Tag: Frankel

Sea the Stars On Top Again at Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK–Sea The Stars (Ire) provided a showstopper on day one and repeated that feat during the second session of Book 2 when Longview Stud's half-sister to the Group 3 winner Feliciana De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 1048) was bought by Roger Varian for 700,000gns.

For an unnamed owner already in Varian's Newmarket stable, the chestnut is a son of the dual listed winner Along Came Casey (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), who has already been represented by three previous six-figure offspring, including the four-time winner Abnaa (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“We tried for the Sea The Stars colt who topped the sale yesterday,” Varian said. Quite a few horses this week have that real Book 1 quality.

“The stallion can't do much wrong at the moment, the mare was a stakes winner and has bred a very good one already. We had to dig deep to get him, but we are delighted.”

The consistent demand for offspring of the stallions of the calibre of Sea The Stars, Frankel (GB), Night Of Thunder (Ire) and Dark Angel (Ire) has fuelled strong trade since the start of the October Yearling Sale, and if Monday's start to Book 2 was a little hesitant, trade roared back into life on Tuesday. Turnover was up by 26% for one fewer yearling sold on the same day last year, with 23,366,000gns paid for 217 yearlings at a clearance rate that remained steady at 88%. The average was also up by 26% at 107,677gns, while the median rose by 8% to 70,000gns.

Breeder Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud was responsible for one of the late highlights of the evening when the second foal of his French listed winner Asidious Alexander (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}) was the subject of a bidding tussle between Ben McElroy, Richard Brown and Jamie McCalmont, with the latter coming out on top at 575,000gns for Coolmore.

The colt was yet another expensive yearling by Darley's increasingly popular Night Of Thunder (Ire), whose Book 2 average is currently running at 178,400gns for 20 sold, putting him at the top of the sires' list so far this week.

 

 

Chasemore Colt to Hong Kong

A strapping bay son of Starspangledbanner (Aus) provided another sale-ring highlight for Chasemore Farm when selling for 550,000gns to the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

Standing only metres part, the HKJC representative Mick Kinane and Dr. Jim Hay exchanged bids for a time, with Kinane finally having his way for the brother to the Group 3-placed juvenile Breege (GB) and out of a half-sister to one of Starspangledbanner's best runners, The Wow Signal (Ire).

Chasemore's Andrew and Jane Black bought the colt's dam Wowcha (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) as a yearling at Goffs UK and she went on to win as a 3-year-old, before producing two winners with her first two runners, including Breege, who this season has been placed in both the G3 Princess Margaret S. and G3 Prestige S.

Chasemore's manager Jack Conroy said of lot 1008, “The Wow Signal was an unbelievable racehorse and the mare was lovely and scopey so it made a lot of sense to send her to Starspangledbanner. Breege has obviously really helped the pedigree as well.

“[The colt] has been incredibly popular–I've never had so many vettings on a horse, even in Book 1. Sadly we lost the mare last November but she has left us Breege.”

Chasemore sold four horses at Book 1, all for six figures and led by a 750,000gns Kingman (GB) colt out of Wall Of Sound (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).

Reflecting on the stud's good run, Conroy added, “I'm really proud of the job the team has done last week and this week. Every horse is prepped exactly the same, from Book 1 to Book 3, and we have had a lot of comments on how well they look. We take a lot of pride in that.

“It's an incredibly busy week and our Book 3 horses have just arrived but hopefully we can celebrate on Champions Day. A Group 1 win for [homebred] Brad The Brief would be a nice way to round off the week.”

Starspangledbanner ended up with two yearlings in the day's top eight as nine lots later (lot 1017) came New England Stud's half-sister to the listed winner Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), bred by ORS Bloodstock and Stanley House Stud, who was signed for by Hugo Merry at 340,000gns.

 

 

Suhail Back for a Frankel

In an increasingly familiar refrain, Frankel (GB) also featured prominently on Tuesday's leaderboard, with two of his yearlings occupying spots in the top five.

The top lot for much of the day was lot 853, a colt bred by Andrew Rosen and Edward Easton from September Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})) and, at 450,000gns, he became the latest yearling to be recruited by agent Richard Brown on behalf of owner Saeed Suhail, the owner of Desert Crown (GB).

“We tried on a load of Frankels last week and didn't get close,” said Brown. “He is an immature horse, he needs a little bit of imagination, but there is a lot of improvement to come, he is a big frame. He will be given plenty of time and hopefully will reward us as a 3-year-old.”

A Book 1 graduate herself, September Stars, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Teodoro (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Group 1-placed Altruistic (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from the Wildenstein family of Arcangues and Aquarelliste (Fr), went on to win at stakes level in California for Patrick Gallagher. Her current 2-year-old, a filly by Kingman (GB), is in training with Roger and Harry Charlton.

