As Keeneland says ‘In the Gallery of Thoroughbred Sales, Keeneland September stands as the premier global marketplace, a cornerstone of the North America sales calendar.’
‘Every season racing and breeding professionals converge on the grounds of Keeneland to find their next work of art,’ and this year’s 81st September Yearling Sale sells from 9 to 21 September.
‘A mainstay on the international sales calendar for decades, the September Yearling Sale reached new heights over the last two years, surpassing the $400 million mark in both 2022 and 2023.’
‘In-the-ring sales in 2023 marked the third-highest gross in history of $408,054,900 including private sales with 30 yearlings selling for $1 million-plus to match 2022 for the most since 2007.’
‘In fact, 50 different consigners sold at least one yearling for $500,000-plus and 171 yearlings sold for $500,000 and more compared to 162 in 2022, and now has an unmatched honour roll.’
So, what for the 2024 World’s Yearling Sale and the first offering of ‘World Champ’ Knicks Go, the 2021 IFHA World’s Best Racehorse and Bayer Horse of The Year who has 62 lots on offer.
In also being the Champion Older Male in 2021, he is only the sixth horse to have won two Breeders’ Cup races in having taken out the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in 2021 by 2¾ lengths.
Running 1-33.84 for the Breeder’s Cup Mile and second in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, he also won the Whitney Stakes, Pegasus World Cup, Breeders’ Futurity and second in Pegasus World Cup.
A two-times Keeneland graduate he was purchased by the Korean Racing Authority for $87,000 at the 2017 September Yearling Sale in using the revolutionary K Nicks genetic programme.
From the second crop of the Haskell Invitational winner Paynter, he’s from the family of multi Group 1 Countus In, Count Again and Ransom The Moon from the stakes winner Kosmo’ Buddy.
In fact, its respected breeding analysis Alan Porter who says “Knicks Go is by Paynter, brilliant winner of the Haskell Invitational Stakes, a son of champion and classic winner Awesome Again.”
“Knicks Go’s broodmare sire Outflanker is the close family of A.P. Indy, and Paynter has sired Grade 2 winner Lazy Daisy by A.P. Indy son Sauve, and stakes winning mare by A.P. Indy son Mingun.”
“Indicating that AP Indy is interesting, and suggests mares by Bernardini sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve, Flatter the sire of Flat Out, and Congrats, Mineshaft and Stephen Got Even.”
With his first yearlings selling up to $130,000 earlier this year, and last year his first weanlings making $220,000, $150,000he has two lots selling in Book 1 on Day 2 headed by his Suchada colt
The family of Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Dornoch, the Belmont Stakes and Haskell Invitational winner, he’s from stakes winner Puca with Suchada also half to Group 1 Finnegans Wake.
Also on Day 2 is a 25 March foaled filly, from the winner As I Please, whose dam is Gr3 placed stakes winner French Kiss, a half-sister to Gr1 winner On Fire Baby, Gr2 High Heels, and to Solidify.
Five top-line yearling feature in Book 3, heads by the Indian Wish half-brother to American Oaks second and stakes winner Sacred Wish, the family of Gr1 Bowies Hero, Gr1 sire Sharp Azteca.
Also, from Taylor Made Sales is the Beholden colt, a half-brother of Gr3 winner Brazen Persuasion, and stakes winners Thankful and Behold De By, an extended family of black type winners.
Next is a filly from the Malibu Moon mare Palma, a half-sister to the Gr1 Wood Memorial winner I Want Revenge, from the Gr1 Argentina Oaks and One Thousand Guineas winner Meguial.
As the ‘Keeneland September Sale begins on Monday, its Keeneland that’s the global marketplace for Thoroughbred yearlings and the world’s most important Thoroughbred sale.’
‘The September Sale stands apart from all other auctions owing in being a critical mass of quality yearlings at all levels of the market, the largest and most diverse buying bench in the world, and the proven success of its sales graduates at the highest levels of racing worldwide.’
