Divided between 146 fillies and mares in/out of training, 27 broodmares, 172 colts and geldings in/out of training, 22 yearlings and nine 2-year-olds, the sale will begin on Feb. 1 after the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat Stallion Parade. The second session will take place at 10 a.m.

Among the lots on offer are Grade III winner Angel Terrace (Ghostzapper) (lot 67), herself a half-sister to crack stayer Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in foal to New Bay (GB); Peeping Fawn (Danehill)'s half-sister Crimson Rock (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 66) who is a granddaughter of Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}) in foal to Saxon Warrior (Jpn); Taqaareed (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 107) is in foal to Pinatubo (Ire) and is a full-sister to champion Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}); Classic winner Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire})'s full-sister Choumicha (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) will sell in foal to Ardad (Ire); G1 Irish Derby third Covent Garden (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 330) who is a full-brother to Group 1 winner Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is set to sell; as is Composite (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) (lot 326), a half-brother to Group 3 winner Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}); and Retort (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 129), a full-brother to the 87-rated Group 2 winner Obligate (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Last year was another banner year for the Tattersalls February Sale with the dams of Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), German Oaks winner Muskoka (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), all purchased at previous February Sales for a combined total of 78,200 guineas. As well as international Group 1 producers the February Sale is a prolific and consistent source of high-class horses in training with the 40,000 guineas February purchase Missed The Cut (GB) (Zebedee {GB}) flying the flag in California with a recent Grade III win and Grade II placing at Santa Anita. The hallmark of Europe's premier midwinter sale is quality and diversity and as ever the catalogue features a combination of horses in training, breeding stock and young stock as well as consignments from many of the world's leading owner/breeders, all of which make the Tattersalls February Sale such a popular fixture with both domestic and international buyers.”

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Carracci boasted one of the most attractive profiles on offer at Tattersalls on Monday and the market agreed. Placed in a Group 3 earlier this season, Carracci was last seen finishing a respectable fourth in a listed contest at Dundalk in September. 

He boasts a rating of 101 and was described by Aidan 'Mouse' O'Ryan as his pick of the sale after the bloodstock agent signed for the top lot of the opening session on behalf of Saudi interests. 

O'Ryan said, “He has been bought for SBS Global and he goes to Saudi Arabia. He is my pick of the sale, I love the sire and he speaks for himself. This horse's form is good, and we were keen to get him. He should be one for the big races in Saudi in the spring.”

As well as making the frame in the G3 Irish 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown earlier this season, Carracci also won at two, when beating stablemate Farnborough (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a back-end maiden at Dundalk. 

Incidentally, Farnborough, who bolted up off 86 at Leopardstown on Sunday, went through the ring less than 24 hours later and sold to Hubie de Burgh and Darby Racing for 75,000gns. 

Listed winner Salt Lake City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also formed part of the strong Coolmore draft when selling to Australian interests Domeland for 100,000gns. 

All told, Coolmore sold 17 horses to the tune of 834,000gns. At close of play on Monday, the aggregate stood at 6,273,500gns, which represented a 27% drop on last year's corresponding session. The median was the same at 16,000gns while the average fell 18% to 26,810gns and the clearance rate by 5% to 84%.

Inquisitively's Owner Returns To The European Market For Wootton Bassett Colt

Fresh from a breakthrough Group 3 success with Cornwallis S. winner Inquisitively (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Hong Kong-based businessman and owner Sean Wee Gan returned to the European market for promising Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Rascal Recknell (Fr) at 215,000gns. 

The owner, who has enjoyed plenty of success locally in Hong Kong with European imports, notably First Responder (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), was buying through agent Sam Wright and trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy.

It was Wright who sourced Inquisitively on behalf of Sean Wee Gan. The agent has close ties with Philippart de Foy, given the pair worked together at Christophe Clement's almost a decade ago.

The trainer explained, “The plan is the same-keep him in the UK for a bit and then send him to Hong Kong. This horse is a nice big type, he looks a decent prospect. We might run him once this year, but the plan is to give him as much time as he needs.”

Philippart de Foy added, “He has a big frame and plenty of scope. I am surprised he ran in August, but he showed plenty of ability that day. He will hopefully run a couple of times next year and then head to Hong Kong next summer.”

Well-Bred Lope De Vega Filly Joins Paddy Twomey

The well-bred Firebird (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who finished second on her only start at Ayr this month in the colours of the late Sir Robert Ogden, will continue her career for Irish maestro Paddy Twomey.

Twomey secured Firebird for 260,000gns through agent Matt Coleman, who explained that the juvenile will be targeted at black-type races next season. 

He said, “She goes to Paddy Twomey. We know the filly well as I looked after the late Sir Robert and Lady Ogden's horses. The filly is a good-looking sort by Lope De Vega, has always shown plenty in training, put in a promising race on her debut and, fingers crossed, she can go on to get some black-type next year.”

Firebird's half-sister Balalaika (Ire) (No Nay Never) made a pretty penny at Park Paddocks last year. She was snapped up by BBA Ireland for 330,000gns after finishing third in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. Both fillies were trained by Rebecca Menzies. 

Coleman continued, “All of the mare's runners have achieved high ratings and this year's Too Darn Hot yearling made 110,000gns. Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), under the second dam, finished second in the Irish Oaks in July, and was a neck second to Poptronic in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Saturday. It is a happening family.”

