‘I Doubt There’s One With A Better Turn Of Foot’ – Foxes Team High On Derby Chance

International bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who purchased Thursday's G2 Dante S. winner The Foxes  (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) on behalf of the King Power team, is backing the colt to get the Derby trip at Epsom. 

The Foxes was cut into a general 8-1 chance for Derby glory after winning the key trial at York for trainer Andrew Balding and the in-form jockey Oisin Murphy. 

He hails from a family the connections know well, given the half-brother Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) carried the blue and white silks of King Power with great distinction, and Donald had to go to 440,000gns to secure him at Book 1 at Tattersalls from his breeders Barronstown Stud.

Donald recalled, “We had a natural affiliation towards the pedigree with Bangkok being a good horse for the King Power team but, even without Bangkok being in the pedigree, the mare is faultless. To be honest, he was a better-looking horse than Bangkok was as a yearling. Bangkok is a very elegant horse but this fella is even more so. 

“He had more scope than Bangkok, however, he is still quite an old-fashioned and pretty horse–he almost looks like a show horse in the ring, accentuated by the flashiness of his white socks etc. But, walking around the paddock, he's a horse who naturally catches the eye.”

Thursday proved that The Foxes, who hails from that outstanding broodmare Tanaghum (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), dam of six black-type performers including Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), has an engine to match his looks. 

His progression has delighted Donald, who put forward the colt's potent turn of foot as a key asset with a view towards winning the Derby. 

He said, “From the moment he won the Royal Lodge, it was always going to be the plan for him to run in the Craven as a stepping stone towards the Dante. Now it's on to the big one, all being well. 

“The fact that he switches off and relaxes so much more than Bangkok used to–he was very much a 10-furlong horse and was always on it a bit–gives him a great chance of getting the Derby trip.”

Donald added, “He relaxes a lot better than Bangkok did and, obviously, his full-sister Perotan (Ire) stayed two miles. I wouldn't go to Epsom beating the drum saying, yes, he'll definitely get the 12 furlongs, but I think there are plenty of things to suggest that he will. And, if he does, I doubt there will be a horse in the Derby with a better turn of foot than he has.”

Asked what victory at Epsom would mean to the team, Donald concluded, “King Power have put a lot of money into the game and this is what it is all about–winning big races. We've had some nice horses and winners at Royal Ascot. We've had Group 1 winners and Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) has been great for us, but the Derby is everyone's dream and it's very hard to get a runner in the race, let alone one with a decent chance.”

 

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Extraordinary Trade Fuels Record Breaking Book 2 At Tattersalls October Yearling Sale

Trade at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continued in record-breaking fashion with turnover of 17,016,000 guineas on the final day pushing the sale turnover past 50 million guineas for the first time in the sale's history whilst the average and median also recorded new highs. The clearance rate for the sale was a remarkable 88%.

A Time Test colt out of the Rainbow Quest mare Aurelia became the latest successful pinhook for John Foley's Ballyvolane Stud when knocked down for 400,000 guineas to Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald, following a prolonged bidding duel with trainer Richard Hughes. Ballyvolane Stud has enjoyed significant pinhook success at Book 2 in recent years, selling colts by Lope de Vega and No Nay Never for 325,000 guineas in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

The top-priced foal by his sire in 2020 when purchased for 56,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, the Time Test colt became the stallion's highest-priced horse sold in the ring to date. He is a half-brother to Harlequeen, who finished third in both the English and Irish Oaks, and comes from the family of Grade 1 winner Forte Dei Marmi.

A delighted John Foley commented:

“He has been very popular this week, he had 20 vets. He is an amazing horse, he has never missed a beat all week. Since we have had him he has been amazing. He is a special horse, the best we have ever had. His attitude, his presence, he is a 'wow' horse.

“He was a lovely, quality, straightforward foal and very well produced by the National Stud – there is a reason he was the dearest Time Test foal. There are some that are nice foals who come back as nice yearlings, but he has done better than we thought. He has developed and he has improved the whole way through.”

Foley had signed for the colt as 'Otilia' last December and revealed: “Otilia is myself and three friends, it is the first one we have pinhooked together. We wanted to take a punt on the stallion, we knew that this lad as foal would cost a few quid and, if he did not work out, we thought with three of us involved the pain wouldn't be too much. It was a fair throw for him as a foal, we were taking a punt on him as a stallion, but sons of Dubawi have done well.

