Godolphin goes to $2.2 million for American Pharoah colt

With the Keeneland September Sale waiting for a yearling to hit the million-dollar mark, a colt from American Pharoah's first crop exceeded that by hammering Monday for $2.2 million, the highest price for a horse this year at U.S. auction.

Consigned as Hip 91 in Book 1’s first session, the chestnut colt also proved a successful pinhook for selling agent Peter O’Callaghan of Wood Edge Farm. O’Callaghan also purchased the then weanling for his Cavalier Bloodstock at the Keeneland November Sale, going to $400,000.

“He was a special horse the day we bought him,” Callaghan said. “But so much can go wrong. A little sickness, a little X-ray issue, this or that. It’s such risk. It’s such relief to have him bought there now and have him sold at such a successful price.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was present to secure the winning bid for his Godolphin Stable.

O’Callaghan recalled purchasing the American Pharoah colt as a weanling.

“When you saw him, you wanted to have him,” he said. “I’ve never paid that much for a foal but you saw him and you were going to do your damnedest to get him. I just hope he’s a good race horse now.”

Sired by the 2015 Triple Crown winner, the dam is also a solid runner. Kindle, by Indian Charlie, is a stakes winner and grade 2 placed. The American Pharoah colt was her second foal, who was bred in Kentucky by HnR Nothhaft Horseracing.

“I liked everything about him," O'Callaghan said. "He was a beautiful, beautiful specimen, just as an individual, as an athlete, regardless of his sire or his female family.

“It’s very difficult to breed a horse that just moves like that, just glides, a big robust horse to move like that and hardly touch the ground. His sire was like that, American Pharoah, and he’s produced good offspring so far from what we’ve seen.”