Tag: BBA Ireland

MG1SW Alcohol Free Pops at 5.4M at Tattersalls December

Four-time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) reeled in a cool 5.4million guineas final bid from BBA Ireland to highlight Tuesday's second session of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in Newmarket. Out of the placed mare Plying (Hard Spun), she was consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables on behalf of Littleton Stud. A half-sister to listed winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the 4-year-old is responsible for annexing the G1 Sussex S., G1 July Cup, G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Coronation S.

 

 

 

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Over 5.5million Spent On Mares To Visit Lucky Vega At Goffs

The mammoth support of Lucky Vega (Ire) continued at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale when connections of the young stallion snapped up 19 mares to the tune of €5,625,000, headed by €790,000 purchase Aspiring, with the majority set to visit the Group 1-winning juvenile next year. 

Led by BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe, who did most of his bidding online, the Lucky Vega Syndicate were continuing their recruitment drive for mares to visit the Irish National Stud-based sire after similarly strong sales this year and last. 

Aspiring (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), an unraced half-sister to Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), was sold in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB). She is also a full-sister to Venice Beach (Ire) and Broadway (Ire).

He said, “I thought she was a lovely physical, she has a great cover and she's from a fantastic family. She's going to go to Lucky Vega. Mr Zhang is doubling down on his support this year by buying some select mares. He sent 30 mares to him last season and he'll probably send the same number next year but is going to up the quality on the strength of what he's seen from his foals on the ground in Australia.”

Lucky Vega stands the Northern Hemisphere season at The Irish National Stud for €15,000, and the Southern Hemisphere season at Yulong's farm in Victoria for AU$19,250 inc. GST. On the track he carried the green and white colours of Zhang Yuesheng, who has been a familiar face on the sale circuit this year, and was in attendance at Goffs again on Friday. The Chinese businessman's horses in Ireland are concentrated in the Jessica Harrington yard, which is where Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) was based when she recorded Group 2 success. 

The Kiltinan Castle Stud-consigned mare, who is foal to Mehmas (Ire), was another to join the Lucky Vega Syndicate for €530,000.

Donohoe said, “Obviously Mr Zhang has horses in training with Jessie [Harrington] and she trained her so she recommended the mare to him. Jessie is high on the two-year-old sister [Foniska (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})] that she trains, too. He actually bought Lucky Vega's sister as well. It's undecided where she'll go next year but she'll go to stud in Ireland.” 

 

Donohoe went on to underbid the top lot Ladies Church, who sold to Dermot Farrington for an undisclosed client for €970,000, where he did most of his bidding online through his iPad on the balcony directly opposite the rostrum. That was until he appeared to lose signal and, alongside Mr Zhang, was forced to bid the old-fashioned way. 

Alas, it wasn't to be on Ladies Church but, on bidding online, he said, “Obviously Mr Zhang is quite familiar with the online bidding in Australia, the online bidding format there has a couple of years head start on Europe, so he feels comfortable bidding that way. That's the way they do it in Australia and that's the way it's going here because you can bid in a nice relaxed atmosphere.”

Donohoe added, “We can nip down and look at the horses in the parade ring and do our final checks, then go up and have lunch and bid in comfort. We value the horses and we bid to what we think their value is, so it doesn't really matter who's bidding against us. Sometimes when you're bidding in the ring you can maybe go one or two bids that you might regret afterwards when you've been wrapped up in the theatre of it. It's all a bit more composed doing it this way.”

The Lucky Vega Syndicate remained strong deep into the evening, spending €1.23 million on back-to-back lots [1314 and 1315] Pleasant Dreams (Ire) and Eaves (Ire), both of whom are by Galileo. 

Pleasant Dreams, who made €630,000, was consigned by Grenane House Stud and was sold in foal to Starspangledbanner (Aus) while Eaves made €600,000 in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB). All told, BBA Ireland signed for six Galileo mares to visit Lucky Vega for €3,195,000. 

The aggregate was up 19% to €16,525,500 while the average was ahead 17.6% to €82,328. The median of €42,000 represented a 35.5% rise while the clearance rate was 83%.

Ladies Church To Stay In Training 

Billed as one of the star attractions of the sale, Group 2-winning sprinter Ladies Church (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) was knocked down for €970,000 to Dermot Farrington who could not reveal the new connections. 

However, Farrington did confirm that Ladies Church, trained by Johnny Murtagh to win three times, including that career highlight in the G2 Sapphire S. at the Curragh in July, would race on as a four-year-old. 

