Bumper 83 yearlings by Scat Daddy in Keeneland catalogue

No fewer than 83 yearlings from the final crop of Scat Daddy look sure to attract major international interest when offered at next month’s Keeneland September Sale in Lexington, Kentucky.

The catalogue has just gone online for the world’s largest yearling sale, running from September 11 to 23, and progeny of the late Ashford Stud sire are sure to attract huge attention.

Scat Daddy died in December 2015 and enjoyed four winners from just a handful of runners at Royal Ascot this year including Lady Aurelia and Caravaggio, whose full-sister is being offered at Keeneland by Paramount Sales.

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Scat Daddy could add to his enviable record via Sioux Nation in Sunday’s Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

All the top US sires predictably feature strongly in the Keeneland books with 33 catalogued by War Front, whose latest flagbearer is the dual Group 1 winner Roly Poly, and 44 by America’s dearest stallion, Gainesway Farm’s Tapit, who covers for a fee of $300,000.

There are 70 yearlings by Kitten’s Joy, sire of recent Princess Of Wales’s Stakes winner Hawkbill, and 73 by Ashford Stud’s Uncle Mo.

Those by European sires include a Frankel half-brother to top two-year-old Hansen, and a full-brother to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Amedo Modigliani, a runaway maiden winner at Galway on Saturday who is already being talked of as a live 2018 Derby contender. The Galileo colt is offered by Greg Goodman and family’s Mt Brilliant Farms.

Dubawi has a colt out of US Grade 1 winner Icon Project who will be presented by Eaton Sales, while an Invincible Spirit colt sharing his grandam, Airwave, with Churchill will be offered early into proceedings by Brookdale Sales.

The first Deep Impact to appear as a yearling at auction in Europe or North America is sure to attract considerable interest. Out of the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes winner Cherokee, the filly features in Eaton Sales’ draft.

Former top European-based performers Magician and Noble Mission, both at stud in Kentucky, are represented by their first yearlings. There are also six by Irish-based Australia.

Consignors concerned about their big numbers at the upcoming European sales should spare a thought for their US counterparts. Sales agency Taylor Made is offering 448 lots over the 13 days at Keeneland while Will Farish’s Lane’s End Farm will present 260 yearlings.

The 4,139-lot sale has been reformatted this year with a select Book 1 of 167 lots beginning at 3pm on Monday, September 11. The three-day Book 2 has 1,036 entries. There are 824 lots over two days in Book 3.

As previously announced, global Group or Grade 1 winners bought in Book 1 can earn their purchasers and sellers a bonus of up to $500,000.

There is an additional seller bonus applicable through the whole auction offering a cash payment of up to $10,000 to the owner, at the time of sale, of any subsequent Group winner in a major racing country, including Britain, France, Germany, Ireland and Italy.

Keeneland is expecting to pay $1.1 million towards the bonus programme this year and $1.9 million annually from 2018 onwards.

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Bonus extension and format change for Keeneland September