Like Watership Down Stud, Fittocks Stud also enjoyed a good week during Book 1, and the Cumani team returned to the limelight on Tuesday when selling a Frankel filly (lot 974) out of a Lawman (Fr) half-sister to the treble Group 1 winner and Japan-based sire Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}). Following a theme from Monday, the filly had her roots in a family which has been well cultivated by Andreas Putsch at Haras de Saint Pair, who bred both her dam Via Lazio (GB) and granddam Via Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}).

Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland saw off both Shadwell and Juddmonte to buy the filly at 425,000gns.

“We bought Via Lazio in 2019 carrying to Zoustar (Aus). She is a young mare and from a great family, and she is in foal to Time Test (GB) with a Sea The Moon (Ger) filly this year,” said Sara Cumani of Fittocks Stud.

“We put the [Frankel] filly in Book 2 because we thought she might be a little bit lost with the great big Frankels in Book 1. We couldn't be happier with that result. She is a real pocket rocket, we wish the new connections the best of luck.”

 

Peter Harris Strikes for Ballyshannon Colt

Peter Harris has seen his colours carried to glory by two juveniles trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam this year and the former trainer and breeder has been reinvesting in some yearlings this week at Tattersalls, including lot 991, a colt by Sea The Stars (Ire) bought from Ballyshannon Stud for 350,000gns. Anthony Stroud signed for the first foal of the G3 Fairy Bridge S. winner Waitingfortheday (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), and he had also been responsible for the purchase of Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who carried the Harris silks to Group 1 glory in the name of Peter's daughter Alison Swinburn.

Having confirmed that Jane Chapple-Hyam will take charge of the colt, Harris said, “I like first foals because you start with a clean sheet. I always ignore first-season sires as 75% of them are no good, but statistically a mare's first and second foals tend to be better–that's my theory anyway.”

James Hughes of Ballyshannon Stud, who consigned the colt on behalf of breeder Angela Roche, said, “He has gone to a good home, and it is fantastic result for a first foal. The credit has to go to the staff at home: they have reared him and from the feedback we have been getting, we've done okay.”

Hughes purchased the Kildare-based Ballyshannon Stud with his mother Fiona, who died last year. “She would have got a great kick out of this,” he said. “It would have been great to have had her here too.”

 

Ballyhimikin's Beauty

A Ballyhimikin Stud yearling towards the top of the charts is a familiar sight at Tattersalls, and James Hanly's dependable outfit delivered again on Tuesday with lot 930, a colt by Night Of Thunder (Ire), who will go into training with John and Thady Gosden after being bought at 340,000gns by Anthony Stroud. The agent also purchased the colt's full-sister this time last year for the more modest sum of 38,000gns.

“He is a beauty, the sire didn't do any harm either–I should put up a statue of him,” said Hanly, who raced the colt's dam Syndicate (GB) (Dansili {GB}), having bought her through Stroud from Juddmonte as a 3-year-old for 25,000gns.

“The pedigree has really come good since we bought her. My friend John Feane trained her and won with her in England. She showed a lot of ability.”

The mare's two full-brothers, Runnymede (GB) and Stipulate (GB) are both stakes winners, and the further family also includes the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Mutual Trust (GB) (Cacique {GB}).

 

Smart Fillies Signed Up By Breeders

Big owner-breeders joined the buyers' bench on Tuesday with Cheveley Park Stud, who were “on the hunt for sharper types” going to 320,000gns for lot 862, Tally-Ho Stud's sister to Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who has twice finished runner-up to G1 Dewhurst winner Chaldean (GB), in the G3 Acomb S and G2 Champagne S.

Shadwell paid the same amount for lot 847, a filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) from Newsells Park Stud's signature family of Shastye (GB) (Danehill). The yearling's dam Secret Sense (Shamardal) is a half-sister to the Galileo (Ire) Group 1 winners Japan (GB) and Mogul (GB), and to Group 2 winner Secret Gesture (GB).

“She looks a very tough filly, there is a masculine look about her and plenty of Shamardal,”said Shadwell's Angus Gold. “We are trying to find fillies with pedigrees, she has one of the best pages in the book.”

 

Coolmore Purchase to Kingsclere

Hillwood Stud has had a successful first two days at Book 2, with Tuesday's offerings including a Lope De Vega (Ire) filly sold for 300,000gns to Alex Elliott on behalf of MV Magnier.

“She'll go to Andrew Balding,” the agent confirmed. “The brother is not a bad horse–he won a Newmarket maiden–and the mare was rated 100 and is by Sea The Stars. It's a great staying family, she'll take a bit of time and I'm delighted to get her.”

The dam Yarrow (Ire) emanates from the Ballymacoll Stud family that included 2000 Guineas winner Golan (Ire) and Derby runner-up Tartan Bearer (Ire), and her second foal, the juvenile Tenerife Sunshine (GB), is the Newmarket winner in training with Mark and Charlie Johnston.

 

Pinhookers In Clover

Among several notably good pinhooks during the second session, the brothers David and Tom Brickley of And Erin Stud deserved a gold star to go with their considerable profit made on lot 873. Bought for 50,000gns last year, the Exceed And Excel colt did of course benefit from several striking updates from his half-brother, the 'TDN Rising Star' Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), the winner of the G2 Mill Reef S. who is owned by KHK Racing.

Oliver St Lawrence bought the 2-year-old colt at the breeze-ups, and he returned for the yearling, going to 270,000gns on behalf of associates of Fawzi Nass.

“He is an absolute dude of a horse, an absolute dude,” said Tom Brickley. “Sakheer came up, too, and the stars aligned, it is exciting stuff.

“He has been straightforward all the way through and we think he is a champion. Let's hope he's an Ascot 2-year-old for next year–we've never been to Royal Ascot.

The colt, who was bred by Conor and Deirdre Cashman's Drumlin Bloodstock, is out of Shortmile Lady (Arcano), who, along with Sakheer is also responsible for the Group 3 winner Lemista (Raven's Pass).

Barry Mahon and Michael Fitzpatrick also know their stuff when it comes to pinhooking and the Mahon family's Mountain View Stud sold a smart son of Darley freshman Masar (Ire) for 240,000gns to Ed Sackville.

Consigned as lot 925, the son of Sweet Lady Rose (Ire) (Shamardal) was bred by David Botterill and sold as a foal for 32,000gns.

Masar's nine yearlings sold through Book 2 so far have averaged 100,444gns.

 

Havana Grey is Gals' Best Pal

An all-female pinhooking syndicate named The Gals Gals had an excellent first foray into the yearling market, turning their 21,000gns foal into a 150,000gns yearling. Their cause was helped by the fact that the colt was by one of this year's leading first-season sires Havana Grey (GB), but there was plenty of collective experience among the four young women who picked him out at Tattersalls last December and produced him for Book 2.

Led by Kildaragh Stud's Alice Kavanagh, the Gals Gals team consists of Florence Cain, Nicola Short, and Fay Cort, all of whom work in the bloodstock industry in various roles.

“The girls came together last year and we thought about buying a foal together,” said Kavanagh. “We were beaten on a couple, but were successful buying him towards the end of the sale. We are all heavily involved in the industry and wanted to pool our money together and have a go at pinhooking. We have been extremely lucky with how well Havana Grey has done, we couldn't have expected that and it was a pretty risky year to go with a first-season sire. We were incredibly lucky he has done so well and this colt was liked as soon as we got here.”

Cort added, “I think it's going to be a big night. There will be some champagne drunk, but it is well earned.”

The colt (lot 900) is out of Speculating (Ire) (Xtension {Ire}), a half-sister to the hardy Group 3-winning stayer Danehill Kodiac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), and was bred by Josh Cameron.

“We will have a really nice supper and then think about reinvesting,” noted Kavanagh.

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This Side Up: Higher Stakes But No Less Of A Gamble

Well, that was one even I managed to see coming. With sterling bleeding at the bottom of the stairs, the most expensive yearling transaction of 2022 was duly enacted at Tattersalls this week.

It was always going to be a wild market: Keeneland had shown the big spenders to remain impervious to war and inflation, while the local currency had been set aflame after new leaders sent home the babysitter and started playing with fiscal matches.

Sure enough, Book I catapulted to giddy new heights, recording surges of 45 percent in turnover; 30 percent in average; and 25 percent in median. But once you incorporate a 20 percent haemorrhage in the value of a guinea since this time last year, those gains largely maintain the kind of bull run that has continued unabated in the U.S. (where aggregate yearling trade is up 14.8 percent).

This auction did, however, have two additional drivers. One is Frankel (GB), who accounted for the top four prices and is reaching a status in his second career parallel to that he achieved in his first. The other was an extraordinary renewal of ardor, notably for the sale's other dominant stallion, in the man who has long sustained this industry through good times and bad.

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team was again conspicuous by its absence in Lexington last month, having topped the September spending as recently as 2019 at $16 million. At Tattersalls this week, however, Godolphin bought 35 yearlings for 25,355,000gns, up from 15 for 9,375,000gns last year. Astonishingly, that weighed in at 20 percent of the gross!

In the American yearling market, the defection of an investor with apparently bottomless resources has actually stimulated domestic competition. Whether similar sustainability might be discovered in any such vacuum in Europe is hard to know.    Without the Maktoums, breeders there might well find themselves precariously reliant on an export market that will, logically, eventually destroy its own value. For now, the racing product owes much of its competitive validation to sheer heritage. But that cannot continue if a) an increasing portion of the talent pool is exported even before it gets to the track, and b) successor investors don't match the Maktoums' long toleration of inadequate purses.

