Alex Elliott’s Imperium Sales Out To Light Up Tatts With First Ever Draft

Imperium Sales may be the newest name on the consignment block but this is no rookie outfit. Imperium is the brainchild of leading bloodstock advisor Alex Elliott and it makes its debut with 14 horses hitting the market at this week's Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale.

From what Elliott describes as a potential Melbourne Cup horse in Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to the rapidly-progressive He's A Monster (Ire) (No Nay Never), Imperium Sales has the potential to make its debut draft a memorable one. 

In many ways, Elliott offering horses on behalf of existing clients will represent a new phenomenon at Tattersalls this week, but he explained how the same idea has been replicated with great success in America and beyond.

He said, “It's something that I have seen Bradley Weisbord and Liz Crow do successfully in America. They've got Elite Sales over there where they buy the horses, manage them and then sell them on behalf of their clients.”

Elliott added, “We have bought 85 yearlings on behalf of various different clients this year so why wouldn't we offer them the facility to see the process the whole way through for them? 

“It's something of a new thing over here but you've got Jacob West, probably the biggest yearling buyer in America, and he has Highgate Sales [along with Jill Gordon], while Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock is involved in Capucines. It's just another service that we can provide to our clients and a lot of them were keen for us to do it.”

Balance Play: one of the star attractions in the Imperium draft | Racingfotos.com

In an ideal world, horses with the ability of Balance Play and He's A Monster would not be going under the hammer this week. A lack of meaningful pots for horses rated 90 and above to aim for means that horses of this ilk are a far more valuable commodity to the international market than to keep in training in these shores. That's the simple fact of the matter at present and nobody is more aware of the situation than Elliott, who has been trading under his own name since 2014.

He explained, “We're offering 14 horses this week. Some of the horses we offer on Tuesday evening you wouldn't normally want to be selling those. But that's the way it is with my clients buying so many yearlings, they have to move some on. 

“Because we are racing around for little or no prize-money, the value is in the commodity, and you've got to look after that commodity. That's what I try to educate my clients about all the time.
“There is a time in a horse's life where he is worth more to the foreign market than he is to keep running here in Britain. That is the case with our entire draft, really. We will be sad to see them gone. I know our trainers will certainly be sad to see them gone. They've been with great caretakers-Ralph Beckett, Clive Cox and Archie Watson-and the horses will arrive at the sales in great shape and will do someone serious service.”

Elliott continued, “But they don't all have to be sold and, Balance Play, for example, will have an entry for the St Simon Stakes at Newbury the week after the sale. It's blue skies ahead for a horse like Balance Play. On one hand, we'd love to keep him but on the other, how do you hold on to a horse like that who could be running around for hundreds of thousands of pounds abroad whereas they are competing for a fraction of that in Britain? 

“As John Gosden said, we have become a nursery for the rest of world racing and if you own a three-year-old gelding who boasts a rating of 101 like Balance Play does, now is the time where he is at his maximum value to sell to the other jurisdictions around the world where he can potentially earn a lot of money. Balance Play could be a Melbourne Cup horse. But, as I said, buying so many yearlings for our clients, we've got to keep the conveyor belt going.”

Balance Play will form part of what promises to be a helter-skelter Tuesday for Elliott's Imperium Sales with 11 horses going through the ring. The classy He's A Monster and similarly progressive three-year-olds Bear On The Loose (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Just Bring It (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) also take to the stage on Tuesday with Elliott quietly optimistic that the market will react kindly to his offerings. 

“As I said with Balance Play, do we keep him here to run in a 20-runner November Handicap for thirty grand or do we sell him to a place where he will be running for a lot more money? He's a May foal and his best days are ahead of him. His numbers have improved run after run and he was very impressive last time at Newbury. He's very good over ten furlongs but he is bred to stay twelve-plus. He could be a Cup horse here next year or he could be a Cup horse abroad. Who knows?”

Elliott added, “Bear On The Loose is Timeform 103 and officially rated 93. He was a one-hundred-grand yearling and is three from five and very progressive. He's a half-brother to a black-type hurdler in Warnaq (Ire) and he hit the line strong over a-mile-and-a-quarter on his last start. He's very unexposed and has been very well cared for by Kevin Philippart De Foy. He's a horse I'd highly recommend. 

