PROGENY of the Vinery Stud sire Big Brown continue to attract buyers in large numbers in the United States where his first crop of yearlings have met with tremendous support.

The Kentucky Derby/Preakness Stakes hero was the leading first season sire by average at the Fasig-Tipton Yearling sale held in Saratoga in July.

Big Brown has been able to carry over his star status into one of the nation’s most important sales – the Keeneland September Yearling sale – which concluded this week in Kentucky.

The very first Big Brown to be offered at the mammoth sale, a colt out of Miss Forest City, sold for $310,000 (pictured).

Meanwhile the top priced first crop filly sold at auction by Big Brown is $220,000 for a daughter of Grade 1 winner, Irish Smoke.

Big Brown yearlings are averaging $114,000 at present, which ranks him an impressive 3rd amongst first season sires in North America, rising to second on median price ($100,000).

From his first crop of (NH) yearlings, there has been 28 offered, 21 sold reflecting a clearance rate of 75 percent across all sales, which is higher than both stallions above him on the averages list.

”It’s a great sign to see the stock of Big Brown so well sought after in North America,” says Vinery Stud’s Adam White.

” A lot of the other young stallions over there are supported quite heavily at the sales by the big farms that stand them where as Big Brown has to depend on the general market and they are obviously taken to his stock very well.

”We have seen a number photos of this USA first crop of yearlings and he is certainly producing a horse with good quality.

”Many of them are in that real strong Danzig mould which puts him a great position to be a successful stallion here in Australia,” White said.

”A great advantage for Big Brown here in Australia is that his stock will not be flooding the sales in large numbers.

”In addition to this a lot of successful operations that breed to race like Gooree, Patinack, Stuart Ramsey, Peter Horwitz, Harry Perks, Bob Peters and of course John Singleton are supporting him so this can only be a positive for the horses chances here.”

Several Big Brown foals have been born at Vinery including an outstanding duo from exceedingly high quality families.

Zizou’s half-sister and Easy Date descendant Hayward foaled a ”strapping” colt on August September 12 while Zabeel mare Airlie delivered a ”magnificent filly three weeks ago.

Airlie is a daughter of Group 2 AJC Emancipation Stakes winner Palia whose other foals include Vinery’s own resident sire, Onemorenomore.