“It is quiet,” Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek said of the market Sunday at Keeneland. “But I don't think it's unfair. Obviously, we are seeing a little bit of a correction, but I think if you are willing to accept that and adjust how you're valuing horses, there are plenty of people here to buy them and you can get them sold. Obviously, the top is the top and it's always strong, but we've been very realistic with our reserves and we've had no trouble selling horses.”

Indian Creek sold the top-priced weanling of Sunday's session when a colt by Maxfield sold for $240,000 to Avocet Bloodstock. KatieRich Farms was responsible for the session's top mare when Dixiana Farms paid $270,000 for Taking Aim (Trappe Shot).

Taylor Made Sales Agency was the leading consignor at Sunday's session and continued to lead through five sessions of the auction with 148 head sold for $20,714,500.

“I've read a lot in the press–and it's fact–that the mares are down and the buy-back rate has been up,” said Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. “But just on the days that I've been selling, like today and the second day of Book 2, I actually thought the market was pretty fair. If you bring up anything with any quality–we just sold a mare for $250,000–there is money there.”

During Saturday's session of the November sale, Peter O'Callaghan, annually a major buyer of weanlings, lamented a lack of quality foals on offer at the auction.

“I do agree with what Peter O'Callaghan was saying, that, for us internally, we had fewer foals,” Taylor said. “I think there are fewer really high-quality foals on offer and a lot of the pinhookers that are here want quality. So if you are trying to get a $20,000 foal moved, there doesn't seem to be a big crowd around looking for it. Now, if you have one that is a legitimate $150,000 foal, everybody is gonig to follow it up and you might get $225,000.”

Taylor said he saw some evidence that breeders are holding on to their best foals while hoping for a home run at the yearling sales next fall.

“The market is polarized at the yearling sales also,” Taylor said. “So you might get $750,000 for a [yearling] that you have raised for $350,000 before the sale. A lot of these breeders don't want to give up that opportunity. So they are keeping the one that they can sell next year for all the money and they are going to move along some of the ones that they know there is no huge home run on the end of it. They would rather cull those out and cut expenses and keep those gold nuggets hoping to cash them in next September or at Saratoga or wherever it is.”

Taylor continued, “At the beginning of the day in session 2.2, a lot people were saying the sky is falling. There is definitely an adjustment going on cheaper mares, but I think the market for anything with quality is actually pretty solid.”

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Dixiana Aims True at Keeneland Sunday

Taking Aim (Trappe Shot) (hip 1735), a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar (Tapit), will be relocating from Larry Doyle's KatieRich Farms to Dixiana Farms after selling for $270,000 Sunday at Keeneland.

“She looked like a nice mare,” said Dixiana Farm Manager Robert Tillyer. “She produced a graded-stakes placed horse and it's a nice family, so we took a shot with her.”

Of the mare's price tag, Tillyer said, “It seems like the quality is a little down for mares. It's hard to find nice ones and she seemed like the obvious one.”

KatieRich purchased the mare for $200,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton February sale. Her first foal, the now-3-year-old Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), won the GII Saranac S. this year. She also has 2-year-old filly by Into Mischief, Rascality, who sold for $190,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale. The mare sold Sunday in foal to sprint champion Jackie's Warrior.

“I think she might have been a diamond in the rough here,” said KatieRich manager George Barnes. “We thought she had a lot of quality and she might stand out here pretty well in Book 3, which proved to be the case. She has a lot of upside. Her first foal is graded-stakes placed and still has his 4-year-old year ahead of him. We've only gotten later foals–two May foals and an April foal–out of her, so I think if the buyers get an early foal out of her, they will do very well commercially.”

KatieRich, which is currently home to some 26 mares, is in the midst of a reduction, according to Barnes.

“Everybody asks why we are selling her and it's just a reduction and trying to get income into the farm,” he said. “We've slowly been reducing over the last couple of years, so we will plan to foal out 26 mares next year.”

Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds Charms Them

The Guffey family's Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, which sold Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday) (hip 23), the dam of recent GII Raven Run S. winner Vahva (Gun Runner) for $300,000 during Book 1, restocked Sunday at Keeneland, going to $250,000 to acquire Charmingly (Curlin) (hip 1845) from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

Out of Goldfield (Yes It's True), the unraced 3-year-old is a half-sister to Grade I winner Complexity (Maclean's Music) and a full-sister to graded winner Valadorna (Curlin). She sold in foal to Maclean's Music.

“She is bred on a similar cross to Complexity and she is a full-sister to that great Curlin mare,” Codee Guffey said of the mare's appeal.

The family also purchased Arrifana (Curlin) (hip 183) for $450,000 Wednesday at Keeneland and came back later in Sunday's session to acquire Easy on the Sugar (Frosted) (hip 1888) for $155,000.

While the operation parted with Holiday Soiree, it is taking home Lemon Belle (Lemon Drop Kid) (hip 249), the dam of GIII Gotham S. winner Raise Cain (Violence), who RNA'd for $485,000 Wednesday.

“We keep 15 mares, that's kind of the number that we want,” Guffey said. “We are trying to keep a boutique broodmare band.”

Of the market, Guffey said, “I think for the better mares, you are having to step up and pay for them. But there is not a lot of middle. It seems like the top end does really well and that's all there is.”