“Time Test has had a great year, he looks very good. His stats are good and I will definitely be using him next year! He will be very popular with breeders.”

Foley continued: “It is amazing to get a result like this as we all work hard – this is a very tough business and there are more hard days than good days. We have great help at home, Donnacha Higgins helps me at home and gives me a hand with the yearlings, and John, my dad, who is 77, mucks out six or seven boxes every day. We have great staff here too, and everyone is doing their best – it makes a huge difference when you have staff who want it to do well, and when it works out it is great.”

Ben McElroy has already demonstrated his admiration for the progeny of Kodiac this week and struck again at 285,000 guineas for a son of Tally-Ho Stud's star stallion. The Croom House Stud consigned colt is out of the Born to Sea mare Taste the Salt, whose first foal Cashew is a winner at two this year. Taste the Salt is a half-sister to the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes winner Baitha Alga.

“For me he is the best colt in the sale, if not maybe the best horse I have seen since I have been at European sales,” enthused the U.S.-based bloodstock agent.

“That's my quintessential horse there. He is a great mover, he has plenty of scope, and the way he behaved out the back, I am delighted to get him. A bit like the filly yesterday, I was worried what he'd cost. I could see him making 400,000 to 500,000 just as easily, but I really think he is a special horse. He goes to the States. There is a bit of stamina there too as the second dam is by Fantastic Light, and goes back to a nice family.”

Of staying in Newmarket for Book 2, McElroy added: “I am done now. I stayed for Book 2 last year, and I just said I'd take a look around and see what was here and I obviously really liked the filly last night and this colt. They were worth staying for. I have bought a wide range of prices, all similar types, but horses in different price ranges.”

The purchase of the Kodiac colt, and a filly by the same sire for 340,000 guineas during Tuesday's session, in addition to five lots purchased during Book 1 brought McElroy's total spend during the October Yearling Sale to over 2 million guineas.

At the conclusion of Book 2 of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“At the end of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last week we referenced the depth and diversity of the demand, and the momentum established at Book 1 has been very much sustained throughout the three days of a record – breaking Book 2.

“New record turnover at any sale is always an achievement, but for Europe's largest yearling sale to reach new levels as we all strive to return to normality after 18 months of turmoil is pretty extraordinary. Only ten years ago Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale had turnover of a fraction over 25 million guineas and an average price below 40,000 guineas. This year's October Book 2 has broken the 50 million guineas mark for the first time, produced a record average in excess of 80,000 guineas and also an unprecedented median.

“Similar to Book 1, international buyers have again made a massive contribution to the market, with notable participation from American and Australian interests as well as from Hong Kong, Japan and throughout the Gulf region, but perhaps the most encouraging feature of the record – breaking sale has been the domestic demand. British and Irish trainers have been the backbone of the sale and to see such a voracious appetite for quality yearlings, not only at Books 1 and 2 of the October Yearling Sale, but also at our Newmarket based yearling sales last month, has been fantastic.

“As ever, we are hugely indebted to the consignors from Britain, Ireland and further afield, who make Books 1 and 2 of the October Yearling Sale the showcase for so many of the finest yearlings to be found in Europe. Consistent quality is the key to attracting the buyers in such numbers and we now turn our attention to Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale where buyers will continue to find yearlings of the highest caliber.”

Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14.

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Atomic Force Exported To Hong Kong

Atomic Force (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), winner of this season's G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin, has been exported to Hong Kong to continue his racing career. Trained by Kevin Ryan initially for Hambleton Racing, Atomic Force was gelded after finishing second at first asking, and broke his maiden at Hamilton on May 26. He was purchased privately by the Hong Kong-based Siu Pak Kwan after winning the Prix du Bois by five lengths, after which he added the Prix Robert Papin by 2 1/2 lengths.

Bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who brokered the deal for Atomic Force when he was bought from Hambleton Racing, said, “The fact that he's a gelding rather limited the Group 1 options for him over here. The owners were keen to get him to Hong Kong. We were keen to run him again, but there was a lack of options. He is not eligible for the [G1] Prix Morny and it would have been a case of waiting for something like the [G1] Prix de l'Abbaye, which is a long way away. The owners took the view of giving him a rest. He's quite a big horse, so he's got a good future ahead of him in Hong Kong.”