As it is, the Sheikh appears to have been especially animated by the finite opportunities left to Dubawi (Ire). The stallion he cherishes for redeeming the tragedy of Dubai Millennium (GB) is now 20, and his owner bought as many as 14 of his 21 yearlings sold this week. But even those with no such sentimental spur appeared so devoted to a tiny apex of the sire pyramid that it almost seems credulous. Combining a Book I physique with Frankel or Dubawi was treated as a short-cut to no fewer than 21 of the 28 sales for 750,000 guineas and above. If only the game were that simple!

Dubawi | Darley Photo

Frankel, of course, had posted a timely advertisement in Paris on the eve of the sale. Alpinista (GB) is no mere slogger—she was cruising throughout—even though Frankel has quickly established himself, like his own sire, as a profound staying influence; while the dam is by another such in Hernando (Fr).

It just shows how that elusive concept, class, is crucially underpinned by the stamina that allows you to carry your speed. That's a point I'm always making about dirt blood, but sticking to the European theater let's consider another son of Galileo (Ire) now at stud. Australia (GB) is famously out of Ouija Board (GB) whose prowess over a mile and a half will be remembered in the U.S. Yet he was arguably unlucky when only just beaten by Night Of Thunder (GB) and Kingman (GB) over the mile of the G1 2,000 Guineas. Ouija Board's family has mixed flavors but it's hardly the breeding-by-numbers sprint formula by which many people ended up trying to leaven the stamina of Galileo (Ire). Her third dam, indeed, was by a winner of the Ascot Gold Cup (20 furlongs). Yet perhaps Australia's principal stud achievement to date is a GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner.

That horse, Order Of Australia, returns Saturday to the scene of his finest hour for the GI Coolmore Turf Mile. There will doubtless be much comment about the sponsors inviting Christophe Soumillon to ride this horse for the first time, pending the two-month ban he received for a vividly perilous misjudgement in France last week. Though I have heard some disapproval of this apparent indulgence, it strikes me as a magnanimous gesture to a man who has, besides his suspension, lost a lucrative job and much esteem. This is not the first time these owners have provided a first step back up the ladder for someone who has taken a humiliating fall.

It's the deed you punish, not the consequences, and Sonny Leon's exhibition on Rich Strike (Keen Ice) last weekend looked at least as provocative but for the happy detail that his adversary stayed aboard. Instead it was fun to see Tyler Gafflione's hilarity, and Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) stifling any ungenerous mutterings about his win ratio.

Both horses showed all the valor and commitment that Calumet so prizes in its stallion roster. Whether that will assist their respective sires in turning the tide remains to be seen, but this is a farm animated by the most edifying priorities even if the execution sometimes shows them to be marching to their own drum.

Rich Strike & Hot Rod Charlie battle it out down the stretch | Coady Photography

Rich Strike notoriously carried the Calumet colors until winning a claimer by 17 lengths last year, and there can be barely less regret over War Like Goddess (English Channel). Both she and her dam were cheaply discarded and nor can her excellence now assist her late sire, who was doing so much to vindicate Calumet's message.

Sold for $1,200 as a weanling, War Like Goddess advanced her value to $30,000 as a 2-year-old when her slow-burning development was identified by Donato Lanni. The agent will have derived much satisfaction from the way she has bloomed since, reiterating the horsemanship that first earned him the kind of clients who can shop right at the other end of the marketplace. Fitting, then, that War Like Goddess was bought for the man who first got Lanni started, 20 years previously, George Krikorian.

Her damsire, North Light (Ire), could well prove the last Epsom Derby winner to stand in Kentucky. When you think of the breed-shaping legacy of so many predecessors, from the inaugural winner Diomed to Blenheim to Roberto, that is a dismal prospect. But you never know, the wheel may turn again someday.

That's the whole beauty of this game: you never know. Perhaps War Like Goddess, in her bid for the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, can remind some of those who have been jumping through Frankel-shaped hoops at Tattersalls why this game is known as a great leveller. Maybe one of the 16 yearlings that made seven figures this week will go on and win the Epsom Derby. But few, if any, will ever run anything like War Like Goddess, who was led out unsold at $1,000 when taking her own turn at a yearling sale. Okay, so we never know. But I reckon that's one thing you know for a fact.

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Brace of Frankel Millionaires as Final Book 1 Session Gets Underway

Within two lots and just 40 minutes into the final Book 1 session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale two colts by Frankel (GB) sold for 1.9 millions gns and 2 million gns, respectively.

The first, lot 379 from Luca and Sara Cumani's Fittocks Stud, is out of the winning Pivotal (GB) mare Blue Waltz (GB) from the family of champion 2-year-old filly Blue Duster (Danzig) and was bought by MV Magnier of Coolmore.