Hip 1528 | Keeneland Photo

Maxfield Colt in Demand at Keeneland

A colt from the first crop of Maxfield (hip 1528) went to the front of the weanling class at Keeneland Sunday when selling for $240,000 to Bill Betz's Avocet Bloodstock. Bred by Bob Edwards's Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, the weanling is out of In It for the Gold (Speightstown), who is a daughter of Grade I placed All Due Respect (Value Plus). He was consigned by Indian Creek.

“That was fantastic,” Indian Creek's Sarah Sutherland said of the result. “We knew coming over that he was one of the better foals that we had in on the day. We've loved him from the very beginning on the farm. I think the Maxfield cross with the Speightstown mare worked really, really beautifully. He had a lovely way about him and great balance. And his movement was really effortless. I think all of the activity at the barn was evidenced in the result.”

Winner of the 2021 GI Clark S., Maxfield stands at Darley for $35,000. In addition to hip 1528, he was also represented at Keeneland this week by a $300,000 colt (hip 724). The stallion has had six sell at Keeneland for an average of $164,500.

Of the weanlings she has seen from Maxfield's first crop, Sutherland said, “We have a handful of the Maxfields at home. And we like them a lot. He's done well with mares that we bred where we had to stretch them out and get a little bit of scope and leg. Hopefully, we have more results like this when we bring them to the market next year.”

DuBois on the Board at Keeneland

French bloodstock agent Louis DuBois has been scouring the grounds at Keeneland this week searching for precocious-looking weanlings for trainer Wesley Ward. DuBois was outbid on a Curlin colt (hip 233) earlier in the week, but got his weanling Sunday when bidding $200,000 to secure a colt by McKinzie (hip 1738) from the Gainesway consignment.

“I've been working with Wesley for a while now at the sales,” DuBois said. “I've been looking at all the horses on the grounds–mainly the foals. I am looking at the pedigrees and the physicals that [Ward] is looking for–early and speedy looking to make them an early 2-year-old. So I've been looking at a lot of them.”

DuBois, who was supporting Ward at the European yearling sales over the summer, admitted the team just missed out on its favorite weanling of the November sale.

“I sent [Ward] a short list–a very short list–every day,” DuBois said. “Our favorite of the sale so far was the Curlin colt who sold for $600,000. Our last bid was $500,000, but we had to let him go. Our second favorite came up today, the beautiful McKinzie colt from Gainesway. He was an outstanding-looking horse. He had a great walk and a great physical. He looks fast. Wesley told me when they look like a yearling, that's a good sign. So he was exactly what we were looking for. I knew when I showed him to Wesley, that we would not leave the sale without him. I am very happy that we secured him.”

Born into a racing family, horses have taken DuBois around the world.

“My family have been closely involved in racing as owners or trainers,” DuBois said. “My dad is a blacksmith, so all my life I've been around horses. I started riding at a young age doing all kind of thing in horses–show jumping–and I quickly turned to Thoroughbreds.”

DuBois has worked in the sales industry in New Zealand and spent time in Dubai with trainer Charley Appleby before moving to the U.S. to work with Ward.

The Frenchman will be continuing his search for precocious-looking weanlings at the European sales in the coming weeks.

“Now our eyes are on the catalogues in Europe for the weanlings,” he said. “We will go to Tattersalls and Arqana and look for a couple to bring back to the U.S.”

DuBois plans to spend time in the winter with Ward in Florida.

“I will come up for the sales and spend a couple of months in Florida in the winter,” DuBois said. “And then wherever [Ward] needs me, mostly in Europe, with the Ascot contenders–fingers crossed. But the sales keep me busy. That's my focus now. So far, Wesley has been very helpful. So thanks to him and let's see how it goes.”

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During the session, 243 horses grossed $15,012,500 for an average of $61,780 and a median of $50,000. The average was down 27% from last year's opening Book 3 session and the median was lower by 23.08%. With 80 horses reported as not sold, the buy-back rate was 24.77%. It was 26.63% a year ago.

There were just six horses to sell for $200,000 or over Saturday at Keeneland, compared to 16 a year ago.

“It shows how polarized our sales are right now because I came over here today and RNA'd them for $20,000 and then we sold one for $290,000,” said Tommy Eastham, whose Legacy Bloodstock offered two of the horses to reach $200,000 on the day. “The market is good, but it's really selective. It's very polarized. It just makes us better horsemen. We need to be better consignors, take better care of our horses because little penalties that you used to be able to get away with, that were maybe 20% penalty in the past, are fatal for your sale now. I hope it gets a little better and spreads out a little bit, but if you tick all the proverbial boxes, it's still really good.”

Weanlings from the first crop of Yaupon have been in demand all week and two colts by the Spendthrift stallion led the foals Saturday, selling for $220,000 to Brownsboro Racing and for $205,000 to Peter O'Callaghan's Cavalier Bloodstock.

While the weanling market has been competitive all week at Keeneland, O'Callaghan said he has noticed a drop-off in quality from years past.

“Unfortunately, the quality is not here,” O'Callaghan said. “We used to have a big list of horses in Book 3 at Keeneland November every year, but we are in single digits this year. There are not as many people offering the good weanlings as there used to be.”

