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.”

The post Alex Elliott’s Imperium Sales Out To Light Up Tatts With First Ever Draft appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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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.”

Pinatubo @DarleyEurope another first season sire on a roll!

Lot 405 @GoffsUK sells for £180,000. This colt is a half brother to G3 winner Al Raya and was consigned by @longviewstud. He was bought on behalf of Godolphin. pic.twitter.com/E8ImRlOCZN

— TDN (@theTDN) August 30, 2023

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. “

Full sister to L. winner sells for £120,000 @GoffsUK Premier Sale.

Lot 359, a filly by Mayson @CPStudOfficial, was consigned by @ManisterHouse who sold G1 winner Fev Rover at this sale. She has been bought by @A_C_Elliott/@JSBLOODSTOCK to go into training with @GScottracing pic.twitter.com/lQrE0TFgaK

— TDN (@theTDN) August 30, 2023

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. 

The post Pinatubo Leads Way At Goffs With 180k Colt To Godolphin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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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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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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Along with Litt, buyers from Britain, China, Ireland, France, Italy, Dubai, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, and of course Germany underlined a diverse and vibrant market which led to gains of 24% for both aggregate and average. Of the 204 horses offered through the one-day sale, 157 (77%) found a buyer, with the clearance rate dropping just slightly from 80% last year, but the average up to €53,258 with the overall turnover at €8,361,500.

Fahrhof to the Fore

It has been quite the week for the partnership of Gestut Fahrhof and Kingman, with the stallion reaching a new high of 50 stakes winners and 30 group winners courtesy of the stud's homebred Habana (Ger), a 'TDN Rising Star' who went on the land the G3 Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden on Wednesday.

In the sale ring two days later, Kingman's son (lot 62) from the family of this year's G1 Deutsches Derby winner Sammarco (Ire) was the draft's leading light when topping the sale, selected by a first-time visitor to the auction.

“I'm really happy right now,” said American agent Jason Litt. “We got the one we wanted. We came here trying to buy what we thought was the best horse in the sale, and we thought he was the best horse in the sale.

“He's likely to stay in Europe but it is all to be determined. He has a great attitude and great balance.”

Litt added with a laugh, “He checked all the boxes, as everyone hates to hear.”

The colt's relative Sammarco, who is now a dual Group 1 winner, returns to the track on Sunday to take on Torquator Tasso (Ger) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, and plenty of other members of the close family have won stakes races in Britain, Ireland, France, and Australia. His dam Sarandia (Ger) (Dansili {GB}) was herself narrowly denied a Classic win when second in the G1 Preis der Diana, and three of her five wins came in listed races.

The Fahrhof draft was also represented among the top lots by a Frankel (GB) half-brother to Group 1 winner Potemkin (Ger) (New Approach {GB}), who will race in Germany for Eckhard Sauren, the President of the Cologne Race Club who bought lot 58 for €210,000. The colt's dam Praia (Ger) (Big Shuffle) was herself a winner and listed-placed and is a half-sister to Paita (GB) (Intikhab), a former champion 2-year-old filly in Germany.

An international bidding skirmish was in play later in the day for another Fahrhof consignee, the first foal of Listed Diana Trial winner Realeza (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) by Darley's Night Of Thunder (Ire). Anthony Stroud was involved for a while, but it was Andreas Suborics who had the last word at €325,000, with Michael Donohoe the unlucky underbidder from outside the ring. Suborics confirmed that he will train the chestnut colt (lot 156) for owner Jurgen Sartori.

The mixing of Dubawi and Monsun bloodlines has worked well in this family already, with Realeza's three-parts sister Rumh (Ger), a listed-winning daughter of Monsun, having produced the multiple Group 1 winners Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB), both of whom are by Dubawi.

Gestut Fahrhof, which has also consigned yearlings at the Tattersalls October Sale in the past, offered all its yearlings for sale at BBAG this year, and was the sale's leading vendor with 12 sold for €1,420,000 at an average price of €118,333.

Reflecting on a good day for his team, Fahrhof's owner Andreas Jacobs said, “It is a fantastic sale, a boutique sale at a wonderful location. It's wonderful because of great food, great restaurants, great hotels, but also a great sales crowd. This year we had some good genuine prices, so expectations from the vendors were reasonable, and I think the catalogue was better than last year.”

