Keeneland September erupts with $71.77m opening session as Gun Runner colt fires $2.8m shot

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The Keeneland September Yearling Sale exploded into life in Kentucky on Monday with the opening session generating a staggering $71,770,000 in turnover. The action was headed by a Gun Runner colt who set the pace when selling to RTM Racing for $2.8 million.

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys and offered by Four Star Sales, the session-topper is out of Grade 3 winner Twenty Carat, a daughter of Into Mischief, and is a brother to French Blue, a Grade 3-placed filly for Three Chimneys and Bob Baffert.

His brother, now named Bletchley, was purchased by Coolmore’s M V Magnier and White Birch Farm for $1.55m at last year’s September Sale and is now in training with Chad Brown. He is touted to make his debut at Belmont Park on Friday. 

RTM Racing has proved a significant investor in Gun Runner yearlings this season, with representative Mahmud Mouni signing for more than $7m worth of stock by the Three Chimneys stallion at the major US sales. 

The operation also spent $1.15m and $1.05m on Gun Runner fillies at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and a further $2.3m on a colt by the sire online at the same auction.

The Keeneland top lot is set to join Chad Brown's stable, with Mouni explaining the Kentucky Derby is the dream.

“We are so excited,” said Mouni. “We love it because we put this colt in our plans two days ago. Honestly, we were not expecting [to spend] that much, but that’s what the horse deserves. 

“I know the brother [Bletchley] is with Chad Brown. He’s running this Friday. Our dream [for this purchase] is the Kentucky Derby.

“This horse will go to Brown, that’s the plan,” he continued. “We still have some [purchases] in our plan. We will see if we are lucky, and we hope we get them cheaper than this one.”

Kerry Cauthen of Four Star Sales said: "The reserve was a million, so it was quite fair. I think we all thought we would possibly get two [million], but it was a great sale for everybody.

"It's like all of them, you don't ever want to expect something like that, but it was always a possibility."

Mouni added: “The market is very hot. The market has been increasing for two years. Honestly, we were shocked. All the prices we did not expect. If you [bid on] one for a million, you get it for $2m. All the horses in Book 1 deserve what they go for. High-quality pedigrees and conformation are everything.”

Mahmud Mouni: 'We love it because we put this colt in our plans two days ago'Credit: Keeneland Photo

The aggregate, generated from 97 horses sold, was up 3.65 per cent on the $69.24m posted by 106 yearlings on the corresponding day last year. The average rose 13.27 per cent to $739,897, while the median increased 16.28 per cent to $625,000. The session produced 18 million-dollar yearlings, the highest number on the sale’s opening day since 2005.

Gun Runner dominated proceedings, with seven yearlings by the stallion selling for a million or more.

“It was a great opening session,” said Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin. “It was really fun to see. I don’t remember seeing that many people in the sales pavilion in seats since we sold the interest in Flightline in 2022 [before the start of the November Breeding Stock Sale]. We had lots of energy, lots of excitement, lots of interest and the results were incredible. 

“We surpassed last year’s opening session. The day was really strong and diverse. Thirteen different consignors sold 14 of the top lots. Lots of Japanese participation, lots of domestic participation. We saw some new faces, so it really was encouraging and what we were hoping to see today.”

Coolmore and White Birch spend big

M V Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm were the session’s leading buyers after spending $5.2m on three yearlings, headlined by a $2.3m Gun Runner colt who is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Colonel Liam.

Consigned by Darby Dan Farm, the colt is also from the family of Grade 1 winner Wonder Again and Japanese stakes winner Red Raven.

“He was a very nice horse,” Magnier said. “All the lads liked him. Peter Brant liked him. It’s a great pedigree from a very good farm. We haven’t decided where he is going to go, but he will stay in the US.

“The market’s very strong. Keeneland has done a great job, like they always do. They have brought a very international group of people here. The sale is going really well. It’s fantastic.”

(L-R) Paul Shanahan, M V Magnier and Peter Brant got in on the action at the Keeneland September Yearling SaleCredit: Keeneland Photo

Darby Dan owner John Phillips said the colt had continued to progress throughout his preparation.

“This colt has done nothing but improve ever since he was a baby,” he said. “My expectations are always modified, because you can come here and get disappointed. Today, I’m elated. The whole farm crew is happy. They deserve all the credit, not me.

“It’s exciting. You get to watch them grow up. In January, I never would have guessed that we would have gone to those levels, but it’s a great pedigree, and it’s been in our family for five generations now.”

Justify’s half-brother reaches $1.9m

A Gun Runner half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify was bought by Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds for $1.9m.

Consigned by Glennwood Farm, the colt is out of Stage Magic, a Graded stakes-placed daughter of Ghostzapper who has also produced Grade 3 winner The Lieutenant and stakes winner Stage Raider.

The Gun Runner half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify brings $1.9mCredit: Keeneland Photo

“A lot of emotions,” Glennwood’s Tanya Gunther said. “Such a nice-looking colt, so well-bred and I didn’t want to sell him. I’m proud of him but also wish we could keep a horse like that.

“He did well; he’s such a champion. It’s a mixture of pride and regret having to sell a horse like that, but I’m proud of him.”

Glennwood sold Justify for $500,000 at the 2016 September Sale. The second session of Book 1 continues on Tuesday. 

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