Tag: Havana Grey

Araminta Added to December Sale; Havana Grey Breeding Right in Online Sale

Another five wildcards have been added to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which starts its four-day run on December 4.

G3 Prix Chloe winner Araminta (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) will be offered in training by Barton Sales on the Monday of the sale after the first Sceptre Session.

She is joined by the Group 3-placed Nigiri (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), consigned by Imperium Sales, and the 97-rated Star Girls Almaaal (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}). The half-sister to Group 3 winner Create Belief (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) will be offered by Norelands Stud. 

Two Listed-winning two-year-olds in training have also been added to the catalogue. Graceful Thunder (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will be sold after Tuesday's Sceptre Session from George Boughey's stable, while Legacy S. winner Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), is being consigned directly after her by Kilcarn Park. 

A breeding right to Graceful Thunder's sought-after young sire Havana Grey is one of seven breeding rights among the 154 lots on offer in the forthcoming Tattersalls Online November Sale, which takes place on November 22 and 23. 

The mixed catalogue, which includes broodmares, foals, point-to-pointers, and horses in training, is now available online. 

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Havana Grey Lights Up Book 2 With 425k Colt Knocked Down To Anthony Stroud

It seems as though Michael Fitzpatrick and Havana Grey (GB) have something in common with the lord himself as turning water into wine comes natural. 

Time and time again, the man behind Kilminfoyle House Stud produces pinhook after pinhook in a similar fashion to how Whitsbury Manor Stud's emerging force seems to transform whatever pedigree he touches. 

The latest transformation played out on Tuesday evening of Book 2 at Tattersalls when a colt by Havana Grey (lot 1020), who Fitzpatrick purchased as a foal under the banner of JC Bloodstock for 82,000gns here in December, sold to Anthony Stroud for 425,000gns. 

Stroud knows a thing or two about high-class sons of Havana Grey, having paid 625,000gns for the unbeaten two-year-old sensation Vandeek (GB) from Glending Stables at the Tattersalls Craven Sale back in April. 

Like Vandeek, Tuesday's sale-topper will be trained by Simon Crisford, but will carry the colours of HH Shaikh Nasser, according to Stroud. 

He said, “Havana Grey has done terrifically-well. This is a very well-balanced horse who moved particularly-well.”

Asked if parallels could be drawn between this colt and Vandeek, Stroud responded, “Well, with Vandeek, we were lucky enough to see him breeze. This horse has the credentials to be a very, very nice horse. He's got a pedigree and is by a stallion who is on the upgrade and doing really well.”

He added, “Havana Grey is a very exciting young stallion and, from what he has had, he's done very well. He's doing a great job. This colt is for HH Shaikh Nasser and is going to Simon Crisford.”

The Havana Grey colt is a full-brother to high-class two-year-old Elite Status (GB), who made 325,000gns at this sale last year. Elite Status may not have been a match for Vandeek when they met in the Morny and the Middle Park, but he has confirmed himself a classy juvenile in his own right when landing a Group 3 in France, and it was on the strength of him showing up on the track this season that Fitzpatrick snapped up his little brother at auction from Whitsbury. 

He explained, “I bought this colt as a foal solely on the full-brother. I sold him [Elite Status] last year and loved him. Whitsbury Manor is a great breeder and this horse is a pleasure to do anything with. My thanks go to Anthony Stroud and I wish the new owners the very best of luck.”

Fitzpatrick added, “I also can't thank my staff enough–Pamela, Hannah and Santos. It is only for them, the work they do, I actually think they are made of iron!”

“When you have a Havana Grey yearling, it gives you a chance,” – Joe Foley

That wasn't the only big-ticket Havana Grey bred by Whitsbury through the ring on the day as a filly (lot 981) consigned by Ballyphilip Stud was knocked down to Joe Foley standing alongside Steve Parkin earlier in the session for 280,000gns. 

That particular filly netted her connections a nice packet as she was sourced as a foal at Goffs last November for just €68,000.

Foley commented, “She's a very good example of what the stallion can throw. As we all know, he's made an outstanding start, he's on the way to superstar stallion status. We have a good two-year-old by him this year called Queen's Guard (GB). When you have a Havana Grey yearling, it gives you a chance.”