He continued, “On the Farhrhof side we had better horses in the sale because we didn't send any to Tattersalls, so that helped our sale. I'm very proud to have sold the most expensive Kingman. I've loved Kingman since he was a racehorse and I think he was one of those that has everything you want to have–good character, a good scope, and he improved with the work every minute.

“The Night Of Thunder we sold was equally smart and everyone was on him which was why he generated an exceptional price. We're very happy with the day's results, and also with the Baden-Baden race results. To have a Kingman filly; there's nothing better than to have a 2-year-old group-winning filly. I'm very excited about her and very proud.”

Prize Fillies for Owner-Breeders

Out of luck with bidding on Fahrhof's Night Of Thunder colt, Michael Donohoe was successful only a short while later when buying the only Frankel filly in the catalogue for €250,000 for Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments. Lot 161, who was offered by Ronald Rauscher, is the third foal of the Acclamation (GB) mare Vagabonde (Ire), a dual winner in France and a half-sister to a pair of Group 3 winners in Kalahara (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Sasparella (Fr) (Shamardal).

“Mr. Zhang has had plenty of luck with the sire and I thought she was lovely,” said Dononhoe. The Yulong Investements silks have been carried to Group 1 glory in Australia by a homebred daughter of Frankel in the Chris Waller-trained Hungry Heart (Aus), winner of the Australian Oaks and Vinery Stud S.

He continued, “There's a nice bit of Acclamation about her and she looks like she might be quite a forward Frankel. We loved the pedigree and thought she represented good value. I was underbidder for different clients on the Kingman and the Night Of Thunder. It's a really strong market.”

A bidding tussle between Tina Rau and Ronald Rauscher saw the latter come out on top for Haras de l'Hotellerie's filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) out of the listed winner Imagery (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) (lot 44) at €250,000.

A pedigree with roots in Gestut Schlenderhan, which includes three black-type half-siblings for the yearling, and another four of the same for her dam, was enough to persuade Rauscher's client, one of Germany's leading breeders, to purchase the filly with her future broodmare career in mind.

“She's been bought for my main partner, Christoph Berglar,” Rauscher confirmed. “He loves Sea The Stars and he loves that Schlenderhan family, and there's Monsun in there. She's very nice, I liked her a lot.”

Guillaume Garcon of Haras de l'Hotellerie offered the filly on behalf of her breeder Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals of Yeguada Centurion, who bought Imagery at Tattersalls four years ago for 95,000gns. The mare also has a colt foal by Sea The Stars.

A good day continued for the Hotellerie team when the Bated Breath (GB) half-sister to Group 3 winner Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) sold for €130,000 to Stall Salzburg. Extra black type has been provided for their dam Noble Pensee (Fr) (Orpen) by her 3-year-old listed-placed daughter Noble Star (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), while Noble Heidi, now four, added the Listed Baden-Baden Cup to her tally of victories on Wednesday. The granddam of lot 151, Turning Leaf (Ire) (Last Tycoon) was placed in the G2 German 1,000 Guineas.

Franco-Irish Alliance for Le Havre Filly

One of the 'talking horses' of the sale was the sole yearling by the late Le Havre (Ire), who, catalogued as lot 61, was offered by Stauffenberg Bloodstock on behalf of her breeder Gestut Honyhof. The flashy chestnut is a granddaughter of the G1 Preis der Diana winner Salve Regina (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), who was also runner up in the Deutsches Derby, a race also won by her full-brothers Samum (Ger) and Schiaparelli (Ger). More recently, the family has been boosted by the yearling's Group 3-winning half-brother Sea Of Sands (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who triumphed in the Derby-Trial and is one of five winners for their dam Salve Haya (Ire) (Peintre Celebre).

The well-established partnership of Ireland's Ballylinch Stud and France's Ecurie des Charmes had the final say for the filly at €205,000, with Ghislain Bozo signing the docket in the company of John O'Connor.

“She was a really nice filly, we think Le Havre is a plus as well and it's a very nice staying family, a very strong German family,” Bozo said. “She's a lovely mover and well-balanced, the type of physique we like, and should be a lovely broodmare in the future. She may go to Ballylinch first, they have a really lovely pre-training facility.”

Bozo had earlier signed for Gestut Hof Ittlingen's colt by the late Lord Of England (Ger) at €180,000. Bought for an undisclosed client, lot 47 is a half-brother to Loft (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), winner of the GII Belmont Gold Cup S. in America as well as the G2 Oleander-Rennen is his home country. The pair emanate from Hof Ittlingen's signature family of the homebred champion Lando (Ger), whose seven Group 1 wins included the Japan Cup, and who is a brother to the colt's granddam Laurella (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}).

