LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A Storm Cat colt brought $5.5 million during the opening session of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale on Monday.

The winning bid, by Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum of Dubai, was the second-highest price in the sale's history.

"I liked the way he stands," Sheikh Mohammed said after the sale. "I like the way he looks. He's athletic-looking."

The full brother to graded-stakes winners Caress and Country Cat and group winner Bernstein will spend the winter in Dubai and then be returned to the United States.

Eaton Sales consigned the chestnut colt as agent for Elizabeth Moran's Brushwood Stable.

Overall, 156 yearlings were sold Monday for $60,331,000, an average of $386,737 and a median of $250,000. Nine horses sold for $1 million or above.

Last year, 218 horses sold for $67,552,000, an average of $309,872 and a median of $200,000. Eight horses sold for $1 million or above.

John Ferguson Bloodstock, acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed and his family's Godolphin Racing operation, bought two colts for $1 million or more.

A colt out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Alyssum was bought for $1.2 million and a half brother to Grade II Tom Fool Handicap winner Exchange Rate out of stakes-winning Sterling Pound for $1 million.

The 13-day sale runs through Sept. 22.