O'Callaghan continued, “It's clear they are holding on to them. But if you're smart, selling the weanlings is a smart business. There are a lot of end-users here, the competition is not nearly as strong as the yearling market and the vetting–there is no comparison to how stringent it is at the yearling sales. I'm starting to think I should start selling a few myself. It's been a hot trade for the quality, there's just not enough quality here.”

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 16 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Chameleon to Stoneway Farm

Chameleon (Candy Ride {Arg}) (hip 1437) will be joining the broodmare band at Jim Stone's Stoneway Farm after selling for a session-topping $425,000 Saturday at Keeneland. The 4-year-old mare, bred and consigned by Mt. Brilliant Farm, sold in foal to Practical Joke.

“She's a very attractive mare in foal to Practical Joke who just had two double raises in his stud fee,” Stoneway's Terri Burch said after signing the ticket on the mare. “We are looking for big, attractive mares. We lost one of ours this year that was in foal to Jack Christopher, so we were looking to find something to replace her.”

Home to some 15 mares, Stoneway lost the mare Ahh (Saint Liam), dam of multiple graded winner Ahh Chocolate (Candy Ride {Arg}), this year.

“We have a lot of that family, so we were looking for something in a family we didn't have with a lot of winners and stakes horses in it,” Burch said.

Chameleon is a daughter of stakes winner Secret Someone (A.P. Indy). Her granddam is Private Gift (Unbridled), who produced multiple graded winner Private Mission, as well as the dam of Grade I winner Dunbar Road.

Stoneway Farm campaigned multiple graded winner Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast), who the operation purchased for $77,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September sale. The gray mare joined the farm's broodmare band and her filly by Gun Runner sold for $925,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“It's so much cheaper for us to race one of our own and make it a stakes horse then try to come over and buy one,” Burch said. “We've been very successful buying them on the cheap and they turn into graded stakes horses and we bring them home to the farm. So we are hoping we get great babies out of [Chameleon] because she's so beautiful.”

Terri Burch | Keeneland

Yaupon Weanlings in Demand

Weanlings from the first crop of Grade I winner Yaupon (Uncle Mo) have sold well all week at Keeneland, with 20 sold through four sessions for an average of $164,500 and three selling for $400,000 or over.

The top two weanlings to sell during Saturday's session of the auction were colts by the Spendthrift stallion, with Peter O'Callaghan's Cavalier Bloodstock going to $205,000 to acquire hip 1319 from the Grovendale Sales consignment, and hip 1430, from the Legacy Bloodstock consignment, selling for $220,000 to the phone bid of Brownsboro Racing.

“He's a very good-looking horse himself,” O'Callaghan said of Yaupon. “He's out of a Vindication mare, so that's a great influence and it must be coming through, between the Uncle Mo, [Uncle Mo's sire] Indian Charlie, and the Vindication–all of the above. I think he's really a nice horse. I have to hand it to him, they are very consistent. Each session almost, from Fasig, to Keeneland Books 1-3, there has been a couple of star colts and fillies by him each day. It's been impressive.”

Bred by St. Simon Place, hip 1319 is out of the unraced Sunday Driver (Quality Road) and from the family of graded stakes winner Skippylongstocking.

Hip 1430, bred by Scott Pierce, is out of stakes winner Cartwheelin Lulu (Bustin Stones).

“They are really nice horses,” Legacy's Tommy Eastham said of the first crop of Yaupon. “You know how the market is once they figure out the pretty ones. Yaupon is one of the prettiest horses I've seen. Frank Taylor said it best, he's one of the prettiest horses since Unbridled's Song.”

Of the session-topping weanling, Eastham said, “This was colt was great-minded, he did everything we asked him to. Even after he'd been out 111 times, we knew he was tired, but he never failed us. Every horse gets tired, but the ones that keep going are the ones that make a difference. We are really grateful to the people like Scott Pierce who send us these horses.”

Hip 1319 | Keeneland

Opening Act Sets the Pace

Opening Act (Ghostzapper) (hip 1223) went to the lead midway through Saturday's fourth session of the Keeneland November sale when bringing $290,000 on a phone bid from Steve Spielman of Nice Guys Stables. The 3-year-old, who sold in foal to Golden Pal, was consigned by Legacy Bloodstock. Out of Laffina (Arch), she is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Bast (Uncle Mo). She raced twice for Michael Tabor and trainer Wesley Ward, finishing third in her debut at Turfway in January.

“She is a beautiful mare,” said Legacy's Tommy Eastham. “She is once covered, carrying a colt. She is beautiful minded and has a big pedigree with an update. Body language counts, even in the horse business and she came out and did everything we asked of her. She had a tremendous following at the barn.”

The mare's 2-year-old half-sister Royal Slipper (Uncle Mo) graduated by a front-running 4 3/4 lengths for Tabor and Ward at Keeneland Oct. 6.

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The top lot was sourced by Middleham Park and was described as “a standout” on the day by the operation's Tom Palin. 

“We loved him, we thought he was a standout,” said Palin of lot 1919. “He walked around there with a bit of presence. He goes to Eve Johnson Houghton, he's our first horse with her and he's a strong, racy, two-year-old sort and looks to be the type that she'll do well with. Golden Horde was such an impressive racehorse and his stock looks racy. We're delighted to get him.”

Of this week's business Palin added: “We've got stuck in, we got eight since the start of Book 1. It's been competitive for the better lots and we've had to stretch a bit on some of them but it hasn't been silly. It's been sensible but strong. We're delighted with what we've bought.”