Waldgeist Filly to Wohler

Gestut Ammerland's half-sister to Blue De Vega (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ger}) from the first crop of Arc winner Waldgeist (GB) (lot 79) is to be trained by Andreas Wohler for a “well-established French owner-breeder” after being signed for at €160,000 by Alexandra Saint Martin of ASM Bloodstock.

Unable to divulge the name of her client, the agent added, “She is a lovely filly with a great page and she has been bought as a broodmare prospect. She will be trained in Germany.”

The filly was the most expensive yearling of the day by Waldgeist, who was well represented at BBAG with eight of his yearlings sold for an average of €63,750.

Another of this year's freshman sires, Darley's Too Darn Hot (GB), featured just once in the catalogue but his yearling colt, who is a half-brother to the German champion 3-year-old sprinter Namos (GB) (Medicean {GB}), found favour with breeze-up pinhooker Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud.

“He's a good, racy colt and I like the sire. I think he has a good chance,” said Whitehead, who has done well buying breezers from this sale in the past and paid €150,000 for lot 54 from breeder Gestut Brummerhof.

New Bay an Old Friend for Elliott

Alex Elliott is another regular visitor to BBAG and secured two six-figure lots on Friday, the first being lot 53, bought for the Chelsea Thoroughbreds syndicate  at €120,000.

The colt by New Bay (GB) is to be trained by Ralph Beckett, a stallion with whom Elliott and Beckett have enjoyed previous success courtesy of his first-crop son New Mandate (Ire), winner of the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. as well as a pair of listed races.

There was plenty to recommend the Ronald Rauscher- consigned colt beyond his sire, however, as he is out of Nightlight Angel (Manduro {Ger}), a winning three-parts-sister to Dr. Christoph Berglar's champion colt Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), a Group 1 winner in three different countries who is now at stud in Japan. The family has been given another major boost this season by the Irish Oaks victory of Novellist's half-sister Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Elliott also went to €165,000 for Haras de Grandcamp's Wootton Bassett (GB) half-brother to G3 Prix des Chenes winner Evasive's First (Fr) (Evasive), who was appropriately, consigned as lot 165.

Holger Faust of the HFTB Agency was the sale's busiest buyer, signing for 11 yearlings for a total of €568,000. The group included Intisar (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), who will race in the same Darius Racing colours as her sister, the G1 Preis der Diana runner-up Isfahani (Ger), and was bought from Gestut Karlshof for €120,000.

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“I didn't feel any pressure because we've had more expensive juveniles run this year and, if I felt pressure, it was because I felt she was the nicest we had,” Loughnane said. “I don't really feel pressure, we make an assessment of them and they have to go and prove it's right. They don't always, but she's done it tenfold. She's still a bit green and had to muscle her way out of a tricky spot. She hit the front, pricked her ears and didn't really do a lot. She took a fair bit of pulling up and it'll take a good one to beat her at [Royal] Ascot. I said the first day I sat on her she was a Royal Ascot filly and she's an Albany filly to me, all day long. She's out of a Galileo mare so she could be better over seven furlongs going forward, but Royal Ascot was what we had in mind and I think she's proved she's good enough.”

Queen Olly is the third of five foals and second scorer produced by a full-sister to GSW G1 Irish Derby and G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Balanchine S. second Butterscotch (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Her dam Surprisingly (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is also kin to MGSP sire Coach House (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), is a daughter of MG1SP distaffer Lesson In Humility (Ire) (Mujadil) and has a yearling filly by Calyx (GB) and a weanling colt by Into Mischief to come.

The filly was purchased for €300,000 at Goffs Orby by Alex Elliott/Ben McElroy for Amo Racing. “She was a very special filly from the get-go, from the moment I laid eyes on her. She had the have-to-have sticker on her,” said Elliott. “By No Nay Never out of a Galileo mare, and an exceptional physical. The reports from Day 1 have been very good, so let's hope it's the start of something special.”