Farrington said, “I can't say who she was bought for but she will definitely stay in training next year.”

Ladies Church was consigned by Murtagh's Fox Covert Stables and, as well as being a high-class racemare with a rating of 110, she boasts a strong page being a daughter of the French listed winner Rioticism (Fr) (Rio De La Plata).

Having been bought as a foal at Tattersalls in November 2019, she was then sold to Murtagh and agent Peter Nolan the following year for 160,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2020. 

She was one of seven horses owner Mark Dobin, who spreads his small but select string between Murtagh, Gavin Cromwell, Joseph O'Brien and Ger Lyons, ran in Ireland this season.

Maljoom's Dam Makes €450,000

BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicoll was also busy, signing for Nictate (Teofilo {Ire}), the dam of Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio), from Limekiln Stud for €450,000. 

Maljoom has not run since going down by less than a length in fourth in the St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot back in June. Nictate was sold in foal to Tally-Ho's Starman (GB) and Nicoll was flanked by Paul Shanahan's son Charles when the gavel fell. 

Nicoll said, “She's for an Irish partnership so she'll stay here. She's bred a good horse, she's a nice mare but I don't know which stallion she'll go to next. She's top of the range and when you're buying the dam of a black-type winner you've got to expect to pay that sort of figure.” 

Nagle Pays €520,000 For Smart Shadwell Mare

David and Diane Nagle of Barronstown Stud went to €520,000 to secure Shadwell's listed-placed Yasmeen (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), already the dam of listed winner Shaara (GB) (Shamardal) and in foal to Night Of Thunder (Ire)

Yasmeen is from a deep Shadwell family, with her dam Wissal a sister to Bahhare, and Nagle revealed that he planned on injecting some speed into the pedigree next year.

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Michael Donohoe – ‘A Good Trainer Will Make A Bad Agent Look Very Clever’

   Michael O'Donohoe of BBA Ireland and leading owner Zhang Yuesheng have been making waves off the track in recent weeks after buying a number of high-quality broodmare prospects to visit the Chinese businessman's Group 1-winner Lucky Vega (Ire) at the Irish National Stud.

   Zhang Yuesheng also has Royal Ascot heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who Donohoe bought from Coolmore for 305,000gns in 2020, to look forward to in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

   As well as speaking about Zhang Yuesheng's growing operation in Ireland, Donohoe shares his background in racing, how he became a leading bloodstock agent and what particular area of his profession gives him the most pleasure in this week's Q&A.

Brian Sheerin: It seems as though Zhang Yuesheng has been in the news every week recently for the acquisitions made off the track but excitement levels must be reaching fever pitch ahead of the Irish Oaks with Magical Lagoon?

Michael Donohoe: You could say that Saturday is the fruition of a lot of hard work. Mr. Zhang and Yulong have put in a lot of investment in Irish racing and Jessica [Harrington] and Shane [Foley] have worked hard in producing horses like Magical Lagoon to perform at their best in races. Mr. Zhang trusted us from the outset, gave us a nice budget to work with, and we were able to buy Magical Lagoon from Coolmore. She gave us great excitement in winning at Royal Ascot and we're hoping there will be more to come from her on Saturday at the Curragh with a bit of luck. Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be hard to beat but it's gratifying to know that we have a live chance in a Classic.

BS: The market suggests that Emily Upjohn will be extremely difficult to beat but what are the confidence levels like in the Magical Lagoon camp?

MD: We're hopeful. It's hard to be confident against fillies of the calibre of Emily Upjohn and Tuesday, although Tuesday has had a couple of hard races of late so we'll have to wait and see if she is declared. Emily Upjohn has to travel over to Ireland for the first time and it's a new track for her. It's hard for these horses, especially fillies, to be travelling when it's so hot and warm and we have the home advantage. Magical Lagoon is a course winner and only has to travel a half an hour over the road. We're hoping that will give us a small edge but we're hopeful rather than confident.

BS: She's always looked like she wanted 1m4f and proved that at Ascot. On top of that, she has only run five times in her life so is open to further progression.

MD: That's it. She's bred to get this trip–she's a half-sister to Novelist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), a multiple Group 1 winner over 1m4f, and is from a stout German family. We were a bit disappointed by how she ran in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Ascot last year but, in hindsight, what she did as a 2-year-old was very impressive. The trip was what won it for her in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot as she out-stayed her rivals. We're hopeful that we'll see a bit more improvement from her on Saturday and that she'll see the trip out well.

