A share in Airdrie Stud's hugely successful first-crop sire Complexity (Maclean's Music) was the first lot on offer during Tuesday's second session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale, and was hammered down to David Lanigan, bidding on behalf of Scott Heider, for $510,000. Representing a 2.5% interest, the share is not subject to syndicate clearance, according to a pre-sale announcement from Fasig-Tipton's Grant Williamson before the bidding began.
“We bought a Nyquist filly off Airdrie last year, so there is a connection to the family and the farm,” Lanigan said. “The horse is off to a very good start to his career and Mr. Heider was very interested in him. We just decided to watch him go through and see what he would bring.
“I thought that [the price] was reasonable. If he continues to go on and if his fee is where we estimate it may be next year, this will be sensible enough.”
The 8-year-old stallion, whose Charlatan half-brother was purchased by John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock for $1.5 million Monday evening, is already the sire of 13 individual winners, leaving him in a share of the top spot in that particular category with Vekoma.
Complexity is the leading freshman sire by progeny earnings and has already accounted for three black-type winners, including GIII Sanford Stakes hero Mo Plex, recent G2 Richmond Stakes victor Black Forza and Stewart's Mensa, who romped in the Victoria Stakes, giving the stallion stakes winners on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces.
He is also the leading general sire of 2-year-olds with winners in five different jurisdictions, including Shin Forever, who broke his maiden impressively at first asking at Niigata in Japan on Aug. 3.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
