An Indian Charlie colt produced from the Touch Gold mare Touched brought a top price of $400,000 during the Sept. 15 session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Consigned by his breeders, John and Martha Jane Mulholland’s Mulholland Springs, the colt was purchased by Hoods Up Stable.

The session topper highlighted a session in which 284 horses were sold for $18,864,700, down 8.1% from the same session one year ago when 288 horses grossed $20,517,500. The session average fell 6.8% to $66,425 from last year’s $71,241, and the median of $50,000 represented a 9.1% decline from the $55,000 during the same session in 2007. The buyback rate of 21.5% was identical to last year’s rate.

Tom Thornbury, associate director of sales, said trading was solid throughout the session, with continued buying by American buyers who have been active during previous sessions augmented by an influx of new foreign buyers. As has been the case with every major North American sale in recent years, bidding “for the right horse was sensational,” Thornbury said.

Through Sept. 15, Keeneland has sold 1,697 horses for $281,336,900, with the gross down 13.2% from last year’s $324,091,200 for the same number of horses sold. The average of $165,785 is down 13.2% from last year’s comparable average of $190,979, while the median of $100,000 is down 16.7% from last year’s $120,000.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)