Road to Royal Ascot begins for $1 million Keeneland filly

Given Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm went to $1 million for Hip 351 on Tuesday at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Michael Hernon, Gainesway Farm’s director of sales, anticipates seeing her on a rather large platform once to the racetrack.

“I expect her to appear and do herself justice next year at Royal Ascot,” Hernon said after his outfit parted with the daughter of War Front, who’s out of Tapit mare Delightful Joy.

Gainesway, of course, stands Tapit, one of this era’s most prolific sires.

“He just keeps writing his story,” Hernon said, and now as a broodmare sire. “He’s a wonderful horse. He’s left an indelible mark in the stud book. We’re a long way from the finish line.”

Representatives of Shadwell weren’t available for comment Tuesday. But Hernon was happy to speak for their purchase.

“She’s a super filly,” he said. “We got her about four months ago. She thrived every day, and I’ve got a great amount of confidence in her. She will run.”

The catalog page supports that statement.

This is Delightful Joy’s first foal, but on the racetrack, she won three of six starts, including the 2015 Monmouth Oaks (G3). Her second dam, Graeme Six, has five winners from her seven foals to race. Delightful Joy’s siblings include stakes winner Cali Star and Seymourdini, who ran at the graded level during his career.

Shadwell won out with a $1.05 million final bid for what is Dreaming of Julia's third foal. She hasn't sent one to the racetrack, yet, but there is a current 2-year-old among her offspring.