AIR FORCE BLUE First Crop Yearlings are In Demand in the Northern Hemisphere

02 Oct 19

Owners of the 58 live foals sired by AIR FORCE BLUE (USA) from his one and only season at stud at Coolmore in Australia in 2017 will be extremely pleased by the reception the first crop yearlings of this triple Group 1 winning son of WAR FRONT have received in the salering in the northern hemisphere.

For example on Day 1 at the Goffs Orby Sale, the first of only three lots in the sale by AIR FORCE BLUE (USA) was knocked down to M V Magnier for €250,000.

The first yearlings were in demand in the USA at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected sale with three sold from three offered averaging $195,000 USD.

Leading the way was a gorgeous colt from the family of El Gran Senor sold for $280,000 USD.

A pair of quality fillies sold for $200,000 USD and $100,000 USD.

Also a colt sold at the recent Hokkaido Selection yearling sale in Japan for $305,000 USD.

AIR FORCE BLUE (USA) was a Winner of the Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes, Gr1 National Stakes and Gr1 Phoenix Stakes, was warmly received at Keeneland and Saratoga recently with his first crop selling to US$400,000 - 20 times his Service Fee.

Unfortunately AIR FORCE BLUE (USA) had a lower than anticipated fertility rate in Australia where he covered 119 mares but only sired 58 live foals (48.7%).

Therefore in Australia they are in short supply and this sensational 2yo and now exciting new sire is considered “too valuable” to continue shuttling to Australia.

Progeny from this one southern hemisphere season crop are now yearlings.

Some will be retained by breeders and a few will make their way to the sales next year. There won’t be many to choose from so quality yearlings will be in demand.

AIR FORCE BLUE (War Front – Chatham)

• EUROPEAN CHAMPION 2-Y-O.

• The best juvenile by Proven Gr1 sire of sires - War Front.

• The highest-rated 2YO EVER from the Danzig sire line.

• The first time since 2001 that any two-year-old has won three European Group 1 races.

• “the best two-year-old we’ve ever had” – Aidan O’Brien, Coolmore’s legendary trainer

RACE RECORD:

5 Starts at 2 = 4 Wins & 1 Second / Unplaced at 3.

WON Dewhurst Stakes [Gr1], Newmarket 7f (1400m)

WON Vincent O’Brien National Stakes [Gr1], Curragh 7f (1400m)

WON Phoenix Stakes [Gr1], Curragh 6f (1200m)

WON Maiden, Curragh 6f (1200m) on debut

2nd Coventry Stakes [Gr2], Royal Ascot 6f (1200m) (2 lengths)

TIMEFORM rated him 128p and said: “None of O’Brien’s previous champion two-year-olds has been rated so highly as Air Force Blue who is the best champion of his age group in Europe for nearly 20 years, with the exception of Frankel.”

Bill Oppenheim from Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN) said: "he won three Group 1's - the Phoenix S., the National S. and the Dewhurst - and ended 2015 the highest-rated 2-year-old ever trained by Aidan O'Brien. That kind of 2-year-old class is very dangerous; very good sires have had similar records to Air Force Blue's - only they weren't as good."

2019 SERVICE FEE: $20,000 USD

First crop Yearlings in 2019 have sold for $400,000, $350,000, $305,000, €290,000, $280,000, $250,000, €250,000, $200,000, $185,000, $160,000, $140,000, $140,000, $100,000 etc.