“He's A Monster is Timeform 113 and officially rated 104. He's five from nine and his last run was his best run where he demolished a competitive handicap field at Chelmsford off 99. He loves fast ground and the synthetic surface and is a beautiful horse. The only time he let us down was when we ran him on soft ground. He could go on to be anything. 

“Then we have Just Bring It, who has won his last two for Clive Cox. He's Timeform 99 and is officially rated 94. He's a rapidly-improving horse and, again, who do we keep an improving three-year-old running around for twenty grand? 

“He will love a mile on fast ground and, being out of a Pour Moi (Ire) mare, he'll probably get a-mile-and-a-quarter somewhere. He's an attractive horse. Overall, it's a very exciting bunch.”

It says something about Elliott's hunger that, in a year in which he bought his greatest number of yearlings and was once again thrust into the spotlight on Saturday through King Of Steel, a horse of whom he sourced for Amo Racing, that he has added another string to his bow. 

None of this would have been possible, according to Elliott, however, without the aid of right-hand woman Lucy Ryan.

He said, “Lucy Ryan, who works with me, has put this whole thing together. She has done all of the heavy lifting. Between us buying 85 yearlings and her getting this off the ground, she really is one in a million. 

“Lucy has put a great team of people together who I know personally. We have some great show people and some great horsemen and women. That's what we wanted and that's what she's done. We've both been very busy at the yearlings sales so, for her to have been doing this in the background, it has been a great effort.”

On future plans for Imperium, he added, “We're going to be selling four fillies at the December Mares Sale-two black-type fillies [Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Trust The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})] and one [La Isla Mujeres (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire})] who is borderline black-type who might stay in training. I won't be getting involved in the yearling or foal market, it will simply be horses in training and fillies and mares.”

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Pinatubo Leads Way At Goffs With 180k Colt To Godolphin

Pinatubo (Ire) hardened his reputation as one of the most exciting young stallions in Europe at the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale when a colt by the freshman sire led the day two trade when selling to Godolphin at £180,000.

With Anthony Stroud and the rest of the regular Godolphin buying team nipping away from Goffs early to make it to Germany for the BBAG Sale at the weekend, Jono Mills was left in charge of securing the Pinatubo colt from Longview Stud. 

Mills said, “He was bought on behalf of Godolphin. The buying team are on their way to Germany. I was just talking to Anthony [Stroud] and David [Loder] on the phone and this colt is obviously a lovely Pinatubo and comes from a good farm. He is a lovely individual and we were very keen on him.”

He added, “The buying team have all been here and liked him and I was just the conduit to wave the finger, basically. He's by a proper young stallion and fingers crossed he will be a good racehorse for us.”

Lot 405 boasts a strong pedigree being a half-brother to Group 3 winner Al Raya (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and out of listed winner Fig Roll (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}).

Clive Cox landed the second Pinatubo to sell at Doncaster on Wednesday in the shape of lot 428, consigned by Barton Stud, for £90,000. 

The trainer described himself as a fan of the sire after what proved to be a productive two days at Doncaster where he added five two-year-old prospects to his team for next year to the tune of £392,000. 

Cox said, “Really pleased. I liked the Pinatubo colt as an individual and admired the sire when we were racing against him. Hopefully he is a nice athletic horse to look forward to.”

After a strong opening day's trade with notable footfall, the sales ground did clear out from mid-afternoon on Wednesday with many top buyers jetting off to Germany, but the figures remained strong.

Of the 414 lots offered, 355 sold at a clearance rate of 86% while the aggregate was up 2% to £16,262,000. The average also climbed 4% to £45,809 while the median stayed the same on £35,000.

Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent commented, “It's been a fantastic few days in Doncaster with an incredible atmosphere generated by the huge number of people who've visited our vibrant sales complex over the last few days. Vendors have been quick to say that we are missing no one, the car park has been full since the weekend, and our party on Sunday night set the atmosphere nicely for the week ahead.

“In the ring it has been great to see the sale make advances in turnover and average, with the latter growing 4% to £45,809 which is the third-highest figure achieved in the history of this sale. The number of six-figure lots also grew on last year, moving to 28 for the two days, and despite not having an obvious standout lot, the top of the market was very strong with plenty of bidders looking for what they believed to be the best horses on offer and frenzied bidding at the very top.”

