'Offering this share in Flightline gives breeders a truly special chance' - slice of greatness on offer at Keeneland Championship Sale

Keeneland has catalogued a stallion share in Horse of the Year and sire Flightline, whose first foals are weanlings of 2024, for the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held the evening of Wednesday, October 30 in the Paddock at Del Mar, site of the Breeders’ Cup on November 1-2.

The share is offered by an original owner of Flightline who retains multiple shares in the stallion and wishes to support the inaugural Championship Sale.

Flightline sparked worldwide attention in 2022 with dominating wins in three Grade 1s, namely the Metropolitan by six lengths, the Pacific Classic by 19 and a quarter lengths, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic by a record eight and a quarter lengths.

The colt’s legendary accomplishments on the track earned him Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and champion older male of 2022. He was undefeated in two seasons of racing, with earnings of more than $4.5 million.

He was awarded an official rating of 140, equal with Frankel, Shergar and Alleged, and just 1lb behind Dancing Brave, the top dog on the International Classifications, which were inaugurated in 1977. 

A son of leading sire Tapit, Flightline retired to Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, with the same global fanfare that surrounded his racing career. On day one of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale, just days after his romp in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a 2.5 per cent ownership interest in Flightline sold for $4.6m.

Flightline continues to create excitement at stud, breeding a full book of 152 mares in each of his first two seasons (2023 and 2024).

In 2023, Flightline’s book included more than 50 Grade 1-winning or Grade 1-producing mares and ranked as the highest covering sire average for a first-year stallion in the last 15 years: $1,183,333 average with a top price of $3m.

Flightline’s Comparable Index (CI) of 6.98 led all stallions by 2.36. His Class Performance Index (CPI) of 7.41 led all first-year stallions by 2.31 and ranked third overall in 2023.

In 2024, Flightline’s first crop of weanlings sold in Japan for an average of $974,057. His top-priced weanling brought $1,305,651.

Six weanlings by Flightline are cataloged to Keeneland’s upcoming November Breeding Stock Sale. 

“Offering this share in Flightline in Keeneland’s Championship Sale gives breeders a truly special chance to invest in one of the most exciting young stallions in our industry,” said Bill Farish of Lane’s End Farm. 

“The class and quality he possesses is readily evident in his progeny – Flightline is represented by an outstanding first crop of foals which have already received tremendous support in the commercial market abroad, with a top selection of weanlings catalogued to sell in November. Now, Keeneland provides buyers the option to invest in him from every possible angle.”

Keeneland vice-president of sales Tony Lacy said: “Flightline’s brilliance on the racetrack made him a global superstar, and now fans around the world are excited by his offspring coming of age. 

"Keeneland is honoured to offer this uniquely special opportunity to purchase a share in Flightline at the Championship Sale.”

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