Half-sister to Guineas winner Ruling Court fetches $1,175,000 at Keeneland

A half-sister to the ill-fated 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court is set to begin her career in Europe after she was bought by Blue Diamond Stud for $1,175,000, making her the most expensive filly sold during Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Godolphin's Classic winner was found at this auction by Norman Williamson for $150,000 before his resale through the breeze-ups and was a huge loss to the operation when succumbing to laminitis last month.

Hip 762 is a daughter of Ghostzapper who was bred and consigned by Nursery Place out of Inchargeofme, a winning daughter of High Chaparral. She was knocked down to Hugo Merry, on behalf of Imad Al Sagar's operation.

"Just a very sweet filly, and obviously she's a half to a Classic winner, who was a beautiful horse, and Ghostzapper gets some turf horses," Merry told BloodHorse.

"We just thought she was a very nice, lovely, balanced filly who would work in America and Europe."

When asked about the filly's future, Merry said: "The plan is to probably go to Europe and maybe come back over to America to race later on."

Nursery Place's Griffin Mayer (left) congratulates Hugo MerryCredit: Keeneland

Bob Baffert tends to train seven-figure session toppers but on Wednesday the dual Triple Crown winner turned provider as a co-breeder of a $1.9 million Gun Runner colt.

Spendthrift Farm purchased hip 731, who is from the family of Japanese champion Danon Decile. Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, he is out of the winning and stakes-placed mare Ginja, by Quality Road, who Baffert trained for his wife Jill.

"We had a number of people approach us wanting to partner on it," Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. 

"We thought he was one of the best colts of the sale today. What’s not to like, right? Really, really happy to get him because it’s been a tough market. There’s not anybody stealing much here. Hopefully he can run."

Baffert co-bred the colt on a foal share with Goncalo Torrealba of Three Chimneys Farm, which stands Gun Runner.

"I’ve never been in this situation before," Baffert said. "I’m taking it in right now. I bred Misremembered, who made a million dollars [racing], and now I can say I’ve sold one for a million dollars. Added to my resume. Thanks to Spendthrift and everybody that bid on him. I’m very humbled by this moment. I just thank everybody involved. I’m at a loss for words."

Thirteen seven-figure yearlings sold on what was the first day of Book 2, breaking the previous third-session record of eight from 2019.

Bob Baffert greets Spendthrift Farm's Ned ToffeyCredit: Keeneland

Keeneland sold 221 yearlings through the ring for $85,702,000, up 23 per cent from the same session last year. The average of $387,792 was 22 per cent up, while the median of $325,000 rose 18 per cent.

"The day was incredible,” said Keeneland vice-president of sales Tony Lacy. "We knew it was a really, really good group of horses. A lot of these horses that were bringing big money were ones we were lobbying to get into the earlier sessions. We knew that the firepower was still here, and the money was obviously well represented.

"We joked in the back ring that the market was so hot it set the fire alarms off. It was amazing.

"I would say the market is realistic with a 30 per cent RNA rate, so it was not all easy going. You had to be realistic with your reserves. And I think that is a testament to the fact that people are not throwing money at stuff. They’re doing what they feel is due diligence, and they’re paying a premium for what they want."

Agent Mike Ryan acquired another of the session's major sales, a colt by Curlin (652) for $1.4m. Consigned by Gainesway, he is out of stakes winner Cherry Lodge, by Bernardini, and from the family of Grade 1 winner and sire Stormello and Canadian champion Curlin’s Voyage.

"He was a duplicate of [Curlin’s son and now a top-class sire] Good Magic,” Ryan said.

"He had the same size, shape, colour, movement and class. I saw him at Gainesway, and I loved him. He’ll be a two-year-old  but he won’t be limited to one turn. Good Magic was a very good two-year-old, and he had the class to stretch on. And [this yearling] is the nicest Curlin I’ve seen in a while. Hopefully I’m proven right. He came from a great consignment that raises a lot of good horses."

Ryan called the market at Keeneland “incredible" and added: "I don’t think we’ve seen anything like this since Keeneland July in the ‘80s with Sheikh Mohammed and Robert Sangster. A lot of good horses in Book 2. Tomorrow’s very strong. With the dark day [on Friday with no auction], Saturday’s horses get shopped very thoroughly."

More from Keeneland:

'His pedigree was outstanding, by the hottest sire going' - Wesley Ward strikes at $2.2 million for Early Voting's brother at Keeneland 

Flightline yearlings take off as Japanese owner lands $1.7 million Keeneland colt 

Coolmore join the hunt for Gun Runner with $3.3 million Keeneland session topper 

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