Keeneland Book 2 opens strongly as Nyquist colt makes US$2.25 million

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale maintained its strong opening pace on Wednesday, with close to US$90 million (AU$126.2 million) traded during the first session of Book 2.

A Nyquist colt topped the session at US$2.25 million (AU$3.15 million), the highest Day 3 price since Keeneland introduced its current two-day Book 1 and two-day Book 2 format in 2021. Kimmel/Sallusto bought the colt on behalf of Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

Fourteen yearlings sold for at least US$1 million, breaking the Session 3 record of 13 established last year. Demand remained strong below that level, with 62 yearlings making US$500,000 or more compared with 44 in the corresponding 2025 session.

Keeneland sold 209 yearlings through the ring at an average of US$428,397 (AU$600,600). The gross rose 4.47 per cent from US$85.702 million last year and the average increased 10.47 per cent, although the US$310,000 (AU$434,600) median was down 4.62 per cent.

Keeneland vice-president of sales Tony Lacy said buyers had been forced to extend for the yearlings they most wanted.

“You could see a little bit of frustration from buyers that wanted the ones they wanted,” Lacy said. “They were having to really reach for them and that’s good. The breeders got well rewarded.”

Of 308 yearlings offered, 99 failed to meet their reserves, producing a clearance rate of 68 per cent.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the session-topper is out of the Bernardini mare Hot Cha and was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding.

“He just stood out,” Alex Lieblong said. “He’s in a different class. Obviously, the price showed that.”

An Into Mischief colt sold to Legion Bloodstock for US$2 million, while Winchell Thoroughbreds paid US$1.85 million for a Flightline colt out of the Uncle Mo mare Velvet Sky. RTM Racing secured another Nyquist colt for US$1.75 million.

Douglas Scharbauer led buyers with five purchases worth US$3.85 million. Gainesway headed the consignors after selling 29 yearlings for US$10.89 million.

Hip 726, a Flightline filly out of Australian-bred Oleksandra, sold for US$200,000 (AU$280,000) to Seth Morris Thoroughbreds. She was among the yearlings out of Australian-bred mares identified in The Straight’s catalogue preview.

After three sessions, 417 horses had sold for US$240.935 million (AU$337.8 million), up 4.81 per cent on the corresponding stage last year. The cumulative average stood at US$577,782 and the median at US$450,000.

The sale had produced 55 seven-figure yearlings, one short of the full-sale record set in 2025, with nine sessions remaining.