He added, “I like the fact she's out of a Showcasing (GB) mare. I like the idea of him as a broodmare sire and the pedigree goes back to Blue Duster. It's a good, fast family and one I like.”

 

 

Pinatubo Continues To Pack A Punch As McElroy Provides More Amo For Kia

Amo Racing's Kia Joorabchian has been showing some love to Ben McElroy this week with the American-based bloodstock agent signing for a 325,000gns Pinatubo (Ire) colt among others on behalf of the owner.

That transaction came just 24 hours after McElroy featured alongside the list of buyers for the Pinatubo filly that was also acquired on behalf of Amo on Monday for 110,000gns. Needless to say, McElroy described himself as a fan of Darley's young stallion. 

McElroy said of lot 939, “He is a very imposing colt, a great mover with great strength. He carried himself well the two or three days of showing and is just a lovely horse. I actually thought he might cost maybe a bit more than he did. Maybe the aggressive bidding helped out on that a little bit.

“He's been bought for Amo Racing and will go back to Robson [Aguiar] who will assess him for Kia. We will decide on a trainer next spring. We bought a beautiful filly by the stallion yesterday and he seems to be getting really nice stock. Pinatubo was a great racehorse and I think this colt has a great chance.”

The Pinatubo colt was sold by Ballyhimikin Stud. Aguiar and Hamish Macauley, who have bought plenty of horses on behalf of Amo before, also featured among the list of buyers. But the relationship between McElroy and Joorabchian is a newer one.

The agent explained, “We'd always meet up with Kia at the races down through the years and maybe we even bid against each other when we were in America last year. Robson bought a horse [Valiant Force (Malibu Moon)] who turned out to be Kia's first Royal Ascot winner at Keeneland last year. Between Saratoga and Keeneland, we bought a few horses for Kia this year and we've bought a few here for him as well.”

He added, “Robson really rated this horse very highly and I suppose it will be Robson who decides how he fits in with all the yearlings heading into next year.”

McElroy, Macauley and Amo went on to snap up another colt by up-and-coming Darley-based stallion Earthlight (Ire) for 325,000gns. But the real story here was how Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud transformed the colt (lot 1013) from a 78,000gns foal here in December to the major payday in the ring on Wednesday. 

“He was a good-looking horse and we took a chance-plenty of others don't work out so well,” a beaming Murphy reported afterwards. “Earthlight is a son of Shamardal and he is from a very good dam line. We were lucky that Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) [Grade 3 winner] came up in the first dam and then Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never) in the second dam won the Gimcrack.”

Murphy added of the Earthlight colt, who was bred by Derek Iceton of Tara Stud, “He is very much a two-year-old and is a precocious type of horse. Hopefully we will see him at Royal Ascot.”

Fellowes To Train 350k Wootton Bassett Colt

Charlie Fellowes has a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt to look forward to training next year after owner Paul Hickman shelled out 350,000gns on the WH Bloodstock-drafted yearling who is bred on the same cross as Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr).

The Wootton Bassett colt (lot 915) was bred by Westerberg and is out of Galileo (Ire) mare Beluga (Ire), a half-sister to Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) and a sister of the Group 3 winner and Irish Derby third Dawn Patrol (Ire).  

He was bought by Will Douglass, agent for Charlie Gordon-Watson, who was standing alongside Fellowes to the right of the rostrum. The winning bidders held off the challenge of Richard Ryan who was on the phone atop of the stairs. 

“It's not been as easy as the market would suggest,” Douglass commented. “This week has been a lot better. He's a very special horse and has been bought for an English owner called Mr Hickman. He's had horses with Charlie for a few years and is involved in Cloudbreaker (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).”

Douglass added, “We bought a few for him last year and got a Frankel [colt for 250,000gns] here last week. We also underbid one at Deauville for a lot of money. It's not easy. When you follow those nice horses through, you're competing against countries, not just people. If you want to get in, it's really tough.”

Beluga has a Wootton Bassett colt foal and is in foal to Camelot (GB). She is also a sister to Listed winner Kissed (Ire).

