DONCASTER, UK—There may be “wars, and rumours of wars”, but somehow for the bloodstock market it seems as though these things really will just pass.
Having emerged from the economic shock of the pandemic with record business last year, the Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-Up once again raised the bar as investors seemingly remain impervious to dramatic new volatility in the geopolitical environment.
The juvenile sector had been first to take the Covid broadside in 2020, and no meaningful comparisons can duly be made with the auction salvaged—in conjunction with one hosted by Arqana—that July. But last year this sale seamlessly resumed the bull run that had animated trade before that trauma, with £6,219,500 turnover breaking down to a £48,590 average and £34,000 median (128 sold of 144 into the ring).
Well, on Thursday those indices were in turn effaced, albeit narrowly, by transactions totalling £6,495,500 for a £49,208 average and £36,000 median, the only slippage coming in the clearance rate at 132 sold of 158 offered (81.6%). Following a very strong start to the European circuit at Tattersalls last week, and with unmissable momentum on the racetrack, consignors can dare to believe that the good times really are back.
“As ever with a breeze-up sale, vendors can only expect to be paid for those that perform their very best when galloping prior to sale,” said Goffs UK Managing director Tim Kent. “And those that ticked all the boxes sold very well today. A record-breaking 17 horses sold for £100,000 or more, with three making more than £200,000, which helped to return a record average price that was just shy of £50,000 for the first time in the sale's history.
“It has been a fantastic few days in sunny Donny and, as ever, we would like to thank our loyal band of vendors who again prepared some truly exceptional horses to showcase their talents on Town Moor. Much of the talk during the last few days has been the search for Royal Ascot runners as this sale has an unrivalled record of success at that meeting.”
Byrne Family Helps Whyte Pick up the Pieces
There are three things indispensable to a breeze-up consignment: horsemanship, horsemanship and horsemanship. Scale doesn't come into it. True, scale doesn't get in the way, and this was duly another fertile day for those masters of all trades at Tally Ho Stud. But top billing this time should surely be reserved for Michael Byrne and his family at Knockgraffon Stables—not just for a fine result with their own, solitary offering, but also for a service rendered to another small operation in what is, after all, a community of colleagues as much as rivals.
Matty Whyte of Bushypark Stables in Co Kildare similarly breezed just the one horse here on Tuesday, a Tasleet (GB) colt found in the same ring for just £14,000 last August. But he went so well as lot 97 that Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock was forced all the way to £230,000 in his quest for a new Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum.
After shaking hands with Brown, however, Whyte candidly diverted all credit to Byrne and his family.
“I'll be honest,” he explained. “I got badly broken up in a fall in January, cracked vertebrae and the lot, and I had to spread seven horses among friends and colleagues. And all the credit for this one goes to Michael Byrne. He prepped the horse, I was just getting weekly videos.”
Though he joked that he might have to delegate the work routinely in future, Whyte naturally remained entitled to congratulation for having started the process—most notably in having found the horse so cheaply.
“No, he didn't cost much,” Whyte said. “But he costs enough now! Look, he was up there in the top corner, the consignors had done a lovely job with him but he was just a little immature, a little raw, and I thought there might be a bit of improvement there.”
Brown, for his part, will be hoping that this colt can emulate Perfect Power, who had similarly multiplied his yearling value (16,000gns out of Book 2) when bought for £110,000 at this auction last year—but nonetheless went on to prove a bargain in winning at Royal Ascot, plus two Group 1s before his successful reappearance at Newbury last weekend.
This colt will carry the same colours. “We bought Far Above (Farrh) from Matty three years ago,” Brown said, recalling the 105,000gns purchase of that brief-but-bright sprinting star at the Tattersalls Guineas Sale. “He was extremely talented, and is now at stud with I have to say some pretty exceptional foals in his first crop. This is a gorgeous colt and, for me, he did an absolutely outstanding breeze.
