Keeneland catalogues 4,272 yearlings for 2020 September Sale

A half-sister to this year's 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko is among the 4,272 yearlings to have been listed for the 77th Keeneland September Yearling Sale, held over 12 sessions between September 13-25.

Bought for only $90,000 by David Redvers on behalf of Qatar Racing, Kameko is one of the poster boys for the blue riband US sale and his sibling, by Optimizer, is being offered by Hunter Valley.

Redvers bought another notable son of Kitten's Joy at Keeneland, multiple Group 1 winner Roaring Lion, and there are 41 of the sire's progeny among the catalogue.

View Keeneland catalogue here

In all, there are 2,235 colts and 2,037 fillies by 201 of the world’s leading sires including American Pharoah, Bernardini, Candy Ride, Curlin, Dark Angel, Distorted Humor, Empire Maker, Frankel, Frosted, Galileo, Ghostzapper, Hard Spun, Honor Code, Into Mischief, Kingman, Medaglia d’Oro, More Than Ready, No Nay Never, Quality Road, Speightstown, Street Sense, Tapit, Uncle Mo, Union Rags, Violence and War Front.

Meanwhile among the first crop sires represented are the late Arrogate (who has a filly out of Mandy Pope's $9,500,000 purchase and champion racemare Songbird) along with Battle of Midway, Caravaggio, Churchill, Classic Empire, Cupid, Gun Runner, Keen Ice, Mastery and Practical Joke.

Graduates have been doing well around the world, from Con Te Partiro in Australia to Mozu Ascot and Mozu Superflare in Japan.

There have been home-grown successes for the likes of Authentic (Haskell), Improbable (Hollywood Gold Cup, Whitney), Mucho Gusto (Pegasus World Cup) and War of Will (Maker’s Mark Mile).

Classic winner Kameko is a Keeneland graduateCredit: Edward Whitaker

Organisers have upgraded bidding technology and will provide additional bidding locations beyond the arena and back ring to allow for comfortable social distancing.

"Keeneland’s September Sale is vital to the thoroughbred industry and the primary source globally of champions and graded or group stakes winners year after year," Keeneland president-elect and interim head of sales Shannon Arvin said.

"We look forward to welcoming consignors and buyers this fall, and we are collaborating with Fasig-Tipton and government and health officials on protocols to be announced in the coming days that will enable us to conduct a successful and safe sale.

"For those unable to attend, we have expedited our technology initiatives to provide real-time online bidding and expanded our phone bidding capabilities. We also have enhanced the resources available via our digital September Sale catalogue to deliver more information directly to our customers."

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