Eddie O'Leary | Horse Racing Free Tips

Market Reflections: Booming Trade But Is Goffs UK In The Right Slot?

Leading vendor Eddie O'Leary has said that Tuesday's record-breaking trade at Goffs UK would have come as a huge relief to vendors who expressed concern about the bolstered catalogue resulting in a watered down trade.

However, the Lynn Lodge Stud boss also suggested that the figures could be even better if the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale returned to its original slot before the Craven Sale at Tattersalls to maximise a horse's chance of getting to Royal Ascot.

There are eight weeks between the the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale and Royal Ascot, which is not enough for a sale that promotes itself as being number one at producing fast and early horses, according to O'Leary.

That argument has been countered by Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby, who says that a record of seven Royal Ascot winners in as many years for its graduates speaks for itself, and explained that the ground in late March on Town Moor would be less than ideal for breezing.

O'Leary said on Wednesday, “I'm a big believer that Doncaster should return to its original slot before the Craven. If it was before the Craven, they could market it as the Royal Ascot two-year-old sale, the first domestic sale of the year where you can get the sharp horses.

“The way things are at the moment, you can get a big horse at the Craven and then go up to Doncaster to look at the real sharp horses. To me, that's completely the wrong way around.”

He added, “There are just eight weeks between Doncaster and Royal Ascot. Buyers have to take the horses home and they could have a snotty nose after the sale, they also have to be named and then they need to run well if not win a maiden before you can think about Ascot, so a lot needs to be crammed into those eight weeks.

“If you flipped it by two weeks, then you have 10 weeks until Royal Ascot, and that would make a huge difference. A lot of sharp horses have gone to the Craven in recent years because it is the first sale of the year so that meant that Tattersalls got the real sharp horses as well as the mid-season types.”

While Beeby agrees that, in an ideal world, graduates of the sale would have more time to pull themselves into shape before the royal meeting but he is choosing to adopt a 'if it's not broke don't fix it' approach after booming trade.

He said, “Eddie makes a good point but there are two things to consider. First of all, we've got an unbelievable Royal Ascot record in recent times with the sale in its current slot. We are proving that, as long as the vendors support us with the horses that they have been, that's all that matters.

“There have been seven Royal Ascot winners from the past seven years of this sale and that speaks for itself. The second thing to consider is that the ground is always a major issue at any breeze-up. It was good breezing ground this year but those extra couple of weeks make a heck of a difference to the ground, which in turn has a real impact on what happens in the sales ring.”

Beeby added, “I completely understand what Eddie is saying but we have a good slot, have just smashed every single record and are pumping out Royal Ascot winners. One thing my dear old father used to say was, when you've got something right, don't be messing around with it. Keep it the way it is.”

Daniel Creighton: 'Demand For Royal Ascot Runners Helped The Market'

Daniel Creighton | Goffs UK

Top bloodstock agent Daniel Creighton, who bought multiple Group 1 winner and superstar mare Laurens (Fr) (Siyiouni {Fr}) at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, maintains that Tuesday's trade is an illustration of the demand for Royal Ascot two-year-old runners and said that he was bowled over by the fact 33 horses realised £100,000 or more.

“My main takeaway from the sale was the amount of horses who made six figures,” Creighton said. “I can't remember so many six-figure horses at the Doncaster breeze-up sale. The market was extremely hot for horses who were deemed acceptable.”

He added, “The polarisation of the ones they want and the ones they don't is probably increasing to some degree as well.

“Doncaster obviously has a very good record at producing horses for Royal Ascot and they were probably helped by the amount of people who want that two-year-old who is ready to go and maybe end up at the royal meeting. That's definitely swinging the market in their favour.”

Creighton is in the rare position to comment on the market given he owns a share in a number of breeze-up horses with Katie McGivern of Derryconnor Stud and also lays claim to a notable track record as a buyer.

He admits that he was operating from a small but select list at the Craven Sale and, after leaving Tattersalls empty-handed, struck at Goffs UK when securing a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt consigned by Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Farm for £155,000.

He said, “I tried to buy at the Craven but I couldn't get the horses I wanted. They made too much money. To be honest, there weren't many on my list at the Craven and anything that I really wanted, they were too expensive. I'm looking to buy a good horse who can run at two. My brief is to try and buy a Group horse.”

