War Front Stars at KEESEP Opener

A trio of yearlings by Claiborne Farm resident War Front sat atop Monday's opening session of the Keeneland September Sale, which saw solid overall trade. A total of 150 head changed hands for gross receipts of $44,642,000, yielding an average of $297,613. The median price Monday was $265,000. With a slightly smaller Book 1 catalogue this year conducted over three days rather than the four it was in 2014, comparative statistical analysis is somewhat difficult, but last year's cumulative Book 1 average was $300,535 with a median of $240,000. The RNA rate Monday was 31.19%. It was 27.71% during last year's first session, and 27.3% overall for Book 1.

“The buyback rate ticked up a little bit, but everything else was very positive,” offered Keeneland's Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. “It was good from start to finish with a good cross-section of buyers. The number of million-dollar horses was the same as last year in the first session. There was very active bidding on all sides. We always talk about Book 1 as horses that are highly prized, and they're also highly prized by their owners who aren't afraid to race them–they're just as selective themselves.”

Topping all returns Monday was hip 116, a War Front filly purchased by Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd. for $1.45 million. Purchased in utero by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $5.2-million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale, the daughter of Irish Group 3-placed Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was consigned to the sale by Wayne and Cathy Sweezey's Timber Town.

“It's great to see Mandy Pope, who has invested a lot of money in the horse business, now recouping some of that investment,” Russell said of the topper.

Twelve horses were purchased for $600,000 or more by 10 distinct buyers.

Of the buying bench, Russell added, “There was good Japanese presence here. It was good to see [Shadai Farm's Teruya] Yoshida, who hasn't been here in many years. There was a very strong European presence, with John Ferguson and Shadwell at the top of the list, so overall I thought it was very good.”

Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor John Ferguson was leading buyer with 15 horses purchased for $6.3 million, while Taylor Made Sales Agency led all consignors with 27 yearlings grossing $8,695,000.

“So far we've had positive reactions,” Russell said when asked about the tweaked format. “When we announced it to our consignors, and we talked to the buyers at the same time, they were all very much in favor of it. Our goal here is to try to put as many horses in front of buyers that we possibly can. Both consignors and buyers felt that last year on the Thursday there wasn't enough for them to do, and they want to be kept going. By adding horses on the first three days and getting all the horses on the grounds for Book 2, it keeps everybody going and the momentum going.”

The 12-day sale continues Tuesday at 11 a.m. Visit keeneland.com for complete results.

– Jessica Martini, Brian DiDonato & Justina Severni

War Front Filly to Shadwell…

A filly by War Front out of Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) topped Monday's opening session of the Keeneland September sale when selling for $1.45 million to the bid of Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estate Company. Shadwell General Manager Rick Nichols signed the ticket on the youngster. The yearling (hip 116) was consigned by Wayne and Cathy Sweezey's Timber Town on behalf of breeder Mandy Pope, who purchased Betterbetterbetter with this filly in utero for $5.2 million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Asked what he liked about the yearling, Nichols said simply, “Everything.” He added, “It's a great page. She is a very nice mover. She has everything.”

Betterbetterbetter, group-placed in Ireland, is closely related to Irish Group 1 winners Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

Nichols admitted the filly would most likely join Sheikh Hamdan's European division.

“I think you could go either way with her,” Nichols said. “Sheikh Hamdan likes to see them run and he can do that easier in England. She's awful pretty. He might want her pretty close where he can keep an eye on her.”

Betterbetterbetter was one of a bevy of high-priced broodmare purchases Pope has made in the last three years. After watching the first product of that buying spree bring seven figures Monday, Pope was ecstatic.

“It's a dream,” she said while smiling broadly. “This is harder to do than to spend the money to buy one. To actually sell one that you raised. It's a fantasy. It's surreal right now that I've actually done this–with the help of a lot of people. Just to get the program off to a good start is very exciting.”

According to Pope, the yearling has a personality to match her seven-figure price tag.

