September yearling sale is the long-established industry standard among North American yearling auctions, but it did not earn that status by being resistant to change.
Following are horses to watch during Books 1 and 2 of the Keeneland September yearling sale, which comprises the first four sessions.
Horses to watch during the inaugural Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase yearling sale.
Scat Daddy died in 2015 at age 11 as his star was still on the rise – and a sense of urgency to acquire his offspring was obvious the following fall. The demand will be even higher this year for offspring of Scat Daddy, who is represented by many top runners posthumously.
The Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase markets itself as a sale for horses with “turf appeal,” offering a select 171-horse catalog with pedigrees and conformations that appear to suit a turf racing program.
Clarkland Farm sold last year's sale-topper at the Keeneland September sale, a colt named Mendelssohn that drew a final bid of $3 million. Duplicating the success of last year's standout is unlikely, but the farm's 2017 class does have its standouts.
China Horse Club has wasted no time establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage since it's founding in 2013. In just four years, the high-dollar investment and lifestyle group has purchased top-end broodmares and racing prospects at auction, bought shares in elite stallions, and found ontrack success with runners like Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman.
The theme of change seen with the reformatted Keeneland September yearling sale and Fasig-Tipton’s addition of the Turf Showcase sale will continue through the remainder of this yearling season. The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. is among other entities that have made major changes in recent years, and its re-imagined yearling sale is among the remaining sales during a busy fall schedule. Following the Turf Showcase on Sept. 10 and the September sale beginning its stand Sept. 11, here’s a look at the yearling sales that fill out the fall schedule:
