Breeding Rights To Ardad And Time Test For Sale

Breeding rights to British-based first-season sires Ardad (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will be offered via Tattersalls' online platform on Nov. 5. The bidding will open at 10am for two hours.

Ardad, the sire of 21 individual winners from a first crop that includes the dual Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) and Group 3 winner Eve Lodge (GB), covered 150 mares at Overbury Stud this season. 

Time Test, who stands at the National Stud, has also made a promising start to his stud career and has the Group 3 winners Romantic Time (GB) and Rocchigiani (GB) among his first crop which has thus far yielded 11 winners. 

The post Breeding Rights To Ardad And Time Test For Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tattersalls October Strong To The End

A fortnight of selling at Park Paddocks came to a close on Saturday with an abbreviated, single-session Book 4 bringing the curtain down on the 2021 edition of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. From 98 yearlings catalogued, 74 went through the ring, with the 46 sold adding 184,200gns to the coffers. Topping trade was Throckmorton Stud's Ardad (GB) filly (lot 2004) who was the choice of Con Marnane at 18,000gns.

While Book 4 featured a much more modest level of trade than that seen over the past two weeks, it nonetheless continued the trend of strong trade seen throughout the sale. It marked just the second time in seven years that the average exceeded 4,000gns (it was 4,004gns), and the median of 3,000gns was the session's highest since 2017.

Book 1 set a strong tone for the sale, its figures well clear of its 2020 pandemic-impacted edition, in particular the median of 160,000gns, which was the highest at Book 1 since 2018 and third-highest ever. The continued strength of the middle market was on display at Books 2 and 3; Book 2 set records for aggregate, average and median and surpassed a turnover of 50-million guineas for the first time. Book 3 likewise set records across the board by a long way.

At the conclusion of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was hailed as a story of remarkable resilience in the face of uniquely challenging circumstances. This year it should be hailed for the sustained demand from start to finish at all levels of the market.

“We work hard to attract international buyers every year and the overseas contingent, most notably from America, Australia and throughout the Gulf region, has made a huge contribution throughout the past two weeks, but without doubt the most encouraging feature of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been the domestic British and Irish demand which has been a revelation.

“Book 1 set the ball rolling with a show of strength that saw significant gains in all of the key indicators and gave a hint of things to come with a record number of six figure transactions which demonstrated the depth and diversity amongst the buyers. Books 2 and 3 followed suit with unrelenting competition amongst extraordinary numbers of buyers and records for turnover, average and median which can only inspire confidence for the industry going forward. Similar to Book 1, the number of yearlings at Book 2 selling for 100,000 guineas or more was unprecedented, as was the number of yearlings reaching the 50,000 guineas mark in Book 3.

“We have a magnificent product and the last two weeks at Tattersalls have showcased so many of Europe's finest yearlings to a global audience. The consignors and breeders have shown huge faith in the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and they have been spectacularly rewarded. Park Paddocks has been teeming with life over the last two weeks and after the ordeals of the past 18 months it has been a real pleasure to see the sales grounds, the bars and the restaurants alive with activity again, reinforcing Newmarket's status as the hub of the European Thoroughbred industry.

“We now have an Autumn Horses in Training Sale of real quality to look forward to, followed by exciting catalogues for both the December Foals and Mares Sales and after the success of the past two weeks we can approach the remainder of the 2021 season at Tattersalls with a degree of optimism.”

The post Tattersalls October Strong To The End appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tattersalls Book 3 Concludes On Record Note

NEWMARKET, UK–The trickledown effect can perhaps be viewed as more of a flood this past fortnight at Tattersalls with unusually strong trade for each book of yearlings helping its successor to similarly eye-catching gains. 

And so it was with Book 3, which just about equalled last year's figures in one single day following a bullish session on Thursday. Trade dropped another notch during the graded second session but its own returns were still way in advance of the corresponding day last year and helped to create record figures for Book 3.

A final-day aggregate of 3,324,350 gns pushed the Book 3 total to 10,593,150gns, which was more than 3 million gns beyond last year's total with just 12 more horses being sold this time around. Over the two days, 471 yearlings changed hands, bringing a fractionally improved clearance rate of 86%. 

Significant gains were made in both the median and average, with the former being up 64% at 18,000gns, while the average of 22,49gns represented a rise of 40%.

Passing The Test

The British sire ranks have been given a major boost this season with some notable success for first-season sires Ardad (Ire), Time Test (GB) and Ulysses (Ire) in particular, and those results on the track have been reflected in the ring through Books 2 and 3.

While a pinhooked Ulysses colt topped the first day of Book 3 at 150,000gns, it was Nicky Welby's Time Test colt from the family of Bill Gredley's outstanding racemare User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}) who headed the final day, selling for 95,000gns to Montgomery Motto. The son of the unraced Shamardal mare Purest (GB) was consigned for the breeder by Whatton Manor Stud.

“All of the credit must go to Nicky,” said Whatton Manor's Ed Player. “She hasn't had the easiest time as her head man was injured but Nicky and her team have done a great job and the colt turned up here looking fantastic and just tucked straight into his hay.”

Welby, who is based in Sussex and owns six mares, explained, “We bought Purest as a companion really. We had bought Western Pearl as a yearling, raced her with William Knight and were incredibly lucky as she got black type. We thought we might as well have her at home and breed from her, and we bought Purest to run with her when she was carrying her first foal by Delegator.”

The 12-year-old mare is already the dam of two winners, including the multiple scorer Lory Di Tony (GB), and she is back in foal to that filly's sire Adaay (Ire).

A former trainer at Calder, Florida, Motto is assembling a team of horses to race in Ireland. He said of his purchase (lot 1745), “This is one of the best athletes I've seen here and he has a lovely temperament to match. It's hard to go wrong with a Shamardal mare and she has produced a useful runner abroad. I went a bit higher than planned, but the money nearly always finds the horse. He will go to Richard Brabazon for breaking and we will make plans from there.”

Time Test had 15 second-crop yearlings sold through Book 3 for an average of 39,667gns from a covering fee of £8,500.

More Power To Fahey 

Overbury Stud's Ardad has also been punching high this year, with the G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Prix Morny winner Perfect Power (Ire) as his foremost flagbearer, and the stallion's leading player in Book 3 will be going to the same trainer, Richard Fahey, after Robin O'Ryan outbid Nancy Sexton at 85,0000gns.

Sold as lot 1723 by Peter Balding of Throckmorton Court Stud, who bred the colt in partnership with Lady Whent, he is out of the treble winner Night Affair (GB), a Bold Edge (GB) half-sister to the top sprinter and young stallion Twilight Son (GB).

O'Ryan was acting on behalf of owner Steve Bradley, who was standing with him in the gangway and said after signing the ticket, “I think the breeze-up boys were in competition with us. This colt looks a nice early type, these boys recommended him, there is Twilight Son on the page, hopefully he is lucky for us.”

O'Ryan added, “The sire is doing so well. I bought three Ardads last year and they have all won.”

Giving an update on Fahey's stable star Perfect Power, he said, “He is absolutely fine and is on holiday now and we will probably run him in one of the Classic trials next spring. That will tell us whether he will stay the Guineas trip. He is a relaxed horse so he has every chance.”

Ardad also brought a good result close to home for the team at Overbury Stud, which consigned lot 1738, who was bred and led up by the stud's assistant stud groom Kirsty Windsor. 

The filly is the only foal of Polymnia (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), who was given to Windsor by stud manager Simon Sweeting when the mare proved tricky to get in foal. She eventually went in foal to Ardad but sadly died after producing her only daughter in April last year. The mare was out of a winning Key Of Luck half-sister to the 1000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern (Ire).

“She lived in my field and then came to Overbury, and I have to thank Simon for helping me out. She's been so easy to do. She has a great temperament and just eats and sleeps,” said Windsor after the dark brown filly sold for 37,000gns to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock.

New Boys Star

Emma Foley and Damian Flynn of Redgate Bloodstock started the week well with all three of their yearlings sold for decent sums at Book 2 and that success rolled over into Book 3, with another three sold. That trio included one of the early leaders, a filly by Coolmore's first-crop sire Sioux Nation, who was bought by Federico Barberini for 50,000gns on behalf of Clipper Logistics. 

“We were all here yesterday and saw her a few times and I've bought her with Joe Foley for Clipper,” said the agent. “She is out of a mare who has already produced a good winner and is from a good farm. Damian and Emma Flynn do a great job.”

Out of the winning Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) mare Gregoria (Ire), lot 1644 is a half-sister to the 93-rated To Glory (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), who was twice a winner this year in Ireland for Ger Lyons before being sold to race on in Hong Kong.

Sioux Nation's nine yearlings to sell at Book 3 returned an average of 32,333gns. 

The first European yearlings of Tweeenhills resident Zoustar (Aus) have also been popular at Tattersalls over the last fortnight and his Book 3 offerings included two fillies from Andrew Black's Chasemore Farm, both of whom are out of mares by Red Clubs (Ire) and featured among the leading lots on the days. 

A daughter of the listed-placed The Gold Cheongsam (Ire), catalogued as lot 1812, will be going into training with Mark Loughnane, having been bought for 50,000gns. She is a half-sister to the 2-year-old Qipao (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who is trained for Andrew Black by Mark Johnston and won her first two races this season before running fourth in the listed Star S. 

Bloodstock agent Hamish Macauley was also in pursuit of a Zoustar yearling on behalf of Tally-Ho Stud, with the team there planning to breeze lot 1759 after Macauley was the successful bidder at 77,000gns. Also from Chasemore, the filly is a half-sister to three winners and is out of the G3 Firth of Clyde S. victrix Roger Sez (Ire).

The final single session of Book 4 will conclude the Tattersall October Yearling Sale, starting from 10am on Saturday.

The post Tattersalls Book 3 Concludes On Record Note appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Record Book Two Ends With No Half Measures

NEWMARKET, UK–On both sides of the Atlantic, the yearling sector in 2021 has shown an especially heartening vigour in the middle market–and you can't get much closer to its centre of gravity, on this side of the water, than Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls.

Despite losing the stimulus of Shadwell, which last year corralled 36 lots from this auction for 5,327,000gns, Wednesday's third and final session rounded off a quite astonishing performance overall.

Never mind its giddy elevation on last year's sale, which had itself rallied so much better than many feared after a seismic shock to the global economy. This time round Book 2 surpassed even the 2019 edition, which had achieved record turnover of 48,499,000gns for an average 78,224gns and median 55,500gns. Despite the obvious challenges of the domestic environment, notably chronic prizemoney issues and a volatile outlook in the broader economy, turnover soared to 54,512,000gns (up 13% on 48,362,500gns) for an average 83,865gns–up 10% on 75,992gns last year–and a median of 62,000gns, up fully 24% on 50,000gns. The clearance rate climbed in tandem to 88% from 85%.

Given how many sales, over the years, have ended with grumbles about “polarisation”–alleging a vacuum between the elite and bargain ends of the spectrum–such giddy trade through this middle tier appears particularly auspicious. Doubtless many factors remain to be analysed, once the dust settles, but Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony was rightly exultant over the final indices.

“At the end of Book 1 last week, we referenced the depth and diversity of the demand,” he said. “And the momentum established there has been very much sustained throughout a record-breaking Book 2.

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

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

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

That catalogue opens on Thursday at 10 a.m.

All Power To Ballyvolane As Pinhook Passes Test

It felt like no coincidence that the author of one of the touches of the sale should also have placed it so aptly in context. For true horsemanship serves perspective, as well as profit.

“It's amazing to get a result like this, as we all work hard,” said John Foley after watching a Time Test colt (lot 1193), pinhooked for 56,000gns in the same ring last December, catapult his value to 400,000gns. “This is a very tough business, and there are more hard days than good days. We have great help at home. Donnacha Higgins gives me a hand with the yearlings, and my dad, who's 77, mucks out six or seven boxes every day. We have great staff with us here, too. Everyone is doing their best. It makes a huge difference when you have people who want it to do well, so when it works out it is great.”