BS: She's already worth her weight in gold as a broodmare prospect. Are there any plans made on that front?

MD: No plans, and Mr. Zhang and Sam Fairgray will make the decision, but Jessica, Shane and myself believe that she'll be even better next year. Almost everything in that family, they seemed to excel as 4-year-olds, and obviously Galileos train on. She's of such a sound disposition and is improving with every start so we'd love to see her in training next year. To be honest, we think she could reach a different level altogether if she does.

BS: You have been busy bolstering your broodmare band in order to support Lucky Vega. The commitment to Lucky Vega must be a massive vote of confidence for outsider breeders as well.

MD: It has a knock-on effect and several of the mares Mr. Zhang bought were from Irish owners. He has based all of his breeding stock in Ireland and has them spread out between a couple of different farms. All told, and including horses in training, Mr. Zhang has 100 horses in Ireland which obviously generates plenty of employment. He's a big supporter of the Irish bloodstock industry. There were several farms in England and France interested in standing Lucky Vega but, in fairness to him, he decided to stand him at the Irish National Stud. He had his first winner in Ireland, Yulong Baobei (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), and has an affinity to Irish racing.

BS: What were the picks of the broodmares you picked up at the sales?

MD: Obviously Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is very exciting and will head to John Sadler in California to run in the [GI] Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 20. We're really looking forward to her. She's a Classic winner already, a Group 2 winner, a lovely physical who will make a lovely broodmare down the road. We bought a few lovely fillies at the July Sale at Newmarket as well. We got a lovely Siyouni (Fr) filly called Le Designe (Ire) [for 180,000gns], a couple of well-bred Galileos, the pick of which was Shining Bright (Ire), a full-sister to Changingotheguard (Ire). We have Galileo's Compass (Ire), a full-brother to Changingoftheguard, who looks very exciting. I was actually with Jessica on Tuesday morning and he did a lovely piece of work. Shining Bright was probably the pick of them but we got mares by Dubawi (Ire) and Pivotal (GB) as well. It was hard work and there was plenty of competition but I think we did a good bit of shopping.

BS: Was that the sole reason why you ventured to the July Sale or did you bid on any horses in training?

MD: I bought one horse on the third day for some clients in the Middle East. We had a go at a couple of other horses at the July Sale but didn't have any joy. I did buy horses from the sale at Fasig-Tipton the other night. The marvels of modern technology means that you can buy those form horses from anywhere in the world. It's not as imperative to see them in the flesh once you have a good person on the ground and Dr. Michael Hoare, who vetted them for me at Fasig-Tipton, does a very good job.

BS: The demand for horses in training seemed to be very strong at the July Sale.

MD: As well as buying mares, Mr. Zhang sold horses at the July Sale. Bopedro (Fr) (Pedro The Great), a decent horse, made 80,000gns and Exquisite Acclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) made 100,000gns. I have been travelling to the Middle East for the past 15 years but the market has really opened up there properly now. They are racing four days a week in Saudi Arabia and making huge progress. The Middle Eastern market is exploding and some of the owners out there have started having horses in Europe and are having great success. It's really taking off now and they all want a piece of the action, which is great.

BS: We've heard a lot about the people you work for but what about yourself? What's your background in the game?

MD: I was born at a sales house. My first memories are not of sport or anything like that, it is of Goresbridge Sales, which my parents set up. I was kept busy by sending out catalogues or mucking out stables and did a little bit of riding but always had an interest in trading when I was younger. I would buy half-bred foals and sell them as yearlings and it progressed from there.

Miley Cash, one of the most famous sport horse dealers, taught me how to tell the age of a horse by looking at his teeth. He also taught me about standing into a horse and confirmation so I picked up tricks like that from a very young age. I was always intrigued by looking at horses when they were young and trying to envisage what they'd be like when they were older.

It progressed into Thoroughbreds and obviously there are a lot of horse breeders and trainers around Goresbridge–Paddy Mullins, Willie Mullins, Tony and Mags Mullins-and I worked for my uncle Michael, whose son Dick is now training. I worked in Tony Mullins' at the weekends as well, Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud, I did a stint at Ballylinch Stud and another stint in Norelands Stud. I'll never forget my mother telling me that everyone has an opinion and it's up to you to decide and decipher what you take from everyone. I spent some time in America, also worked for Coolmore and for Paul Shanahan, and of course Eamonn Riley gave me my first real start. I have had loads of mentors but I'd say Eamonn is the standout. He has been unbelievably good to me down through the years, got me going and gave me a chance.

BS: And is there any advice that has stuck with you until this day?

MD: Yes, and that's to trust your own opinion. There are people coming into the game and they pick out horses because they think it's what their client, or what another agent, would buy. However, you should always go with your own gut instinct on a horse.

BS: It all seems to have happened pretty organically for you but is there a moment when you realised that, not only could you carve out a living at being a bloodstock agent, but you could be a pretty successful one?

MD: I was always confident enough in my own ability. Obviously you have to make your mistakes and learn from them and you need to develop an eye for what works. We were out for dinner the other night in Newmarket and Karl Burke reminded me of the time I came down to him to tell him I found a real one over at Keeneland. That horse turned out to be Lord Shanakil, who we bought for $110,000 in 2007, and he turned out to be a good horse. You get a bit of confidence from things like that but, as well as that, there are plenty of horses who you think will be champions and they don't work out. A lot of luck is required and sometimes a good trainer will make a bad agent look very clever. To be honest, I have been lucky to have been buying for some very good trainers.

BS: You bought Silver Birch (Ire), who won a Grand National, early in your career and are now buying horses to go all over the globe but is there a particular aspect of the game that gives you the most pleasure?

MD: Buying the yearlings and seeing them go on and be successful on the racetrack, that's what I love the most. If it's Book 6 at Keeneland or the last day at Fairyhouse, I love trying to find that gem who will go on to justify your opinion, that's a very satisfying aspect of the game.

BS: We're heading into the yearling sale season. Is there any sire you will be looking out for or what is it that you will be looking for?

MD: I would have always been of the opinion that it's all about the horse but I have changed my opinion over the past few years. From experience, I am putting more emphasis on pedigree than I ever did before. Obviously, the mainstay is that you need an athlete, and you need that feeling from a horse, but you need to see how a yearling takes to the sale and see if they are willing. I have bought horses who were not terribly well-behaved at the sale and I regretted it every time. It's all about temperament and your gut feeling but I'm putting more emphasis on pedigree and sire-power now.

BS: And on that, what sires will you be looking out for?

MD: It's all about horses who want to please and, for me, Mehmas (Ire) seems to instill that in his horses. It doesn't seem to matter what they are, how the look or what way they are bred, they want to win. Even at a low level, they might be rated just 50, but they try. The Frankels (GB) and the horses on the Dubawi (Ire) line, they really try and have great minds. That will to win is what you need.

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Hotter Than July At Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK–The legacy of Sheikh Hamdan still casts a long shadow over the bloodstock world, and the influence of his bloodlines was once more evident at Tattersalls on Wednesday when Rihaam (Ire), a 9-year-old daughter of Dansili (GB) in foal to Dark Angel (Ire), led the first day of the July Sale at a new record price of 540,000gns.

With a buying bunch greatly enhanced by the returned freedom of international travel, several records were set at Park Paddocks, which saw the two top prices ever at a July Sale along with the highest turnover for a single session.

For that new record-breaker Rihaam, it was Tom Goff, standing with Paul Shanahan, MV Magnier and Timmy Hyde, who secured the unraced mare (lot 179). Her current 3-year-old Ribhi (Ire), a full-brother to the foal she is carrying, won twice last year and was third in the Listed European Free H.

“Of her age group she was the outstanding broodmare here,” Goff said. “It's an absolutely fantastic Sheikh Hamdan pedigree that goes back to Bahri. There's numerous stars all over the pedigree, and she's by Dansili.

“[Ribhi] is a good colt and she's carrying a full-brother to him. The Invincible Spirit (Ire) [2-year-old] is with Marcus Tregoning and is apparently showing some speed. The Blue Point (Ire), who is now a yearling, is a nice filly. It was a very good package and one that doesn't come along too often, and it's one of the reasons that the Shadwell dispersal continues to be of such interest.”

Indeed it does, and Shadwell was one of the leading consignors of the day with four sold for 696,000gns, but it was the Godolphin draft which really turned heads, with three of the day's top 10 lots emanating from the royal blue team, which, with 42 horses sold for 2,624,500gns, accounted for 30% of the day's total aggregate of 8,740,785gns–an upturn of 47% on last year's opening session.

That was achieved through the sale of 226 of the 262 lots offered and, though the clearance rate dropped to 86% from last year's opening-day high of 93%, the figures for average and median both soared. The former was up by 54% at 38,676gns, while the median rose to 14,000gns (+27%).