He added, “The term 'Donny Rockets' has been widely used in advance of the sale and buyers were quick to congratulate the Goffs team on the selection of horses as that is exactly what they found over the last two days. The rebranded Harry's Half Million sales race at York is something else that has certainly captured the imagination of buyers and we look forward to seeing our rockets contest the £500,000 race next year and we wish everyone the best of luck with their new purchases.”

 

 

Tate Stays Late For Twilight Son Colt

James Tate had reason to stay at Donny for the bitter end on Wednesday and landed himself a Twilight Son (GB) colt (lot 444) from Tally-Ho Stud for £160,000. Tate had to fight off a persistent challenge from Anthony Bromley, an increasingly prevalent figure at the major yearling sales, to land the colt for an existing client. 

The visibly delighted trainer said of the colt, who is the second foal out of black-type Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Ice Gala (GB), “He's an extremely good-looking horse. Let's hope he's as fast as he looks. I've had one Twilight Son, who was a winner. This is the same cross as Twilight Calls (GB) so, if he was as good as him, that would be good.” 

Elliott And Jackson-Stops Join Forces For New Partnership

Two of the leading agents in Britain, Alex Elliott and Billy Jackson-Stops, combined to land a Mehmas (Ire) colt and a well-bred Mayson (GB) filly for a cumulative figure of £215,000 for a new partnership of owners that will support trainers George Scott, Andrew Balding and possibly Ralph Beckett. 

The Mehmas colt was purchased on day one from Tally-Ho Stud and is out of black-type Kodiac (GB) mare Lady Aria (GB) while the Mayson (lot 359) boasted a big pedigree being a sister to dual listed winner and Group-placed Dance Diva (GB). She was consigned by Luke Barry's Manister House Stud.

Elliott commented, “She has been bought for a new partnership between Billy Jackson-Stops and I. We are buying a couple of horses to go to George Scott, Andrew Balding and potentially Ralph Beckett as well. We got two for George this week, a Mehmas [lot 8 for £95,000] and we got the Mayson, who was our pick. George loved her and we wanted to have a go on her. She's a full-sister to a stakes horse and is a beautiful physical. If she stubs a toe, she's still got residual value with her page.”

Asked if the partnership was one set up with a view towards trading, Elliott said, “No, it's not. It's two owners who will hopefully enjoy a bit of success this year.”

That sale capped a productive week for Barry who sold 11 yearlings for £603,000 and Elliott described trade as being “fair” before explaining that the vendors who brought the right types to the market got well-paid. 

He said, “I think it has been very fair. It's been a very fair market to buy horses at and Goffs have done their usual great job and you can see from the turnout that everybody loves coming here. Some good horses have been on show and vendors are being rewarded if they bring the right horse. “

 

Talking Points

  • Classic-winning owner Phil Cunningham clearly meant business when he snapped up the services of top bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley for this sale. Cunningham, who will forever be associated with 2,000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel (GB), spent £617,000 on seven yearlings through Bromley this week. 
  • Oliver St Lawrence enjoyed a productive two days at Doncaster and his £570,000 haul across five yearlings was headed by a £170,000 Dark Angel (Ire) colt (lot 338) from Yeomanstown Stud. That colt is a brother to Juliet Capulet (Ire), winner of the G2 Rockfel S., and was bought on behalf of Fawzi Nass. St Lawrence said, “Lovely colt and the mare has done well with Dark Angel. He looks a ready-made two-year-old and could get us to Ascot. A nice type.”
  • Andy Lo made the trip from Hong Kong a worthwhile one by signing for lot 181, a Ten Sovereigns (Ire) colt from Camas Park Stud for £70,000. The young agent signed for the colt on behalf of Hong Kong-based David Fenn, who plans on leaving the horse in Britain before eventually shipping it back to his home country. Lo explained, “This is the first horse I have bought at Doncaster and it is also David's first horse. I used to work in a bank but I have started buying horses for friends and owners back in Hong Kong and enjoy it. I am hoping to go to the Orby as well.” He added, “The plan for this colt is to go into training with George Peckham and then, hopefully, come back to Hong Kong in time.”
  • Peter and Ross Doyle remained as powerful as ever at Doncaster in signing for 17 yearlings for just shy of £1 million. To be precise, the top agents spent £988,000 and interestingly picked up two Kamekos, two by Shaman (Ire) and one more unproven sire in Earthlight (Ire).
  • The Shaman colt (lot 336) that the Doyles bought off Tinnakill House for £36,000 represented a right touch for the stud's Tom Murphy, who bought the horse as a foal for €16,000 at the Goffs February Sale.  

