Keeneland Sale Ends Successful First Week
By Glenye Cain Oakford
Coolmore's M.V. Magnier signed a $2.5 million ticket at Keeneland's September sale Sept. 12, closing out the auction's first week with a sale-leading War Front colt and more strong selling that brought the auction's total number of million-dollar yearlings to 18.
That's 11 more than the entire auction sold last year and the most since 2008 (which also had 18 in total), an undeniable sign that the Thoroughbred world's wealthiest buyers are most freely investing in horseflesh they believe has top-quality residual value.
For high-end breeders and sellers, at least, the recession that plunged a dagger into the bloodstock market five years ago is officially over.
Thursday's final Book One session sold 142 yearlings for $41,874,000, yielding an average price of $294,887 and a $210,000 median. Buybacks were 26% for the session. Cumulatively, Book One's four-day run sold 546 yearlings for $153,385,000, for a $280,295 average and a $207,500 median. The overall buyback rate was 27%, a slight drop from last season.
This year's first week average and median were up by 38.5% and 38.3%, respectively. Last year's first four sessions, featuring a single select session followed by three well supported non-select days, posted a $202,829 average and a $150,000 median. Buybacks were 28.7%.