Meet the latest @theTDN Rising Star. Queen Olly (No Nay Never, @coolmorestud) for @amoracingltd & @DaveLoughnane_. pic.twitter.com/CgeEEibObJ

— TDN (@theTDN) May 12, 2022

6th-York, £20,000, Mdn, 5-12, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.47, gd.
QUEEN OLLY (IRE), f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Surprisingly (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lesson In Humility (Ire), by Mujadil
3rd Dam: Vanity (Ire), by Thatching (Ire)
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,226. (€300,000 Ylg '21 GOFORB). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Diamond Creek Farm (IRE); T-David Loughnane. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Elliott, on George's behalf, purchased Lariat (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}) for 90,000gns out of trainer Andrew Balding's consignment at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale. Shortly after he arrived at George's yard, Lariat was allegedly declared unfit for National Hunt racing by a veterinarian. Lariat, who had no pre-purchase veterinary inspection or declaration of wind issue, was found to be suffering from laryngeal hemiplegia, a condition that restricts airflow. Tattersalls referred Lariat to an independent panel of vets who confirmed the laryngeal hemiplegia, but found that Lariat was not making abnormal breathing noises at exercise. Under Tattersalls terms and conditions, a horse is returnable if they exhibit whistling or roaring sounds.

Tattersalls Marketing Director Jimmy George said in a statement on Tuesday, “We are pleased that the Judge has ruled in favour of Tattersalls and upheld the integrity of our conditions of sale. Mr. George has aired his views regarding our terms and conditions and associated procedures. His views have been fully considered by the court during a three day trial and each and every defence raised by Mr George has been dismissed by the judge.

“Tattersalls' conditions of sale have always been carefully calibrated to strike a fair balance between the rights of purchasers and vendors and we are pleased that the court has upheld their validity and effect. It should be noted that the judge made specific reference to the published article on the 'Endoscopy of Horses' written by eminent equine vets Deirdre Carson and Sidney Ricketts which concluded that the methodology used by Tattersalls to adjudicate on wind disputes is 'the fairest environment for buyers and sellers.' The court has also found that Tattersalls correctly arbitrated a dispute between two parties with the assistance of its independent wind panel comprising three experienced vets who are all held in the highest regard by the equine veterinary community.”

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NEWMARKET, UK–Well, maybe these guys just don't have radios or newspapers. Maybe they haven't heard about the challenges at least affecting the domestic environment: chronic deficiencies in prizemoney, new volatility in the economic landscape. Or perhaps the international investors who might be relatively immune to such concerns have forced even the local market to new highs by putting such a squeeze into Books 1 and 2. Who knows? Just conceivably, this show of faith in our industry could yet prove the foundation for a sustainable bull run. Whatever the answer, roaring trade at the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls spilled into the next tier down on Thursday as the opening session of Book 3 maintained breathless momentum throughout.

Once again, trade dizzily eclipsed both the surprisingly resilient trade of the equivalent session last year and the very similar yields achieved in the boom times of 2019. In fact, turnover on day one very nearly matched historic expectations for aggregate business through both sessions.

With a virtually identical offering into the ring (273 against 270), a total of 7,268,800gns changed hands for 259 sold (a hectic clearance rate of 92.5%, itself up from a robust 87.8% last year). That represents a perfectly staggering 42.7%t leap on 5,092,700gns last year, and translated to an average of 28,065gns and median of 26,000gns—respectively up 30.6% and 62.5% from 21,488gns and 16,000gns (figures that stacked up against 21,805gns and 16,000gns in 2019).

Obviously there were still moments of disappointment, for individual vendors, but overall it was tougher going for those seeking a bargain. It's their work that always makes Book 3 such an instructive spectacle, with the makes and registrations in the car park as ever confirming that those who could not afford the obvious, in Books 1 and 2, were now ready to pit their wits against those complacent in deeper pockets.

But a parallel process also occurs among the vendors, and it was apt that the day's highest price should reward a punt made deep in the basement of the foal market last winter–albeit a Goliath of a pinhook was credited to a resolutely self-effacing David.

Its subject was a Ulysses (GB) colt discovered as a foal for just 4,000gns by David Hegarty (via Galley Flash BS) at the December Sale. Returned to the same ring as Lot 1451, he catapulted his value by a factor of nearly 40 when Matt Coleman signed a docket for 150,000gns.

No doubt the colt's cause had been assisted when older brother Gwan So (GB) outran his odds for third in the Listed Flying Childers S. last month. One way or another, anyhow, the word was certainly out, with a conspicuous crowd following the colt into the ring after his short journey from the Left Yard before falling into appreciative hush as the bidding soared.

Hegarty was reluctant to break that silence afterwards, leaving it to wife Geraldine to provide some modest background to their breakthrough success.