Atomic Racing Reinvests

It has been a banner year for Atomic Racing, the commercial syndicate that has horses in training with Kevin Coleman in Ireland and managed by bloodstock agent Sean Grassick, who purchased his first two yearlings of the season following some notable sales with form horses recently. 

Uluru (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), an impressive winner on debut at Gowran Park in July, netted the syndicate a major payday when selling to Team Valor to be trained by Joseph O'Brien.

Atomic's Churchill (Ire) colt Bladon (Ire) will also continue his career with O'Brien after OTI snapped up the colt after his eye-catching debut at Killarney.

Signing under O'Byrne and Grassick, the bloodstock agent picked up a Golden Horde (Ire) filly (lot 219) for £32,500 from Kildaragh Stud this week and a Masar (Ire) filly (lot 342) for £38,000 from The National Stud. 

Grassick commented, “It's nice to get on the board for Atomic Racing and we bought two lovely fillies. The Golden Horde is a lovely, scopey filly while the Masar is one for the back end and could be a nice trading prospect. That's the type of horse we like to try and buy. We weren't really looking for the early and speedy types.”

He added, “We've had a lot of interest in the syndicate from prospective investors since Uluru won. Uluru and Bladon are gone to Joseph O'Brien and we hope they are lucky because we want to be known for selling good horses.”

Folland-Bowen Bloodstock Continues Donny Love Affair

It was at this sale last year where Folland-Bowen Bloodstock burst onto the scene with a Land Force colt selling for £85,000.

The burgeoning operation eclipsed that figure on Wednesday with a Mohaather (GB) filly out of Blue Geranium (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 327) selling to Johnny McKeever and Charlie Hills for £105,000 

Natalie Folland, who runs the operation alongside her partner Matt Bowen, said, “She was sold on behalf of her breeder Jane Keir, our former landlord at Elkington Stud, and we're delighted for her. She's a very loyal client. When we left to set up at Fonthill Stud she said she'd close up and send her mares to us as she didn't want anyone else looking after them.”

She added, “The filly prepped beautifully and we thought she might make 40 or 50 thousand, but you never really know what you've got until you bring them to the sales, and she's been showing well all week; she's never put a foot wrong. In fact, the more shows she did, the better she got. We love selling at Doncaster, and that's the second year in a row we've had a bit of a touch.”

Buy Of The Day

There were a couple of interesting fillies to sell on Wednesday, not least the Masar (Ire) that Sean Grassick bought from The National Stud for £38,000.

Masar has yet to catch fire in his debut season at stud and this filly does not look as though she will be bolstering his record with juveniles but she does look like she will be okay in time. 

At the money, Grassick can't have gone too far wrong with a filly who could be worth a lot more than that if she manages to place in a maiden in Ireland at the back end next year or even as a three-year-old. 

She has been bought for the Atomic Racing Syndicate and will be trained by Kevin Coleman. It's an owner-trainer axis that has advertised an uncanny knack at finding value and trading horses with form in recent times. This filly could be the latest smart recruit for the team. 

Away from the Masar, Peter Trainor may well have found himself a bit of value in the Ardad (Ire) filly (lot 423) he bought from Browne Brothers Bloodstock at 22,000. 

At least Trainor will know if he got the value or not pretty soon given that the Ardad's half-sister Graceful Thunder (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) runs in a Group 3 at ParisLongchamp on Thursday. 

Already a listed winner for Amo Racing and George Boughey, Graceful Thunder is a 3-1 chance to boost the pedigree in that Group 3. It could prove an interesting 24 hours for Trainor. 

Thought For The Day

After another strong yearling sale for Havana Grey (GB) with three yearlings selling for six figures or more, one has to wonder what Whitsbury Manor Stud will set the fee at next year. 

It was a question that generated much debate in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Earl Of Doncaster Hotel  and it seems as though many top judges feel Havana Grey is worthy of a decent bump following another excellent year. 

 

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Cream Rises In Book 3

NEWMARKET, UK — Even in what proved a record-breaking edition, Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year yielded just a couple of six-figure sales. On Thursday, we had two in the first half hour. Any prospectors who had staggered out of the opening two books gasping for some oasis of affordability already knew what they were up against.

