Yes, as Keeneland says ‘This is The Moment,’ and its Hip7 the Paynter full-brother to Knicks Go that’s on Day 1 of the 82nd Keeneland September Yearling Sale, 8 to 20 September.
Stepping out early on Monday, the Paynter-Cosmo’s Buddy colt is full brother to 2021 US Horse of The Year in Knicks Go, who was also rated as the 2021 World’s Best Ranked Racehorse.
Consigned by Blake-Albina Thoroughbreds and by the deceased Haskell Invitational winner Paynter, the good looking bay colt is from the champion producing Outfanker mare Cosmo’s Buddy.
And with him being the 10th and final crop of Paynter, who was second in the Belmont Stakes, it makes he and Knicks Go being the best of the Awesome Again sire line with Ghostzapper retired.
And with Mystic Guide and Loggins standing under $15,000 and grandsons of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Awesome Again, by Deputy Minister, its Paytin who’s from a full-sister to Tiznow.
And with Kosmo’s Buddy having also won the Maryland Million Turf Sprint, it was her sire Outflanker who was Danzig’s final son at stud, and is the family of Grade 1 winner Countus In.
In fact, the dam-line sires Outflanker, Allens Prospect and Medaille d’Or point to Hip7 and Knicks Go being ‘free of many commercial influences and be an outcross for mare populations.’
They ‘present an outcross for international breeders as their pedigree lacks many of the influences that are oversaturating the market, and could their dam side expand the gene pool.’
As the Korea Racing Authority purchased Knicks Go for $87,000 of the 2017 September Yearling Sale using their K-Nicks genetics programme, will it also identify Hip7 as a champion.
Standing at Taylor Made Farm, Kentucky, and bypassing the KRA original plan to stand K-Nicks identified Grade 1 winners in Korea, he has 10 yearlings selling at this September Sale.
Knicks Go is now the second Leading Freshman’s Sire with 11 winners from 38 runners, and is Leading Sire of Graded Stakes Winners with Ewing winning the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.
Next starting in the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity, which Knicks Go won, Ewing is enroute to the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, while Soaring Angel is also undefeated up to 1 mile on turf at Del Mar.
And with Tailgunner Joe winning on soft turf over 7f in Britain, Knicks has already shown his versatility as a young sire, winning on both dirt and turf, and having a 7.07 furlong winning average.
With 4,686 horses catalogued ‘the Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale is internationally recognised as the premier source of Thoroughbreds who excel in the sport’s most important races.’
“The September Sale is the largest and most important auction of its kind, and Keeneland feels a great responsibility to ensure its success,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin.
“The strength of this year’s catalogue and the increased number of entries are direct reflections of the industry’s confidence in the marketplace, as buyers come in search of racing excellence.”
“Recent graduates like Mindframe, the top US older horse and Ruling Court, the 2000 Guineas winner in England, are proof that the next star cand be purchased here with more Grade 1 winners.”
“Last year, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was the world’s highest-grossing Thoroughbred auction in history with more than $428 million in sales for 2,894 horses.”
“A total of 36 yearlings sold for $1 million or more, marking the highest number since 2006. The average of $147,926 and the median of $70,000 both were records.”