“She has a bit of an attitude,” Pope said. “She's her own girl. When she was here being shown, she and Wayne kind of developed a love affair. Wayne showed her because she liked Wayne and she did anything he wanted her to do. So she has a lot of personality, as does Betterbetterbetter.”

Among Pope's high-profile purchases was the $10-million Horse of the Year Havre de Grace and $4.2-million GI Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty. Pope's game plan is to keep fillies and sell colts, but basic economics and this filly's international appeal led to the decision to send her through the September sale ring.

“I need to sell some to recoup some of the money that I put into this,” Pope explained. “Obviously, the easiest way would be to sell the Tapit filly out of Havre de Grace, but I wasn't going to do that. This filly needs to go to England and I don't race in England. That's not what I do. So she needed to be in different hands than mine. She has a very international pedigree and grass is going to be her thing like the rest of her family and I think she is getting the best of homes. Hopefully she'll be a superstar over there.”

Betterbetterbetter did not get in foal last year, but is now in foal to Tapit.

Among Pope's offerings this week through the Timber Town consignment is hip 514, a Distorted Humor colt out of Plum Pretty; and hip 643, a Street Cry (Ire) half-brother to Grade I winner Brilliant Speed (Dyanformer). @JessMartiniTDN

Evans Sets the 'Tone'…

A War Front filly consigned by Lane's End, agent was the first yearling to reach the seven-figure mark Monday afternoon when Robert 'Shel' Evans–who campaigns GI Belmont S. and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Tonalist (Tapit)–went to a cool $1 million for the dark bay miss.

“I love War Front, and I love the female family,” Evans said of hip 99. “I was afraid she'd go for that,” he admitted, saying his plans for the filly are “To race her… and then breed her to Tonalist.”

Tonalist is currently being pointed by trainer Christophe Clement towards a Jockey Club title defense Oct. 3.

Patrick Lawley-Wakelin was alongside Shel Evans out back during the bidding process.

“She was a lovely individual,” said the veteran agent. “We really liked her. She's got quite a bit of leg underneath her, and she's something like what we've been looking for. Shel loves the family–how can you not love the family? It's a really special one, and I think we've bought a special filly.”

Hip 99's fourth dam is blue hen Courtly Dee. Her

second dam is MGSW Atelier (Deputy Minister), while her Grade II-winning third dam Aishah (Alydar) is a full to 1983 champion 2-year-old filly Althea. Aishah also produced GISW Aldiza (Storm Cat).

Garrett O'Rourke's Breffni Farm purchased hip 99's unraced dam Azzedine (Mr. Greeley) for $150,000 at the 2012 Keeneland January sale. Her first foal Assoulin (Candy Ride {Arg}), runner-up twice this year as a juvenile for Gainesway Stable and conditioner Wesley Ward, was a $160,000 KEESEP yearling 12 months ago. Azzedine produced a Candy Ride colt early this season, and was bred back Exchange Rate.

“That was a great price, we thought,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish. “We weren't really sure what to expect this early in the sale, but obviously the War Fronts are selling well and she sold very nicely.” –BDiDonatoTDN

Claiborne Stallion 'Front's Keeneland…

Off standout sales in 2013 and 2014, War Front further solidified his status as one of the top standout commercial stallions in the world. Last year, War Front was responsible for the sales-topping $2.2 million colt, and another to surpass the million-dollar mark at $1.3 million, both of which went to Coolmore. The topper, named Air Vice Marshal, has one win under his belt and was recently runner-up in the G2 Superlative S. at Newmarket in July, while the $1.3 million-purchase, since named Schubert, is unraced.

War Front struck the front again this year, and claimed the top three prices during Monday's opening session with hip 116, a filly that went to Shadwell for $1.45 million; hip 99, a filly that was purchased by Shel Evans; and hip 106, a colt that went to John Ferguson. Hip 110 RNA'd for $825,000. The son of Danzig is currently ranked 19th on the North American general sires list, and Claiborne's Walker Hancock expects the sire's popularity to continue to grow.

