THE first of approximately 4,000 yearlings being auctioned at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale will enter the ring on Monday.

This is the first September Sale since the appointment of Irishmen Tony Lacy and Cormac Breathnach as vice president of sales and director of sales respectively. Former sales director Geoffrey Russell remains in a consultancy role with Keeneland.

The format for the two-week sale has been amended this year. The biggest change is that any unsold yearlings during the first two days (Book 1) can be reoffered at the end of Tuesday’s session.

In an effort to position the largest number of horses possible before a deep audience of domestic and international buyers, the first week of sales will run from Monday to Thursday before a ‘dark day’ on Friday, when no sale will be held.

The sale concludes a week later on Friday, September 24th when the final two sessions of Book 5 will be merged into one single session.

A total of 2,132 colts and 1,902 fillies have been catalogued and there are 204 sires represented including European stallions Australia, Caravaggio, Churchill, Galileo, Highland Reel, Kingman, Le Havre, Lope De Vega, Mastecraftsman, No Nay Never, Saxon Warrior, Wootton Bassett and Zoffany.

One of the talking points will also be the 89 horses in the catalogue from the first crop of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.

The September Sale is not just popular with end-users (owners) but also with pinhookers. Statistics compiled by Keeneland show that $26 million worth of yearlings bought at this sale last year were re-sold for a total of $62 million at two-year-old auctions this year.

Pinhooking success stories have come at all levels – from Eclipse Award winner Mitole - who was bought for $20,000 and sold for $140,000 – to fellow Eclipse Award winner Gamine, bought for $220,000 and sold for $1.8 million.

Sale info

Sale: Keeneland September Yearling Sale

Dates: Monday, September 13th to Friday, September 24th

Lots: 4,034

  • Book 1: 401 yearlings offered across Monday and Tuesday, September 13th and 14th. Unsold horses (Reserve not attained) will be reoffered immediately following the final lot on September 14th.
  • Book 2: 698 yearlings offered across Wednesday and Thursday, September 15th and 16th.
  • Book 3: 827 yearlings offered across Saturday and Sunday, September 18th and 19th.
  • Book 4: 829 yearlings offered across Monday and Tuesday, September 20th and 21st.
  • Book 5: 1,279 yearlings offered from Wednesday to Friday, September 22nd to 24th.
  • Tel: 001 859 254 3412

    Web: keeneland.com (live stream)