Coolmore Stud’s M V Magnier signed a $2.50 million ticket for a War Front colt at the Keeneland September Sale on Thursday.

The Day 4 colt is the most expensive lot to change hands during the first week of the world’s largest yearling sale.  There have been 18 million-dollar sales in the first four sessions – the most since 2008.

Thursday’s final Book 1 session sold 142 yearlings for $41.87 million at an average price of $294,887.  The clearance rate was 74%.

Magnier’s $2.50 million purchase (Lot 712) was sold as a foal at Keeneland’s 2012 November Sale for $180k.  He is bred similarly to Emerald Gold, a War Front filly who was third in the G1 Del Mar Debutante in 2011.

“I’ve been a War Front believer form the beginning,” vendor Peter O’Callaghan said.  “A lot of people thought $180k was too much money as a foal.  But we bought him, we liked him, we took the chance, and we got lucky.”

As the first week ended its strong run, consignors said they were fairly pleased with the market despite its selectivity.  And many also were optimistic about the coming week.

“I think there are a lot of people who will be on airplanes,” Catherine Parke of Valkyre Stud said.  “I know a lot of trainers who are coming next week.  I think it’s going to be healthy.”

The Keeneland September sale will have a day off on Friday.  It then continues through to September 21.

Australian shuttlers with progeny on Day 4 included;

BERNARDINI
Best of his 3 lots was a 300k filly catalogued as Lot 788 from Gerry Dilger’s Dromoland Farm.  She is a half-sister to Music Chart (Exchange Rate), an English winner who was also placed in the UAE Oaks and UAE 1000 Guineas.

CONGRATS
Vinery’s shuttler’s first three yearlings to parade this week made $220k, $180k and $250k for the filly out of Baffled (Distorted Humor) on Thursday.  The dam was stakes placed at Royal Ascot.  Her latest filly sold as Lot 688 from Vinery Sales – Millennium Farms

FASTNET ROCK
Lot 745 was the first yearling to parade by the Australian champion and made $150k on behalf of Paramount Sales.  She is a half-sister to Irish stakes winner Greatwar Eagle (Storm Cat).  Their dam Cash Run (Seeking the Gold) won the 1999 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

HARD SPUN
Three lots for trade of $600k headed by Dapple Stud’s Lot 733 – a $290k sister to Nowspun who has won in England and Dubai.  Their dam Campionessa (A.P. Indy) is a daughter of G1 Hollywood Oaks winner Pacific Squall (Storm Bird).

HIGH CHAPARRAL
Stone Bridge Bloodstock paid just $40k for Lot 776, a Sienna Farms colt from English winner Classira (Danehill).  The dam is a half-sister to stakes winners Humble Eight (Seattle Battle), Humilis (Sadler’s Wells), Thady Quill (Nureyev), Royal Devotion (Sadler’s Wells) and April Starlight (Storm Bird).

MAKFI
Westbury sire had a colt from Irish-bred winner Ballette (Giant’s Causeway) make $100k as Lot 693.  The buyer was Stonereath Farms.  The dam has already foaled Pimlico stakes winner Cerro (Mr. Greeley).

MEDAGLIA D’ORO
Darley shuttler was represented by another $1 million sale on Day 4 when the colt from Dream Supreme was purchased by agent David Ingordo.  Catalogued as Lot 846 by Lane’s End Farm, he is a half-brother to G1 Hopeful Stakes winner Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy) and the stakes winners Evolutionist (El Prado) and Crystal Current (A.P. Indy).

Medaglia D’oro had 4 sell among 8 offered for an aggregate of $2,375,000 on Thursday.  He topped Day 1 with a $1.50 million filly and his Day 4 $1 million colt is from G1 winning mare Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold).

MORE THAN READY
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher bought the More Than Ready session-topper on Thursday with a $260k bid for a colt from Chasethewildwind (Forty Niner).  He is a half-brother to G1 Donn Hcp winner Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great).

Gainesway offered the chestnut colt as Lot 762.  Pletcher prepared More Than Ready and his latest star Verrazano who is a recent G1 winner of the Wood Memorial and Haskell Invitational.

STREET CRY
Darley sire sold all 8 of his lots for a total figure of $2,790,000.  Topping the list was a $725k colt from Beautician (Dehere) catalogued as Lot 700 from Runnymede Farm.  He’s the first foal of a New Orleans stakes winner who was also second in the 2009 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The $725k price-tag equalled the previously top-priced Street Cry- Modification colt from Day 2.