Justify half-brother to Shinzo sells for $1.5 million

A Justify half-brother to Golden Slipper winner Shinzo has fetched US$1.1 million (AU$1.5 million) during a record-breaking opening to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Japanese trainer Haruki Sugiyama secured the colt, catalogued as Hip 12, from the Four Star Sales draft, with the May 27 foal expected to make his way to Japan.

Out of dual Australian Group 1 winner Samaready, the colt became the first yearling to reach seven figures during Monday’s opening Book 1 session.

He was one of 18 yearlings to sell for at least US$1 million during the session, the highest number of seven-figure sales at a single Keeneland September session since 2006.

Three lots broke through the US$2 million mark, with the session topped by a Gun Runner colt purchased by RTM Racing for US$2.8 million.

The strong Australian-linked result came early in a session highlighted by significant international demand and fierce competition for progeny by America’s leading stallions, helping Keeneland establish record average and median figures.

The US$1.1 million colt is the fourth living foal from Samaready and the second produced from a mating with US Triple Crown winner Justify.

Samaready’s unraced two-year-old Museum of Art, who was also bred to Northern Hemisphere time, is by Justify from the same mating.