3 minute read

Australian trainer pays US$100,000 for Declaration Of War colt

Australian trainer Mick Price - who trains in partnership with Michael Kent jnr - made his presence felt on the penultimate day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale as he went to US$100,000 for a colt by former shuttler Declaration Of War (War Front). 

Catalogued as Lot 3896 and offered by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the colt hails from a family that has strong ties to Australia, with many horses on the page raced in the country. 

Out of Distorted Humor (Forty Niner) mare Sweet Chant, who is herself out of Ring Of Music (Sadler’s Wells) - a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and top-class sire Singspiel (In The Wings) and Grade 2 winner Rahy (Blushing Groom). 

Ring Of Fire herself is the dam of Italian Group 1 winner Campanologist (Kingmambo), while she is also the grandam of South African Grade 3 winner One Fine Day (Trippi). 

Ring Of Fire’s unraced daughter Armilla (Rainbow Quest) produced Well Rounded (Reset), who landed the 2010 Matriarch Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m), while she also produced the dam of 2017 Bletchingly Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Ability (Reward For Effort). 

The top lot of the day was a colt by Not This Time (Giant’s Causeway), who was offered by Trackside Farm and offered as Lot 3839.

The colt is out of winning mare Race Hunter (Dixie Union), who is herself a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Ride). 

Further back this is the same family as Grade 2 winner Stanley Park (Swain) and Listed scorer Turf Melody (Maria’s Mon).

On Thursday, during the 11th of 12 sessions of the auction, Keeneland sold 169 yearlings for US$2,086,600, for an average of US$12,347 and a median of US$7,000. The entire auction has grossed US$237,311,300 for 2,179 yearlings, for an average of US$108,908 and a median of US$45,000.