SHEIKH Mohammed's Godolphin paid $2.2 million for a colt from the first crop of US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah at the first session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on Monday. The colt was consigned by Kentucky-based Irishman Peter O'Callaghan.

For the first time in 10 years the Sheikh was present at the sale, accompanied by his wife Princess Haya and children.

The top lot is a son of the stakes-winning Indian Charlie mare Kindle. O'Callaghan bought him as a foal for $400,000.

“He was a really special horse,” O’Callaghan said. “He’s probably the best yearling we’ve ever had, so I hope (his success) proves to be the case on the race track. Just very grateful for Sheikh Mohammed to come here and buy him. When (Sheikh Mohammed) saw (this colt) today, his eyes lit up. I just had a feeling he was going to try hard to buy him.”

He added: "It was the most I’d ever paid for a foal. He was exceptional the day we bought him, and he just continued to get better and better. He was a tenacious physical specimen, but his temperament and his demeanour (were) almost as big.”

During the same session a daughter of American Pharoah was bought by Heider Stables for $675,000 and will be trained by Joseph O'Brien.

FIVE MILLIONAIRES

On Monday, Keeneland sold 138 yearlings, including five that fetched more than $1 million each, for gross sales of $48,620,000. The average was $352,319, and the median was $260,000. Monday marked the first of four sessions of the premier Book 1.

In addition to the sale-topping American Pharoah colt, Godolphin’s purchases included a $1.3 million Medaglia d’Oro colt who is the first foal out of Grade 2 winner Moulin de Mougin consigned by Lane’s End, agent; $875,000 for a colt by Into Mischief from the family of Triple Crown winner Affirmed consigned by St. George Sales, agent; and $800,000 for a colt by Medaglia d’Oro out of multiple Grade 2 winner Hungry Island consigned by Gainesway, agent.

Larry Best’s OXO Equine purchased a son of Curlin who is the first foal out of Grade 1 winner Molly Morgan, by Ghostzapper, for $1.8 million. The colt was consigned by Summerfield, agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised.

“It’s a good pedigree; I think it’s flawless,” Best said. “Now the big question is can he run? I don’t have a Curlin. I’ve always wanted to find a quality Curlin, and now I’ve found one.”

TAPIT'S TOP FILLY

Sold to Don Alberto Corporation for $1.4 million, the session’s top-priced filly is a daughter of Tapit who is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and sire Liam’s Map and Grade 3 winner Not This Time. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

The filly, out of the Grade 3-winning Trippi mare Miss Macy Sue, was bred by Albaugh Family Stables, which sold Liam’s Map at the 2012 September Sale for $800,000 and campaigned Not This Time.

“We want to buy a lot of colts at this sale, so we decided to sell her,” Albaugh General Manager Jason Loutsch said. “It was a tough decision. We’re happy that she’s going to a great home, and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s a great family and that mare has done so much for us and we couldn’t be more thankful.”

“She is one of the best fillies we have ever raised,” Taylor Made President and CEO Duncan Taylor said. “It may look like a lot of money, but with that pedigree she could produce million-dollar yearlings every year. I think the buyers made a great buy.”

COOLMORE CHROME

The half-brother by leading sire Tapit to Horse of the Year and 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome sold for $1.1 million to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier. Bedouin Bloodstock, agent, consigned the son of the Not For Love mare Love the Chase.

“He’s a very nice horse,” Magnier said. “The mare is a good producer and he’s a brother to a very good horse. He’s going to stay here and go to (trainer) Todd Pletcher. Let’s hope he’s good. He’s by a good sire, obviously, in Tapit, and if he’s anything the way (Coolmore’s) Cupid turned out (to be a Grade 1-winning millionaire), he (will be) quite remarkable.”

“I am delighted with the buyer – it is always great when a horse is under their management,” said Tom Ryan of breeder SF Bloodstock. “This was a superstar colt from day one, and that was reflected in the price. The market seems to be holding up very well and it is great to have Coolmore and Godolphin on the grounds today with a lot of domestic buying going on as well.”

MORE KEENELAND COVERAGE IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND