Sheik pays $2.05 million for colt, $1 million for filly at Keeneland yearling sale

Sheik pays $2.05 million for colt at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The first foal out of champion mare Fleet Indian has sold for $2.05 million at Keeneland’s yearling sale, helping boost a sluggish thoroughbred market.

It’s the highest price through the afternoon auction in Kentucky.

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, purchased the colt Storm ‘N Indian from Summer Wind Farm in Georgetown, Ky. The colt was from the last full crop of now-retired superstar stallion Storm Cat.

Sheik Mohammed also paid the day’s second-highest price of $1 million for a filly by Unbridled’s Song out of Strawberry Reason. Demi O’Byrne, representing Coolmore, also signed a $1 million ticket for a colt by top stallion A.P. Indy out of champion mare Madcap Escapade.

Although prices remained lower than usual Tuesday, there was some improvement from Monday’s opening session, the first in 13 years in which no million-dollar horse was sold.