“He did a very good time, which is important in a horse bred as he is. But he also showed a great attitude, which is something we place a big emphasis on, and a great stride and action. Tasleet was a very tough, talented horse, and Ardad was another first-season sire last year, of course—and the rest is history. It's been well documented how we got Perfect Power at this sale, and Sheikh Rashid was keen to try and find another very nice colt. Let's hope we've done so, because this horse has plenty of scope: he's not just a whizzbang.”
As for Whyte, asked how he was feeling a few months on from his accident, he replied: “Euphoric! Look, I'm back in one piece. I'm alive and well, and meanwhile all thanks to Michael.”
NEW TOP LOT
— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022
Knockgraffon's own offering was scarcely less impressive. Remember this is very much a family operation, with Byrne, wife Kitty and sons Michael Jr. and Stephen assisted only by rider Evan Dwan at their yard outside Cashel in Co. Tipperary. Between them they'll reckon on pre-training around 15, with another 10 to breeze. Nonetheless they had a right touch at this sale four years ago, when catapulting a €12,000 Tamayuz filly to £140,000, and they had another cracking result with the Havana Gold (Ire) filly they brought here as lot 31.
This time it was Stephen Byrne doing the honours, having picked her out for £22,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland sale (transferred to Newmarket) last September. He was relieved by not surprised by her flashy breeze on Tuesday, which caused her value to stretch to £120,000 from Stroud Coleman Bloodstock.
“She did exactly what I thought she would,” Byrne said. “She's never disappointed me, she's always done everything so easy. I loved her the moment I saw her, she had that big round scopey action. We got her home and she's been a queen ever since.”
Brown Tries To Improve On Perfection
Brown's investment in the sale-topper crowned a hectic few minutes in which he doubled down on the success he has enjoyed at this auction, not just with Perfect Power but also in finding that horse's sire.
And he went back to the same well in giving £160,000 for another son of Kodiac (GB) (lot 92) from the farm that sent Ardad here in 2016, when he co-topped the sale at nearly the same price (£170,000). This time Tally Ho had sent the son of an unraced Bushranger (Ire) half-sister to the dam of Ardad.
“So he's closely related to Ardad, and obviously from the same consignors, but he's a different type of horse,” Brown remarked. “He's a May foal, he'd be a little more backward than Ardad was, and will probably take a little more time. Myself, I'd be keen to put a line through Ascot but that's not my job now and we'll see what the trainer says.”
Who will enjoy that privilege remains to be seen, but the silks will be those of Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum, brother to Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Juma. And their good friend Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi will also be competing through a brother to last year's G2 Queen Mary S. winner Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) acquired from Oak Tree Farm for £125,000 (lot 99). Al Qassimi has a smart young sprinter in Caturra (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who made a promising reappearance when second in the G3 Prix Sigy for Clive Cox only the previous day.
“All these guys are unbelievable horsemen in their own right,” Brown emphasised. “Sheikh Rashid is a championship endurance rider. They're great to buy for, and great to train for: if a horse needs time, the horse will be given time.”
Brown's commitment to the sale, incidentally, had been marked by his unanimous selection by the Goffs UK Board as winner of the Willie Stephenson Memorial Trophy for the biggest contribution to the company's profile over the past year.
“Richard has been a great friend to DBS/Goffs UK over the years,” said managing director Tim Kent. “And it's entirely appropriate that we present him this trophy at the very sale from which he has bought so many wonderful horses. Perfect Power is one of several and it's indeed fitting that it was Richard who bought Ardad's first Group 1 winner, having also bought Ardad in 2016.
“Perfect Power continues to do wonders for the Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale, following his brilliant win on Saturday, and there is plenty to look forward to with his Classic clash next month and we wish Richard and connections the very best of luck. We thank Richard for all his support over the years and we are sure he will be unearth many more Group 1 talents in the years to come.”
lot 92 sells for £160,000 @GoffsUK @BrzUps Sale. This colt by Kodiac, who is very popular at the sales, was consigned by @HoStud and bought by @BlandfordBldstk. pic.twitter.com/lNelf60scC
— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022
Another Back to the Tally Ho Well
Repeat business for Tally Ho was again central to one of the other big transactions of the day, with breeze-up regular Michael O'Callaghan forced to £200,000 for the Mehmas (Ire) colt they presented as lot 94.
