AS the first session of the Keeneland September Select Yearling ended on Monday, a bay colt by Medaglia d’Oro consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent for Stonestreet was the top lot and the only yearling to reach the $1-million mark, selling to M.V. Magnier.

The third foal from his dam, Spring Party who is a half-sister to Grade 1 Forego Stakes hero Emcee (Unbridled’s Song) and Group 2 winner Surfer (Distorted Humor), the colt’s second dam is a half-sister to stakes winner Awesome Humor (Distorted Humor). He was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC in Kentucky.

“He’s a very nice horse,” Magnier said. “He reminded me a lot of (Medaglia d’Oro’s Australian champion son) Vancouver. He was an exceptional horse. He was an unusually good two-year-old. If (this yearling) runs like him, we will be in good shape. That’s a lot of money to give for a horse, but he’s very good looking and a great mover. Most likely he will stay in America.”

The sale saw strong participation from domestic and foreign buyers.

In total, Keeneland sold 108 yearlings for a gross of $34,531,000, down 22.65% from the opening session in 2015 when 150 horses sold for $44,642,000. The session average increased 7.43% from $297,613 to $319,731, while the median price of $267,500 was up slightly over last year’s $265,000.

The number of yearlings sold for $500,000 or more rose from 19 in 2015 to 25 this year. Taylor Made was the day’s leading consignor, selling 15 yearlings for $5,552,000.

The second highest priced yearling and the top filly was purchased by John Feguson.

The filly by War Front is out of Group 3 winner Aloof (Galileo), and was brought for $900,000. Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm went to $3.9 million to acquire Aloof while carrying the February foal at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. The bay was consigned by Timber Town (Mr. & Mrs. T. Wayne Sweezy). Ferguson made two further purchases, by Medaglia D'Oro and another by War Front.

Not surprisingly, two sons of Tapit were among the top lots with a Tapit-Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex) colt from Mill Ridge Sales making $850,000 to Courtlandt Farm and a Tapit - Alittlebitearly (Thunder Gulch) colt from Gainesway going for $800,000 to John C. Oxley.

Courtlandt Farm also bought a Tapit filly out of Wicked Deed (Harlan´s Holiday) from Gainesway for $670,000.

War Front was again among the highflyers with a colt named Rumors Of War, (out of Sweet Lulu (Mr. Greeley) from Lane's End going to Shadwell for $700,000.

Tiznow's son Tiz Bob, out of Temple Street (Street Cry) from Taylor Made Sales Agency made $675,000 to Lane's End and a Curlin colt Arania (Dynaformer) from Gainesway also made $675,000 to Lane's End.

China Horse Club/Maverick Racing spent $1,500,000 in the opening session - buying three lots - the top was a $525,000 son of Medaglia D'Oro, sire of champion fillies Rachel Alexandra and Songbird. They also spent $500,000 on a son of Scat Daddy.

Giant's Causeway's top lot was out of Spunoutacontrol by Wild Again, from Lanes End, he sold for $525,000 to Ingordo Bloodstock.

Sea The Stars has one lot in the sale and a colt out of the Medaglia O'Oro mare Awesome D´Oro from Eaton Sales sold for $250,000 to Calumet Farm.

TOP LOTS

48 C, y, Medaglia D´Oro-Spring Party (Smart Strike) Taylor Made Sales Agency $1,000,000 M.V. Magnier

166 F, y, War Front-Aloof (ire) (Galileo (ire)) Timber Town $900,000 John Ferguson Bloodstock

154 C, y, Tapit-Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex) Mill Ridge Sales $850,000 Courtlandt Farm

161 C, y, Tapit-Alittlebitearly (Thunder Gulch) Gainesway $800,000 John C. Oxley

78 Rumors Of War, C, y, War Front-Sweet Lulu (Mr. Greeley) Lane's End $700,000 Shadwell Estate Co.

90 Tiz Bob, C, y, Tiznow -Temple Street (Street Cry (ire)) Taylor Made Sales Agency $675,000Lane's End

183 C, y, Curlin-Arania (Dynaformer) Gainesway $675,000 Lane's End

138 F, y, Tapit-Wicked Deed (Harlan´s Holiday) Gainesway $670,000 Courtlandt Farm

120 F, y, War Front-Value Stream (A.p. Indy) Timber Town $600,000 Crupi's New Castle Farm

The September Sale continues through to Sunday, September 25th. Read Leo Powell's report in Saturday's The Irish Field