While an $8.2million American Pharoah filly and Godolphin’s spending spree may have grabbed all the headlines during Book One of the Keeneland September Sale, Phoenix Thoroughbreds quietly went about their business adding six well-bred recruits to their roster.
The Dubai-based investment fund found success early on during the Word’s largest yearling auction successfully bidding on Hip 30. A grey colt by Claiborne Farm’s leading stallion War Front his looks are as striking as his pedigree. Out of Medaglia d’Oro mare Princesa Silvia, he comes from the same family as Pegasus World Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner. If that wasn’t enough to attract Phoenix’s top bloodstock team, there’s another Breeders’ Cup Champion on the family tree with multiple G1 Saint Liam a notable relation among a page full of Graded winners.
Hip 111, a Pioneerof The Nile filly out of multiple-winning Curlin mare Stopshoppingdebbie was the next to join the group’s ranks. A review of the yearling’s page quickly reveals prolific winners throughout the family including Shampoo, Smarty Deb and Finallygotabentley.
With an impressive pedigree “Team Phoenix” were keen to land Hip 135. Another grey, this one by Gainesway’s Tapit, the colt has an impressive female line being out of multiple G1 winner, and champion two-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi. Moreover, the Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach is a close relation to the yearling who can boast bloodlines to top-level winners Take Charge Lady and Will Take Charge.
Not to be left out on the action it was down to the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate to round off day one with a purchase of their own. An American Pharoah filly listed as Hip 189 looks an intriguing acquisition for the ambitious all-female group given she is a half-sister to two winners and related to Graded stakes winner Mr Livingston among several other successful family members.
Day Two would prove a slightly quieter one for Phoenix with one new addition. In a coincidence of symmetry, the Hip joining the roster is sired by the same stallion as the ownership group’s first buy of the 2019 sale. Not sharing the same roan tones though, this War Front filly, out of a winning sister to multiple G1 Champion Rip Van Winkle, is a full sister to July Cup, and Middle Park Stakes placed Fleet Review.
One way that Phoenix Thoroughbreds has always tried to offer their investors value is by partnering with other leading owners to share costs. Such an accord was struck with Winchell Thoroughbreds to land Hip 488, an Into Mischief colt and the first foal of black-type winning Munnings mare Lake Sebago. He is from a family full of winners including champion-two-year-old, Canadian bred Hollinger while a further examination of his pedigree reveals G2 winner Something Lucky lurking among other multiple-Graded stakes performers.
The final purchase from the pages of Book One was that of the Elm Tree farm consigned Hip 545. By Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, the filly is out of winning mare Miss Inclined making her a half-sibling to three winners. She also hails from the same family as multiple-Graded Stakes winner Rush Bay and G2 success Itsaknockout.
During three days of bidding that saw plenty of records tumble and history made, Phoenix can feel pleased with their business so far as they look towards more recruitment from Book Two.