This is the first foal of an Epaulette (Aus) half-sister to the dam of Epsom Icon (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), from the Cheveley Park family of Red Camellia (GB).
“He's a lovely colt and did one of the best breezes of the day,” O'Callaghan observed. “Visually, he's very impressive—and he's obviously by a sire conquering all before him. He's from a hotel we've had a lot of luck buying from, and came highly recommended. Hopefully he can make an Ascot horse: he looks early and fast, but has enough size and power that you'd hope he'll not just be early.”
The Curragh trainer has learned to appreciate the groundwork of Tally Ho through, among others, a couple of horses found at this sale: Classic-placed Now Or Later (Ire) (Bushranger {GB}) cost just £45,000, while only last year the tough and classy Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) co-topped the sale at £210,000 before proceeding to win the G3 Cornwallis S. on the 10th of 11 starts at two.
lot 94 sells for £200,000 @GoffsUK @BrzUps Sale. This colt is by Mehmas and was consigned by @HoStud, who are having a good sale season so far. @MDOCallaghan was the lucky bidder. pic.twitter.com/SrpI0aPxu6
— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022
Fresh Travels Beckon Munnings Migrant
The breeze-ups have for some reason become the one surviving route into the affections of European investors for American stock, and the latest to boom in value for a transatlantic journey was a colt by the flourishing Ashford sire Munnings presented by Ballinahulla Stables as one of the last into the ring as lot 177.
Signed for at Fasig-Tipton last October by Shamington Farms at just $32,000, the grey was strongly contested by Johnno Mills of Rabbah but eventually fell for £205,000 to Colm Sharkey.
Tadgh Ryan of Ballinahulla was keen to stress the partnership of Micky Cleere, while both expressed a debt to Donal Keane who was doing the legwork in Lexington.
“And it was really Micky who saw the video,” Ryan said. “Donal does it on the ground, and Micky sends me a shortlist of the videos he likes. That video work can be brutal! But this was a gorgeous horse as soon as he came over, with a great mind and a great constitution. He loves the game, and I really think he could be pretty good. We took a gamble bringing him here, they wanted him for Dubai, but it's worked out and Colm is one of the best judges out there.”
In the event, the colt will be heading out to the desert after all, as Sharkey was acting for clients in Dubai—perhaps aware that Ryan and Cleere had also been behind another American import in Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front). Sold here by Arqana last year for £120,000, he finished second in the G2 UAE Derby and has been flown back to his native land for the GI Kentucky Derby itself.
“He's the only horse I wanted to buy, so I've waited all day for him,” Sharkey said. “He's got a nice pedigree, did a nice, even breeze and vetted well. He'll head to Dubai now and hopefully race at the backend, once they get going in October or November.”
Underbidder Mills did secure a notable U.S. import, and quite a celebrity too: a half-brother to California Chrome himself.
The emigration of the dual Horse of the Year to Japan could well prove a good career move, breeders out there having repeatedly made their Bluegrass counterparts regret their commercial prejudices. In the meantime, however, his sibling by Accelerate—himself an absurdly generous fee, and a far more accomplished animal than California Chrome's sire Lucky Pulpit—was also exported, from Keeneland last September, to Powerstown Stud for just $62,000.
Here he advanced his value, as lot 36, to £110,000. His breeze having shown him to be functioning well, at this stage of his development, that may well turn out to be something of a bargain. “He's a May 16 foal, and will be given all the time he needs,” stressed Mills. “But he's the right stamp of horse, very solid, and his ultimate destination will be Dubai.”