Creighton, who operates alongside Josh Schwarz under CS Bloodstock, added, “I also believe that the clock still has a huge influence on what horses are making. A lot of people are determined by it. I can't speak for everyone but there are a lot of other things to take into account when buying a horse.”

Like Eddie O'Leary, who relayed that numerous outfits were feeling the heat on the eve of the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale, Creighton explained how Tuesday's results would have come as a huge relief to many.

He said. “I think there were a bit of nerves on Monday evening, for sure. These vendors have a lot of money invested and put a lot of effort into getting the horses there. It's good to see that the market has improved from Dubai and again from the Craven. It's gone on an upward trajectory and hopefully that will continue at the Guineas Sale at Tattersalls next week and then on to the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Sale and Arqana as well.”

O'Leary pointed to the fact this year's catalogue featured 26 more horses compared to last year and 40 more than what was offered in 2021 as one of the main causes for concern with vendors.

That opinion was shared by Brendan 'Blarney' Holland in these pages with Emma Berry following the Craven Sale, with the Grove Stud maestro expressing a belief that there were just a finite number of horses to be put on the market.

Those comments came off the back of an overall clearance rate of 76% for a bolstered Craven catalogue that featured 38 more horses compared to 12 months ago.

However, Holland's theory may have been kicked to the curb at Doncaster on Tuesday, with a healthy clearance rate of 84% recorded for its beefed-up sale.

O'Leary commented, “It is great to see a positive market and the success the breeze-up horses have had on the track has fuelled it. What Blarney Holland, John Cullinan and others have done in recent times, it's been fantastic for all of us. They have proved that a lot of good racehorses can be sourced from the breeze-ups and the racetrack has been the best advertisement of that. Goffs worked very hard to get the clients in at Doncaster and the proof was in the results. It was a good sale.”

He added, “We were all very nervous because of the increase in numbers. We were worried there would be a watered down trade but there were a lot of serious players at Donny who wanted to buy nice horses and that was good. A few years ago, there might have been a couple of big players but there were five, six or seven big-hitters playing on Tuesday.

“The good horses remain hard to buy and there are a lot of people who tell me that they still haven't bought yet. Time is running out, that's why Doncaster should revert to its original slot in the calender.”

Strength Of The Middle Market A Notable Takeaway

The record-breaking Harry Angel (Ire) colt consigned by Tally-Ho Stud and knocked down to Michael O'Callaghan for £500,000 will have grabbed the headlines and helped the average climb 29% to £63,396 but it was the strength of the middle market that also pleased Beeby.

There were buyers at Doncaster from Australia, Denmark, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Sweden, which ensured horses at every level found new homes.

Beeby commented, “The team did a great job in making sure that we had buyers there for every type of horse. Michael Orton and Bernard Condren in particular spent time in Scandinavia and Italy with our agents Philip Zwicky and Gianluca Di Castelnuovo to make sure that we had people there for the middle market. Not only was there a very high clearance rate but, also, for the odd horse who didn't sell in the ring, we got a lot of private sales done afterwards. That was important.”

He added, “At the higher end, vendors sent us some really good horses and really got behind us in giving the sale great support. As Roger O'Callaghan said to me before the sale, 'we brought the horses, now it's your job to get them sold.' After the sale, Roger said, 'you did your job and we did ours.' It's pure teamwork between the vendors and the auction house to make sure we get as good a sale as we possibly can.

“From a personal point of view, my father [Harry] started breeze-ups in Europe back in 1977, so that's 45 years ago. I'd have loved to have been able to tell him that we just sold a breeze-up horse for £500,000 at Doncaster. I don't think he'd believe me. He'd have a big smile on his face, that's for sure.

“It wasn't just about that, though, as we had some really good touches for the established people like the Willie Brownes and Blarney Hollands of this world but also the young lads like Shane Power of Tradewinds Stud. It was wonderful to see it.”

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Top Consignors Focus On Dirt-Breds For Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale

The demand for American dirt-bred horses for next month's Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale has, according to Eddie O'Leary and Con Marnane, two titans of the game, provided consignors with a clear framework about what will and won't ring buyers' bells in the sales ring.

While Tom Taaffe, the client relations agent at Goffs, described last year's inaugural Dubai Breeze Up Sale as “a very good start,” there is a growing confidence among consignors that next month can be even better, with Marnane admitting to have 'upped his game big time.'

The sale, which takes place on Mar. 21, will also feature a new name on the catalogue, with Shane Power of Tradewinds Stud offering a Yoshida (Jpn) colt that he and his partners in the horse sourced specifically for this sale.

O'Leary sold both of his American-bred colts under his Lynn Lodge Stud banner at this sale last year and is back again with one by Collected and another by City Of Light, which he hopes will be a timely offering given the stallion sired G3 UAE Oaks winner Mimi Kakushi on Friday.

He said, “I thought last year's sale provided everyone with a good platform to build on. We are bringing bigger and better dirt-bred horses in general this year which will suit their programme that bit better, so hopefully it works.

“The programme in Dubai does not kick off until October onwards so there's no point in bringing a sharp Showcasing (GB) colt thinking it will suit because it won't. Their programme is all about good, big scopey dirt-bred horses who will come into their own next year. That's what they want.”

He added, “Looking through the catalogue, you may as well be in Keeneland. We went to buy horses last year that we thought would suit Dubai and the programme that they have over there. We've two for the sale this year and one is by City Of Light. He's the only City Of Light colt in the sale, which is great, because a City Of Light sired the winner of the UAE Oaks at Meydan on Friday.

“Let's hope this sale can build on last year. We're bringing the horses that we think will suit the programme in Dubai and we hope that the trainers take the sale to heart. The horses are there on their doorstep and they don't have to travel halfway around the world to go and buy them. Let's see what happens.”

Tom Taaffe | Goffs

Taaffe shares O'Leary's optimism. Having seen a lot of the 73 catalogued horses in the flesh, he says that the physicals match up with the pedigrees and expects that to be reflected in the sales figures.

“Most of these consignors are taking their best horses to this sale,” he said. “The catalogue is made up of roughly 85% dirt horses and there are some very good physicals and pedigrees in the sale. There are three tiers and we hope to cater for every type of buyer. I would be confident that we have gone up a gear from last year.

“I'm more than happy with the quality of the horses in the three tiers and the response that we are getting from the clientele that will be attending the sale from various different countries has been good.”

Reflecting on the inaugural Dubai Breeze Up Sale, he added, “As I said last year, it was a very good start. From the outside, people felt it was fabulous but, internally, I know in my own heart that there are things that we will all learn from. That includes the Dubai Racing Club, Goffs, vendors and purchasers. I think we've made a lot of progress in the year and hopefully we can see that in a month's time.

“Most importantly, for a first sale, we already have 13 individual winners and these horses were predominantly bought to be more 3-year-olds and upwards types. So, at this stage, to have that many winners is fantastic, not to mention the Group 1-placed Labeling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Japan. For a small sale of 69 catalogued last year, that's pretty good.”

One of those winners was a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt, consigned by Marnane's Bansha House Stables, who went on to be named Desert Man (GB) and scored impressively on the dirt in Saudi Arabia.

However, Marnane has refined his approach to this year's sale, and offers a Le Brivido (Fr) half-brother to G1 Dubai World Cup winner Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and an Audible colt who is very much built for the dirt.

Marnane said, “We've upped our game big time for this year's sale. We've an incredible Audible colt. Goffs told us that we needed to bring American-bred horses that will handle the dirt, but we've a Le Brivido (Fr) going down there as well, and he's a brother to Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Dubai World Cup. You don't get a better pedigree for Dubai than that.”

He added, “I'm bringing a nice grass horse and an American dirt horse. A racehorse is a racehorse and there's loads of grass races in the Middle East and the American programme is now split 50-50 between the dirt and the turf as well.

“Amy bought the Audible at Fasig-Tipton but sure the prices at the yearling sales in America were cuckoo. We had to up our game big time to buy a horse for this sale. The prize-money is so good in America that people can justify buying a yearling for what they are making over there. It was tough to buy them.

“The standard of horses that is coming through the breeze-ups is excellent. Proper horses. We've over 100 black-type and group horses sold and three Royal Ascot 2-year-olds as well. That's fair going. We've been very lucky.”

And, with that sort of track record, the famous 'Bansha Bullets' phrase was coined. But, tell us Con, has it been hard getting used to preparing these bigger dirt-type horses for the breeze-ups compared to the lightning-quick 2-year-olds?

Con Marnane | Goffs

“By Jesus, these two are fast! But I'll tell you one thing, hats off to Sheikh Mohommed, who looks after the staff who go down there very well. His generosity is fantastic. There has been good success from last year's sale and it's only going to get better.”

He added, “It's a work in progress but Goffs did a wonderful job last year in getting the buyers there and I've no doubt that they will do the same again this time round. It's a mammoth task, getting 69 horses on the plane out of Shannon down to a sale in Dubai and then for it to go well after that. You've got to take your hat off to them.”

Like O'Leary and Marnane, Power set out to buy an American dirt-bred horse, and explained why he wanted to be a part of the action in Dubai.

“It's an interesting concept. It's a new outlet for us and is totally different to what we are used to doing so it's good to explore something different. I own the Yoshida colt in partnership with Jerry Horan, who bought him in Keeneland last year. Yoshida is obviously a Grade I winner on dirt and the market seemed to gravitate towards these big horses with dirt pedigrees last year. You need to bring a two-turn dirt horse and you definitely need something with a bit of size. This fella is just over 16hh, is a big scopey horse, so he should fit the bill physically and on pedigree as well. Hopefully it all comes together.”

He added, “My brother Alex was at this sale last year and said that a lot of the horses who sold well came up the middle of the track. Rather than coming up the rail, it looked more impressive if a horse could breeze straight up the middle of the track, so we've had that in the back of our minds in preparing this lad.

“As well as that, this sale comes up pretty quickly after Christmas. You don't have a lot of time from Christmas to the sale. They are big horses, so it's a different sort of challenge in preparing them for a breeze.

“While they don't have to break the clock, and they can come up the track three-quarter pace, it's been at the forefront of my mind to try and be a step ahead of where I needed to be with him, just because the sale comes up so quickly.

“To be fair to the horse, he has a great appetite for feed and work, and he has been telling us all along that he can take the workload which was great because this was always the sale we wanted to go to with him.”

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Young Guns: Buyers Have Their Say On The Up-And-Coming Stallions

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry

After a hectic few months perusing this year's foal and yearling crops, we asked the buyers to share their thoughts on the young stallions with first foals and yearlings. From leading bloodstock journalist Nancy Sexton to top pinhooker John Cullinan, the pulse was taken on the ground at Tattersalls where opinions have now been formed on first-crop sires Ghaiyyath (Ire), Earthlight (Ire), Sergei Prokofiev and much more.

Dermot Farrington, agent, on Advertise (GB) & Kameko:

“If you look at the list of people who have bought yearlings and foals by Advertise, it's a long time since a young stallion has attracted the who's who of the bloodstock world, and that's exactly what he has done. Whether it be yearlings to breeze, yearlings to race or foals to pinhook, Advertise has attracted what I would call the best horse men and women in the industry. He's hugely popular among the right people and it truly is amazing. People will say I am biased given I bought the horse and my father-in-law [Martyn Meade] trained him, but I genuinely think he'll be a big success.

“Of the first crop of foals, Kameko is producing some very nice stock. I was actually very disappointed not to buy a colt on Thursday night by Kameko. I was the underbidder on him and Mick Fitzpatrick bought him. Kameko was a classy racehorse and I'd be backing him to do well from what I have seen so far.”

John Cullinan, pinhooker, on Pinatubo (Ire) and Blue Point (Ire):

“Everyone loves the new kids on the block and I'm no different. Ghaiyyath is the new exciting stallion and I was delighted to get a colt by him this week for 240,000gns. He's producing fantastic stock but sure he was the outstanding racehorse of his generation and is by a sire of sires in Dubawi (Ire). Look at Night Of Thunder and New Bay for example. Hopefully Ghaiyyath can carry on in that direction because they are a nice bunch of horses.

“I also bid strong on a Pinatubo on Thursday night but I didn't get him unfortunately. I like what I have seen from him. I don't usually buy many foals by sires who have their first runners the following season because, when you are only buying a few every year, you could leave yourself open. It's a huge risk, huge exposure. Having said that, myself and Roger [Marley] had a chat the other evening, and I hope to God that I am not putting the kiss of death on him now, but we both think Blue Point will have a big season next year. For any horse to win twice in the one week at Royal Ascot, they have to be blessed with uncommon talent. We have one very nice colt by him to breeze next year and, on the strength of what he's been doing, we bought a foal by him this week for 72,000gns, but it's not something we'd do normally.

“The market has been interesting this week and I think we could be facing a tough spell, especially in Britain, which is why we have been concentrating on the top end. The thinking there is, if we do hit a little bump next year, we will have the horses to sell to the recession-proof buyers. And, sure if all else fails, we can go out in a blaze of glory! But in all seriousness, it's been very tough at the sales because everyone has had the same idea. We looked at 136 horses, only vetted 14 of them and came home with three. I'm after leaving myself a little light on numbers but I have some high-end horses, which was the plan. I bought 11 foals last year and the ones I bought cheaply were the ones who didn't make money. The ones I pushed on and gave the few quid for, they left money behind, so I decided to spend my money this year, but on fewer horses at a higher level.”

Nancy Sexton, journalist and pinhooker on Ghaiyyath, Earthlight and King Of Change (GB):

“It's no secret that Ghaiyyath has some lovely foals: they have a look of Dubawi about them but they also have scope and the ones I've seen have been good movers. It's easy to see why they were so popular at Goffs and at Tattersalls.

“I also liked the Earthlight foals: on the whole they were good movers and straightforward. King Of Change wouldn't have many soldiers, but from the small selection over the last two weeks I thought they were good-looking and good-moving horses. He was a little underrated on the track and as a well-bred son of Farhh (GB), anything could happen.”

Eddie O'Leary, Lynn Lodge Stud on Ghaiyyath, Earthlight, Arizona, and Advertise:

“The Ghaiyyaths are gorgeous. They are big lovely-walking foals and they have plenty of quality about them. I've seen plenty of nice Earthlights and there were a few Arizonas who caught my eye as well. I actually underbid the Arizona colt who Peter Nolan bought at Goffs for €60,000. Advertise has his first runners next year and, after what I saw on my gallops at home recently, I was keen to pick up a few foals by him and I'm happy I did. I think he'll do well next year.”

Clare Manning, Boherguy Stud, on Ghaiyyath & Earthlight:

“I'm going to have to nominate two because I have been very impressed by the first foals by Ghaiyyath and Earthlight. They really seem to be stamping their stock. The Ghaiyyaths have plenty of size and are good walkers. He was a brilliant racehorse and is producing fine-bodied individuals. Earthlight is out of a New Approach (Ire) mare, which is obviously a big plus for me, and I have been a fan of what I have seen from him so far.”

Julie Woods, owner, on Ghaiyyath, Sergei Prokofiev & Without Parole (GB):

“Ghaiyyath is putting a nice stamp on his foals and Sergei Prokofiev seems popular as well. We bought a Without Parole because we like the Frankel (GB) line and followed Cracksman (GB) last year. There's a lot to look at but those are the ones we have really concentrated on.”

Freddy Tylicki, agent, on Ghaiyyath, Sergei Prokofiev, Advertise & Blue Point:

“I have been very taken by the Ghaiyyaths and the Sergei Prokofievs. Ghaiyyath is producing very good and attractive foals so let's see if they can run. The Sergei Prokofievs are going down as well as hot biscuits and he looks like he is stamping his foals. I bought an Advertise foal and it looks as though she was a giveaway as she cost just 2,500gns. I liked him when I saw him at stud and I loved him as a racehorse. I also bought a Blue Point foal and I think they will be fast.”

Joe Foley, Ballyhane Stud, on Sands Of Mali (Fr), Mohaather (GB), Soldier's Call (GB), Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Too Darn Hot (GB):

“I have been very pleased with the Sands Of Malis. He did well at Goffs and a nice colt sold for 27,000gns so we're very happy with that. In other news, the Mohaathers have been catching my eye. He was a lovely yearling himself, a lovely horse and a very good racehorse, so I was very interested in his foals. They have come back in his real Showcasing (GB) shape and they have that action. They look like runners to me. We bought a few Soldier's Calls last week at Goffs and again this week and I fancy him to do well in his first season next year and to become a good sire. Ten Sovereigns is another stallion whose yearlings I have liked the shape of and we bought a foal by him last week at Goffs. But that's a risky game, buying foals in the hope that the stallion clicks with its first runners.

