Nyquist colts at $1.3m and $1.2m keep bid board ticking along nicely at Keeneland

A pair of Nyquist colts topped the fourth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on Thursday, both surpassing the $1 million mark.

Maverick Racing, China Horse Club and Siena Farm became the first buyers to break into seven-figure territory on day four in Lexington, the second session of Book 2, going to $1.3m for a Nyquist colt out of the winning Bernardini mare Spa Treatment, a daughter of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Silver Knockers.

He was consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services for breeders Springhouse Farm and Hunter Valley Farm. 

Ron Blake of Blake-Albina Thoroughbreds said: "We've always liked him, he's a big beautiful colt, he moves well and he carries himself well. We knew we'd have some people on him, we just didn't know how far anybody was gonna go.” 

Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, who signed the ticket on behalf of the buying partnership, said: "Obviously Nyquist over Bernardini is a great cross. He was one of our favourites of the whole sale, Book 1, Book 2, didn't matter. We were very bullish on him.”

Among Nyquist's top performers this year is Immersive, recent winner of the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga. She is out of the Bernardini mare Gap Year. Other Graded winners by Nyquist bred on the same cross include Grade 1 Summer Stakes winner and Canadian champion two-year-old colt Gretzky The Great, and Grade 3 winners Encino and Nysos.

Nyquist, the 2015 champion two-year-old male by Uncle Mo, has had a remarkable year on the track and in the sales ring. In addition to Immersive, he has been represented by the undefeated Tenma, who won the Grade 1 Debutante Stakes last week, Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes winner Randomized and Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile Stakes winner Johannes.

Darley's Nyquist was represented by a second seven-figure yearling in the closing hour of day four when John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock went to $1.2m for a colt consigned by Indian Creek.

John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock went to $1.2 million for this Nyquist colt out of Candy SwapCredit: Keeneland Photo

County Line Farm bred the colt in Kentucky out of the Candy Ride mare Candy Swap, a sister to Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner and sire Sidney’s Candy, and to Grade 3 winner Sweet Swap.

From four foals of racing age, Candy Swap has produced stakes winner Bluegrass Parkway, by Quality Road, who set a mile-and-a-quarter track record when winning the 2021 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes at Ellis Park.

Indian Creek's Sarah Sutherland said: "The stallion speaks for himself; he can do no wrong. This colt has got a really nice pedigree, he’s a classic-distance type of horse, and I think he's one not even close to at his best right now. He's a beautiful mover, it’ll be fun to watch and follow him.”

Stewart said: “I like the way that his [Nyquist] horses have run. I think there’s nothing but upside there. Then the physical of the horse, it was our top colt of the day. I was joking around that I was waiting for that horse for four hours, and there was no way I wasn’t buying it. 

“Whoever I was bidding against on the phone, I was just watching, thinking, ‘I’m going, keep going. Let’s go.’”

The average for the fourth session was $286,103 from 223 yearlings sold, for a gross of $63,801,000. The median was $250,000. Of the 317 who went through the ring, 94 were bought back, resulting in a reserve not attained  rate of 30 per cent.

Taylor Made was leading consignor with a gross of $8,180,000 from 34 horses sold. Resolute was the leading buyer on the day, with three purchases for a total of $2,550,000. 

The leading sire by gross was Not This Time, with 18 sold for a total of $6,270,000. Gun Runner was a close second with a gross of $6,100,000 from 16 sold.

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continues on Saturday with Book 3, following a dark day on Friday.

Read this next:

Tapit colt and Gun Runner filly head Keeneland day three trade at $1.05 million each 

'He's the best horse in here' - $5 million Curlin brother to Grade 1 winner Clairiere dominates second day of Keeneland 

'The tribute goes to Curlin' - Curlin show goes on at Keeneland as Magnier and Brant strike for $1.3 million colt 

'You knew he was a seven-figure horse' - Gun Runner to the fore as $2.2 million colt tops Keeneland September Sale opener