Zayat Stables paid $500,000 for a colt by Medaglia d’Oro to top the Sept. 13 session of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, the colt is out of the unraced Clever Trick mare Game Trick, and from the family of champion sprinter and sire Langfuhr.

On the fifth day of the marathon sale, Keeneland sold 280 horses for gross receipts of $30,677,000, down 4.1% from 2007 when 267 horses brought $31,980,700. The average of $109,561 was down 8.5% from last year’s $119,778, while the median of $90,000 was down 10% compared to $100,000 in 2007.

“As we talked about on Thursday, consignors are doing a spectacular job of adjusting to the market. The sale was consistent throughout the day, and the not sold rate of 21.1 percent is excellent,” said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland’s director of sales.

Through day five of the 15-day sale, Keeneland has sold 1,117 horses for $235,375,700, down 14.5% from last year’s $275,271,200. The average of $210,721 is down 14.2% from the $245,559 at this point in the sale a year ago, while the median of $150,000 is down 6.3% from $160,000 in 2007.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)