“David works full-time at Genesis Green and I work in a school,” she explained. “We live at Genesis, at the moment this is just a hobby, but it's something we eventually want to take further. This horse has been very straightforward, he's never given us a problem: he came into prep and just blossomed. David chose him, he loves a really good-walking horse and his walk just said it all.”

The couple's diffidence was redressed by Paul Thorman of Trickledown Stud, a grateful partner in the pinhook.

“I sent David a foal who looked a bit like a corkscrew and when it came back as a yearling it was still a corkscrew, but it looked unbelievable,” Thorman said. “I thought, 'Here's this lad paying buttons for foals and turning them out brilliantly but getting nowhere.' So I said to him that we would buy a few foals together. We've been relatively lucky, but mainly because David is seriously gifted, and he and Geraldine work like you wouldn't believe.

“This particular foal was in the Trickledown draft last year and he had gone through a rough patch, didn't look at his best, but both David and [Thorman's wife] Sara could see that there was scope there.”

But this kind of dividend they had “never imagined for a millisecond.”

“He didn't have a great hock as a foal, but that just got better and better,” Thorman reflected. “Gwan So is talented, and became a bit of a talking horse, so everything worked really. He turned into the most stunning horse and his full brother and Ulysses did everything they could to help him.

“I hope it gives David the scope to buy foals that are worth buying. Sara and I were lucky when we were starting off that we had people helping us, and I loved that. It's just one of those really good stories: the pair have been trying to buy a house, so I hope this will help get them there.”

Coleman, for his part, was acting in tandem with the absent Sean Clancy, whose client Bill Mathis recently celebrated success in the G3 Sirenia S. with Eve Lodge (GB) (Ardad {Ire})–herself recruited through Coleman after breaking her maiden before Royal Ascot. This colt will join her in the care of Charlie Fellowes.

“Bill was keen to try and buy a few yearlings,” Coleman explained. “He took a share in a couple of fillies, including one in Book 1, and we were trying to find a couple of colts as well. But we found Book 2 very strong, so thought we'd keep going here. And I just thought he was the best colt I saw here, he's very athletic.”

The page is full of Cheveley Park's red, white and blue, with a dam by farm stalwart Pivotal (GB) out of Group 1 winner Regal Rose (GB) (Danehill). Obviously Ulysses complements that with his Epsom Classic bloodlines, and Coleman remarked: “This colt is a light-framed, athletic, Galileo (Ire) type, and I could see him doing well here for Charlie and then going to the States.”

New Bay Typifies the New Dawn…

Joe Foley, flanked by Federico Barberini, stoked up the embers of the session when going to six figures for one of the final lots into the ring, and then gave his authoritative testimony to the eye-watering strength of the market.

“It has just been great trade since Doncaster, the best I have seen, all the way through, in years,” he declared, after signing a 100,000gns docket for a New Bay (GB) colt [1602] presented by Baroda Stud. “There has been a huge trade all season. Trade has been so heartening, and people making money, and it bodes well for the mare and foal sales. This sale has been the cherry on the top, and it's so heartening to see. Maybe people can really see the green shoots.”

Foley, who was acting for regular patron Clipper Logistics, had known that he would have to stretch for this China Horse Club-bred colt, whose dam is a Medaglia d'Oro half-sister to the prolific Canadian racemare Raylene (Tabasco Cat) from the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Ad Valorem (Danzig).

“He was the first horse I saw in Book 3, and I thought, 'Jesus he's a good one,'” he said. “We went back to see him this morning, the two of us, and loved him. In the outside ring he was just like a cat, and there were a few shrewdies hanging out the back so we came up here to the back stairs. There's a lot to like in the family, Ad Valorem is a champion 2-year-old in there, and he's from a top-class farm.”

The icing on the cake was a sire for whom Foley has deep regard.

“I bought a colt by him on Monday,” he said. “He's doing really well, the colt was impressive in Germany last Sunday and Sheila Lavery's colt also. We admired Bayside Boy (Ire) here last year, and this one reminded us of him.”

Another admirer of the Ballylinch stallion is Foley's compatriot Mags O'Toole, who gave 72,000gns shortly afterwards for his son consigned as Lot 1610 by Garranehill Stud. This was one of several fine pinhooks on the day, having been acquired at Goffs last November for just €16,000 by Tim Bourke, but it looks as though he is expected to maintain that steep curve of progress for a while yet.