That makes a lot of sense, given this horse's dirt antecedents, though it's possible that he will get an initial grounding on turf in Europe.
Top Hats Booked Down Under
An abrupt opening bid of £125,000 from Stuart Boman for the Kessaar (Ire) colt offered by Star Bloodstock (lot 26) put any dozing competition on the back foot in the morning session, and though one or two recovered briefly it was the Blandford Bloodstock agent who completed the job at £160,000.
Boman explained that this calculated, “disruptor” flourish had been imported on behalf of his good friend James Harron, who had jointly instructed him and Martin Buick from Australia.
“James got in touch with Martin and myself with a view to finding a runner for Royal Ascot,” he explained. “Like so many Australians they'll be glad to be able to leave the country and it sounds like they're all coming! We had very strict criteria and identified this as the one horse we wanted to buy, hence the bidding tactics. He's a very mature horse, he was the quickest colt in the sale and, while time isn't everything, in this instance you're looking for a five-furlong horse and he was particularly quick. He'll be joining Richard Hannon.”
After a “shocking” start to their cycle at the Craven Sale, according to Matt Eaves, this was a welcome touch for Star Bloodstock on a £25,000 pinhook in this ring last August by Byron Rogers. Here was yet another case of investors returning eagerly to Tally Ho, also the source of two headline successes for Star Bloodstock in G2 Norfolk S. winner A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), found here for £35,000 before his £135,000 sale at this auction in 2019; and GI Breeders' Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf runner-up Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), a £120,000 private sale at the refugee Arqana auction staged here last year, after her £29,000 acquisition the previous August. Malavath has meanwhile contributed to a breeze-up spree in the Classic trials with her reappearance success in the G3 Prix Imprudence.
“I'm delighted,” Eaves said. “We've had so much success buying from Tally-Ho and bringing them here to sell. At home, this horse has just been fast all the way. At the end of the day it's racetrack results that we want, so let's hope he goes and wins the Norfolk for them.”
— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022
Boman and Buick returned to the fray for lot 130, on behalf of the same clients, in the process completing another fine pinhook for Longways Stables, who had picked out this Zoustar (Aus) filly for £26,000 here last summer—even though her dam Ainippe (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}) won twice in group company and was placed at the highest level. This time, with the benefit of a lightning breeze, she raised £150,000.
“Sharp filly,” Boman said. “She went very quick, one of the top five times, and she's very fit and forward so we can expect her to be early and hopefully we can get her to Ascot. Obviously you don't have to explain Zoustar to Australians, and this filly also has some residual which you can't say of every horse in this sale.”
Longways had also rolled the dice on a Zoustar colt here last August, and were again well rewarded in converting his value from £35,000 to £130,000 from Bryan Smart lot 135.
Overall this catalogue is unabashedly promoted on the Royal Ascot record of its graduates and the same handful of races, now barely two months away, were duly on the mind of investors throughout the day.
Fawzi Nass was one, when giving Kessaar (Ire) another significant boost in the £160,000 acquisition—the docket signed in the name of Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock—of a February colt found here for just £20,000 last summer and recycled as lot 114 by Bansha House Stables.
“Royal Ascot is always the plan,” Nass said with a grin. “But it's not that easy. The way he's built, well put together with a nice stride, he looks a proper 2-year-old type—so he should be sharp enough to come out very soon. He'll be trained by Roger Varian.”
His pedigree is certainly more commensurate with his April price than his August one: his dam is a half-sister to the three elite winners—Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})—produced by the O'Briens' blue hen Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill).
A couple of lots later Robin O'Ryan was endorsing another young sire in Sioux Nation, giving £130,000 for a colt consigned by Gaybrook Lodge as lot 116.
“We've two and we like them,” said Richard Fahey's assistant, here representing an established patron of the yard. “This one was well recommended before coming here. And while he breezed a little bit green, we liked him. They're all Royal Ascot horses at the moment. But he does look racy.”
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