It worked out here, all right, in quite spectacular fashion. Foley reckoned that the star of his Ballyvolane Stud draft had secured as many as 20 vettings, with Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald ultimately seeing off the challenge of trainer Richard Hughes on behalf of King Power Racing. This was by a distance his sire's top price to date.

“But expectations are the biggest killer for stallions,” Foley said. “The slow burners are the best. Time Test is doing really well, his stats are very good. We were taking a gamble, but sons of Dubawi have done very well and this colt was very well prepared by the National Stud. He was the sire's dearest foal and there were reasons for that, but then he just kept improving. He's a 'wow' horse: such attitude and presence. Plenty of people told us that he was as nice a horse as there was in the sale. I do think he's special, the best yearling I ever had in 17, 18 years at it. He's obviously gone to a top firm and hopefully he becomes what we think he is.”

It is some tribute to Time Test that his son should have suddenly exalted the commercial prowess of a 20-year-old mare, Aurelia (GB) (Rainbow Quest), whose overall sales record has hitherto been relatively ordinary–despite producing Harlequeen (GB) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) to make the Oaks podium at both Epsom and The Curragh. (And actually both the third and fourth dams also produced a daughter to finish second in the Epsom Classic.)

Though Foley is well established at his Co Limerick farm, this was a new pinhooking venture with a couple of friends. “We knew that this lad would be a fair throw as a foal,” he explained. “So if he didn't work out, we thought with three of us involved the pain wouldn't be too much. Now we'll go back to the foal sales and try it all over again.”

Donald, conversely, had put all his eggs in one basket. “He was my favourite horse of the week,” he explained. “Of a list of four that we put together, we decided to skip three and hold out for him. But it was a gamble worth taking. He's a beautiful horse, the stallion's on fire and the mare has produced a third in the Oaks. He's a proper Classic type.”

Residue Counts At The End Of The Day

A frantic closing hour heightened a sense that plenty of prospectors had been thwarted by the sheer intensity of demand. But the copper-bottomed residual value of lot 1279 would have stood out at any point over the previous two days.

The Zoffany (Ire) filly is out of Curtsy (Ire), a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to the dam of Mishriff (Ire), who bids to enhance a glittering CV at Ascot on Saturday; and their group-winning mother is a half-sister to Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB), i.e. also out of the great Rafha (GB). So while Curtsy could not advance her rating past 59 in a barren career, she does have a most aristocratic pedigree and Kilcarn Park were alert in picking her up for 95,000gns with an Almanzor (Fr) cover at the 2018 December Sale.

The resulting filly nearly retrieved that entire outlay in Book 2 last year, and here her sibling brought no less than 350,000gns from Thady Gosden, lurking in the stairwell alongside his father John–two gentlemen, of course, intimately acquainted with the merit of Mishriff.

“She's a very good-moving filly, there's plenty of scope and class about her,” said Gosden Jr. “Obviously it's very much the happening pedigree at the moment, one we know a bit about: it would be nice if she can be the same as Mishriff on the track. She's for a new client, and hopefully will do well for them.”

Patrick Cosgrove of Kilcarn Park was ecstatic that their sole entry in the sale had so rewarded their investment in the mare.

“Mishriff wasn't on the page when we bought her, so it's been great watching him since,” he said. “She was just a nice mare, by Galileo of course, and came within our budget. We're not the sort that can pay 200,000gns or 300,000gns. We thought we'd use a proven sire, after Almanzor, and to come back here after being happy with the price we got for that filly last year. We knew this one was popular, but if she'd made half that we would have been extremely happy.”

The mare is now in foal to Make Believe (GB) and has a colt foal by Bated Breath (GB).

Just minutes later precisely the same sum was paid by Matt Coleman, on behalf of an unnamed client of absent colleague Anthony Stroud, for a glistening Wootton Bassett (GB) filly [lot 1285] consigned by that stallion's former farm, Haras D'Etreham. This full sister to seasoned stakes operator Dave (Fr) was sold to Canirola Bloodstock for €120,000 at Arqana last December, and that bold roll of the dice has now paid off very handsomely.

“She's just a great-moving filly and we thought her pretty much the filly of the sale,” Coleman said. “We bought [Breeders' Cup winner] Audarya (Fr), so Wootton Bassett fillies have been lucky for us, and obviously he's become a fantastic sire.”

Ribchester Touch Leaves Breeder Lost For Words

Ribchester (Ire) may be waiting for his first stakes winner but that won't concern anyone who remembers the way he thrived on racing; nor anyone who saw his knockout son consigned by Barton Stud as lot 1099. Mick Kinane finally gained the day on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club at 350,000gns, a price that caused breeder Tim Bostwick of Biddestone Stud to check an impulse to express himself more colourfully when asked for his reaction.

“I'm shocked,” he admitted, settling for a more decorous formula. “He is a cracking colt, and I still have lots of faith in the stallion, but that was much better than we could have expected.”

Ribchester is actually maintaining a perfectly healthy median for his second crop, barely down on his first, and that was the case even before factoring in this son of Vitello (GB) (Raven's Pass), whose second foal Andreas Vesalius (Ire) (Caravaggio) was runner-up in the G2 Anglesey S. this summer. The mare was culled by Godolphin as a 3-year-old for €55,000 at Goffs November five years ago.

“Once again I have to pay credit to Tom Blain and his team at Barton Stud,” Bostwick added. “All our mares board there, they just do such a fantastic job. Unfortunately the mare is barren this year, but she has a really nice Ten Sovereigns at foot. I believe Andreas Vesalius has been purchased to go to Hong Kong, which doubtless attracted these guys.”

“He was a standout for us,” affirmed Kinane. “He is a gorgeous horse–but that is a gorgeous price, too.”

McElroy Goes Out In Style

Touring the European yearling sales has become a pivotal exercise in the career of Ben McElroy, who rounded off this year's raid by winning a purposeful exchange for one of the morning's very first lots–and, judging from his comments afterwards, the last shall be pretty close to first when he debriefs his clients back in the U.S. on the best value among his 2021 exports.

After signing a 285,000gns docket for a Kodiac (GB) colt presented by Croom House Stud as lot 1049, the agent admitted: “I was worried what he might cost, I could see him making 400,000gns or 500,000gns just as easily. For me, he's the best colt in the sale–if not maybe the best horse I've seen since I have been over here. That's my quintessential horse, right there: a great mover, plenty of scope, and I loved the way he behaved out the back. I'm delighted to get him, I really think he's special.”

McElroy's affinity to the sire was of course sealed by his discovery of dual Royal Ascot winner Campanelle (Ire) in Book I two years ago for 190,000gns, and he had gone to 340,000gns for a Kodiac filly (lot 961) the previous evening.

This April colt is out of a half-sister to G2 Norfolk S. winner Baitha Alga (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) but McElroy hopes that a second dam by Fantastic Light might draw out a little stamina, too, while the fourth dam is the significant runner and producer Icing (Ire) (Prince Tenderfoot).

If At First You Don't Succeed…

Ed Sackville had a fairly intense few minutes in the early afternoon when venturing past 200,000gns for consecutive lots. Having ultimately been seen off by a bid of 220,000gns from Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock for a Frankel filly consigned as lot 1148 by Hazelwood Bloodstock, he was not going to be thwarted for the next into the ring and, signing jointly with Dermot Farrington, secured a No Nay Never colt (lot 1149) from Camas Park Stud for 260,000gns. He was bought for Fitri Hay, who has yet to decide a trainer.

“He's a very strong colt who looked a real 2-year-old,” the agent reasoned. “And obviously he's by an outstanding stallion who just gets better and better.”

Camas Park helped to get No Nay Never started as co-breeder of his flagship son Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Timmy Hyde Sr. is delighted that his fidelity to the stallion is continuing to pay off. The previous day Camas Park had sold another No Nay Never colt (lot 944) for 450,000gns, while a third brought 180,000gns as lot 1200.

The one secured by Sackville is out of Aljaazya, an unraced daughter of Speightstown and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Matiya (Ire) (Alzao), who has already produced a stakes performer in Magical Journey (Ire). She is back in foal to that filly's sire Night Of Thunder (Ire).