 

 

Wild Rose Another To Pass Record

Wild-card entry See The Rose (Fr), a Group 3-winning daughter of Kendargent (Fr) and sister to listed winner Xaarino (Fr), was another to pass the previous high at the July Sale when bringing the hammer down at 500,000gns. Signing the ticket in the name of his London Thoroughbred Services for lot 271A was James Wigan, an accomplished breeder in his own right but this time acting on behalf of an undisclosed client.

Bred by John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud, the daughter of the Xaar (GB) mare Xaarienne (GB) originally sold for €180,000 as a yearling at Arqana, and won three times in France for Andre Fabre as well as finishing fifth, beaten less than two lengths, in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She was unsold at 450,000gns at the most recent Tattersalls December Sale.

“She's very elegant filly,” said Wigan. “I saw her last December and she is a breeding prospect now rather than a racing prospect.”

 

Yulong Support Continues

The determined spending of Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments continued apace at Tattersalls as the July Sale got underway, with the owner/breeder bidding more than 1.8 million gns for 10 broodmares or broodmare prospects through Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland.

This group included the day's third-top lot at 450,000gns, Shining Bright (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), an unraced sister to this season's G2 King Edward VII S. and G3 Chester Vase winner Changingoftheguard (Ire). The 4-year-old was sold in foal for the first time to Starspangledbanner (Aus) and was bought by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for the Lucky Vega syndicate.

“Mr. Zhang was in Ireland last week and saw Lucky Vega and is keen to support him next season and is determined to give him every chance,” said agent Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland of the owner's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S winner and G1 S James's Palace S runner-up who is now resident at the Irish National Stud.

“[Yulong CEO] Sam Fairgray will decide but this mare will probably go back to Ireland and be covered by Lucky Vega next spring. There was obviously a nice update to the pedigree at Royal Ascot and we have his 2-year-old full-brother, too.”

Lucky Vega will also have the Galileo (Ire) mare Footprints (Ire) pencilled in for next year's book after Donohoe went to 340,000gns to secure the 3-year-old on Zhang's behalf. The unraced sister to the four-time group winner Armory (Ire) was covered in May by Wootton Bassett (GB) and was sold by The Castlebridge Consignment as lot 271.

Matt Houldsworth made a determined effort within the ring to buy lot 33, the 3-year-old filly Le Designe (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), but in the end it was the online bid, again made on behalf of Yulong Investments that brought the hammer down at 180,000gns. In training with Ralph Beckett for Marc Chan, the daughter of G3 Park S. winner Oh Goodness Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) never made it to the racecourse but she has plenty on her page to recommend her as a broodmare. Her first three dams are all black-type winners and her half-sister by More Than Ready is already a black-type producer in Australia, and that is where Le Designe will be heading eventually.

 

“Siyouni has done very well in Australia,” said Donohoe. “She will be covered here on Southern Hemisphere time and she will then ship. The Siyouni and Galileo cross has done very well in Australia, she is a very good-looking filly and there are not too many Siyounis on the market.”

By the day's end, 10 horses had been bought under a number of banners through BBA Ireland for just over 1.8 million gns.

“It's been a busy day but I'm really pleased with the mares we've got,” said Yulong's chief operating officer Sam Fairgray. “Some will head to Australia, some will be bred up here to Southern Hemisphere time and then head down and others will stay here and visit Lucky Vega.

“I'd imagine they'll all make their way down to Australia in time but we want to support Lucky Vega. He had a fantastic first season here and we want to continue that support. I'd imagine a couple will be covered by Frankel (GB) before heading down but we haven't decided which ones yet. We'll sit down and work out where we go from here.”

The Yulong team visited Frankel (GB) earlier in the week at Banstead Manor Stud and Zhang has special reason to continue his support of the Juddmonte star, having bred and raced his Australian Group 1-winning Hungry Heart (Aus). The filly's dam Harlech (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was the first purchase made by the breeder at the Tattersalls July Sale, for 60,000gns in 2016. She remained temporarily in Newmarket to be covered by Frankel to Southern Hemisphere time.

 

Chachamaidee to Chasemore

Andrew Black's Chasemore Farm is enjoying a fruitful season on the track and its paddocks will welcome a new recruit from the July Sale in the form of G1 Matron S. winner Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who was bought on Black's behalf by agent Tom Goff at 200,000gns.

