The buzz that had been building as the bay colt made his way toward the auction ring at the Keeneland September yearling sale reached a crescendo as bidding climbed to $1.9 million. However, that quickly turned to murmurs of surprise and disappointment when it was revealed that the War Front colt, out of 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, was, in fact, a high-ticket buyback.
The second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale continued the trend established opening day of steady improvements in average and median sale prices with fewer horses sold, with Tuesday’s action led by $1.2-million Tapit colt.
The first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale proved to be an improved refrain from last year’s opener, with results led by a $1-million Medaglia d’Oro colt.
There was just one mare left in Book 1, following early outs, who is both a Grade/Group 1 winner and Grade/Group 1 producer: Quarter Moon, whose yearling colt by popular commercial sire War Front was to sell late in Wednesday's third and final Book 1 session.
Tapit and War Front have been the commercial leaders at the Keeneland September yearling sale for the last several years – and don't appear ready to relinquish the reins this year.
While price is often based upon the residual value of a horse as a future stallion or broodmare, the majority of recent Keeneland September sale-toppers have not come close to approaching their commercial price on the racetrack.
While the past century has brought myriad changes in the Thoroughbred industry, there are a handful of things that remain certain: The sun will rise in the east, the seasons will come and go, and a Hancock will be in charge at Claiborne Farm. Walker Hancock, 27, became the fourth generation to assume control of the historic farm in 2014, taking over as Claiborne's president from his father, Seth.
The yearling market has been a story of highs and lows in 2016, but the truest measure of its status will come during the Keeneland September yearling sale. But the horses that will occupy the Keeneland stalls in the coming weeks will be surrounded by an air of uncertainty.
Following are horses to watch during Book 1 of the Keeneland September yearling sale, which comprises the first three sessions. Horses were selected based on their pedigrees and past auction results of notable family members. Conformation, veterinarian records, and pedigree updates after deadline were not taken into consideration.
Orb and Shanghai Bobby are lighting up the board in tandem with their first crops of yearlings and will be among the major players at the Keeneland September yearling sale, which begins Sept. 12. Orb and Shanghai Bobby's strong early commercial results lead the way for a solid, sizeable group of first-year yearling sires who were quite accomplished on the racetrack.
