All Equine All The Time

Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) was last year's Keeneland topper at $3 million. He broke his maiden last month. While summer yearling sales always provide highlights for first-crop stallion ads, the Keeneland September yearling sale seems to be more of an overall indicator of their reception with the quality of the yearlings on offer running across the board. Additionally, this year, Fasig-Tipton’s new Turf Showcase the day before the Keeneland September sale also provides a place for the more turf-orientated horses to shine, making this an interesting year in Kentucky. Below are a few of the first-crop sires who will be ones to watch at both sales over the next two weeks based on their reception at previous sales, the pages of their offerings and a few other factors that could make them interesting commercial successes or bargains. Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile) – The star of the first crop sire show this year has undoubtedly been Airdrie Stud’s Cairo Prince (stood in par...

The first yearling sale of the year in Kentucky is in the books and it was a history maker. Numbers were up and for the first time since 2006, a seven figure yearling was seen in the Fasig-Tipton July Sale ring. Medaglia d’Oro was the king of the sale, but more than one young sire made their presence known here as did a few buyers. Read on for some observations made at the sale and some horses and people you should watch out for later in the year. Medaglia d'Oro Medaglia d’Oro – Days after New Money Honey gave him another Grade 1 victory to add to his stallion resume, Medaglia d’Oro was back in the headlines as the sire of the first $1-million yearling at the Fasig-Tipton July sale since 2006 and first filly to bring that price since 1982. The filly, out of the stakes placed Malibu Moon mare Hung the Moon, helped create fireworks at the end of the sale when she went through the ring with less than 10 hips left. The filly, consigned by Bluewater Sales, is one of five ye...