Golden Horde is best known for scorching to G1 Commonwealth Cup glory for Clive Cox in 2020. He stands for €8,000 at Montfort et Preaux  and his first yearlings have been well received by the market. 

Of the 1,862 yearlings offered across Book 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1,531 were sold at a clearance rate of 82%. That represented a drop of 4% on last year. 

The aggregate was down 20% to 158,567,500gns while the median fell 10% to 52,000gns and the average by 18% to 103,571gns.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented, “More than 165 million guineas has been spent on yearlings at Tattersalls in the past few weeks which, although some way below last year's runaway record-breaking returns, is a substantial sum that has only been bettered once.

“There have been some memorable highlights in amongst those impressive sums, including the 2,000,000gns October Book 1 sale-topping Frankel colt, who is the highest-priced yearling to be sold in Europe this year, the 725,000gns Dubawi filly, who headed Book 2 and is the second highest-priced filly ever sold at Europe's largest yearling sale, and some astounding pinhooking triumphs throughout the past two weeks which, as ever, reflect the professionalism and commitment of the consignors.

“The pre-eminent status of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales owes everything to the support of the breeders and consignors, primarily from Britain and Ireland, but also from France, Germany and Italy, who entrust us with the cream of the European yearling crop year after year.

“Evidence of this support and the peerless quality of the yearlings is to be seen on racecourses around the world with Tattersalls yearlings consistently winning at the highest level on the global stage. To date in 2023 Tattersalls yearlings bought for as little as 5,000gns have won Group 1 races in Britain, Ireland and France, as well as Australia, Hong Kong and the US. It is this unrivalled level of achievement which brings buyers to yearling sales at Tattersalls from throughout the world, alongside the domestic British and Irish buyers for whom the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales are unmissable.

“While the total 2023 yearling spend at Tattersalls has been the second highest ever, we should recognise that there has been a recalibration from the dizzy heights of last year and we should pay heed to this.

“With specific regard to Books 3 and 4 it has not been ideal to have coincided with the top-class racing at Newmarket, but this will not be the case again for the foreseeable future. With a wider perspective, our industry faces challenges which we all acknowledge.

“Nevertheless we should not lose sight of the fact that we have an outstanding internationally admired product, much of which has been showcased over the past two weeks at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales and which we will continue to work tirelessly to promote.”

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Shamardal's sons have had plenty to say for themselves of late. Blue Point (Ire) leads the freshman sires' championship with his first runners, and Pinatubo (Ire) and Earthlight (Ire) have found favour in the sales-rings of Europe with their first yearlings. During the opening session of Book 3 on Thursday, an Earthlight yearling passed the test of one fine judge in Tony O'Callaghan at 95,000gns, and come Friday, it was a son of Pinatubo who topped proceedings, bought for 90,000gns by Saud Al Qahtani of Saudi Arabia's Najd Stud. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, the colt (lot 1733) is a half-brother to Mighty Gurkha (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), winner of the G3 Sirenia S., out of the unraced Royal Applause (GB) mare Royal Debt (GB).

Al Qahtani explained after the sale of the Barton Stud-consigned colt that Najd Stud has bought 30 yearlings so far in 2023, the majority of which will go into training in Britain.

He said, “I hope, Inshallah, that Pinatubo will be a good sire. He was the champion two-year-old by Shamardal so why not? We hope that he will be a very good sire. We put 100,000gns on him as a budget.

“He might stay here in Britain or go to Saudi. We'll think about this and decide later. We've bought 30 yearlings this year. Eight of those will go to Saudi and the rest will stay here. It has been a very good market, very competitive.”

Najd Stud is represented in Saturday's G1 Native Trail Dewhurst S. by Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}), who was bought earlier this year at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale.

As the weather deteriorated dramatically through the late afternoon, there were at least two bright spots for Tattersalls when October Sale graduates Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Inquisitively (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) took the G1 Fillies' Mile and G3 Cornwallis S. respectively on the Rowley Mile. That pair had come from Books 1 and 2 last year, but Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and Honey Girl (GB) (Mayon {GB}) are among the Book 3 graduates to have won group races this season, and they were bought for 8,000gns and 4,500gns. A reminder that good racehorses can be found at all levels of the market for those with enough staying power to last the fortnight at Park Paddocks after a hectic fortnight prior to that in Ireland. 

Talking Points

The market adjustment has continued through this week, with Book 3 figures running below last year. The clearance rate has remained pretty high, however, and is currently at 83% with another session of Book 3 yearlings still to sell on Saturday morning. In Friday's session, 141 yearlings (74%) were sold for an aggregate of 1,725,500gns, average of 12,238gns and median of 10,000gns. Comparative figures are tricky as the Book 3 format has changed from last year owing to the sale clashing with two days of racing in Newmarket. Generally, though, trade is running between 15 to 20% down on last year.

The favourable first impression created by the stock of Haras d'Etreham's Hello Youmzain (Fr) had been a feature of the Arqana August Sale and that continued at Tattersalls. During Book 3, he has had three yearlings sold for an average of 55,667gns, to James Tate, Mick Fitzpatrick, and the buying team of Jamie Piggott and Oliver Cole. The son of Kodiac (GB) also achieved a 71,000gns average with his three sold at Book 2.

