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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