 

 

Talking Points

  • What a day for Whitsbury Manor Stud. Not only did Havana Grey earn the plaudits of major buyers Anthony Stroud and Joe Foley but the stud also bred the respective lots that both men signed for. That's what you call a good day at the office. 
  • As good as Havana Grey performed on Tuesday, it must be said that Pinatubo continues to impress. Of the 10 yearlings through the ring by Darley's hot prospect, they averaged 128,600gns. What's more impressive is the fact that Pinatubo has posted a bigger average–150,250gns—than any other stallion on day one and two of Book 2. 
  • Edgar Byrne played a major role at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale when signing for a €115,000 Kameko colt to join Scandinavian-based trainer Niels Petersen. The same connections were active at Book 2 on Tuesday when landing a Dark Angel (Ire) colt from Yeomanstown Stud for 145,000gns. The colt (lot 816) is a brother to Fantasy Lady (Ire), winner of the Listed Staffordstown S. and not beaten far in an Irish 1,000 Guineas for Paddy Twomey.
  • The clearance rate remained strong on Tuesday at 86%. However, compared to this corresponding day's trade 12 months ago, the average fell 18% to 88,171gns while the median dropped 6% to 66,000gns.
The Golden Touch 

By Georgia Cox 

Lot: 976
Filly by Havana Grey (GB) – Chloris (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Bred by Hascombe and Valiant Stud
Consigned by Hazelwood Bloodstock
Purchased by Ross O'Sullivan 

Chloris admittedly did little to write about on the track herself, but she has shown promise as a broodmare with her first foal Royal Elysian (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) placing in three of her four starts to date. Of course Dansili is well known for his success as a broodmare sire. 

Chloris is a third-generation representative of a family nurtured by esteemed owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer, and further back the family also includes the Wildenstein-bred Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Peintre Celebre. Her half-sister Bartzella (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) was a convincing listed winner for William Haggas. 

The exploits of the progeny of young stallion Havana Grey speak for themselves, and that no doubt had a hand to play in this filly realising 140,000gns. The hammer fell at five times the price of 28,000gns, which was originally paid when she last walked through the ring just ten months ago at the December Foal Sale. Katie Walsh was the final bidder and signed for the filly in the name of her husband, trainer Ross O'Sullivan.

Buy of the Day

Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock doesn't miss very often and in lot 987, a Lope De Vega (Ire) colt bought from Cheveley Park Stud for 210,000gns, he looks to have sourced another nice prospect. 

For a start, the sire doesn't need any explaining and the mare, who was black-type herself, is a sister to Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 

Whether this colt runs in the Wathnan Racing silks, the major owner that Brown has been buying on behalf of recently, or any number of the major clients that the top agent represents, he could be one to keep an eye on for next year.

Thought for the Day 

Is it any wonder why we're all running around with little pot bellies on us in the height of sales season? Whether it's the toasted sandwiches and the carrot cake at Newsells or the breakfast down at Castlebridge, it's hard to resist some of the [free!] grub on offer at Park Paddocks. Just wait until the Tweenhills van arrives in December! We'll be rolling out of Newmarket for Christmas.

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Havana Grey Dominates Roasting Hot Somerville Sale

NEWMARKET, UK–There was nothing grey about Tattersalls on a roasting hot day other than the name of the sire who is increasingly prominent in results both in the sales ring and on the racecourse. Havana Grey (GB) was represented by four of the top 11 lots at the Somerville Sale, with plenty of people continuing to benefit from his success story either as breeders or pinhookers. 

Whitsbury Manor Stud is where he stands, and Whitsbury Manor Stud was the consignor and breeder of the top lot [221], a grey daughter of the Harbour Watch (Ire) mare Minoria (GB) who has already produced the Group 3-placed Its's Showtime Baby (GB) to another of the stud's stallions, Showcasing (GB).

Agent Matt Coleman signed for the filly at 155,000gns and noted that she will be trained by George Scott. 

“Havana Grey is almost a freak stallion and is surpassing everyone's expectations,” he said of the G1 Flying Five winner and last year's leading first-season sire. Coleman's business partner Anthony Stroud bought the G1 Prix Morny winner Vandeek (GB) by the same stallion earlier in the season at the Craven Breeze-up Sale.

Coleman added, “Vandeek has that wonderful flowing action and this filly has that, too. She is stand-out at the sale.”