 

Moments later lot 381 was the latest selection by Richard Knight, and he hails from the Watership Down Stud draft that was also responsible for the current sale-topper at 2.8 million gns. This colt, whose dam is the four-time winner Bold Lass (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), is a grandson of the multiple stakes winner My Branch (GB) (Distant Relative {Ire}) from the extended family of Group/Grade 1 winners Make Believe (GB), Dubawi Heights (GB) and Tante Rose (Ire).

 

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Tattersalls Makes History With Europe’s Highest-Grossing Day 

NEWMARKET, UK–A marker in bloodstock history was plunged firmly into the ground at Tattersalls on Wednesday, when those present at Park Paddocks bore witness to the highest-grossing day of horse trade that has ever taken place in Europe. An eye-watering sum of 49,545,000gns was spent on 144 yearlings throughout the eight-hour session, including the most expensive yearling in the world this year–a colt by Frankel (GB) sold for 2.8 million gns. He was one of eight bought for seven-figure sums, bringing the number of million-plus youngsters from the first two Book 1 sessions to 11.

Across those two days, Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been the most determined spender, bolstering his team of 2-year-olds for the 2023 season by an extra 22 just from Book 1, his bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud having been charged to bid a collective 16,520,000gns on his behalf.

The name of agent Richard Knight has been cropping up on buyers' lists from Deauville to Newmarket via Kentucky and Kildare, and he continued his lavish spree on behalf of his unnamed client with 6.13 million gns spent on 10 yearlings at Book 1 so far. That beats the amassed influence of the Coolmore and White Birch Farm teams, which collectively have signed up five yearlings for 5.43 million gns.

On a blockbuster day with a clearance rate of 88%, the turnover was up by 65% when set against the equivalent day last year. The median rose by 25% to 200,000gns and the average by 49% to 344,062gns.

 Watership Down's 'Jewel in the Crown'

A frenetic start to the day's trade at Park Paddocks soon brought a new top price for a yearling anywhere in the world this year when Watership Down Stud's Frankel (GB) colt out of Group 3 winner So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) brought the hammer down at 2.8 million gns.

It was Tuesday's leading buyer Godolphin that prevailed in the contest for lot 221, whose dam is a full-sister to Darley's first-season sire Too Darn Hot (GB), but Stroud faced stiff opposition from Bill Farish of Lane's End Farm, who was sitting alongside David Ingordo in the ring at Tattersalls.

The March-born colt is the third foal of Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's G3 Musidora S. winner So Mi Dar, a daughter of treble Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), who is herself out of the Watership Down Stud foundation mare Darara (Ire) (Top Ville {GB}).

“It's an amazing thing to happen whenever you're selling horses, but he was an exceptional colt and is the image of Frankel in so many ways,” said Watership Down Stud's general manager Simon Marsh. “It's obviously been an extraordinary family that Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber have been involved with for so many years. Selling horses like that is really the culmination of an enormous amount of work that goes in with so many people involved, with Terry [Doherty] the stud manager and Donna [Vowles], our stud manager in Ireland. Then there's Conor, who led the horse round and is assistant to Terry, right through to the farriers, the vets, the feed people; there are so many involved in creating a result like this.”

Along with the champion juvenile Too Darn Hot and So Mi Dar, Dar Re Mi is also the dam of G2 Middleton S. winner Lah Ti Dar (GB), who is also by Dubawi, and young French-based stallion De Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Among Darara's four Group 1 winners is Godolphin's ill-fated G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}).

Marsh added, “We were so lucky all those years ago to have been able to buy Darara from the Aga Khan, who had so brilliantly created the family, and we were fortunate to have the opportunity to take it on.”

After signing for the colt on Sheikh Mohammed's behalf, Anthony Stroud said, “He was a jewel in the crown, and, needless to say, is an extremely nice horse.”

 

Frankel Fever From the Off

During the lively first few hours of Wednesday's session, three yearlings by the champion sire Frankel (GB) left the ring with seven-figure price tags. The trio included the three-parts-brother to group winners Broome (Ire) and Point Lonsdale (Ire), both by Australia (GB), who was bought by Coolmore's MV Magnier for 2.4 million gns.

Sold by breeder Denis Brosnan of Ireland's Croom House Stud as lot 238, the late April colt is a son of the stakes-winning Acclamation (GB) mare Sweepstake (Ire). The mare's 2-year-old, Saadiyat (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), is entered to make her debut at Saint-Cloud on Thursday.

“It's hard to describe this feeling,” said Croom House Stud manager Joe Hartigan. “We knew he was good but this is beyond our wildest dreams. We thought he'd make a million-plus. He's had a heap of vets. The others [Broome  and Point Lonsdale] have been a little longer and typical of Australia, but this fella is shorter and more compact, more of a 2-year-old type. He has a great attitude, the same attitude as his two brothers.”

 

I Got You Babe

The fourth Frankel millionaire was the result of a tried-and-tested mating, with John and Tanya Gunther's full-brother to Without Parole (GB) joining a strong Godolphin squad for next year at 1.3 million gns.