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Caravaggio Colt Tops Second Day Of Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale continued in robust fashion during the second and final session with a son of Caravaggio lighting up the sale ring when selling for 240,000 guineas. The clearance rate remained a feature of the sale, finishing on 88 percent, whilst the turnover of 10,408,500 guineas was the fourth highest for the sale since 2008.

SackvilleDonald's Alastair Donald secured the attractive colt by first-season sire Caravaggio for 240,000 guineas after seeing off the efforts of Irish trainer Michael O'Callaghan. The son of the Galileo mare Bright Sapphire is a half-brother to the group-placed colt Wall of Fire.

“He is for a new Hong Kong client, he will go out to Hong Kong at the end of the season,” revealed Donald. “He will be pre-trained in England, he is a lovely big horse and he has a nice pedigree. He breezed well for a big horse and looks the type to do well in Hong Kong.”

Donald added: “They don't race until they are 3-year-olds, so don't want a 'here and now' horse. The sire looks like he has got a very nice 2-year-old already and this is the first I have bought by the sire. I did like the yearlings – they are particularly good walkers, and this horse's movement is very good.”

The colt was sold by Yeomanstown Stud, who bought the colt at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 155,000 guineas. Yeomanstown Stud's David O'Callaghan commented;

“He is a beautiful colt, he breezed really well and has a great attitude. We're very pleased, he was always a lovely horse and he hasn't missed a day.”

Kuwaiti buyer Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah bought the second highest priced lot for the day when going to 185,000 guineas to secure the Union Rags colt out of Careless Jewel. Named Tattered Flag, the February born colt was bought last September by Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud for $115,000 and was part of a three-horse draft that included lot 90, a colt by the fellow U.S.-based sire Practical Joke. He made 140,000 guineas and was bought by trainer Michael O'Callaghan.

“I am very pleased,” said Whitehead. “They are two nice horses, and the Union Rags will be a lovely horse later in the year.”

Whitehead's 2020 buying mission took place during the real depths of the COVID pandemic with travel restrictions and problems, but he is now obviously delighted that he managed to make the journey stateside;

“It was touch and go whether we'd get to the U.S. last year. That has been a great start, but we are only halfway there – we've another seven or eight to sell”

At the conclusion of the 2021 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“We introduced the £250,000 Craven Royal Ascot/Group 1 Bonus this year, in addition to the lucrative £15,000 Craven Breeze Up Bonus and it is clear that owners have embraced these unprecedented bonuses. We have seen solid and diverse demand at all levels of the market from start to finish which has produced the best Craven Breeze Up clearance rate since 2000 and key indicators which have held up well, especially when taken in the context of the COVID – related challenges and restrictions which we are all still grappling with and which continue to hinder international travel.

“Nevertheless, to hear consistently positive feedback from owners, trainers, agents and consignors about the bonuses has been gratifying, and reinforces our commitment to exploring as many innovative ways as possible to reward owners who buy at Tattersalls with extra prize money. There is no doubt that we will see plenty of this crop of Craven Breeze Up graduates performing at a high level and it would be even more pleasing than usual if the Royal Ascot and Group 1 bonuses were won in the coming months.

“Despite the prolonged difficulties with international travel, overseas buyers have again demonstrated their appetite for high class Tattersalls breeze up 2-year-olds. Buyers from America, Bahrain, Dubai, France, Italy, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore have all been active, many of them using the live internet bidding platform, and as well as paying tribute to the consignors who have as ever presented an outstanding collection of two year olds, we must again commend everyone for their patience with the regulations and determination to overcome the obstacles we continue to face. We are still having to conduct sales under strict guidelines, but as well as looking forward to the forthcoming Guineas Breeze Up and Horses in Training Sale, we are also looking forward to returning to more normality in the not too distant future.”

The next chance to buy a 'breezer' at Tattersalls is at the Guineas Breeze Up and Horses in Training Sale which takes place from April 28-30, with all lots breezing on the Rowley Mile at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28 before the sale on Friday, April 30.

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