Let’s hope the results of the Keeneland January sale, which kicks off today, look more like the 2009 Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions yearling sale on the Gold Coast in Australia than the recently concluded OBS mixed sale in Florida. The select sessions (first four days) at Magic Millions (which is still going on) were down only around 16% by average. OBS was down about 40% by average!

The “big” horse at Keeneland is Azeri, who will bring millions.

The “big” horse at Magic Millions was the Encosta de Lago – Surrealist colt who brought a bid of Aus$2 million from Gai Waterhouse.

The colt was consigned by Coolmore and is a full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Racing to Win, who only cost Aus$40,000 at the 2004 Easter sale!

Racing to Win, though, is a great advertisement for his sire, who stands at Coolmore in Australia (he has shuttled to Ireland) and IS the LEADING SIRE of GROUP 1 winners in the world for 2008!

That’s right, Encosta de Lago, a son of Sadler’s Wells’ full brother Fairy King, has more Group 1 winners to his credit worldwide than any other horse, 8 to be exact!

Tied in second place with six Group 1 winners each are Giant’s Causeway and Galileo, both also Coolmore horses!

This means that Coolmore stands the leading sires of 2008 Group 1 winners in North America, Europe, and Australia!