'Our international outreach is paying dividends' - Keeneland September Sale ends with record $427.8m spent on yearlings

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded on Saturday in Lexington as the highest grossing auction in history with total sales of $427,800,000.

"When we were on inspections earlier this year, we saw a level of quality and consistency among the crop that gave us a lot of excitement, and when the horses showed up, they verified our excitement and expectations," said Tony Lacy, vice-president of sales at Keeneland.

The previous record, set in 2022, was surpassed at Thursday’s session. The final two days added to the total with solid trade for the level of horse offered. 

At Saturday's final session, 209 horses sold from the 235 offered, for a total of $2,817,000. The average was $13,478, with a median of $10,000. Twenty-six horses failed to meet their reserve, resulting in a clearance rate of 89 per cent.

Keeneland's director of sales operations Cormac Breathnach said: "Our international outreach is paying dividends. We've had sales team members go all over the world, with three members in the Middle East this year, for a long stint between the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup 

"We've had members in Japan, Eastern Europe, South America, and all over the 

country here in the U.S. domestically, and also in Ireland and England.

"We sponsor races around the world; we're really putting our best foot forward, trying to engage the international community, as well as the domestic buyer base. I think the most gratifying thing for us is to see the number of countries – 31 so far have bought from this September catalogue, which is a couple more than last year.”

The leading buyer of the 12th session for the second day in a row was Nadir Khassanov. He purchased 13 head for a total of $113,500. Vinery Sales sold 27 yearlings for a gross of $470,400 to top the day as leading consignor. 

First-crop yearling sire Rock Your World led the sire standings on the last day with nine sold for $194,000.

For the entire 2024 sale, the average was $148,130, with a median of $70,000 for the 2,888 yearlings sold. Of the 3,539 hips offered, 651 horses did not meet their reserve, resulting in a clearance rate of 82 per cent.

In 2023, 2,885 horses sold from the 3,452 to go through the ring for final figures of $408,179,900, an average of $141,484, and a median of $67,000. The clearance rate was 84 per cent.

This year's 81st edition of the sale saw 36 horses sell for $1 million or more, up from last year's 30. 

The leading buyer of the entire sale was Repole Stable (West Bloodstock, agent), signing the ticket for 31 horses for a total of $11,410,000. 

Taylor Made Sales Agency led the consignors with a total of 334 head sold for $53,333,200. 

Gun Runner topped the sire standings by gross with 62 yearlings sold for a total of $32,665,000, with seven of them bringing $1m or more.

A colt by Rock Your World topped the 12th and final session on Saturday. Consigned as Hip 4228 from the Stoneriggs Farm consignment, Zap/Murphy for CA Racing Partners and Ciaglia went to $85,000 to secure the colt. 

He was bred in Kentucky by MJK Bloodstock and is the first foal of the winning Alternation mare Plenty Quick.

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