Offered as lot 303 by Newsells Park Stud, where his G1 St James's Palace S.-winning brother recently completed his second covering season, and where their dam Without You Babe (Lemon Drop Kid) is a permanent boarder, the colt's exit from the ring brought Tanya Gunther to tears as she thanked Sheikh Mohammed.

Her father, John, said, “I loved him so much that I still kind of wanted to race him myself, but you need the cash flow to pay the bills. To me he was a fantastic-looking yearling, and he has a presence about him. He's sort of special.”

Without You Babe never made it to the racecourse herself but the half-sister to the dual Grade I winner Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) has been a stellar producer for the Gunthers. Alongside Without Parole, she is also the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz (Speightstown) as well as the listed winner She's Got You (GB) (Kingman {GB}). The mare has a full-brother to the latter on the ground this year.

Their breeder continued, “I raced the first two and I wouldn't have minded racing this guy as well, but it was nice to see Sheikh Mohammed buy him. He'll be given a great chance.”

While Without Parole has his first crop of foals on the ground this year, another Gunther-bred, the Triple Crown winner Justify, is currently riding high in the freshman sire tables in America.

“Without Parole has had some lovely foals,” Gunther said. “We sent some nice mares to him so we are excited about all his offspring coming up. Justify was the leading sire up until a few weeks ago but now Good Magic is ahead of him. But I think Justify will come back. I bred a nice filly by him, Justique, and she is going to run in a Grade I in a few weeks so maybe she'll win and put him back in front.”

 

Newsells Park Makes Early Splash

With the sale-ground whispers that Wednesday's group of horses was stronger again than the first day, it didn't take long for the trade at Tattersalls to pick up where it left off on Tuesday, with the opening session's top price of 1.5 million gns quickly matched.

That bid came from the Coolmore camp for the first foal of Shambolic (GB) (Shamardal), a filly (lot 201) by the champion sire Frankel (GB) bred in partnership by Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud, but MV Magnier first had to see off bids from Simon Mockridge of Juddmonte and eventual underbidder Richard Knight, whose spending has continued apace throughout the yearling season in Europe and America.

Magnier, buying in partnership with Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, said, “Congratulations to Graham Smith-Bernal and Craig Bennett for producing such a nice filly.

“Frankel is doing very well, Newsells have been very good breeders and a good filly like that deserves to make a good price. She has a lot of quality.”

Coolmore's investment in the stock of Frankel continued late in the session when Magnier also signed up the colt (lot 356) out of the stakes-placed Auld Alliance (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for 800,000gns. He was consigned by Kirtlington Stud on behalf of breeder Bobby Flay.

Newsells Park Stud, on top of the consignors' list again with 18 horses sold for more than 9 million gns, is the co-breeder with Gestut Ammerland of the full-brother to Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was consigned as lot 284. The colt from the penultimate crop of the late former champion sire was signed for by Jill Lamb at 725,000gns on behalf of Graham Smith-Bernal, who bought out Ammerland's Dietrich von Boetticher.

 

Global Super Sires

Dubawi and Frankel have been jousting in the sires' championship all season, with the Darley sire ahead in the table for Britain and Ireland and Juddmonte's champion leading in Europe, especially thanks to Sunday's Arc heroine Alpinista (GB). The allure of these two superpower stallions, who live barely a mile from each other as the crow flies, draws owners and breeders from all over the world to Britain. Of the 11 seven-figure lots sold during the first two days of Book 1, Dubawi and Frankel have been responsible for nine of them, sold to entities from America, Dubai, Ireland and Japan.

The two other millionaire lots were Ballylinch Stud's Kingman (GB) half-sister to Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 261), and Ballyphilip Stud's Lope De Vega (Ire) half-sister to crack sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 344), sold for 1.05 million gns and 1.8 million gns, respectively.

 Yoshito Yahagi: 'I want to win the Arc'

Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi did not flinch when asked why he went to 1.6 million gns to secure lot 301, a Dubawi colt consigned by Luca and Sara Cumani's Fittocks Stud.

“Because I want to win the Arc,” came the response, from the man who also spent €2.1 million for a brother to Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Arqana in August.

Yahagi's quest to fulfil the Japanese dream in Paris brought him to Book 1 at Tattersalls for the first time and the world-famous trainer is hoping that his maiden trip can prove lucky.

He said, “This colt has very good points of Dubawi. This is my first Dubawi. He will come back to Japan. This is my first time buying at Book 1. First and last!”

The colt, bred by Craig Bennett of Merry Fox Stud, is a half-brother to GI Turf Classic S. hero Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G3 Prix La Rochette heroine Acer Alley (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), and is out of the unraced Lemon Drop Kid mare Willow View.

Under the second dam is Bennett's stakes-producing G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor).