Far Above (GB) has been the fastest son of Farhh (GB) to grace the track to date, and one man who knows more about the Group 3-winning sprinter than most is his former trainer James Tate. He stepped in to buy lot 1835, a colt consigned by Q-Cross Stables and out of the dual-winning New Approach (Ire) mare Bittern (Ire), for 70,000gns. Tate, who said that he has three Far Above yearlings in his yard, also noted that he is no longer a private trainer for Rabbah but is open to offers from all owners.

Buy of the Day

Good luck to Marcus Collie, who looks to have secured a bargain in lot 1769, a filly by Masar (Ire) from Mickey Stud. Bought for 9,000gns, well below Masar's covering fee of £14,000, she is out of Tadpole (GB), a winning Sir Percy (GB) half-sister to group winners Beaten Up (GB) and Harris Tweed (GB), and to Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Vow (GB). The dynasty has received a further boost in recent years with the exploits of multiple Group 3 winner and Irish St Leger runner-up Hamish (GB), who is out of another of Tadpole's half-sisters, Tweed (GB). 

It's a prolific family whose members tend to improve with age, so here's hoping that this daughter of a Derby winner can bring some compensation to breeder David John Meaden by way of reflected glory as and when she adds to her clan's tally of victories. 

Thought of the Day

Books 3 and 4 bring the curtain down on the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Saturday, a day which also sees yearling sales take place in Spain and Germany, along with a mixed Flat sale which includes foals and yearlings at Auctav in France. That's before another five days of action kicks off at Arqana on Tuesday. 

The sales calendar is more congested than it has ever been, and the increase in dates, for both physical sales and those held online, is clearly in response to a growing demand from owners and breeders to trade. It is a sign of the times, but it is one which must lead to scheduling headaches for sales companies, and logistical nightmares for consignors and agents.

And for those with a season ticket on the sales charabanc, all I can say is keep taking the Berocca, maybe with the odd dash of gin.

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Topping Saturday's sale was a daughter of G2 Richmond S. hero Land Force (Ire) (lot 2086) from Natton House Thoroughbreds, Ltd. From the same family as G1 Irish Derby and G1 Sheema Classic hero and sire Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling), she went to Alfa Site for 23,000gns.

Overall, the October Yearling Sale featured the world's most expensive yearling to sell this year at 2.8 million gns, a son of Frankel (GB) (lot 221) out of the Group 3 winner and G1 Prix de l'Opera third So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The dam is a full-sister to three-time Group 1 winner and sire Too Darn Hot (GB), as well as G2 Middleton S. heroine Lah Ti Dar (GB), who was second in the G1 St Leger S. and third in both the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks.

Book 1 closed with 73 horses, or 17.2% of those sold, changing hands for 500,000gns or more. There were also 16 seven-figure lots. Book 2 also set records for turnover (60,780,500gns, +11%), average (96,020gns, +14%) and median (70,000gns, +13%). The demand for quality bloodstock did not slacken in Book 3 either, with gains of 9% in total turnover to 11,554,600gns. The average advanced 8.6% to 24,428gns and the median also increased to 20,000gns (+11.1%)

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said on Saturday, “This has been the most extraordinary Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Book 1 set the ball rolling and it has rolled all the way through to the very end with more yearlings sold than ever before for the astounding sum of 199 million guineas.

“It has been a phenomenal show of strength from start to finish with buyers from throughout the world drawn to Tattersalls and the unique environment of Newmarket by the promise of outstanding yearlings presented by so many of the top breeders and consignors not only from Britain and Ireland, but from throughout Europe. The consistent support of the consignors for the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale is the key to its abiding reputation as Europe's premier yearling sale and to see so many people so richly rewarded over the past two weeks has been wonderful.

“There is a huge amount of hard work and dedication involved in the journey from foaling to the October Yearling Sales at Tattersalls Park Paddocks and the results of the past two weeks are a tribute to all those involved at every level. The buyers come to Tattersalls in October confident that they will find quality yearlings to suit every budget which will go on to achieve great things on racecourses around the world and never before has this been so evident. The demand we have witnessed throughout the past two weeks has been truly global and above all it reflects the enduring appeal of the sport of horse racing which captivates so many people throughout the world and brings so many buyers to Newmarket and the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale year after year.”

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In the end, the second half of Book 3–in which momentum reliably ebbs relative to the catalogue's opening session–perhaps suggested “percolation” sooner than an outright “overflow”. But there was no mistaking the wholesome depth of a market far more vital, to many professionals, than the giddy transactions of the opening books.

In contrast with Thursday, when the median had remained unchanged on last year, a gain to 13,000gns from 10,000gns attested to really solid trade through this lower tier, backed up by a strong clearance rate of 83 percent. The average was also up, by 11 percent to 17,349gns, with overall turnover on the day up 17 percent to 3,903,600gns.

Combined, the two Book 3 sessions registered robust performance across the board. Total business advanced nine percent to 11,554,600gns, producing a corresponding gain in average to 24,428gns.

But the real neon number is the one posted for total business at the October Sale, with just Saturday morning's Book 4 to go. Trade to this point last year had reached 151,474,150gns. By last night it had soared 31 percent to approach a symbolic landmark at 199,006,100gns.