To be fair, trade would not remain quite as consistently wild as had been the case across the two preceding catalogues. While unsatisfied demand from Book 2 was transparent in no fewer than eight six-figure transactions, a 26,000gns median was actually unchanged on the equivalent session last year. That suggests a degree of cherry-picking. But a gain of 10 per cent in the average, to 30,960gns, did attest to some overflow into this lower stratum from the sheer, nearly impenetrable strength of the sale to date.

Indeed, the biggest price of the day was actually paid by one of the key protagonists at the front end of Europe's premier yearling sale. For when a Gleneagles (Ire) colt from Croom House Stud was knocked down to Cormac McCormack at 140,000gns, it turned out that he was bidding on behalf of M.V. Magnier.

“The horse was well placed by his owners in the sale and they got well paid,” McCormack said. “He's the nicest horse in the sale. Great step to him, good pedigree, a touch of class about him.”

That pedigree had something old and something new, together creating something nicely “blue” in terms of blood: the colt's fourth dam was a sister to none other than Mill Reef, while his mother is a sister to the dam of last month's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner Mendocino (Ger) Adlerflug {Ger}).

The best operators, demonstrably, don't drop their attention at any stage and that's a compliment to be divided between consignor and purchaser: Croom House's 2,400,000gns Frankel colt in Book 1, the second highest price of the whole sale, was also bought by Magnier (in partnership, in that instance, with White Birch Farm).

Rising Tide Floats All Boats For Whitsbury

There's not so much a buzz around Havana Grey (GB), as a deafening barrage of fireworks. After members of his second crop, conceived at 6,500gns, had realized up to 325,000gns in Book 2, here he accounted for two of the three highest prices of the session.

One of the Whitsbury stallion's first big advertisements is Listed St Hugh's S. winner Cuban Mistress (GB), whose full-sister raised 115,000gns from Anthony Stroud, acting for an unnamed client. This filly was presented as 1482 by her sire's own farm, whose director Ed Harper was ecstatic about the way his flourishing sires are moving up the home herd.

“It's been a year of updates for our mares,” he said. “Mares that were in the twilight zone are now zipping up the escalator and suddenly look exciting. When you get two stallions on your roster like Showcasing (GB) and Havana Grey (GB), they're just constantly doing favours to the broodmare band. It's just magic, it's been a fantastic year.”

He explained that mares are recruited to work across the board, “so they can just hop around the roster”. But Whitsbury had stumbled across “an uncanny nick” between Sakhee's Secret (GB) mares–like the dam of this filly–and Havana Grey, which has so far yielded not just Cuban Mistress but also G3 Cornwallis S. winner Rumstar (GB) and promising debut second Destined (GB). “That's from three runners,” Harper marvelled. “I think anyone with a Sakhee's Secret mare must be ringing me at the moment!”

No Grey Areas For Foley

Another six-figure hit for Havana Grey was the first foal of So Brave (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), presented by Carmel Stud as Lot 1499 and purchased by Joe Foley for Clipper Logistics at 125,000gns.

“A lovely filly,” Foley remarked. “We saw her yesterday, the first one we saw: she was recommended to us by the breeders and by Ed from Whitsbury. She's a really good-looking filly from a fast mare who I remember when she was with Archie Watson, a real speedy 2-year-old. Importantly the breeders are mating the mare well: she has a foal by Showcasing (GB) and has been to Pinatubo (Ire), which is encouraging.

“Havana Grey is a highly promising young stallion. We underbid on a colt yesterday and were keen to buy a nice one. Last year you could see they were all of a mould: he was either going to be a very good stallion or a very bad stallion. Luckily for the team at Whitsbury, he is the former! They are so genuine, like himself.”

With 55 yearlings so far corralled for Clipper and the associated Bronte Collection, Foley could hardly be better placed to gauge the astonishing buoyancy of the market.

“It has been strong from the start and strong today, which is brilliant to see,” he reflected. “It just shows the fortitude of this business. It's a great sport, a great business, and people get fun out of investing in racehorses. Maybe after the negative times we have had in the recent past, and maybe will have in the future, people are keen to spend some money and have some fun.

“Investing in the bloodstock industry is fun investment: you can love football or cricket all you like, but you can't invest in them. You can love racing and invest in it, get double the kick. I have seen first-hand the fun the Bronte syndicate has had together this year, going to Royal Ascot with four runners and having the filly placed in the [G2] Queen Mary. Investing in stocks and shares, you don't get to go and have a bottle of champagne with your mates and say, 'Yes, we won the Listed race!'”

