After a spirited bidding battle, Shadwell Estate Company landed a colt from the first crop of Cairo Prince for $900,000 during the Tuesday session of the Keeneland September Yearling sale.
The price was the second-highest of the session and is the most paid for a first-crop yearling through the first two days of the auction.
“Kiaran McLaughlin has certainly been one of Shadwell’s big trainers, and Kiaran knows Cairo Prince better than anybody on the planet,” Airdrie’s Bret Jones said. “He trained him, and he told us a long time ago he really believed he was going to win the Kentucky Derby. That he had the talent to do it, but he had bad luck. That was a big reason why we set out to partner with Darley [to stand Cairo Price], and they’ve been the greatest partners in the world to let us come in and get behind him with our mares and partner up the way that we have. We’re thrilled that Shadwell got [hip 391], and I think everybody has to think he’s got a big future.”
Consigned by his breeder Brereton C. Jones, hip No. 391 is out of Kittery Point, who has produced six winners, including La Brea S. (G1) winner Sam’s Sister.
With 19 yearlings sold to date in 2017, Cairo Prince’s sales average of $216,842 ranks third among First-Crop sires. He has a total of 54 lots cataloged in the Keeneland sale, which runs through Sept. 23.