“Next year is probably one of the most competitive years I can remember for first-season sires but, you know what, the good ones will come through. People are clever nowadays and, with all of the statistics available to everyone, they will be able to spot the good ones at the different price ranges. The likes of Too Darn Hot, who was a very good racehorse, his yearlings look very racey and appear to have plenty of Dubawi about them. I bought a few by him this week so I took a gamble there.

“And, speaking of Dubawi, Ghaiyyath has done well with his first foals. He was the highest-rated horse in the world at one point and is a very good-looking horse with a great attitude and a wonderful pedigree. Not only that, he showed good acceleration for a horse who stayed 10 furlongs. I'd like him as well. There are some very nice horses coming through the ranks which is great because we need some more good stallions. There are very good stallions coming through over the next few years and that's what makes this game so interesting.”

Liam Norris, agent and pinhooker, on Kameko:

“For me the Kameko foals are all a similar type. I like to see a stallion stamping his stock and I have seen a good few of his foals that I've liked.”

Larry Stratton, agent and pinhooker, on Sergei Prokofiev:

“There's a real consistency to the Sergei Prokofiev foals. One after another they have been really strong; he's really stamping them. They have lovely strong tops like himself.”

Amy Lynam, agent, on Mohaather, Without Parole, Too Darn Hot, Magna Grecia (Ire) and Masar (Ire):

“Of those with first foals, I have liked the stock of Mohaather. He's stamping his stock and obviously if they take after him you'd definitely like that. I've liked some of the Without Paroles as well; I think they are good walkers with a bit of quality about them.

“From the first yearlings I liked the Too Darn Hots. They were probably a bit too expensive for me, but I liked them all the same and I am excited to see what he can do. I also bought a yearling by Magna Grecia in Doncaster and he was one of my favourites that I bought. Invincible Spirit (Ire) is a proven sire of sires, Magna Grecia was top class himself and he is very impressive to look at. I also liked Masar's yearlings and it has been great to see his foals sell well this week as well.”

Harry Dutfield, pinhooker, on Earthlight, Sergei Prokofiev, and Kameko:

“Over in Ireland, the Earthlights made the list. At the cheaper end of the scale, Sergei Prokofiev has hit the mark repeatedly, and the Kameko foals are good-bodied sorts. But if you had a small mare, Sergei Prokofiev seems to be stamping them: they are big, brawny, lengthy horses with plenty of size and scope.”

Tom Whelan, pinhooker, on Sergei Prokofiev, Mohaather & Earthlight:

“For me the Sergei Prokofiev foals were the best. I underbid one at 92,000gns. I liked him a lot and I followed one in again today who made 70,000gns. They are good, strong foals.

“I also saw some nice Mohaather foals. Some of them look very like Showcasing and the way he has gone that can't be a bad thing. The Earthlights were also very consistent.”

John Bourke, Hyde Park Stud, on Ghaiyyath, Earthlight, and Soldier's Call:

“Ghiayyath is the one everyone is raving about and the Earthlights are nice as well. I'm not a big foal buyer but I buy a lot of yearlings and mares, they are my big thing, so I'm always watching the young sires coming through. That's one of the most interesting parts of this game for me.

“I might try and buy a mare who is in foal to one of the up-and-coming stallions next week. The way I look at mares is, I'll be looking at sending them to a stallion who will have his first runners next year. I sent two mares to Havana Grey (GB) in April when it looked like he was going to do the business. People can be panicking about getting their mares in foal but I will always keep a few back to see what first-season sires are going well and I'll take a chance on the ones who are showing the right signs.

“Soldier's Call is one I'll be backing. To be honest, I've one or two at home who are being prepared for the breeze-ups and they look like rockets. There's one filly in particular there and, if she can't gallop, I'll be very surprised.”

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The Major Talking Points From The Premier Yearling Sale At Doncaster

The first major yearling sale of the autumn in Britain or Ireland, the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale provided entertainment from the beginning to the end, but most importantly, boasted impressive figures. Brian Sheerin was in attendance and discusses the major talking points from the sale.

Figures on the up

The team at Goffs UK could hardly have wished for a better start to the Premier Yearling Sale. The day one figures were off the charts. Of the 218 lots offered on Tuesday, 199 were sold, representing a clearance rate of 91%.

The aggregate was up 28% to £8,954,500, the average rose 15% to £44,997 and the median climbed 27% to £38,000.