Fittocks Stud was also the co-breeder with Peter Brant and Andrew Stone of lot 257, a Kingman (GB) colt out of a Frankel (GB) half-sister to Group 1 winners Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar) and Passage Of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The first foal of his unraced dam Time Saver (GB), he was sold to Richard Knight for 500,000gns.

 

Fox Trots On for Barnane

The Kieswetter family's Barnane Stud has enjoyed a Royal Ascot winner this year with homebred Candleford (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and future hopes will be high for the juvenile Outfoxed (Ire, a son of Dubawi and Group 1 winner Urban Fox (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}), who is currently in training with William Haggas. At Tattersalls on Wednesday, the breeders opted to sell Outfoxed's yearling full-brother (lot 272) through Baroda Stud and, at 1.1 million gns, the colt joined the significant list of bluebloods signed up by Sheikh Mohammed and Anthony Stroud over the last few days.

In their native South Africa the Kieswetters are successful commercial breeders through their farm Ridgemont Highlands, and five years ago they purchased Barnane Stud in Co Tipperary, which is now home to around 15 mares.

Craig Kieswetter, the former England cricketer, said of star resident Urban Fox, who won the G1 Pretty Polly S. in the green-and-red silks of Barnane Stud and  is now in foal to Frankel, “She was terrific on the racecourse, travelled really well around Europe and won some good races. Sam Haggas helped us with her purchase.”

He continued, “We are delighted with this result and we wish Sheikh Mohammed and his team all the best. Dubawi is a top sire, and the team at Barnane Stud has done a remarkable job, as has David [Cox] and his team at Baroda. You can do the matings, but you also have to have the physical specimen.”

Craig, who was at Tattersalls with his father Wayne Kieswetter, added, “The farm is growing, we are adding mares and there are some beautifully-bred fillies we are taking to the track. It is early days for us but it is going in the right direction.”

Hazelwood Bloodstock had been responsible for the 1.5 million gns top lot on day one, and on Wednesday Adrian O'Brien and his team sold another pair of Dubawi yearlings for 800,000gns apiece. Lot 278, the colt out of a full-sister to Group 1-winning Galileo (Ire) brothers Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire), joined the Godolphin team, while the filly out of the stakes-placed Wisdom Mind (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), offered as lot 302, was signed for by BBA Ireland. The Hazelwood Dubawi quartet was completed by lot 328, the half-brother to Group 1 winner Barney Roy (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}), who was another for Godolphin at 750,000gns.

 

Night Of Thunder Shines

Night Of Thunder's popularity has been one of the more fascinating subplots to the sales season and, once again, the Darley-based stallion came up trumps on the big stage with 20 selling for an average of 256,500gns. His covering fee when these yearlings were conceived was €25,000.

An impressive afternoon's trading was highlighted by Roundhill Stud's grey filly (lot 195) out of proven producer Serena's Storm (Ire) (Statue Of Liberty), the dam of dual Group 1 winner Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who sold for 650,000gns.

So overcome with emotion, Honora Donworth of Roundhill couldn't bring herself to speak, but seeing the filly knocked down to Alex Solis, Jason Litt, Monceaux and LNJ Foxwoods would have been made easier for the fact that the newly-formed partnership would be sending the filly to her son Tim to train in France.

Based in Chantilly and in his second season training, Tim Donworth boasts a string of 36 horses and was understandably delighted to be entrusted to train the filly from a pedigree that he and his family know extremely well.

“It's the family that keeps giving each year,” he said. “She has been bought for a partnership of LNJ Foxwoods and Monceaux.

“I have one filly for LNJ Foxwoods this year and will have a few more for them next year, hopefully. It's a great effort. I'm delighted for Mum and Dad. It's a fantastic family. Hopefully this time next year, or maybe the year after, there will be more big black-type to the [mare's] name.”

As well as being a half-sister to Rizeena, the Night Of Thunder filly is a descendant of US champion racemare Serena's Song, which formed part of the appeal for Alex Solis.

He said, “We're big fans of Night Of Thunder and it goes back to a wonderful family and to Serena's Song, a champion in the US, and the dam has already produced a Group 1 winner. It's a very productive family. We talked to Henri Bozo and he loved her as well.

“Night Of Thunder gets a very racey type. She has a great walk to her and great strength. We're excited to have her.”

Desmontils Doubles Down

It was another offering by Night Of Thunder, the first horse through the ring (lot 184) on day two of Book 1, who lit the touch paper for an outstanding day's trade.

That colt, consigned by Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilminfoyle House Stud, was sold to Sebastian Desmontils of Chauvigny Global Equine on behalf of Japanese owner Hisaaki Saito for 575,000gns. On Tuesday, the same sire, vendor and buyer had combined in the sale of lot 106, a filly out of Pacifica Highway (Pulpit), who made 525,000gns.

“We've always looked at horses like the Frankels and Dubawis, but they are very hard to get because all the big teams are on them,” said Desmontils. “So this year we decided to go for the upcoming stallions like Night Of Thunder, whose stats are really good and who has been covering better and better mares.