Trio Swing For The Fences Again

Whitsbury's established heavy hitter Showcasing (GB) also achieved a big score on the back of a smart juvenile. For his daughter Swingalong (Ire) has turned out to be 120,000gns well spent in Book 2 last year for Blandford Bloodstock, Karl Burke and Sheikh Juma Dalmook al Maktoum, the G2 Lowther S. winner having run a very creditable fourth when upped to the elite tier for the GI Cheveley Park S. And the same triumvirate was duly on the lookout for another daughter of Showcasing, whose farm filled that need with Lot 1384 at 115,000gns.

This filly's half-brother Shouldvebeenaring (GB) had elevated the page since it went to press, winning a valuable Goffs UK sale race at the Ebor meeting and following up in listed company at Ripon 11 days later. That makes their dam Lady Estella (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}) well found at the end of a modest racing career, in this ring in 2015, for just 12,000gns.

“Sheikh Juma was very keen to get another Showcasing,” confirmed Richard Brown of Blandford. “But we've been beaten on everything we wanted so far. Then I saw this filly early yesterday and immediately called my vet–and then immediately called Sheikh Juma! She's from a very good farm, and of course she had a good update.

“Funnily enough I was in there this morning and along came Karl and I thought, 'I know where you're going!' And sure enough he pulled her out. Luckily we were able to align, with the help of Sheikh Juma, and if she can be half as good as Swingalong we'll be all right.”

As for that filly's prospects from here, Brown added: “I was delighted with her run in the Cheveley Park–she was the biggest filly in the field and should get farther next year. Whether she'll get a mile, I don't know, but seven should definitely be in her range and I imagine she'd start off in one of the trials. It's not my decision but if I had to guess I'd say she might go to Newbury for the Fred Darling.”

Another Night To Remember

It had become immediately apparent that the overall momentum of the sale was going to be maintained, with the first six-figure transaction recorded for only the sixth animal into the ring. Moreover the 100,000gns docket signed by Nick Bell for a Night of Thunder (Ire) colt from Ballyhimikin Stud also extended a more specific streak for sire and consignor combined.

Night Of Thunder had topped the Book 2 rankings by aggregate, his 25 sales totalling 4,025,000gns, and three of his top five in that catalogue graduated from James Hanley's farm–which had also sold a colt and filly by the Darley stallion in Book I for 475,000gns and 425,000gns respectively.

This lad is out of French Listed winner Kambura (Fr) (Literato {Fr}), sibling to several group performers and/or producers. He will be trained by Bell's father Michael for Peter Trainor. “We have put a few horses up to him over the last few weeks,” Bell Jr. said. “I think he'd thought he had got away without having to buy one! But this looks like he good be a real fun horse next summer. The stallion needs no introduction, and this looks a really solid horse. It's been tough, and the nice ones you have to give a little bit extra for. I'm delighted we got him.”

Taking Your Time Now Takes Money Too

Alex Elliott had a succinct summary of the current market after going to 68,000gns for a Masar (Ire) colt from Maywood Stud [1421].

“Fifty grand is the old 10 grand!” he exclaimed. “You used to be able to pick up these stayers for 10 grand, but you can't buy a nice horse for that now.”

This was the fourth of five scheduled picks for the Lucra Partnership, with a stipulated average of 50,000gns. The pressure was on for the fifth, then, albeit one of their first investments was G2 Royal Lodge S. winner New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}). “And we sold him for a lot of money, so everyone is on the pig's back because of that!” Elliott said.

That syndicate's trainer Ralph Beckett will also be receiving the preceding lot [1420], a 100,000gns Sea The Moon (Ger) colt consigned by Jamie Railton and purchased on behalf of the nascent Valmont syndicate foiled only in a photo for last week's G3 Oh So Sharp S. with Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

“Ralph trained this colt's dam, who was a very good race filly,” Elliott recalled of Listed winner Mountain Bell (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}). “I actually bought [her] last year, off Qatar. And I thought this horse was a stand-out today, more of a Book 2 horse: he has size, scope, he vetted well, and I am a big fan of the stallion. He will want a bit of time, but we don't mind giving them that.