There were noticeably less people around the sales complex at Doncaster on day two. While the figures failed to match what took place on Tuesday, there were some impressive numbers recorded on Wednesday, with an 87% clearance rate on a day where the aggregate climbed 11% to £7,003,000.

The average on Wednesday went up 0.5% while the median fell by 4% to £32,000. That came despite the fact that there was some late drama in the ring with three of the last seven lots making six figures.

All told, the sale went well. Of the 406 yearlings catalogued, 363 were sold, translating to a clearance rate of 89%. The aggregate was up 20% to £15,987,500 while the average was up 8% and the median rose by 9%.

Big Results From Small Numbers For Fitzgerald

Alice Fitzgerald knows what she is doing. It was at the Premier Yearling Sale in 2021 when Fitzgerald sold her homebred Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}} out of 10,000gns purchase Under Offer (Bated Breath (GB) to MV Magnier for £160,000.

Fast forward 12 months and Fitzgerald, who never brings more than one or two to the sales, bagged another big pay-day by selling her Kodiac (GB) colt out of Night Queen (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) to Manor House Farm for £160,000.

What's even more impressive about Fitzgerald? This isn't even her day job.

John and Jess Dance Stock Up

Given John and Jess Dance bought six-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at this sale in 2016, it's only natural that the owners would have an affinity towards Doncaster, which was evident in the results.

Under Manor House Stables, they signed for nine different yearlings at a total of £837,000, which was only bettered by the £1,162,000 that Peter and Ross Doyle spent across the two days on a whopping 17 different horses.

However, of the top 10 spenders at the Premier Yearling Sale, nobody boasted a better average than John and Jess Dance.

The couple spent an average of £93,000 on their nine lots, illustrating that they are seeking quality over quantity more so than ever before.

High Praise From Doyle

Ross Doyle is renowned for being one of the best judges in the game. Along with his father Peter, he has sourced Mehmas, Barney Roy, Limato, Japan, Fairyland, Magna Grecia, Olympic Glory and much more.

Therefore, when he praised Goffs for attracting the best bunch of yearlings that he has seen for some time, it reflected well on the quality of the sale.

Doyle signed for two of the top lots in the sale, a colt by New Bay (GB) [211] for £200,000 on day one, and a lovely Dark Angel (Ire) colt [251] the following day for the same figure.

Grangemore signed for the Dark Angel colt at last year's Tattersalls December Foal Sales for 40,000gns and the sale to the Doyles, who didn't reveal where the horse would be trained, secured a tidy pinhooking profit. The New Bay colt will be trained by Richard Hannon.

Two Top-Notch Pinhooks

There were a number of good pinhooks over the course of the sale but two stood out. The first was that of lot 21, a gorgeous Ten Sovereigns (Ire) filly that Jamie Railton bought for €26,000 off Ballybin Stud at the November Foal Sales at Goffs last year before selling to Richard Hughes for a cool £110,000 on Tuesday.

The second was an even greater piece of inspiration as Violet Hesketh and Mimi Wadham, who run WH Bloodstock, and transformed lot 171 from a €38,000 purchase back in February to a £120,000 yearling just six months later.

A colt by Kuroshio (Aus), lot 171 was tipped to do well after a number of shrewd judges got him vetted and, in the end, he was knocked down to Mark McStay and it's understood the colt will be sent to Fozzy Stack to be trained.

Kuroshio Holding His Own

Kuroshio has been around the world and back but this year represented the classy Australian's first crop of runners since he took up residency at Starfield Stud in 2020. After a slow start to the season, Dontspoilasale (Ire) has come along and won for the stallion in Ireland, and looks potentially progressive, while Jessica Harrington's Panic Alarm (Ire) should be winning races for the stallion when he gets softer ground conditions.

All told, anyone who has backed Kuroshio will be a lot happier now than ever before as last week's figures were respectable. Away from the headline-maker, lot 171, the Baroda Stud-drafted filly [lot 258] also secured a solid sale for the stallion, and changed hands to join John and Jess Dance for £48,000. All four yearlings by the stallion were sold.

Force Behind Highclere Stallion

Some will argue that Land Force (Ire) is riding the crest of a No Nay Never wave, and that may have been an entirely plausible summation of the situation had his yearlings not been so impressive in the flesh.