She was certainly the most expensive by the sire but not the only six-figure filly by Havana Grey to pass through the ring on Tuesday. Amo Racing has already had two stakes winner by the stallion this season, the G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Mammas Girl (GB) and Listed winner Graceful Thunder (GB), and Kia Joorabchian's team signed up another of his daughters in lot 199, who was bred and consigned by Sophie Buckley's Culworth Grounds Farm. Hamish Macauley signed for the filly out of the dual winner Last Echo (Ire) (Whipper) at 140,000gns and noted that she will go to Graceful Thunder's trainer George Boughey. A descendant of the successful Ballylinch Stud matriarch Ingabelle (GB), she is a half-sister to Oddyssey (GB), who has been placed this season in both the G2 Superlative S. and Listed Chesham S.

“Matt Coleman helped me buy the mare,” recalled Buckley, who sold another Havana Grey filly in her draft of five for 29,000gns to Antonio da Silva.

“I wanted her as she is a Whipper mare and he's a good broodmare sire. There aren't that many of them so it is hard to get them. She has had a great update this year with Oddyssey. Pat Owens has done a great job of training him to get his black type.”

She added, “I liked [Havana Grey's] foals, and I buy a lot of foals. I thought they looked very correct and good walkers. When I was asked I punted him as the stallion in that generation of sires that I thought could be the one. I thought I had better back my judgment and use him.”

Dowling's Gallic Flare 

The rising popularity of Haras de Colleville's Galiway (GB), who already has one son at stud and another as favourite for the Melbourne Cup, spread to Tattersalls on Tuesday when Drumhill Stud's lucrative pinhook [lot 152] joined the Richard Hannon team at 145,000gns.

The colt out of the winning Modigliani mare Golconde (Ire) had been bought at the Arqana December Sale for €27,000 and beautifully prepped for his Somerville engagement by Gary Dowling, who was moved to tears by the result. 

Ross Doyle signed the ticket for Hannon and, describing the chestnut as an “absolute smasher”, added that Willie Mullins, who trains the Melbourne Cup-bound Vauban (Fr), and his agent Harold Kirk had advised him to buy as many Galiways as he could. 

Dowling, whose late father Sean was also involved in the business, said, “I started off doing it with my dad and he sadly died five years ago and it was his anniversary yesterday. His anniversary is always around the time of the yearling sales and I often find myself saying 'give us a dig out this year, Dad'. I think he was listening this year.

“We hoped he might stand out a bit at this sale. The mare is two from two with juvenile winners, and thankfully the plan has paid off. There are a couple of lads involved in him with me so we'll all get a few quid. It's what it's all about.”

Galiway was recently joined at stud in Normandy by his son Sealiway (Fr), winner of the G1 Champion S., who stands at Haras de Beaumont. 

Following an unpredictable summer in England where racecourses have fluctuated between fast ground and flooding, the sun has returned with a vengeance this week. At Park Paddocks there were more Panamas on display than in the members' enclosure at Glorious Goodwood, and there was no shortage of buyers on the hunt for the next bright, young thing.

A solid first few hours suddenly gave way to the first six-figure lot of the sale when the Hassett family's filly by Prince Of Lir (Ire) strolled into the ring and the bidding shot up rapidly. Diego Dias was the last man standing at 130,000gns and, with his colleague and co-buyer Robson Aguiar, plans to race the half-sister to French Listed winner Royal Address (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and her full-sister, the stakes-placed Yahsat (Ire).

“We bought the mare Barqeyya at the July Sale in foal to Helmet. She's been a lucky mare and has bred two black-type winners by Dandy Man,” said Tom Hassett, whose children Maebh, Orla and Richie are the members of Trio Bloodstock which bred the filly.

“It is very much family affair for the three children. My wife and I are getting nothing out of this.”

The family also divulged that Barqeyya was originally booked in to a different stallion.

“This was Plan B and it has not been a bad Plan B in the end. Ballyhane has been very lucky for us and Joe [Foley] has bought a lot of horses from us.”

Prince Of Lir has subsequently moved from Ballyhane Stud to stand in India, and he was represented by his first Group 1 winner only recently when the Adam West-trained Live In The Dream (Ire) won the Nunthorpe S. Though not bred by the Hassetts, that gelding is the result of a mating they planned for his dam Approaching Autumn (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) whom they sold in foal to breeder Lorna Doyle. 