“We were really lucky to get the filly yesterday and the colt today. The owner has his horses based in France and he really enjoys the overall game as a business. He loves the sales as well, so it is our mission is to give him as much fun as we can and to find some nice horses.”

Stauffenberg Bloodstock also secured an excellent result with a Night Of Thunder filly (lot 240), who was pinhooked as a foal for 240,000gns and sold on Wednesday for significant profit at 550,000gns to Godolphin.

Shadwell Not Slowing Down

In storming to G1 Prix de l'Opera glory at Longchamp on Sunday, Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) provided her Kingman half-sister (lot 261) with a timely update and Shadwell couldn't leave the Ballylinch Stud-consigned filly behind.

Tuesday marked the end of a two-year buying hiatus for Shadwell in Europe, and racing manager Angus Gold admitted that 2021 was a traumatic time for all associated with the operation.

Speaking after purchasing the filly for 1.05 million gns, Gold said, “I thought she'd make 700,000 to 800,000 gns going into it yesterday, but watching here, everyone wanted her, so obviously we had to pay a bit more.

“Sheikha Hissa was very keen to buy her and really liked her the minute she saw her. We have not discussed training plans yet–that will all come about in the fullness of time.”

Gold went on to reveal that Shadwell will have a significant team of 2-year-olds to look forward to next year, the majority of which are homebreds.

He said, “We will have around 45 homebreds to go into training and, along with the few we have bought, there will be the guts of 50 yearlings.”

He added, “Last year was pretty traumatic for everyone, selling all those half-nice horses and particularly the mares who had been there a long time, but we had to do what we had to do and obviously the family wanted to reduce things.

“Understandably, it was a big undertaking and Sheikh Hamdan had the knowledge, the understanding of it–for them, it had to be a smaller operation.”

The trimming down of Shadwell may have been a huge undertaking but, on the track, the renowned blue-and-white silks have been carried with aplomb by one of the modern day greats, Baaeed (GB), who is firmly on course to run in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot on Saturday week.

Gold said, “This year, we have been blessed by Baaeed, but also by some of the other lesser horses who have also come to the fore. It has been a joy this year, and for me, the real fun has been having Sheikha Hissa's input and seeing her enjoy it so much, and hopefully her family as well.

“Baaeed has been a real fillip, and particularly for the family–to have a horse as good as he is has given a lot of pleasure.”

Kingman was also in lights when lot 289, a colt by the Juddmonte-based stallion, was snapped up by Richard Knight from the Chasemore Farm draft for 750,000gns.

A brother to Group 3 scorer Boomer, he hails from a farm going through something of a golden period, with G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and the unbeaten G2 Gimcrack S. winner Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) flying the flag for Chasemore this term.

 

 

Knight Fights Off Flay For Half-Sister To Battaash

Bobby Flay turned up the heat but, such is the firepower that Richard Knight has behind him this yearling sale season, he burned off all competition for the Lope De Vega (Ire) half-sister (lot 344) to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

Celebrity chef and a successful owner-breeder, Flay thought he had done enough to secure the Ballyphillip Stud-consigned filly when pushing the boat out to 1,750,000 gns but, when Knight pushed on again at 1,800,000 gns, the American offered no response.

That price tag was a new record for the Ballylinch Stud-based stallion, and Knight, who made a major impact at Keeneland and the Orby Sale last week but has yet to reveal who he is buying for, revealed that working to a bigger budget has provided him with a new lease of life.

“I thought she was probably the pick of the fillies in the sale,” he said. “I thought she was very racey, obviously by a top stallion and a sister to Battaash. She just ticked so many boxes. She's gorgeous, very athletic and we're delighted to get her. She will stay in the UK and a trainer will be decided on after she is pre-trained.”

Of his activity in recent weeks, he added, “It's been fantastic. Normally, when we go into most of these yearling sales, we're operating on a smaller budget. Here, and in the last few weeks, it's been a fantastic opportunity to go and try to buy the ones that you really want to buy. It's been thoroughly enjoyable.”

The filly was bred by Paul and Marie McCartan at Ballyphilip Stud, and the husband-and-wife team were understandably emotional about the big-ticket sale.

“She's an absolute beauty,” Paul said. “I think she's the nicest filly we've ever had. I always said Ladys First (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) was, she was very good to me as well, but this one was especially nice. The mare is a beauty as well. I wish Richard Knight all the best with her and I hope she's very lucky for her connections.”

Lope De Vega was not the only sire to record a record-breaking sale as lot 333, a half-sister to G2 Champagne S. winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), provided her sire Bated Breath (GB) with a 600,000 gns sale to Godolphin.

The filly, out of the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Always A Dream (GB), represented another strong result at Book 1 for Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilminfoyle House Stud, who bought her for 140,000gns as a foal.

 

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