Woods Hangs In There For Joint-Top Lot

This was a day when trainers and their agents could finally attempt some old-fashioned “on spec” recruitment. Nonetheless a couple of fillies, respectively by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Aclaim (Ire), forced their purchasers as far as 90,000gns at either end of the day.

The Aclaim, consigned by Bearstone Stud as Lot 1959, was acquired by Dwayne Woods on behalf of his brother Sean. She's out of an unraced Kodiac (GB) half-sister to G1 St Leger runner-up The Last Drop (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose son Washington Heights (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}) had earned his first black-type at Ripon shortly before the sale. But her most conspicuous genetic distinction is perhaps the fourth dam, Irish Classic winner Sarah Siddons (Fr).

“The update was nice but much more importantly she's just a fabulous filly,” Woods said. “She'll make a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, so it's all pretty good.”

The agent was speaking for many prospectors when adding: “It's been hard work this week. I'm happy with everything we have bought, but every time I got up to a big one I was underbidder—at least five of them over 200,000gns.”

Ten Out of Ten For Oakgrove Filly

The Ten Sovereigns filly [1708] that topped the morning trade arrived from John Deer's Oakgrove Stud and, with the docket signed by Jo Stone of Rabbah Bloodstock, will be joining local trainer Ismail Mohammed. She's out of Listed scorer Lady Grace (Ire) (Orpen), one of the farm's more mature mares who has produced a couple of stakes operators.

“We're delighted with the price, but she deserved to make it,” said Oakgrove manager David Hilton. “She could have been earlier in the sale and was a bit of a stand-out today. She has a pedigree, she's a good physical, moves well. We've been very happy with her all the way through. We wanted to get back to speed. Mr. Deer really likes the stallion, thought what he did at Newmarket was exceptional. We've used him again and I'm sure he's going to make it.”

On a busy day for the Chepstow farm, perhaps its outstanding page was offered by a Golden Horn (GB) colt [1704] out of a Kingman (GB) half-sister to its champion Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). He was another purchase, at 40,000gns, by Dwayne Woods.

As for Ten Sovereigns, he registered another good sale for this grade when a filly from Deer Forest Stud made 50,000gns from Amanda Skiffington as Lot 1878. She will be joining Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Another Zoustar Breeze Project for Tally-Ho

The booming market has naturally raised the stakes uncomfortably for pinhookers, who were duly relieved to be active at this more accessible tier. One for whom the breeze-ups are on the agenda is the daughter of Zoustar (Aus) brought here as Lot 1930 by Jamie Railton, acquired for 77,000gns by Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Tally-Ho Stud.

“She's a lovely filly,” the agent said. “She's from a very fast, precocious family and that seems to be what is working best with the Zoustars. She's also a half-sister to a pretty decent and precocious horse in [juvenile stakes-placed] Lambeth Walk (GB) (Charm Spirirt {Ire}).”

Tally-Ho found one of the high achievers of the last breeze-up cycle in this catalogue last year, when Hamish Macauley Bloodstock signed an identical docket for a filly by the same stallion. Sold on to Atlas Bloodstock at Arqana for €110,000, she is now celebrated as GI Cheveley Park S. winner Lezoo (GB).

This lady's prospects of emulating that success are enhanced by granddam Roo (GB) (Rudimentary), responsible for a series of black-type performers and/or producers including the dam of G1 Sussex S. winner Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

Clodovil Bows Out

A touching footnote was the sale of the last yearling to come under the hammer by Clodovil (Ire), now enjoying his retirement at Rathasker Stud. The daughter consigned by his home farm as Lot 1798 was bought for 37,000gns by Julie Wood's Woodstock, doubtless with a view to emulating Manderley (Ire)–another of his greys, who ran a close fourth in the G1 1000 Guineas at 100-1 after Wood bought her from Rathasker in Book I of the 2012 sale.

“She's a lovely filly,” said Rathasker's Maurice Burns. “She had the same way of going as all of Clodovil's progeny. They have a bit of spark and are very genuine. People who had any of his stock always returned and came to the door at the sales to see his stock. It was just age that caught up with him.”

Clodovil's legacy at Rathasker is in the hands of his son Gregorian (Ire), while his record as a broodmare sire has recently been topped off by G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

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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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This is the week that really requires stamina from all participants: three new books to complete the October sale by Saturday, with the numbers running on from last week, though to lot 2097, who should just make it through the ring before the gates fly back for the start of QIPCO British Champions Day.

With prices at an extraordinary high last week–a factor which will almost certainly mean that Book 2 is also stronger than usual–it is worth bearing in mind, for those on the search for juveniles for next year, that two years ago a first-crop daughter of Galileo Gold (GB) was plucked from Book 4 for just 4,000gns.

Bought from Kilpatrick Farm by Michael Aguiar, she found her way to George Boughey's stable and, given the name Oscula (Ire), she went on to race with huge success for the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate. And boy, hasn't she danced every dance? A winner in May, then a Group 3 winner by June, Oscula waltzed from the helter-skelters of Brighton and Epsom, to Royal Ascot, Newmarket, Deauville, Longchamp and Saint-Cloud. And that was just her 2-year-old season. This year she has added two more group wins, at Glorious Goodwood and Deauville, as well as notching umpteen stakes places here and there, not to mention a trip to Saudi Arabia in February. It is safe to say that Oscula is the type of filly we would all love to own–and all the better if we could find one just like her for 4,000gns.

