Exuberant Book 5 Opener at Keeneland September Sale

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale Book 5 opening session saw fireworks come at the end of the day after a colt by Violence   realized $220,000 from James Zahler, bidding over the phone. Woods Edge Farm (Peter O'Callaghan) consigned the pinhook as Hip 3181.

During Wednesday's session 329 horses were sold of the 365 on offer for a gross total of $12,969,000, resulting in an average of $39,419 and a median of $30,000. Thirty-six horses failed to meet their reserve, representing an RNA rate of 9.9%.

During 2021's session 9, 331 horses changed hands of the 358 through the ring for gross receipts of $13,038,500. An average price of $39,391 and a median of $30,000 was made. Twenty-seven horses failed to meet their reserve, representing an RNA rate of 7.5%.

The session was topped after Woods Edge Farm sent their pinhook through the ring, seeing the colt by Violence command top honors at $220,000 from James Zahler bidding over the phone with Joseph Mills. The colt is out of the unraced Sharp Humor  mare, One Hot Senorita, a half sister to Nicole H, by Mr. Greeley , a graded winner in the 2011 Distaff Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct and placed in the 2012 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1) at Calder Race Course. Lynn Jones and Kathy Jones bred the son of Violence in Kentucky.

The colt was purchased initially by Peter O'Callaghan at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale as a share with his farm staff.

"When I got this guy in February, I put a bundle of my main staff in for half, so it was a great result for them," O'Callaghan said. "They did a great job looking after him all year. When we bought him, he was a lovely colt, and he didn't require a lot of imagination; he was a big, strapping colt in February. He was correct, had a great walk, vetted, and I was a little surprised I got him for $20,000 on the day." 

O'Callaghan added: "He has continued to be nice all year and finished out a beautiful horse. He was vetted nearly 18 times here, and I knew he would sell very well. We put him in at $99,000, and he did his thing from there. It's a great result and a great end to the sale, really. We only have a couple on Friday, but that's the end of the major drafts."

David McKathan of Grassroots Training & Sales finished Wednesday with 10 horses purchased for gross receipts of $375,000 to be the day's leading buyer.

"It's been another great day for Woods Edge Farm, a few little holes along the way, but overall what an amazing trade there was today," O'Callaghan said. "The appetite in the back ring all day today, for nice horses that vetted clean, you didn't see many go through at six or seven grand all day, which is a great sign for the game that so many horses are breaking into reasonable money and paying their way for their breeders. At the bottom end, there aren't too many single-digit number sales, which really hurt the breeders and everybody."

Gainesway sold 23 horses during the opening session of Book 5 for gross receipts of $1,166,000 and a median price of $50,696 to be the session 9 leading consignor.

"Prize money at the moment is driving the market; there is no doubt about it. The tax breaks are certainly driving it as well. Maybe the reduced crops on the yearly basis we are seeing are also driving it," Hunter Valley Farm managing partner Fergus Galvin commented. "However, I don't think it needs to be lost on the job that the lads at Keeneland are doing great. The amount of international buyers here is phenomenal. I remember coming here two years ago and when you went to the back ring, there was no one there. There has been a buzz in the place from Day One to today; I know they are being helped by the prize money and spoken about, but I think the guys here at Keeneland have really done a great job. Bringing people in, recruiting, and doing what they promised they would do… getting good physicals in front of people."

Cumulatively, in selling over the past nine sessions, 2,278 horses have sold of the 2,731 through the ring for gross figures of $401,683,500, suitable for an average price of $176,332 and a median of $100,000. Four hundred and fifty-three horses have failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 16.6%.

At this time, in 2021, 2,240 yearlings of the 2,698 under the hammer had sold for gross figures of $351,357,000, at an average of $156,855 and a median of $90,000. Four hundred and fifty-eight horses represent an RNA rate of 16.9%.

Selling from Book 5 continues tomorrow, Sept. 22, with Hips 3184 - 3587, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. As of Wednesday evening, 46 horses had been withdrawn from session 10.