Talking Points

  • This sale doesn't pretend to be about anything other than those who on paper look to be fast and precocious sorts, and you had to get to the 18th name on the sires' table for the day, Galiway (GB), to find a stallion who had won beyond a mile. Most showed their best form at significantly less than that.
  • There was an upwards shift in all sectors, with the number of six-figure yearlings rising to seven from four last year, the average improving by 5% to 31,904gns and the median by 4% to 27,000gns. Turnover of 8,646,000gns (+12%) was accrued from the sale of 271 yearlings at a clearance rate of 89%.
  • Tally-Ho Stud sold 27 yearlings last week at the Goffs Premier Sale in Doncaster and brought another 26 to the Somerville Sale where the team ended the day as leading vendor with 24 sold for 746,000gns. The offspring of Mehmas (Ire), one of the stars of the Tally-Ho roster, continued to be sought after, with 14 sold for an average of 43,571gns.
  • Whitsbury Manor Stud's Havana Grey (GB) is another of the most popular young sires in Europe at the moment and his 16 yearlings returned an average of 58,188gns. His stud-mate Sergei Prokofiev has his first yearlings for sale this year and they also found favour with buyers. Fourteen found a buyer at an average price of 28,179gns.
  • Let's not forget Havana Grey's late sire Havana Gold (Ire), who was a great loss to Tweenhills and to the British stallion ranks when he died earlier this year just after the start of the covering season. There will be one more crop of yearlings to come from the stallion whose son Chipotle (GB) was one of the star graduates of this sale's forerunner, the Tattersalls Ascot Sale, when bought by his trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and Anthony Bromley. Havana Gold's five yearlings at the Somerville sold for an average of 30,600gns.
  • There was a truly diverse list of buyers, predmoninantly on the domestic front, with 170 different entities represented.
  • The Somerville boasted a big book for a one-day sale but the Tattersalls auctioneers were taking no prisoners when it came to ensuring the bidding was conducted in as timely a manner as possible. They may not be as fast as their colleagues across the water who are currently gearing up for the Keeneland September Sale, but their increased tempo was appreciated by all involved in the proceedings on a sweltering day.

Buy of the Day

The fact that the average and median were so closely aligned spoke to the strength of the middle market, but that said there are always some bargains to be found. Dylan Cunha, a Group 1-winning trainer in his native South Africa who is now in his second season training in Newmarket, has already proved what he can do with some inexpensive purchases and it would be no surprise to see him repeat the feat with the Cable Bay (Ire) filly he picked up for the minimum bid of 1,000gns. There's certainly cause for optimism when it comes to lot 54 as Cable Bay has already worked some magic in the family in the case of the dual winner and stakes-placed Belle Anglaise (GB), who is a half-sister to the filly's unraced dam Belle Monde (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). 

It's a pretty good bet that Cunha will be syndicating this filly. Go on, people, get involved. You'll have a lot of fun in the stable run by one of the nicest trainers in Newmarket. And, no, I'm not on commission.

Thought for the Day

Certain regulars on the sales circuit are starting to feel a little long in the tooth compared to the massive influx of young faces on the sales grounds in England over the last few weeks. It's great to see so many new people getting involved in foal and yearling pinhooking syndicates. And, who knows, some of them may eventually be coaxed into racehorse ownership as well as trading.

Chairman's Comments

“The Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale has established itself as an important fixture in the European yearling sale calendar in a remarkably short period of time,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. Only two years ago the turnover at the inaugural Somerville Yearling Sale was below five million gns, the average a fraction over 21,000gns and the median was 16,250gns. Today's third edition of the Somerville has produced records across the board with turnover above 8.5 million gns, an average well over 30,000gns and a median of 27,000gns.

“Somerville yearlings have enjoyed an extraordinary recent run with the likes of Bradsell, Indian Run and Relief Rally showcasing the sale to great effect on the home front and Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks winner Anisette providing the best possible advertisement across the Atlantic.