Buyers will have to dig deeper than that through the next three days of Book 2, which by any standards is an elite sale in its own right. It owns the best bragging rights of all this year, having produced the Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), not to mention the four-time Group 1 winner State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Breeder Gary Robinson of Strawberry Fields Stud withdrew Desert Crown's half-brother by Study Of Man (Ire) from Book 1 last week, but he will be offering another relative in Book 2 in lot 817, an Expert Eye (GB) colt out of the Derby winner's half-sister, the six-time winner Rose Berry (GB) (Archipenko).

The winning graduates have kept pouring in over the weekend for Tattersalls. Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) continued an excellent run for her owner Nurlan Bizakov in the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte just six days after Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Though Bizakov traditionally races homebreds, he bought Charyn from breeder Guy O'Callaghan's Grangemore Stud at Book 2 last year for 250,000gns. Her dam Futoon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) has no yearling in the sale this year, but Grangemore's draft of five in Book 2 contains another Dark Angel filly [lot 919] who is the first foal of Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy winner Summer Daydream (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}).

At Newmarket, Fitri Hay's Book 2 graduate Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) came within a head of landing the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. when finishing second to Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Over at the Curragh on Saturday, Joseph O'Brien's Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) continued her smart progression. She too was sold in Book 2 last year, for 55,000gns to Rockfield Farm, and she has provided a timely update for consignor Castletown Stud, which offers her half-sister by Zoffany (Ire) as lot 1711 in Book 3. When the catalogue went to press, Lumiere Rock was still unraced. 

These are just the tip of the equine iceberg, of course, and an honourable mention must go to one of this season's most exciting juveniles, Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who was plucked from the Chasemore Farm draft at last year's Book 3 for 77,000gns by Hamish Macauley.

In short, those labelled the 'cream of the crop' helped to provide Tattersalls with an historic rendition of Book 1 but, as ever, the classy runners of the next few seasons will emanate from all levels of the market. Bargain-hunters shouldn't be deterred; they may just have to wait a little longer than normal to strike this week.

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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.

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In all, 200 yearlings grossed $21,803,500 during the session for an average of $109,018 and a median of $85,000. With 134 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate remained elevated at 40.12%. The auction’s cumulative buy-back rate stands at 39.72%.

Last year’s first Book 3 session produced a $1-millon topper and 10 lots brought $500,000 or over. Friday’s top lot was the only to top that mark. In all, 234 yearlings sold in the 2019 auction’s fifth session for a total of $44,726,000. The average was $191,137 and the median was $160,000.

“We were shopping all day, and it’s the same story,” Ryan said. “If you have what the buyers want, you’ll be rewarded. It’s simple, but it’s unfortunate because there are a lot of nice horses that are probably not bringing what they are worth. It’s really selective. If you don’t meet the criteria, it’s a long road. But the top tier is very solid and there is not much drop off in the top horses.”

Tommy and Wyndee Eastham’s Legacy Bloodstock sold Friday’s top-priced filly, a daughter of Into Mischief (hip 1253) who sold for $400,000 to Joey Platts.

“The penalties are still high for any vetting, but if you are able to check all the boxes, we’ve had a good experience and people have wanted the ones who have gone through and checked all the boxes,” Tommy Eastham said. “But it’s still a tight market. Yesterday at the barns, we probably were as busy as we have been in a couple of years, even compared to ’19, which was a huge year. But now they are putting a budget on the horses, so even if you have nine or 10 scopes, you still need to be careful just because there is a ceiling. But I think there is a fair market.”

Sweetwater Trading Co.’s Kim Lloyd made two purchases during Friday’s session and three overall at the auction so far.

“I think the market is surprisingly good for the high-end horses,” Lloyd said. “Horses with great physicals are selling well today, which I expected, but they are selling for more money than I expected. On the other side of that, the horses that don’t meet all of the expectations of the buyers are not selling well, if they sell. So, it’s still a good market considering our circumstances. Both Fasig and Keeneland have done a great job and everyone should be grateful for their efforts.”

The Keeneland September sale continues through next Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Into Mischief Provides Late Fireworks Again

For the second day in a row, a Keeneland session was topped by a late-selling son of Into Mischief bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings as bloodstock agent Mike Ryan made a final bid of $625,000 to acquire hip 1614 on behalf of an undisclosed client in the closing stages of Friday’s fifth session of the September sale. Consigned by the Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield, the bay colt is out of graded placed True Romance (Yes It’s True).

“He was an exceptional colt, by an exceptional sire, and bred by an exceptional breeder,” Ryan summed up the yearling’s appeal. “All the way across the board. He was as good an Into Mischief as you could ever want to lay eyes on. Those good Into Mischiefs, you’ve got to reach for them. And he was exceptional.”

Of the yearling’s placement in Book 3, Ryan said, “I think he was well-placed because he stood out, but he would have been a standout physical in any book. Into Mischief is an extraordinary stallion. We haven’t seen anything like him in quite some time.”

Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet operation purchased True Romance, with this Into Mischief colt in utero, for $350,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale. True Romance died in 2019 and this is her only foal.

“He was a colt that just oozed power, speed and stamina and he just happens to be by a sire that really provides that,” said Summerfield’s Andrew Vanlangendonck. “It’s another Stonestreet-bred and raised horse. With their program, they just keep pushing out one right after the other. And we’re very pleased and happy they provided us with these horses.”

