Ferguson to $900,000 for War Front Filly

A War Front   filly who had a significant update in her pedigree became the second-highest priced offering at the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 12 when agent John Ferguson went to $900,000 to acquire the bay filly on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.

Consigned as Hip 166, by Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Sweezey’s Timber Town, as agent, the filly is the first foal out of Aloof, an Irish-bred group III-winning daughter of top international sire Galileo. Second dam Airwave was a group I winner and is from the family of Churchill, a son of Galileo. On Sept. 11, Churchill won the group I Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes for 2-year-olds at the Curragh in Ireland.

"She's a beautiful filly, very athletic, and obviously the sire, War Front, has done very well over the last few years and he's just progressing and building, and being out of a Galileo mare makes her very attractive," said Ferguson. "It's a great family, we're delighted to have her not only as a racehorse but also as a future broodmare. So yeah, we feel good."

Ferguson said the filly's appeal, and price, were enhanced by the international nature of her pedigree and that she would likely be campaigned in Europe.

"I would say so," the agent said in reference to whether he knew the filly would cost $900,000. "She was one of the better European pedigrees in the book, and people underestimate how difficult it is to breed yearlings that look like that. So they deserve to be paid for when they come along."

Erin Shea contributed to this article.