“We generally buy 3-year-old types [for Valmont]. There's a little bit of a gap in the market there, if you've got the patience. Because once you're on the wheel, you've got the action: early next year we should have that first batch running in Guineas trials, Oaks trials, and then this year's purchases will come through after that. We had thought the first year was going to be a bit slow, but when you have Ralph Beckett in your corner it's a huge help.”

Redvers Finds Another Camacho Nugget

While hugely looking forward to QIPCO Champions' Day, like his patron Sheikh Fahad, David Redvers kept his eye on the ball to dig out a Camacho colt [1571] from Lodge Park Stud for 105,000gns.

“That's why we hang around for Book 3,” the Tweenhills man said. “You do find the odd golden nugget.”

The vendors' homebred mare Alyssum (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) had mustered updates from both her previous winners, Dandy Alys (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) finishing second in the G3 Sweet Solera S. and Hard One To Please (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) confirming his stature in Scandinavia by winning the G3 Stockholm Cup. Throw Camacho into the mix, and Redvers was always going to be interested.

“He's been a phenomenally lucky sire for us,” he said. “I must have bought five or six stakes winners by him. And the mare catalogues up unbelievably well now, with the updates. In my view, this filly would have deserved a place in Book 2 and would have made twice as much there. I loved her physical, too. I have bought her entirely on spec, but I will put her up to Sheikh Fahad and David Howden and we'll see what happens. I'm in for a good bit of her.

“The farm is probably in the top five best breeders in Europe. I bought Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}) from them [for 150,000gns in Book 1 three years ago] and she's now a Grade 1 filly.” [Won Gamely S.]

As for the imminent spectacle at Ascot on Saturday, Redvers added: “I'm really looking forward to it. There will be a massive crowd, hopefully the sun will be shining and the going will be perfect. The best horse in the world will be running and it's what championship racing is all about.”

Calyx Pinhook Solid As A Rock

One of the pinhooks of the day was the work of Rockview Stables, which found a filly from the first crop of Calyx for €12,000 as a foal at Goffs last November. Daughter of an unraced Dubawi (Ire) mare culled by Godolphin, she was brought here as Lot 1426 and realized 105,000gns from BBA Ireland.

“We just thought she was a very attractive, racy filly and of course she was out of a Dubawi mare,” explained Eleanor Dunne of Rockview. “But we got very lucky with the update. We knew that there was a first foal in Tom Dascombe's, but Felix Natalis (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) has gone on and won a couple of times again [since the catalogue was published] and then just on Saturday he got the black type at York [third in Listed Rockingham S].

“She's been fantastic since she got to the farm, thrived all the way through her prep: she has a wonderful temperament and has been a pleasure to be around.”

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October Book 1: ‘The Cream Of The Crop’

NEWMARKET, UK-It is going to require a Herculean effort to plunder the best of what is on offer at Tattersalls, according to leading bloodstock agent Alex Elliott who, on the eve of the eagerly-anticipated Book 1 session, described the stock on offer as being “the cream of the crop”. 

With Sheikh Mohommad, Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum, Aidan O'Brien, John Gosden, Yoshito Tahagi, Chad Brown and a host of American and foreign buyers in attendance at Newmarket on Monday, Elliott is expecting more mayhem in the sales ring this week. 

Elliott, who spent almost £4 million on 13 horses at Book 1 alone last year, said, “There's a hell of a selection. It will be very hard to buy them. People have been talking about this sale for a while and I think it's going to be every bit of what people were expecting and more.”

He added, “I'm buying for a domestic person so it's going to be hard for me to buy exactly what I want. It's always hard to buy what you want but it's going to be even harder this time. Between the prize-money, the weakness of the pound and the amount of people here–it just won't add up as well for us as it will for the Americans for example. That's going to make things extremely difficult. 

“There's more American buyers here than I have ever seen before. There are people here who I don't even recognise. This is the cream of the crop. They are the best turf horses that get brought to the market in Europe, if not the world, and it's going to be a challenge.” 

A mouse in a room full of hawks would have enjoyed a more peaceful afternoon than Sir Mark Prescott did at Tattersalls with the local legend met with a hero's welcome after Sunday's Arc heroics achieved with Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 

Concurring with Elliott, the in-demand trainer said, “The stock is very good. It's a strong catalogue–we'll be short of money but we've enjoyed seeing them!”