A star performer on the track for Sir Henry Cecil and Tony Evans, for whom she won four group races and was also runner-up in the G1 Sun Chariot S., the 15-year-old mare has produced two stakes winners, the G3 Pinnacle S winner Klassique (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and recent listed winner Valiant Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who struck in York's Ganton S. for Charlie Appleby after publication of the catalogue. Sold as lot 97 through DVA Equine Services, Chachamaidee has unraced youngsters by Sea The Stars (Ire), now two and three, and was sold with a Mar. 10 cover to young Shadwell sire Mohaather (GB).

“We've followed this mare for a while; I know this family very well,” said Goff. “She's a lovely old mare and I thought she looked amazing for her age. I liked the cover to Mohaather–I think he's an exciting young sire.

“I remember her Sea The Stars [2-year-old] as a yearling; he was a nice horse and is now with Hugo Palmer and he likes him. He has a Derby entry. So it's a great package and we're delighted to get her. We'll try to breed some fillies out of her.”

Chachamaidee was succeeded in the ring by her daughter For Henry (GB) (lot 98), an 8-year-old sister to Klassique who was offered in foal to Advertise (GB) and knocked down at 100,000gns to BBA Ireland.

 

Family Ties Tempt Buyers To Godolphin

The sizeable draft from Godolphin had been well perused since the horses arrived at the sales ground and the ring quickly filled as the first batch came through around lunchtime. Tally-Ho Stud, which has no shortage of stallions available for their broodmare purchases, came out on top at 180,000gns from a prolonged bidding exchange for the juvenile winner First Smile (Ire) (lot 127), a daughter of the G2 Queen Mary S winner Jealous Again (Trippi) and Dark Angel (Ire).

After signing for the 4-year-old mare, who is in foal for the first time to Profitable (Ire), Tally-Ho's Tony O'Callaghan said, “We already have her half-sister and it's the type of family that just works for us, with her dam being a Queen Mary winner. She'll go to a Tally-Ho stallion.”

The sibling already in the paddocks in Co Westmeath is Covetous, an 8-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro bought from Godolphin at Goffs five years ago. Her daughter by Kodiac (GB) was sold at last year's October Yearling Sale for 300,000gns.

Two men who are more than familiar with the Godolphin/Darley families are John Ferguson and Mark McStay, now independent agents in their own right who made significant purchases from the draft.

Ferguson's investment scheme Natalma Bloodstock opted for lot 130, Rainband (Medaglia d'Oro), a winner and listed-placed in France and out of the German Group 3 winner Fitful Skies (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). With Nelson Bunker-Hunt's outstanding racemare Dahlia (Vaguely Noble) as her third dam and the Group 2-winning Wajd (Northern Dancer) as granddam, plus a foal by Invincible Spirit (Ire) in utero, the 4-year-old looks to have been well bought at 135,000gns.

Similar comments apply to lot 122, the treble juvenile winner Autumn Lily (Street Cry {Ire}), who went the way of McStay's Avenue Bloodstock at 125,000gns. Now 11 and the dam of Group 1-placed Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Autumn Lily is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Alexandros (GB) (Kingmambo) and a granddaughter of the Group 1 winner and Classic-placed High Hawk (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), whose offspring include treble Group 1 winner and sire In The Wings (GB).

“She comes from one of the great families: High Hawk, In The Wings, and Alexandros up there very close,” McStay commented. “It's a family I knew very well during my time with Darley and these families don't come up very often so you have to bid bravely when they do. She's a nice mare and she has bred a Group 1 performer already.”

The mare was sold with an early cover to Derby winner Masar (Ire), who has already found favour with McStay.

“His foals were nice and we pinhooked two of them last year for our foal syndicate,” he added.

 

BUY OF THE DAY

by Brian Sheerin

Dermot Dwan of Kellsgrange Stud did not have to spend much to take home the prize for buy of the day.

Dwan went to 13,000gns to secure lot 67, the twice-placed Brush Creek (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), whose page was boosted by Royal Ascot winner Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) a few weeks before the sale.

Holloway Boy's Listed Chesham S. success did not feature on the catalogue page but Dwan couldn't be accused of being asleep at the wheel.

Brush Creek's dam Resort (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a half-sister to Sultry (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the dam of Holloway Boy, who achieved the rare feat of winning at Royal Ascot on debut last month.

Given that Holloway Boy is open to any amount of improvement, and his place in the pedigree may have gone unnoticed by many, time might prove the 13,000gns Dwan parted with to be money well spent.

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