“Top British and Irish consignors have sent us some smart yearlings and their confidence in our newest yearling sale has been reflected in a sale of real depth with a clearance rate approaching 90% and the number of yearlings selling for more than 50,000gns and more than 100,000gns increasing significantly on last year's impressive numbers. 

“The pinhookers have also enjoyed some spectacular returns on their investments and today's robust trade has given us a positive start to the Tattersalls yearling sale season as we now look forward to Books 1 to 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the unveiling of our newly renovated Somerville Yard which is the latest major investment undertaken at Park Paddocks.”

 

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Tattersalls Somerville Looking to Continue Upward Curve 

NEWMARKET, UK–The third European yearling sale within eight days gets underway as Tattersalls pulls the curtain up on its yearling season with its increasingly popular Somerville Sale. 

It will be a frenetic day at Park Paddocks on Tuesday with more than 300 horses to go through the ring, but the sale is riding high on the back of some decent results, with Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), the star of the inaugural edition in 2021, adding the G1 King's Stand S. to his previous Royal Ascot success in the G2 Coventry S. for Archie Watson and Victorious Racing.

In recent weeks, last year's graduates Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) landed the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Lowther S. at York, while Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) won the GI Del Mar Oaks. 

It took a total of 206,000gns to buy these four horses, a figure that was barely two-thirds of the average price of a yearling at Tattersalls October Book 1 last year, so it is easy to see why this auction, which has taken a strong lead from the Doncaster playbook of precocity and speed, is catching on. The emphasis on youth also extends to the marketing for this sale, with its snappy video featuring the younger members of the Tattersalls team.

https://twitter.com/Tattersalls1766/status/1698353656494448861?s=20

One of those, auctioneer Matt Hall, was looking particularly dapper in a jaunty Panama as he inspected the yearlings he will be selling on Tuesday, but he played down his leading role in the sale. “It's been very busy over the last few days, with plenty of footfall, so let's hope that transfers to the ring,” was all he could be drawn on as he conferred with Jenny Norris. 

There's been a good name game taking place in the Norris Bloodstock draft for the filly by Harry Angel (Ire) out of Meghan Sparkle (Ire) [Lot 213]. Netflix (GB) has been suggested, along with the less flattering Ginge N Whinge (GB), which would work better if she was a chestnut. Either way, the neat bay is a smart and racy-looking filly, quite typical of the kind on offer here this week.

On Monday morning, as British politics limped back into action after the summer recess, Angela Rayner was named Shadow Levelling Up Minister in a Labour reshuffle. I've no idea what that actually means, but there is a good deal of levelling up underway at Tattersalls on 'Catholic Hill' which will presumably be ready for its unveiling at the October Sale. In the meantime, it's a little discombobulating trying to find some consignors away from their usual spot, but plenty were enjoying the shade of the trees in the Highflyer paddocks on a roasting hot September day.

There are unconfirmed rumours that the July Sale ice-cream man could make a return to Park Paddocks on Tuesday, and even bigger rumours about the money being offered by various stallion farms from around the world for Havana Grey (GB). The rising star of Whitsbury Manor Stud claimed his Group 1 in the Flying Five on Irish Champions Weekend five years ago, and since then both he and his offspring have continued to fly. From £8,000 to £18,500 his fee has already climbed, and TDN's Brian Sheerin selflessly stayed up into the wee small hours the other night in Doncaster specifically to listen to the gossip on where his price will be pitched next year. 

It is unclear whether or not Brian fell asleep in the bar of the Earl of Doncaster, but we still don't know the magic number. We just hope that Havana Grey stays in England. Sixteen of his yearlings are in the Somerville Sale, including two from his breeder Mickley Stud, who sold Havana Grey as a foal at Tattersalls back in 2015.

From an opening average of 21,345gns and median of 16,250gns for the first Somerville Sale as the world started to right itself after the Covid pandemic, those figures climbed significantly to 30,377gns and 26,000gns last year. It would be folly to expect such extravagant percentage gains this time around, but the sale has taken root. And there have been enough people in action during the inspection days of Sunday and Monday for plenty of consignors to be feeling quietly confident as they tucked into their burgers at the pre-sale barbecue on Monday night. 

Selling begins at 9.30am, and a 12-hour session is likely, but it makes sense to have kept this relative newcomer to the sales scene to its one-day boutique format. 

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