Long And Winding Road Gets Gold Paving…

Barberini, having served as lieutenant in landing the New Bay, had earlier spent nearly as much on his own account for a colt out of a cosmopolitan mare in Storybook. Foaled in the UAE, during her sire Halling's sojourn in the desert, she has divided success both as a runner and producer either side of the Atlantic, and here wrote another chapter in her peripatetic tale with a yield of 92,000gns for her Havana Gold (Ire) colt offered by Lodge Park Stud [1492]. And it augurs well for a profitable sequel that this specimen was able to satisfy a judge as discerning as Barberini.

Storybook was acquired at the Keeneland November Sale three years ago for just $50,000, despite having contributed a couple of stakes performers to a strong family. Subsequently her final Kentucky foal turned out to be the graded stakes-placed Get On The Bus (Uncle Mo), while the Declaration of War colt she was carrying on reaching Lodge Park is Chicago Soldier, who has achieved a rating of 91 in his first campaign for Johnny Murtagh.

“I went to Havana Gold because as a good physical match,” said Burns. “And I also thought that he might have a good year coming up. This is a very professional horse with a lovely temperament. I put him in Book 3 to stand out, and he did.”

Barberini could not disclose his client and no trainer will be chosen until the colt is broken in, but the odds are that he will find himself in Newmarket.

“He's a smashing horse by a sire who has done incredibly well this season,” the agent said. “He's a real 2-year-old type, a great mover with lots of athleticism. There are no certainties in this game, but the mare has already done it a few times, and the sire has done very well with his first crop: to me it made a lot of sense.

“The market has been tough all week, and the previous week too. But I think, overall, this horse is not expensive. At this price he sticks out a bit in Book 3, but he would not have been out of place in Book 2. And obviously he comes from a very good nursery.”

Dutfield Pinhool Produces Timely Harvest…

By the time they reach Book 3, prospectors tend to have to compromise on something. But the highest price of the first hour's trade, 82,000gns, was paid by Richard Brown on the premise that the Havana Grey (GB) filly presented by Harry Dutfield [1330] had all bases covered. On the one hand, the Blandford agent considered her the type to be up and running before Ascot; on the other, she is underpinned by a transparent residual value, her dam being an unraced half-sister to Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Camacho (GB) (Danehill).

“She's for a client of David Simcock's who has a few mares, and the brief was to get a filly with a page,” Brown explained. “But we've been blown away looking for those the past two weeks! I'm delighted to get her, she looks a runner. We've been impressed with the Havana Greys we've seen so far, and this looks a very forward, sharp, mature filly. Obviously she's from a speedy Juddmonte family so I hope she'd be a fairly early sort.

“Harry does a superb job, he has presented her here looking amazing. I saw her again this morning at about 8 a.m. and she came out like a lion.”

Dutfield bought this filly from breeders Whitsbury Manor Stud in the same ring last December for 25,000gns, as a moonlighting project alongside his work for Hazelwood Bloodstock. And this payout could not be better timed.

“I bought my own farm two months ago, 20 acres just out by Thetford, and have bills everywhere!” he said. “I work as a stud hand, and she cost basically an annual salary for stud hand! So to come back here and do that, I am just relieved. The O'Briens are very nice people, they look after me so well: I really want to stress that, I'm so thankful to them.

“She presents herself, I just had to make sure I don't mess her up. She has a really good mind on her and has kept very fresh: I didn't lunge her this morning because she had a busy day yesterday and she came out today full of herself, ready for action.”

Brown remained active after nightfall, too, contributing to the buzz for Time Test (GB) this week when giving 72,000gns for a filly consigned by Mount Coote Stud, for a breeding partnership with Mark Dixon [1557]. She belongs to the venerable Bireme (GB) (Grundy {Ire}) family cultivated by Dixon's uncle Dick Hollingswoth.

“Gorgeous filly,” enthused Brown. “She looked amazingly sharp out there, a serious athlete, very light on her feet. I only saw her for the first time this morning, have seen her twice since, and had to get on the phone to find someone for her. And I have! She also comes from a very good farm, and that's a big part of the decision-making.”

Luke Lillingston, the worthy recipient of that compliment, has been a fan of Time Test from the outset and is already responsible for the sire's first Group 1 performer in Moyglare Stud S. third Sunset Shiraz (Ire).

Burrows Out In the Open…

One of the wonders of this market is the way it has filled a big Shadwell-shaped hole right in its middle, but there's no gainsaying the fact that the world is a very different place for the likes of Owen Burrows, who owed so much to the late Sheikh Hamdan.