“It's only going to go up,” Hancock said of War Front's success. “He's just starting to get to the really good mares. We've slowly raised the stud fee over the past few years and the weanlings now are [off a fee of] $150,000. The yearlings now are from $80,000-mares, where last year's were $60,000-mares, and that's a big jump from where he was when he started with $12,000-mares. You're only going to see the quality go up, so it's not surprising he's having such a good sale.”

In total, seven War Fronts sold during the session for a total of $5,155,000 for an average of $736,429. The median price was $600,000.

War Front's popularity has been bolstered by another strong year on the track, with 11 stakes winners on the year. Juvenile Air Force Blue, who went to Coolmore for $490,000 at last year's sale, was victorious in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. and Sunday's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S.. His Lemon Drop Kid half-brother went to Shadai for $535,000 during the session. Other graded winners on the year include Departing, War Dispatch, Jack Milton and War Correspondent.

“It's not bad having a Keeneland graduate by War Front, because you can win two Group 1 races in Ireland, one of which we sponsor ourself,” said Keeneland's Geoffrey Russell. “So it's good for War Front, and it's good for everybody.” @JSeverniTDN

Ferguson Busy During Day One…

War Front continued his roll of high-priced yearlings Monday when hip 106, the first colt out of Bauble Queen (Arch) was knocked down to bloodstock advisor John Ferguson for $900,000. He was consigned by Claiborne Farm.

“He's an athletic horse from an excellent farm in Claiborne that's raised more champions than you can remember,” Ferguson offered. “And, obviously, the sire is doing very well, so I'm happy to have him.”

The Apr. 7 colt is out of GII Robert J. Frankel S. winner Bauble Queen, whose third dam, By Land By Sea, was a multiple Grade I winner. Upon retirement from the track, Ramona Bass purchased Bauble Queen for $650,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Hip 106 was the mare's first foal and she also has a War Front weanling.

“We're thrilled,” Bass said. “The best part is we have a full-brother weanling on the farm. It's great. It's her first foal so it's hard to tell what he'd bring, but it's great.”

“He's a very nice colt, and we're very happy with the sales price,” Claiborne's Walker Handcock added.

The War Front colt was one of 15 yearling purchases by Ferguson Monday. A colt by Medaglia d'Oro led early returns during the session when selling for $875,000 to Darley's bloodstock advisor. The yearling (hip 49) is the first foal out of Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex), who won the 2012 GII Falls City H. The mare is a half-sister to GI Preakness S. winner Shackleford (Forestry) and to GI Alabama S. winner Lady Joanne (Orientate).

“It's a serious pedigree from a serious farm,” Ferguson said of the colt's appeal. “He is a beautiful-looking horse, so fingers crossed he'll be a nice horse. He's just an athlete. He wasn't the biggest, but they don't have to be.”

Afleeting Lady, with this colt in utero, RNA'd for $2.7 million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The yearling was bred by Alpha Delta Stables and Colts Neck Stables and was consigned to the September sale by Mill Ridge Sales.

“John Ferguson and Sheikh Mohammed have been such supporters of the entire industry over the years, so anytime we sell a nice horse to them it's most meaningful to us,” said Mill Ridge's Headley Bell. “He had 12 scopes, so there was a lot of interest in the horse and a lot of the proper people were interested in him. I valued him probably $750,000 to $1.25 million coming in, so it was right on the money. He was a proper individual and you've got to bring a proper horse into this market or you won't get done what you need to get done.”

Bell acknowledged the market was still finding its way early Monday.

“It's early days, so the market is just finding its footing right now,” he explained. “But this horse was a good example. If you bring a good horse in here there is good money. Again we had a lot of interest in him and that was a very fair sale–that is a huge piece of paper and a really proper horse. I think if he sells tomorrow, you might get $1.2 million. I think you'll get some momentum with this market. We broke the ice on that. The next one will be $1 million.”

Just four hips after signing the ticket on the Medaglia d'Oro colt, Ferguson was back in action again, going to $400,000 for a son of Lemon Drop Kid. Consigned by Indian Creek, hip 53 is out of Agreeable Miss (Speightstown) and is a half-brother to Sheikh Hamdan's stakes-placed sophomore Faydhan (War Front).

