Berning down the house

Keeneland's September Sale continued to put up very good numbers through day three, on September 12, with Darley sires getting more than their fair share of notice from the world's top buyers. Bernardini led the way for his stud mates with three of the sales top 10 prices, including the top lot. The five other Darley sires with yearlings selling on day three - Hard Spun, Medaglia d'Oro, Street Boss, Street Cry, Street Sense - all had offerings surpassing six figures.

One of the most well-made yearlings in the sale lived up to the hype and made the sale's highest price at US$1.55 million. From the consignment of Valkyre Stud, the beautiful bay is a Bernardini half-brother to G1 winner Stormello and 2012 Graded winner My Best Brother. Demi O'Byrne signed the ticket on behalf of Coolmore.

Three other yearlings sired by Bernardini sold well with each achieving a final bid beyond the US$400,000 mark. Hip 670, from the Summerfield consignment, went to B. Wayne Hughes for US$480,000. The bay filly is out of a G3 winner and is a half-sister to a G3 winner and two other Listed winners. Hip 601, a half-sister to Stakes winner and multiple G1-placed Beautician, was taken home by Cam Allard. She was consigned by Warrendale Sales. And last but not least, hip 709, consigned by Shawhan Pace LLC, agent, went for US$405,000 for new owner Mark Casse. He is out of a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Peaks and Valleys as well as to the stakes-winning dam of the multiple Graded winner Alternation.

Six yearlings by Medaglia d'Oro sold and all went beyond the six figure mark highlighted by the US$600,000 bay colt consigned by Lane's End, agent. The sessions fourth-highest price offering is out of a full sister to Darley America stallion Any Given Saturday and was purchased by J.S. Company, Ltd.

In addition to his two-year run as North America's leading active sire by yearling average, Street Cry continues to lead all active sires at Keeneland September by average with three or more sold. His day three yearlings included a US$385,000 offered by the Taylor Made Sale Agency, an eye-catching filly that hails from a family filled with G1 winners. She was purchased by Royal Oak Farm, agent.

Stay tuned for more updates on Darley sires from Keeneland's September Yearling Sale.