He added on the reception, “My team are quite unhappy with me as we are taking too long and not seeing enough yearlings. I've had nothing but trouble! Too many 'thank yous' and 'not at alls' and so on. It's been marvellous.

“I'm very surprised by the reception. It's been extraordinary. It was just a great day and everything went right. I was saying to Aidan [O'Brien] that, if I hadn't trained the winner, I'd have enjoyed watching the race as she always seemed to be so well-placed. It just went perfectly well.”

The yearlings assembled at Tattersalls also came in for high praise from leading Irish trainer Paddy Twomey, who is expecting the demand for young stock to soar this week.

He said, “Tattersalls have attracted a lovely bunch of horses and you'd imagine that the strong trade from Goffs can carry over into the next two weeks.”

Barton Stud Bring A Big Draft

He may be one of the youngest stud managers in Britain but that infectious enthusiasm should stand Tom Blain in good stead as Barton Stud offer 22 yearlings in Book 1.

It is one thing bringing a big draft and something altogether different to offer up quality and, with two colts and a filly by Frankel (GB), a filly by Dubawi (Ire) and a filly and a colt apiece by the great Galileo (Ire) among the 22 on offer, expectations are high.

Blain said, “All of the right people are here and it was lovely to see Sheikha Hissa looking at a few of our yearlings and I understand Sheikh Mohammed is here. There are plenty of people here from America as well so there's huge interest.”

He added, “The pound is as weak as it's been for a while so, while that's not great for the country, it will help buyers. People vote with their pocket. You'd like to think that there are plenty of people who still have plenty to buy and that they will get stuck in so let's hope there's enough horses to go around.”

Barton has already earned a reputation as a proven source of top-notch talent with recent G2 May Hill S. winner Polly Pott (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) the latest graduate.

Not only is this Barton's biggest draft of yearlings to offer up at public auction but the 34-year-old thinks it's the best.

He said, “I am really pleased with our draft. I've never sold anything by Galileo before and we've got a Dubawi filly who is very nice. There are three Frankels as well, one of which is particularly nice, and he sells on the last day [lot 436]. 

“This is what we do it for, isn't it? Try and be here competing at the top level and, most important of all, let's hope they go on and become good racehorses.”

Tally-Ho Out To Build On Dream Results

Whether it's buying, breezing or consigning, Tally-Ho Stud has an unrelenting ability to produce top-class winners, further evidence of which was seen on Sunday when homebred The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) became the first juvenile since 1978 to win the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye.

She also became an important first at the highest level for the stud's up-and-coming sire Cotai Glory, not that Sunday's victory came as much of a surprise to Roger O'Callaghan, who is keen to build on the momentum with a 15-strong draft to offer this week. 

Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden to that momentous victory by Hollie Doyle, The Platinum Queen was bred and then breezed by the team at Tally-Ho, realising 57,000gns at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-up Sale last year.

Her success comes hot on the heels of the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and G1 Beresford S. hero Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}), both of whom were breezed by Tally-Ho.

“It's the pinnacle, isn't it?” O'Callaghan says, nonchalantly. “You want to be good at your job, don't you? It's very satisfying but, today's headlines are tomorrow's fish and chips papers and we're concentrating on this week. But it's gratifying and, also, it's good for the breeze-ups as well.”

He added, “All I want to do is sell good horses. Lezoo was a very nice filly with a bad front leg. She just looked like she'd run and she did. I liked the Red Clubs (Ire) mare in the pedigree as well and she'd a great temperament.

“In fairness to Dad [Tony], he bred the dam of The Platinum Queen and he got 460,000gns from Niarchos. She didn't turn out to be much good but he bought her back for nine grand and this is the first foal out of her. Richard Fahey and Robin O'Ryan have done a fabulous job with her.”

Crypto Force represented something of a different theme for the Tally-Ho team when landing the G2 Beresford S. over a mile at the Curragh last month. 

However, that victory, according to O'Callaghan, proves that the renowned producers of equine talent can cater for every market, which could be seen with John Gosden, Kevin Ryan, Michael Donohoe and Mr Zhang, Hugo Palmer and Alice Haynes all busy inspecting the stock on Monday. 

O'Callaghan said, “Crypto Force was satisfying. He was a good-looking horse and I told everyone to buy him. Michael O'Callaghan out-bid Federico Barberini and the rest is history. “He's a different type of beast for us but we try to cater for everyone we can. We've a lot of races that we haven't sold the winner of.”

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