KEENELAND’S September Yearling Sale finished last Sunday and the 13-day auction produced a final turnover of $377,130,400, the fourth highest in September Sale history. Last year’s record average price was beaten and 27 horses sold for $1 million or more, including three for $2 million plus, the most since 2007. This was more than double the number in 2017. The $2.4 million given by Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier for a colt by War Front is the highest price paid for a yearling in the world so far this year.

A number of factors were deemed to have driven the market which was sustained throughout the marathon sale. They included what was considered to be a vintage crop of yearlings with quality pedigrees and exceptional conformation; the much anticipated yearlings from the first crop of the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah; and the presence of Sheikh Mohammed for the first time in many years. In the name of Godolphin/Godolphin Japan he acquired 27 yearlings for just short of $20 million, the highest amount paid by a single buying entity since 2006.

The turnover exceeded last year’s 12-day auction total on the seventh day of selling. Final figures show a growth of 23% in aggregate, the highest since the 14-day September Sale in 2005. The average established a record, increasing 7% on last year, though the median declined 12%.

“The September Sale saw an all-out competition for horses that drove the volume of trade to robust levels,” Keeneland vice president of racing and sales Bob Elliston said. “Credit goes to the breeders and consignors who brought one of the best crops of yearlings to market in years. Buyers responded with an enthusiasm that exceeded all our expectations.”

Keeneland director of sales operations Geoffrey Russell agreed. “In the end, it has to be the horse,” he said. “Yes, there are external factors like a strong economy and stock market and new tax laws that obviously help raise the bar. But if the horses aren’t top quality, buyers aren’t going to pay extra money for them just because they have it in their pocket.”

Sheikh Mohammed’s acquisitions were highlighted by seven million-dollar or more purchases, led by a colt by American Pharoah for $2.2 million and the sale’s top filly, a daughter of War Front and half-sister to the 2016 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, who stands for Godolphin in Lexington. She realised $1.75 million. “It was so exciting, and he [Sheikh Mohammed] is so down to earth,” said Anne Archer Hinkle, co-owner of Hinkle Farms who consigned the filly. “To have the top buyers come and look at your horses and be willing to spend all that money on them is a great feeling.”

Joining Sheikh Mohammed at the top of the buyers list was his brother Sheikh Hamdan, whose Shadwell Estate Company Ltd spent $12,345,000 for 19 horses. “We were pleased to welcome Sheikh Mohammed and his wife, Princess Haya, to Keeneland for the first time in a number of years,” Elliston said. “His presence and the participation of his brother Sheikh Hamdan and the Coolmore contingent change the atmosphere of the sale. It creates an excitement that reverberates around the sales grounds.”

Buyers from across North America and more than 20 foreign countries representing Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America and Latin America converged at Keeneland for the sale. “Week 1 sets the table and then the second week follows,” Russell said. “We are able to recruit buyers from South America, Korea and Russia to buy in Books 3 through 6. They like the American-bred speed dirt horse and know they are going to get good quality when they come here, regardless of the price.”

Purchasers of the sale’s 27 seven-figure yearlings were made up of 13 U.S. and 14 international interests. M.V. Magnier paid $5,275,000 for four yearlings, led by the sale-topping $2.4 million War Front colt, an American Pharoah filly for $1.2 million and a Tapit colt for $1.1 million. Other prominent foreign interests were Liliana Solari’s Don Alberto Corporation, which bought a Tapit filly for $1.4 million, and Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani’s Qatar Racing.

The September Sale also attracted a number of leading trainers from across North America and internationally. More than 70 trainers attended the sale, including Saeed bin Suroor, John Gosden, Aidan and Joseph O’Brien.

Uncle Mo was the sale’s leading sire by gross with 65 yearlings sold for $22,392,000. They included three million-dollar horses. Medaglia D’Oro ranked second, represented by 34 yearlings sold for $20,075,000. Five of his yearlings sold for seven figures. The excitement generated by the first crop by American Pharoah lived up to expectation as 47 of his yearlings sold for $19,585,000, for an average of $416,702. Among them were three million-dollar horses.

For the fourth consecutive year and 20th time since 1988, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the September Sale’s leading consignor. Taylor Made sold 300 horses for $47,317,400.