“The Lemon Drop Kid is a very good individual from good farm,” Ferguson said. “And his brother Faydhan is a talented horse.”

Ferguson's name also appeared on the tickets of hip 101, a $750,000 son of More Than Ready; hip 47, a $550,000 filly by Distorted Humor; and hip 109, a $525,000 colt by War Front. @JessMartiniTDN @JSeverniTDN

Crupi 'Strikes' Early…

J. J. Crupi's New Castle Farm took one home early during day one of the Keeneland September Sale Monday, scooping up a Smart Strike filly for $635,000 (click here for ThoroStride video). Consigned to the sale by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent CXXXV as hip 35, the chestnut was bred by Ben Leon's Besilu Stables.

“I loved the horse,” Crupi said emphatically. “She had everything in the right place, she vetted 100% and she looks like a racehorse. Her pedigree is fabulous.” By super sire Smart Strike–who died in March–hip 35 hails from a strong Phipps family. Her second dam is MGISW My Flag (Easy Goer), making her stakes-winning dam With Flying Colors (A.P. Indy) a half-sister to 2002's champion juvenile filly Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat).

The Ocala-based horseman, who has done very well in recent years with yearling-to-juvenile pinhooks, chose not to disclose who he was purchasing the Smart Strike filly for, but said she would be heading to the races.

After signing for hip 35, Crupi said of the overall market, “I think it's a little weak, but it'll get better. The right people are here with the money. I think it's going to be a good sale. There are beautiful horses here.”

Crupi's New Castle purchased six yearlings Monday for a total of $2,205,000 to be the third-leading buyer by gross behind only John Ferguson and Shadwell. –BDiDonatoTDN

A Frankel for Faisal…

The first offspring by superstar Frankel (GB) to sell in the U.S. will be heading to Europe after selling for $500,000 to bloodstock agent Hugo Merry, bidding on behalf of Prince Faisal's Nawara Stud.

“Prince Faisal has been trying to buy a Frankel,” Merry commented after signing the ticket on hip 183. “He looked at them in Deauville. He liked the look of this horse on the video and in photographs and we liked the horse. There is a lot of [broodmare sire] Kingmambo about him.”

The yearling is out of Compelling (Ire) (Kingmambo) and was consigned by Reiko and Michael Baum's Man O' War Farm, which purchased the mare in foal to Montjeu (Ire) for 325,000gns ($520,358) at the 2012 Tattersalls December sale.

Juddmonte's unbeaten champion Frankel had his first yearlings go through the sales ring at the Arqana August sale, with six of his progeny selling for a total of €3.4 million, including a top price of €1.15 million.

Merry agreed Frankel's first U.S. offering likely would have brought more money at a European auction.

“Americans like a big strong horse,” Merry commented. “He was only 15.1 and a half. He was a nice medium-sized horse. I think if he had been another inch bigger, he would have made a lot more money. He's a horse that looks like he'll develop and end up a lovely size.”

Merry continued, “The Frankels at the moment, there have only been a handful through the ring and obviously, the currency is a big help when you convert to sterling. That's got to be a help. But half a million is no bargain in anybody's money.”

In addition to the four yearlings by Frankel expected to sell this week at Keeneland, Merry said he is finding more European pedigrees in the American catalogues as U.S. breeders look to restock broodmare bands depleted by foreign sales over the last two decades.

“I've noticed in the catalogue now there are more and more European pedigrees starting to creep back in,” he said. “Americans are coming to Europe and buying and taking it very seriously to get back in to the international pedigree market again. Because there is no doubt over the last 20 years, the quality of the broodmare band has diminished through exports to Japan and into private hands through the Maktoums and Qatar. So we've seen a big weakening of the female families in the book. And a lot of the more considered breeders are coming to Europe and buying mares back to rejuvinate and get some new interesting outcrosses in.” @JessMartiniTDN