Brant partners with Coolmore as he continues $16 million spree

Following a major raid on European breeding stock at the Wildenstein dispersal in 2016, American billionaire businessman Peter Brant has continued his buying spree with yearlings this summer – increasing his total spend in less than a year to over $16 million as he re-establishes his White Birch Farm on the international scene.

On Wednesday Brant joined with Coolmore's MV Magnier to buy a $1 million Quality Road colt, a full-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Blofeld, out of Book 2 at the Keeneland September Sale.

The previous day Brant and Coolmore had teamed up for an Uncle Mo colt out of the stakes-placed Street Sense mare Free Money, for $675,000.

This seven-figure son of Quality Road was bought in partnership with CoolmoreCredit: Keeneland Photo

Overall Brant has bought 13 yearlings through the first three sessions of the sale for a total of $6.46 million, including the horses bought in partnership with Coolmore.

Yet he and his team, guided by top American trainer Chad Brown, have eschewed public comment, with even Brown often declining to speak about purchases. After the Quality Road colt was acquired, for instance, Brown was surrounded by media and offered only a few terse words before huddling with Magnier.

"We thought he was one of the nicest colts we saw all week and we were happy to get him," Brown said. "He's got a good pedigree and he's everything we're looking for."

The six colts and seven fillies acquired by White Birch this week include two yearlings apiece by Candy Ride, Quality Road and Medaglia d'Oro.

The latter is sire of a $675,000 filly out of Canadian champion Roxy Gap, also acquired on Wednesday, as well as a half-sister to champion sprinter Points Offthebench bought out of Book 1.

Last month at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, White Birch was listed as buyer of two fillies, a $600,000 Scat Daddy from the family of Belmont Stakes winner and sire Touch Gold and a $575,000 Tapit out of a half-sister to Kitten's Joy.

Chad Brown: trainer has conformed at the sales with White Birch's policy of public reticenceCredit: Keeneland Photo

Brant has also been acquiring prominent fillies in training. He spent $1.1 million for Grade 1-placed Paid Up Subscriber at Fasig-Tipton last November and has since raced the five-year-old with Joseph Allen. Unfortunately Paid Up Subscriber injured an ankle after her victory in the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga in July.

In private transactions, Brant acquired French Group 3 winner Sistercharlie, who finished second in the Prix de Diane. She was sent to Brown, for whom the Myboycharlie filly finished second in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes in July.

Brant also privately purchased Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Precieuse, while his Wildenstein dispersal acquisitions include Beauty Parlour, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner, for whom he paid €1.6 million. Beauty Parlour delivered a Kingman colt in April.

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