The Keeneland September Yearling Sale never fails to provide some significant pointers at a pivotal juncture in the yearling sales season and there was plenty to reflect on after its first four days. Especially noteworthy was that Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin team acquired six yearlings by Coolmore sires.

Two of these were by the late Scat Daddy but the other four were by the active trio of Australia, Uncle Mo and Lookin At Lucky. This marked a major shift in policy from the last decade with the Godolphin team remarking that the organistion was evaluating yearlings “on their own merit regardless of sire”. This can only be a major positive for the entire industry.

Elsewhere both Sheikh Mohammed and his brother Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estates were especially busy. Through the first four sessions both outfits signed for 17 yearlings apiece for just over $8m and $12.47m respectively.

The sale’s first week produced some 13 seven-figure transactions and centre stage once again went to the American super sire Tapit, who supplied a trio of lots that made $2.5m or more. The most expensive of these was the sale topping $2.7m colt who was knocked down to Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier.

The trade in America was strong at the head of the market and at the upper end of the middle market although the clearance rate did indicate that trade was somewhat selective elsewhere.

RACING ROUND-UP

Aidan O’Brien yet again took centre stage last weekend as the Irish Derby winner Capri ran out an ultra game winner of the English St Leger at Doncaster. This success means that O’Brien has won four of the five classics on either side of the Irish Sea this season which represents quite a feat.

For his part Capri produced an admirable effort to record a battling success in what looked a well above average edition of this classic. Given that he heads into the autumn off a comparatively light camapign he looks well placed to add to his Group 1 haul over the coming weeks. Furthermore his success inches his trainer ever closer to Bobby Frankel’s world record for Group 1 victories in a season.

On the home front Listowel’s Harvest Festival took centre stage and the meeting somehow survived the elements to complete its seven-day run without interruption. There is something to be said for trimming back the Festival to six or even five days, but this meeting remains a major success story which was amply illustrated by the Friday attracting in excess of 28,000 racegoers while over 24,000 attended on Kerry National day.

The racing at Listowel provided a snap shot of what is to come over the coming months as both Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott enjoyed a highly productive week. Elliott claimed another Kerry National with Potters Point while Mullins ended the fixture with eight victories.

The Mullins successes included a Listed victory for the highly progressive Riven Light who went straight from the track on Wednesday to go into quarantine in Newmarket ahead of an Australian adventure which could culminate in a clash with the super star mare Winx in the Cox Plate late next month.