Warrior’s Reward conspicuous at Keeneland Sale

Warrior’s Reward yearlings were prominent on the Tuesday and Wednesday leader-boards at Keeneland’s September Sale this week.

The Spendthrift Australia shuttler led Day 8 with a $195,000 filly from stakes-placed Look Upon (Carson City).  Purchased by Key Palm Racing, she is a half-sister to stakes winner Shine Upon (Congaree) and Group 1 placed Keep The Peace (Touch Gold).

On Day 9, Warrior’s Reward was represented by the second top-priced colt that cost Mersad Metanovic Bloodstock $205,000.  He is from Perfectly Natural (Forestry), a winning sister to multiple stakes winner Devereux.

Warrior’s Reward (Medaglia d’Oro) shuttles to Spendthrift Australia at Romsey in Victoria for an $11,000 (inc gst) fee or $13,750 (inc gst) as part of their Share The Upside program.

A current Top 10 second-season stallion in the USA, Warrior’s Reward has sired 37 individual winners this year headed by stakes winners Warriorscmoutoplay, Requite and G1 Wood Memorial runner-up Tencendur.

Spendthrift owner B Wayne Hughes also purchased four yearlings on Day 2 of the Keeneland September Sale for a total outlay of more than $2.12 million.  Topping the quartet was a Fastnet Rock filly for $1 million.

“We’re going to see these horses gain acceptance in both hemispheres,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said when asked about Australian stallions.  “This filly is worth the price even if she never runs, although she could compete successfully almost anywhere in the world.”

The big-ticket Fastnet Rock – Maryinsky (Sadler’s Wells) filly is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winning filly Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Thewayyouare (Kingmambo).

“We have a Fastnet Rock filly we bought out of this sale last year and she’s at Santa Anita in training and we like her.  We’ve got two by Fastnet Rock in Australia, and we like them quite a bit and I think they could run anywhere.  A good horse is a good horse.”

Hoofnote:  Fastnet Rock filly Cana confirmed those comments when she scored a timely win on debut for Spendthrift Australia at Hawkesbury on Thursday.  The Team Hawkes trained Cana is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to G1 Newmarket Hcp winner Wanted and cost $650,000 at the 2014 Inglis Easter yearling sale.