Book 2 of Keeneland concludes with $1.7 million Quality Road colt

Midway through the second day of selling from Book 2, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, bidding over the phone, landed a final bid of $1.7 million to secure the Quality Road colt during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The bay colt consigned as hip 886 by Nardelli Sales will head to Bob Baffert for Amr Zedan.

Lanni said: "Bob loved him; everybody loved him. Everybody was waiting for him to walk through the pavilion, and all the usual suspects were visible, and he's a beautiful horse."

The colt is out of the winning Street Sense mare Act Now, a tail-end family member to stakes winner Spunoutacontrol, a half-sibling to Grade 1 winner Minardi and to sire Tale Of The Cat. The Wild Again mare produced the fast Grade 2 winner Fed Biz and Spun Silk, dam of Grade 1 winner Joking.

Lanni continued: "He's a s super athletic and pretty laid-back individual. He is a fast-looking Quality Road and made really well. He's the kind you want to take home.

Donato Lanni (right): 'Corniche was brilliant, and this horse kind of reminds me a lot of him.'Credit: Keeneland photo/PhotosbyZ

"Bob did such a great job with Corniche. And I think Bob's a believer, and he loves the sire. Corniche was brilliant, and this horse kind of reminds me a lot of him."

Rodney and Kim Nardelli of Nardelli Sales consigned the colt, which they bred in partnership with William Werner and W.S. Farish.

"He's a lovely horse we bred and raised," said Rodney Nardelli. "He's got everything: he's beautiful, correct, and he vets. He's been nice all his life.

"We're appreciative of Keeneland's format and the support of the buyers. We were trying to get away from some of the competition [in Book 1]. Most of the major players were on him."

The fourth selling session saw 230 horses of the 320 on offer find a buyer for gross receipts of $56,635,000, at an average price of $246,239 and a median of $202,500. There were 90 who failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 28.1 per cent.

Cormac Breathnach, Keeneland's director of sales operations, said: "Overall, week one, we've had a ten per cent bump in average and median after what was a really exciting week one last year.

"I think our opening session was very gratifying and strong. I just feel a sense of gratitude to the breeders because, again, they really worked with us and supported us and what we're trying to do. Seeing these results gives us a lot of energy and encouragement."

Last year, 209 of the 289 horses through the ring changed hands for gross receipts of $49,891,000. An average price of $238,713 and a median of $200,000 was recorded. There were 80 horses who failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 27.6 per cent.

A yearling is lead out at KeenelandCredit: Keeneland photo/photosbyZ

The partnership of Repole Stable and St Elias Stables purchased 12 yearlings during session four to be the leading buyer, with gross receipts of $3,875,000 at an average price of $322,917.

"The partnerships have been incredibly important, whether it's St Elias and Mike Repole, SF/Starlight/Madaket, West Point, or Lane's End," said Tony Lacy, vice president of sales for Keeneland.

"These are all groups that have been successful. And what's really encouraging, it's viable because they're investing a lot of money and getting rewarded. They're working the market well, and because they're very astute and are professional buyers, they're reaping the rewards and having a ton of fun."

Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 25 horses on Thursday for gross receipts of $5,915,000 and an average of $236,600 to be the session's leading consignor.

"Today was a good day, but I think people got some good value," said Duncan Taylor of Taylor Made Sales. "There were some horses that sold for fair trade, but we thought a few we sold after Wednesday would bring a little more."

Taylor added: "Hopefully, it will stay strong because these sales come in waves; today we had a good turnover rate. We were selling most of them and not having to buy too many back. We sold a couple of nice Curlin fillies; people got them for $225,000 to $250,000, and that's not overpaying, that's good value. Overall it's been a great sale, this market has been unbelievable."

Cumulatively over the first four selling sessions, two days of Book 1 and two of Book 2, 694 yearlings of the 898 under the hammer were sold for gross figures of $241,875,000.

An average price of $348,523 and a median of $270,000 was recorded. There were 204 horses who failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 22.7 per cent.

Last year at this point in the sale, 664 of the 888 horses offered had sold for gross receipts of $207,959,000, at an average price of $313,191 and a median of $250,000. After 224 horses failed to meet their reserve, the RNA rate was 25.2 per cent.

A dark day will be observed on Friday, with selling resuming on Saturday, from Book 3, hips 1131 – 1546 to head through the ring beginning at 10am. As of Thursday evening, there were 27 horses withdrawn from the fifth session.

Lacy said: "It was an incredible week when you look at it. We're never satisfied and are always going to question how we can do it better.

"We appreciate everybody's support because that's what makes it possible. We were changing some things this year and leaning into a quality-forward sort of attitude, which really paid off. Books 1 and 2 were a solid group of horses and buyers; it's an important part of the market.

"As we turn the page now and start heading into Book 3 and enter the second week, I think the activity in the barns again is very strong and encouraging, and I would predict the middle market will be as healthy as it was last year."

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