Nonetheless, the Kingwood trainer is embracing the challenge of a public stable and was able to go to 77,000gns for a Dandy Man (Ire) filly consigned as Lot 1416 by her breeder Noelle Walsh's Knockananig Stud near Fermoy, Co. Cork–best known, to this point, for producing the hardy G1 Oaks runner-up Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear{Ire}).

“I bought a couple for Sheikh Ahmed in Book 2, but we were [also] after an early, sharp type, and were outbid on four of those,” Burrows said. “We thought she fitted the bill perfectly: she looks all speed, and very strong. Hopefully, she will be an April or May 2-year-old and we can have a bit of early action.

“We've got a couple of nice horses for midsummer, that I was very pleased to get in Book 2, and then hopefully some homebreds to come, though they usually take a bit of time.”

Nonetheless Burrows has had to adjust his sights when it came to the yearling sales this time round.

“Massively,” he admitted. “Normally I'm fortunate that Angus [Gold, the Sheikh's long-serving racing manager] does all the work! There's a bit more legwork now, but I don't mind that at all, other than having to be away from the yard. I had to drive back on Tuesday night to breeze Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) next morning and then drove straight back here. These Newmarket trainers don't know how lucky they are!”

Minzaal, a 140,000gns Book 2 graduate in 2019, lines up for the G1 QIPCO British Champions' Sprint on Saturday after an auspicious return at the same track a couple of weeks ago. He won the G2 Gimcrack S. as a juvenile and also made the podium in the G1 Middle Park S.

“I was thrilled with his comeback run and he breezed very well yesterday,” Burrows said. “There's always that worry that they can bounce, after coming back from a whole year off, and there's a full field of 20. But I think that shows what an open year it is. He should have a sporting chance.”

Elliott Lands His Ulysses…

The role of the sire in the fairytale of the day should not be forgotten, and underbidder Alex Elliott sounded more than satisfied to acquire another of his sons for a little under half the cost of the day's top lot when giving 70,000gns for Lot 1522, consigned by Churchtown House Stud.

“To be honest, I couldn't really split them physically,” the agent admitted. “But the recent update for the other one made him a bit more expensive. I think Ulysses had a lot of speed, for a Galileo out of an Oaks winner, and in the six- or seven-furlong maidens he's really starting to stand out. And they can only do better next year.

“This one will go to Grant Tuer for a new partnership, a couple of pals of mine. Grant supported me a few years ago and it's nice to give him a bit back. He's an exceptional trainer, if you look at his stats he's right up there.”

True enough: from 199 runners so far this year, Tuer has had 44 winners.

Despite the frantic competition, Elliott had managed to corral 25 yearlings through the first two books for a diverse clientele at home and abroad, and remained busy throughout this session too.

One key group, he stresses, are the traders. “They recognise that we have the best product in the world, one that people will always want,” he reasoned. “If we can get good money, then we will move them on. I think it's very important, with prizemoney the way it is, if you can get people to have that mentality, and that's why a lot of people are buying horses.

“That's not good in the long term, though, and we need to sort it out. As John Gosden and others keep saying, if this is strong when we're racing for rosettes, imagine what it could be like if we were racing for good money. They're running $120,000 maidens at Churchill Downs, and what are we running for?”

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A shade over €3-million was added to the coffers on Friday when 150 of the 162 yearlings offered sold, bringing the two-day aggregate to €6,967,300. The cumulative average jumped 41% to €20,674, while the cumulative median rose 45% to €16,000. Last year at Doncaster, 67.7% of the offerings sold for an aggregate of £2,468,900, an average of £13,345 and a median of £10,000. The sale was up, too, on the 2019 renewal, the last time it was staged at Kildare Paddocks and before the pandemic hit: that year, 283 were sold for €4,854,900, at an average of €17,155 and a median of €13,000.

British-based agent Alex Elliott and American-based agent Ben McElroy were active at both Orby and Sportsman's, and they were the purchasers of Friday's most expensive lot, lot 719, a €100,000 colt by Belardo (Ire) who is bound for the U.S.

“He's going to Wesley Ward and the aim will be Royal Ascot so expect to see him at Keeneland next April,” said Elliott. The first foal out of the winning Tough Spirit (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) was offered by his breeder Denis McDonnell's Parkway Farm. McDonnell had purchased Tough Spirit carrying this colt for €40,000 at Goffs November in 2019.

