$1.2 million Pioneerof the Nile colt a star at OBS

Pioneerof the Nile’s sole offering Tuesday at the March 12-13 OBS 2-year-olds in Training sale certainly pleased his connections when the colt sold for $1.2 million to OXO Equine, Inc., the second-highest price paid for the day.

Consigned by Hoby and Layna Knight, agent, the colt was cataloged as hip No. 194.

“He had a great work,” Larry Best of OXO, referring to the colt’s 10 second breeze, said after signing the slip for the colt. “I like the size of him. He’s an Apr. 30 foal; when he grows up, he’s going to be about the right size. That dam side is just very strong and Pioneerof the Nile speaks for itself.” 

Best’s was also referencing the dark bay’s dam Golden Artemis, a multiple stakes performer who is the dam of Alcibiades S. (G1) winner My Conquestadory, who herself is the dam of this year’s Fountain of Youth S. (G2) runner-up Bourbon War.

“He did all the right stuff,” said Hoby Kight. “He got big, he got stretch, we got the update, and he worked really well. He just did everything you want a horse to do at a breeze show. He did good over here, he just thrived under pressure; that’s the sign of a good horse.”

Among Pioneerof the Nile’s runners in 2019 are the graded stakes trio of 3-year-olds Mother Mother, Much Better and Positive Spirit.