by Pete Denk

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Co. purchased a colt from the first crop of champion Afleet Alex for $600,000 during session four of the Keeneland September yearling sale on Thursday.

Shadwell General Manager Rick Nichols signed the ticket for the chestnut colt out of multiple graded stakes winner Solvig, by Caerleon.

“Afleet Alex is a new sire, and we need to try this colt in England. The mare is by Caerleon, and she’s all turf,” Nichols said. “We’ll probably send him to England and see if Afleet Alex works over there.

“He’s kind of an early looking colt. He’s got good conformation, the pedigree is reasonable, and he looks like he might be quick.”

The colt was bred in Kentucky by Highfield Stock Farm and Margaux Farm. Consignor Steve Johnson of Margaux said the colt easily exceeded his reserve price.

“You always hope to get in that type of situation, but you don’t expect it or count on it. Everybody was on this horse. They were all interested in him,” Johnson said. “He had every reason for people to like him, and it just so happened that the stars lined up and everybody raised their hands.”

Dave Munro of Calgary, Alberta, owns Highfield Stock Farm. Highfield purchased Solvig in foal to Afleet Alex for $750,000 at the 2007 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

“Dave’s been a great supporter of the business, and he’s gotten some good mares recently,” Johnson said. “I’m glad to see him do so well.”

Going into Thursday, Shadwell was the sale’s second leading buyer—behind John Ferguson, bloodstock agent for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum—with 25 purchases for $13,030,000.

“We’ve always been very active at this sale, and we’ve been very successful at this sale,” Nichols said. “I think we’ve bid on the same number of horses this year. We’re just getting more of them.”

Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times