Sale of the century - share in world's best horse Flightline up for grabs

Flightline's second career as a stallion, and his worth, will come into sharper focus on Monday through an auction of a 2.5 per cent share in the unbeaten champion.

Just two days after the superstar's latest tour de force in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the ownership share will be offered at the start of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

The winning bidder will receive all rights, benefits and obligations of a co-owner in accordance with the four-year-old's syndicate agreement, and that person or entity will have access to mating seasons and a share of breeding revenue in accordance with their percentage of ownership.

According to Bloodhorse, Flightline was worth perhaps $50-$60 million before the Classic, and so maybe $60-$80m now - meaning the share in him could feasibly go for seven figures.

The son of Tapit was on Sunday retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Lane's End farm in Kentucky. A 2023 fee will be announced in due course.

"Flightline's stud fee has yet to be determined," said Bill Farish of Lane's End, speaking before the Classic, "but he will surely retire as one of the most valuable thoroughbred stallion prospects in recent memory.

"He'll be a historic addition to the Lane's End roster, and the syndicate model is an exciting way for more people to participate in a sport that otherwise has a high barrier to entry."

Flightline, who cost $1m as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, extended his unbeaten record to six at Keeneland on Saturday with an eight-and-a-quarter-length romp, having gone into the race on an official mark of 139, just 1lb behind Frankel and 2lb behind Dancing Brave, who has topped the international classifications since 1986.

Flightline is the second of six foals from the Indian Charlie mare Feathered and her lone stakes winner. Her most recent foals are Eagles Flight, a yearling Curlin colt, and a weanling Into Mischief filly.

He is owned by Hronis Racing, breeder Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing - the racing arm of Lane's End - and Siena Farm. A slice of West Point's share constitutes the 2.5 per cent being auctioned.

"The auction is a first-of-its-kind undertaking and an exciting venture for our partners," said West Point president and founder Terry Finley. "It will give us a good indication of the interest in this horse at stud, even though we know there will be a substantive demand for his services."

A Racing Post feature for members' club subscribers on Flightline at the end of August, before he won the Pacific Classic by 19 and a quarter lengths, speculated he could be the most valuable horse to go to stud the world has ever seen.

Flightline (Flavien Prat) is led into the winner's circle after the ClassicCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bidding will take place onsite, by phone or through Keeneland's online auction platform, and features a first-of-its-kind Metaverse experience, giving viewers an up-close look at the sale from a virtual sales ring modelled after Keeneland's setting.

The Flightline share sells at 12.30pm local time (5.30pm GMT), with the breeding stock sale - for which more than 3,600 horses were catalogued and which runs until Wednesday week - starting at 1pm.

Read more

(£) Inside the world of Flightline in the Bloodstock Big Read

(£) 'He could be the most valuable stallion to go to stud the world has ever seen'