Top judges Clive Cox-who went to £85,000 to secure lot 71-and Oliver St Lawrence bought progeny by the stallion. Some of the best in the breeze-up business, Katie Walsh, Longways Stables and Con Marnane, also rowed in behind Land Force this week.

Jake Warren even tipped the Highclere-based stallion for first-season sire honours and, while there is a lot of water to pass under that particular bridge, the early signs are promising for anyone with a Land Force in their stable.

Of the 17 offered this week, 14 were sold at an aggregate of £510,000, which averaged out at £36,429.

Noteworthy Buyers

A number of top agents, trainers and breeze-up buyers relayed how footfall had increased at the sale and, as a result, it was going to be even harder to smoke out a bargain.

Well, buyers also had to contend with major competition from afar as Wesley Ward also got in on the action, signing for lot 200, a Lynn Lodge-consigned £82,000 daughter of US Navy Flag.

Ward is clearly a fan of the stallion and why wouldn't he be? The Patrick Grogan-bred Love Reigns (Ire), whose only defeat in three starts for the American-based trainer, came when she finished fourth in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot. Time will tell if Ward has bagged himself another Royal Ascot filly.

It should be said that, for all that Eddie O'Leary has a host of international clients, he still made time for his neighbour at Goffs. At one point in the afternoon on Wednesday, Nick Nugent on the rostrum announced, 'from one corner of Mullingar to the other,' when Roger O'Callaghan of Tall-Ho purchased a Mehmas colt [lot 349] for £45,000 off his fellow Westmeath native.

O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud ended proceedings with 11 yearlings sold for £677,000 at an average of £61,545, making the operation the fifth most successful across the two days.

Tally-Ho Dominate

It was an excellent sale for Tally-Ho. Not only was the stud responsible for the top lot, the Blandford Bloodstock-bought Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly [lot 278] out of five-time winner and listed-placed Thiswaycadeaux (Thewayyouare), but they also ended proceedings as the leading consignors with 24 yearlings making £1,544,000 in total.

That was needed, according to Roger O'Callaghan, who revealed that there were 60 more yearlings standing in the field at home in Westmeath, with 40 needing to be broken in and prepared for the breeze-ups.

Away from the excellent results posted by their own stock, Tally-Ho will have been delighted by how all the progeny of their resident stallions were received with yearlings by Kodiac, Cotai Glory, Kessaar, Galileo Gold, Mehmas and young sire Inns Of Court doing well.

Night Of Thunder Stars

But the star of the show, without question, was Darley's Night Of Thunder. Along with Tally-Ho's sales-topping filly, the Mountarmstrong Stud-drafted Night Of Thunder [170] colt out of Pious Alexander, which ended day one on top at £230,000, ensured it was a memorable sale for the sire.

Mark McStay landed the day one leader, after which, the leading agent labelled Night Of Thunder, the sire of last week's spellbinding G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Highfield Princess (Fr), as a solid source of top-class talent.

Classy Siblings On Show

Some pedigrees leapt off the page. The Galileo Gold half-brother [280] to Nunthorpe runner-up The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) made £170,000 to join Richard Spencer, the Ulysses (Ire) half-brother [213] to Coventry S. winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) was knocked down to Dance Thoroughbreds for £150,000 and Whitsbury Manor's Havana Grey (GB) half-sister to Sandy Lane S. scorer El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) was all the rage at £230,000 with Jack Warren of Highclere doing the buying.

Havana Grey Shines

Of the 22 horses offered by Havana Grey, all bar one were sold for a total of £1,089,000, averaging at £51,857. Whitsbury's Ed Harper revealed that his performance is exceeding the wildest dreams but, with nine individual black-type horses in his first crop, perhaps buyers were cottoning on to the fact that they have been witnessing something special.

Soldier's Answers The Call

This game is all about looking towards the future and the early signs are that Joe Foley has another real one at Ballyhane Stud in Soldier's Call (GB).

The man knows how to launch a stallion and must have taken great credit about how Soldier's Call cleared £563,000 from 13 yearlings sold at an average of £43,308.

What's more, Foley was prepared to put his money where his mouth is, and bought the top lot [212] by the sire for £105,000 off Tinnakill House Stud for Steve Parkin.

The post The Major Talking Points From The Premier Yearling Sale At Doncaster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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