During Thursday’s session, Peter Leidel made a final phone bid of $1 million to secure an Into Mischief colt out of Teen Pauline (Tapit). Stonestreet also sold the auction’s top-priced offering, a $2-million son of Tapit.

Upstart Colt a Long-Running Success Story for Machmer Hall

A colt by freshman sire Upstart shot to the top of the leader board midway through Friday’s fifth session of the Keeneland September sale when bringing a final bid of $410,000 from bloodstock agent Liz Crow. The dark bay yearling (hip 1467) was bred and consigned by Machmer Hall and the Brogdens’ operation traces its involvement with the family back three generations. He is the first foal out of Miss Baby Betty (Warrior’s Reward), whose unraced dam Baby Betty (El Corredor) produced graded winner Sweet Whiskey (Old Fashioned).

Baby Betty, named after Carrie Brogden’s grandmother, briefly left the Machmer Hall band, but was purchased back again for $40,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale under the name Machmer Hall – Coming Home.

“We sold Baby Betty when Sweet Whiskey became a graded stakes winner for $400,000 [in 2014] and then when she came back, we bought her back,” Brogden explained. “That’s where ‘Coming Home’ came from.”

Brogden’s mother Sandy Fubini added, “My mom’s been gone a long time, but she was such a special woman. Her maiden name was Machmer and my grandfather had Machmer Hall named after him, so the whole farm goes back to them.”

From his first crop to race, Airdrie Stud’s Upstart has been represented by 10 winners to date, including GI Runhappy Hopeful S. runner-up and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Reinvestment Risk.

“When Airdrie called me about standing Upstart at stud, I begged and pleaded for a share, so they let us buy a share in him,” Brogden said. “And this mare was bred on that share. I just think Upstart has it all. Every single one I’ve had has had tremendous brains, they have bone, they have soundness.”

Brogden knew she had something special with her Upstart colt early on.

“He has been like this from the beginning,” Brogden said of the yearling. “I’ve been telling the guys at Airdrie the whole time, ‘I have a special Upstart, I have a special Upstart.’ Last night I texted when we knew how he was going down and I said, ‘Now I know I have a special Upstart.'”

Platts Gets His Into Mischief

Joey Platts came to Keeneland with an eye towards buying a yearling filly by Into Mischief and, while the competition was fierce in Books 1 and 2, the Wyoming native was able to add a youngster by the in-demand Spendthrift stallion early in Friday’s first Book 3 session. Platts, bidding in the back show ring alongside trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $400,000 to acquire hip 1253.

“It seems like every time I watch TVG there are three or four Into Mischiefs that win all over the country,” Platts said. “I’ve got one now [Mischiefs Model] that ran the other day at Laurel first out and ran second. That’s what I came here looking for, an Into Mischief. We finally got a decent one, we hope.”

Of the filly’s final price, Platts said, “It was a bargain compared to the prior three or four days of the sale. I’ve been here since day one. The ones I liked were hard to buy. I was on the two that went for over a million.”

The bay filly was consigned by Legacy Bloodstock on behalf of her breeder, Spendthrift Farm. B. Wayne Hughes’s operation purchased her dam, group-placed Ameristralia (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), for $370,800 at the 2014 Inglis Easter Sale. The mare’s first foal, a colt by Malibu Moon, sold to trainer John Kimmel for $300,000 at this year’s OBS March sale.

“We just liked her, looks like she is going to have some decent scope to her,” Platts said of the individual. “She’s a later foal [Apr. 28], so she still has some growing to go. She looked the part, looks like she’s got some athletic ability.”

Earlier in the sale, Platts purchased a filly by Empire Maker (hip 498) for $210,000 and he partnered with Slam Dunk Racing on a Frosted filly (hip 376) for $100,000.

With his racing stable now stocked with yearlings, Platts still wasn’t done shopping at Keeneland.

“I have to find three with Becky Thomas to pinhook,” Platts said. “I’ve got my racing side taken care of, now I’m going to the pinhook side.”

The oil and gas industry executive enjoyed success in that arena with Thomas this year when selling a son of Ghostzapper for $750,000 at the OBS Spring Sale. The colt had been purchased at Keeneland September last year for $250,000.

Lanni Adds to Partnership’s Haul

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni continued his shopping spree for the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership, going to $400,000 to acquire a colt by Uncle Mo from the Darby Dan Farm consignment. The yearling was bred by John Oxley, who purchased his dam ‘TDN Rising Star’ Delightful Mary (Limehouse) for $500,000 as an OBS April juvenile in 2010. Graded stakes-winning Delightful Mary was third in that year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and was named Canada’s champion 2-year-old filly.

“He was a cool dude, super chill and classy,” Lanni said of the colt, who he said reminded him of GIII Los Alamitos Derby winner Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo). “He’s a neat horse and we were happy to have him.”

The SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership has loaded up on potential stallion prospects this week in Lexington. Through five sessions, the group has purchased 26 yearlings for $10,740,000.

Asked if the absence of major foreign buyers had enabled the partnership to be more active on the results sheets, Lanni said, “Definitely. When you drive up to Keeneland and you don’t see those big jumbo jets on the runway across the street, you know you have a shot at buying what you want. We were fortunate that we were able to buy a lot of nice colts for the group.”

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