A.P. INDY : THE LEGACY

$4.2 Million Hip 14 A.P. Indy - Balance
(Image and Footage : Keeneland)

KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE

The pervasive influence of A.P. Indy was in evidence at the biggest racehorse sale in the world, Keeneland September. According to Bill Oppenheim’s Apex ratings, A.P. Indy isn’t only the Emperor of American stallions, he is the highest ranked stallion on earth, and the extent to which the top priced colt in the sale exceeded the money paid for the second horse through the ring, exemplifies it.

Admittedly, the colt’s dam was a champion herself, but there are many of these represented in the most prestigious catalogue in the world. It is the towering presence of A.P. Indy that compels the inspection, and after that, it’s a matter of what the richest will pay to beat the richest.

There was a lot of concern and indeed, pessimism about the state of the international market, some of it justified. The biggest concern must’ve centred on the relative silence of the guns of the world’s two biggest sales protagonists, the Maktoum Family of Dubai and Team Coolmore of Ireland, at recent international sales, and particularly Deauville last month. It was encouraging then, to see the under bidder on the $4,2 million son of A.P. Indy, was none less than Coolmore, obviously in an attempt to provide some diversity to the very concentrated strains of Sadler’s Wells and Danehill which have served them so well at their Irish base, and to bolster the ranks of their American operation, Ashford.

It was also encouraging, to see long-time Summerhill patron, Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum as active as his Shadwell Estate Company has been, and to see Sheikh Mohammed’s man, John Ferguson, notching up a couple in the top twenty. Beyond that though, we need to remember that Ben Leon, a new player in these echelons, who made a final bid for this colt, and that just a fortnight ago, Middle Eastern interests paid a reported €11.5 million for the hero of the English 2000 Guineas and the Prix Jacques le Marois, Makfi, by the new sire sensation, Dubawi. Fresh blood is the staff of life, and heavens knows, every industry needs it.

Keeneland’s opening two days were quite remarkable, some 20% up on last year. Here are some salient features of the Sunday and Monday sessions.

KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLINGS
BOOK1 12-13 SEPTEMBER 2010 

Totals	Book 1 Totals
Catagued	211
Number Offered	185
Number Sold	127
RNA’s	58
% RNA	31.3%
Number $500k+	18
High Price	$4,200,000
Gross	$44,305,000
Average (% change)	$348,858
Median (% change)	$285,000