The strength of the sale continued through to the very end, with the third-last lot through the ring commanding the session's second-highest price of €95,000. That was lot 854, a colt by Galileo Gold (Ire) from Vinesgrove Stud, and he was bought by Peter Nolan Bloodstock with trainer Noel Meade. Nolan outbid Tally-Ho Stud, which stands the young Group 1 sire Galileo Gold.

“We thought he was the outstanding horse of the day but we didn't intend giving that for him,” Nolan admitted. “We took on Tony O'Callaghan so we knew we were in the right ballpark then. He's a beautiful horse and the second one by the sire we have bought this year and we love him. He's for an existing owner in Noel's and hopefully he'll be lucky.”

All horses sold through the Sportsman's Sale were eligible for the 2022 €100,000 Goffs Sportsman's Challenge, which will be run at Naas over six furlongs in September, and that is the race trainer Johnny Murtagh is targeting for lot 831, a New Bay (GB) colt he picked up on behalf of Tony Smurfit for €75,000. The colt is a half-brother to two listed-placed horses, including this year's Coral Distaff and Flying Fillies' S. third Glesga Gal (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

“He is a brother to a good horse and we are excited by him,” Murtagh said. “He looks a sharp 2-year-old type and one we will aim at the Sportsman's Challenge race. He comes from a good farm and we are very happy with the horses we have bought here this week.”

Upon conclusion of the Sportsman's Sale, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “And it rolled on. We are delighted that the Sportsman's Sale continued the vibrancy and tone of the Orby Sale with two days of strong, vibrant and lively trade. Once again we are indebted to our vendors who backed the sale with a really good commercial catalogue and were rewarded by a huge crowd of potential purchasers hungry to buy from start to finish. They were attracted by the individuals, the addition of the €100,000 Sportsman's Challenge and the added bonus of the superb new IRE Incentive Scheme that provided €10,000 vouchers only redeemable at Irish yearling sales to the winners of a bunch of races throughout the season. This excellent initiative has made a major impact and encouraged trainers in particular to engage with the Sportsman's Sale which is to the benefit of Irish breeders who chose the second part of The Irish National Yearling Sale for their yearlings.

“Once again this week has clearly demonstrated that Goffs can and will provide a vibrant market for every level of yearling from the blue bloods at the top across the spectrum to the sharp commercial types often referred to as 'trainers' yearlings.' Of course, Orby was headed by the millionaires but it is equally pleasing to see Sportsman's topped by a trio of six figure lots which drove the huge rises in each statistic. We are grateful to every vendor and each purchaser and have been so pleased to welcome new faces here for the Sportsman's Sale to join those who stayed after Orby. All of them have been enticed by the Purchaser Attraction Team at Goffs, our network of international agents and the proactive team at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. These three groups combine sale after sale in a way that is quite unique and ensures that our clients are able to conduct their business in the most customer friendly sales complex whilst enjoying the kind of welcome that can only be found in Ireland.”

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Ross Doyle said, “He's a young sire going places, by a top sire in Dubawi out of a well bred Dansili (GB) mare which we love. He's been very well supported in recent years and very well managed by Tim Lane and the team at the National Stud. We have bought it for a client who will support him with some very nice mares.”

“It's a great result and a true reflection on his success to date,” said The National Stud's Head of Nominations and Sales Joe Callan. “The Tattersalls Online platform offered an excellent opportunity for a breeding right to be offered on the back of Time Test's recent outstanding results.”

The second highest price on the day was 35,000gns for a breeding right in proven Group 1 stallion Havana Gold (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 32), who stands at Tweenhills. Haras du Mont Dit Mont purchased the breeding right in the sire of G1 Flying Five S. victor Havana Grey (GB).

Sophomore filly Espouse (Ire) (Elusive Pimpernel) was snapped up for 32,000gns by agent Alex Elliott, who was bidding from America. A winner in five starts, the bay is a half-sister to the placed juvenile filly Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir), while her dam Sea of Dreams (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB]) is a half-sister to group winners Pincheck (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Valeria Messalina (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

“My mother part owns the 2-year-old half-sister Azure Blue who was very unlucky on her most recent start and we hope could be stakes class,” said Elliott. “She's a filly from a young family that I like a lot who had plenty of ability so I'm excited to have bought her.”

Patrick Cooper, representing Simmonstown Stud, said of lot 9, “We had a great sale. It was all very easy and for the lower end of the market, online is probably the way forward.”

Overall, 11 lots sold from 25 offered for a gross of 188,200gns. The average was 17,109gns and the median settled at 9,000gns.

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