“We have had a good run with him,” Hyde said of No Nay Never. “He looks like being a top stallion, doesn't he, with a Classic winner and everything else. This colt was fairly typical of the others we've had: very well-made horses with powerful backsides on them. And he looks particularly fast.”

As for the Frankel filly that eluded Sackville, her price obviously had to be placed in the context of a £175,000 covering fee. The mare who had warranted that kind of investment was Alderry (SAf), a group winner in her native land and responsible for G1 South African Derby winner Al Sahem (SAf) as her first foal.

“I respect the South African mares,” Boman said. “I've done a lot of research on them and think they're undervalued. And I thought this an outstanding filly, Book 1 quality to look at: with a European pedigree I think she would have been a 600,000-700,000gns filly. And Frankel is almost turning into a better stallion than he was a racehorse, dare I say.”

Yeomanstown's Sharp Eye Pays Off Again

Just minutes after Time Test produced his breakout headliner, another young stallion registered his best yearling dividend to date, a filly [lot 1203] by rookie sensation Ardad (Ire) consigned by Norris Bloodstock realizing 190,000gns from Manor House Stud. Bred by the Countess of Rothes, she is the first foal of Be My Angel (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a winner in a light career for Henry Candy.

The challenge for Ardad now is to slipstream the kind of consolidation achieved by the prolific Mehmas (Ire), whose son [lot 1236] out of C'Est Ma Soeur (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) achieved a wonderful transformation at 250,000gns, having been knocked down to Yeomanstown Stud for just 38,000gns when brought here from Kingsfield Stud last December. Characteristically astute business by Yeomanstown, that; and likewise the conspicuous branding of speed.

Certainly it was unsurprising to hear what had drawn purchaser Donnacha O'Brien to this colt. “He looks the type to be out early,” said the young trainer, who was representing patrons Atlantic Bloodstock. “He's a beautiful strong horse, a real 2-year-old, and Mehmas has had a great season.”

Third dam Palacegate Episode (Ire) was herself a prolific operator in Group sprints, and is granddam of the top-class juvenile Dutch Art (GB).

David O'Callaghan of Yeomanstown Stud said: “He's a belter, big and strong, a powerful mover with a great action and by a top-class stallion. When we bought him we thought he'd make a lot more, and he sold well today.”

Yeomanstown is getting aboard the Mehmas express with Supremacy (Ire), whose disappointing second campaign won't inhibit the commercial appeal of his scores in the G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Richmond S. last year. “He has an unbelievable temperament,” O'Callaghan said. “It's great to get a Group 1 winner back on the farm, the first since Dark Angel (Ire) joined us in 2007.”

Stewart Keeps Filly For His Collection

Shamardal mares will doubtless be at their usual premium at the December Sale, so it stands to reason that one of a diminishing number of his remaining fillies to come onto the market should make 210,000gns as lot 1165.

Having secured the Giant's Causeway line so early in his own sire's career, Shamardal died in April 2020 after covering 31 mares in his final spring. And this member of his penultimate crop would arguably be worth her price as a breeding prospect even if she happens to fail on the track–a remote contingency, given that she is heading across town to the peerless James Fanshawe. For her family tapers into undiluted quality: her granddam is a half-sister to Danehill's multiple Grade I-Group 1 winners Artiste Royal (Ire) and Aquarelliste (Fr), their dam in turn placed in two Classics and a sibling to Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}).

No surprise, then, to discover that successful bidder Suzanne Roberts was operating for the filly's co-breeder Trevor Stewart, who was buying out his partners here. “Shamardal fillies are obviously a bit of a collectors' item at the moment,” Roberts observed. “And this is a sweet filly with good limbs.”

The filly was another credit to Ballyhimikin Stud, whose James Hanly paid due tribute to Helen and Dermot Jones and the “wonderful” team they have assembled.

“Some of the horses are owned by my wife and myself, but also we have a couple of partners who are also great friends and supporters,” Hanly said. “They've supported us through the bad times, of which there has been plenty–and we are always aware that they are never too far away. As long as we can get up in the morning and get around, then we're going well. If we can manage to sell a few horses as well, then that's great.”

And so, whatever the ups and downs of the market, say all of us.

The post Record Book Two Ends With No Half Measures appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights