'He seems to be a horse everybody is talking about' - Maxfield progeny take centre stage for Keeneland's sixth session

Demand for offspring by Darley's Maxfield continued during the sixth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale as a colt by the multiple Grade 1 winner sold for a session-topping $575,000 to conclude the Book 3 portion of the auction on Sunday. 

Consigned by Indian Creek, the colt was purchased by Donato Lanni, who signed the ticket for hip 1916 on behalf of the Three Amigos partnership which includes Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

The colt was bred in Kentucky by William B Thompson Jr and is out of the Graded stakes-producing Pulpit mare Bible Belt. He a half-brother to Graded stakes-placed Hardworkcleanlivin and stakes-placed Gospel Way,

Maxfield has been well received with his first crop of yearlings at the September Sale. He stood his first year in 2022 and commanded an advertised fee of $35,000 for the 2024 season. He won Graded stakes races from two to four, including the 2019 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and the 2021 Clark Stakes in his final career start.

"That really seems to be the case, I think the more Maxfields people are seeing, the more they believe in the stallion," said Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek on the stallion's popularity during the sale. "He seems to be a horse everybody is talking about, so that probably helped us out a bit."

Sarah Sutherland: "I think the more Maxfields people are seeing, the more they believe in the stallion"Credit: Keeneland photo

Maxfield has had 41 horses sell so far during the September Sale, with an average of $275,366, and a gross of $11,290,000, including private sales. He had two yearlings sell for $1 million during the boutique Book 1 portion of the sale. 

"As an individual, this colt [hip 1916] was sort of a star as well," said Sutherland. "It was nice to see him bring a price for what he does physically, and how he moves. He's pretty forward. He's got a great big hip and quarter, and his movement is probably what sold him. He's very light on his feet for as strong as he is, and just a horse who showed up every time he was shown."

Lanni added: "He's a big beautiful horse. The Maxfields have been selling very well. They are very nice, it's a beautiful crop. We're very pleased."

Maxfield also had the third highest-priced yearling of the session with hip 1863, a colt out of Virtuoso, who sold to Kenny McPeek for $525,000. He was bred in Kentucky by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, and consigned by Warrendale Sales.

The demand for good horses continued through to the end of Book 3, with buyers finding it very competitive to secure the horse they wanted. 

The good results for Maxfield continued at Keeneland as a colt out of Virtuoso sold to Kenny McPeek for $525,000Credit: Keeneland photo

On the competitive market, Lanni said: "Nothing surprises me. Those good horses, they separate themselves. People find them and they're tough to buy."

Commenting on the Book 3 market, Sutherland said: "It's great when things line up, that's what everybody's saying, and it seems to be the case for us. If you miss in any way, or you have something that's not quite right, it's difficult. 

"There's not a lot of forgiveness there, but the horses that seem to be making the mark and making lists, we've had no trouble selling. It's sort of an all-or-nothing is what it feels like."

The highest-priced filly of the sale was an Airdrie Stud-raised and offered Complexity filly out of the mare Yankee Union. Hip 1881 sold for $450,000 to Douglas Scharbauer, who has been very active during this sale buying fillies. He has bought a total of 18 yearlings, 15 of them being fillies, for a total of $6,965,000. 

Progeny of Nyquist have also been in high demand through Book 3, with the Darley stallion topping the sire list for Sunday's sixth session. Twelve of his yearlings were sold for a gross of $2,645,000, and an average of $220,417. He had the second highest-priced yearling of the session with hip 1813, a colt out of the Quality Road mare Slimey selling to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management for $550,000. He was consigned by Knockgriffin Farm.

"He has a beautiful body with a great walk, by a [Kentucky] Derby-winning sire who has produced a few champions relatively early in his stud career," Clay said of the Nyquist colt. "I hope this colt follows in those footsteps."

Selling continues for Book 4 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale todayCredit: Keeneland photo

Overall, 253 horses changed hands during the sixth session for a gross of $35,976,000, and an average of $142,198. The median was $110,000. 

Agent Mike Ryan, who signed for three horses on Sunday on behalf of Klaravich Stable, said: "It's very healthy. We could use more buyers. We don't have enough end users to pay training bills and run horses. With that said, it's in incredible market. Last year was very strong and we're up on last year. The median is more meaningful. 

"It's stayed healthy all week. I think it's been a great market. But then again, you have to have product. If you have a nice horse, if you have what the market desires, you'll get well rewarded."

Taylor Made was the leading consignor with 29 horses sold, for $3,889,000. The leading buyer was McPeek, with five yearlings purchased for a total of $1,445,000. 

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continues on Monday at 10am ET (3pm BST).  Hips 1971-2390 will head through the ring for the seventh session and the start of Book 4. 

Kerry Cauthen of Four Star Sales said: "This is where the rubber meets the road. We're going to ship, show them for a day, and sell them. I like that part of the sale because it requires buyers to act. 

"People work through there but they also get down in the ring and they make on-the-spot decisions, but they're still willing to spend some significant money off of, 'I like the shape of that horse, it looks all right, let's buy it.'"

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