Australian Buyers Land A Blow

It wouldn't be a horses-in-training sale at Tattersalls without the Australian buyers and Will Bourne, head of bloodstock for Ciaron Maher, got in on the action early when going to 140,000gns for the Jamie Railton-drafted Kings Valley (Ire) (Territories {Ire}).

Kings Valley ran four times–and placed twice–in Britain for trainer Ollie Sangster, who sourced the colt for 65,000gns at Book 3 here last year. 

Bourne said, “The plan is to send him to Harry Eustace for now and then ship him straight off to Australia. He has run some really good races, he has been unlucky, he is still a maiden but he is a lightly raced two-year-old.

“He is very athletic, sound, clean-limbed, has good feet, and he ticks a lot of boxes for Ciaran. We spoke to Ciaran and videoed the horse for him and he was very keen on this horse.”

Triumph Candidate? Mullins Lands 100k Night Moon For Juvenile Hurdling

Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk played a major role at the horses-in-training sale here in July when snapping up Ethical Diamond (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) for 320,000gns and the pair were responsible for the first six-figure lot on Monday when snapping up Night Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) for 100,000gns.

Trained by David Marnane, Night Moon earned a 14lb hike when bolting up off a mark of 60 at Listowel last month and will continue his career for Ireland's dominant jumps trainer. 

The sale represented a good return for Marnane and owners MRC International, who sourced the horse through the trainer's brother Con for €50,000 at the BBAG September Yearling Sale in 2021. 

Marnane and MRC will offer the classy 93-rated sprinter Lady Tilbury (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) at the December Mares Sale from the same batch of yearling recruited in 2021. 

Explaining the concept, Marnane said, “We put the ownership group together in 2021 with the idea of buying some yearlings and we'd like to wish Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins the best of luck with Night Moon. It's a great result for the syndicate and we look forward to offering Lady Tilbury here in December.”

Marnane continued, “We bought another batch of yearlings on behalf of the syndicate–upwards of 20–and are always open to new investors. The syndicate has enjoyed a lot of success in a short space of time and we have Jakajaro (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) to look forward to from last year's yearling crop. He is a smart colt going forward and should provide everyone with a lot of fun next season.”

Nicholls And Malone To The Fore For Golden Horn Gelding

The jumps boys were out in force on Monday and Tom Malone, buying on behalf of Paul Nicholls, snapped up proven soft-ground performer Golden Move (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) for 215,000gns. 

The sale came off the back of a strong weekend for the sire. Not only did Golden Horn supply the winner of the G2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot through Trawlerman (Ire), but Cais Chorister (Fr) also landed a Group 3 in France. 

Golden Move, a winner over 1m4f on soft ground, was bought on spec by Malone. 

Speaking after the sale, he said, “He is a lovely animal, he looks like he stays, needs all of the trip he is running over at the minute, he goes on soft ground, is by Golden Horn, who is doing so well, and is the one we wanted today. He goes to Ditcheat and is for sale.”

Buy Of The Day

Gordon Elliott made his mark in the training ranks with bargain buys and it was Silver Birch, the horse he sourced from Paul Nicholls for £20,000, who put him on the map when landing the 2007 Grand National.

While he may be more associated with signing for six-figure point-to-pointers in recent times, Elliott proved that he still has an eye for a bargain by snapping a sister to his own classy hurdler Pied Piper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) for just 10,000gns. 

Without being privy to how Barrier (Fr) (Australia {GB}) vetted, it's hard to see an outcome where Elliott, along with agent and close friend Mouse O'Ryan, didn't find value here. 

Lest we forget, Pied Piper is an extremely talented dual purpose horse who boasts an official hurdles rating of 157 and was only narrowly touched off in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket earlier this month. 

He should also be a Cheltenham festival winner given Davy Russell was walking wounded when going down by just a head aboard the five-year-old in this year's County Hurdle. 

There is so much more to come from Pied Piper this season and, given Constitution Hill is likely to frighten off plenty of challengers in the two-mile hurdling division, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he could sneak a place in next year's Champion Hurdle. 

Regardless of what more Pied Piper can achieve, the fact remains that his little sister will retain some residual value as a broodmare being a half to a black-type hurdler while few would bet against her making her own mark in that division for Elliott.

Thought for the day

Trade wasn't exactly straightforward on Monday, which was represented in the figures, but much better can be expected on Tuesday with a strong selection of horses due into the ring on day two.

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The G2 Grand Prix de Deauville victor is out of a half-sister to Group 1 winners Reams Of Verse (Nureyev) and Elmaamul (Diesis {GB}) and will be offered by Barton Stud.

Joining the G2 Prix Dollar runner-up is True Testament (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 772A). Part of the Jamie Railton draft, the 4-year-old has placed four times at group level.

A quartet of juveniles have also signed on to the sale, including lot 772B, Keatley Racing's winner Thanks Forever (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}); G3 Round Tower S.-placed Chandigah (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) (lot 772C) from the Blackmiller Stable draft; Meadowview Stables' Ritournelle (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) (lot 1131B), who won at Thurles recently; and Black Hole (Mitole) (lot 1131C), a winner at Wolverhampton, will go through the ring for trainer Jamie Osborne's The Old Malthouse Stables.

To view the catalogue and for more information, please visit the Tattersalls website.

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Part of a 1,750-strong catalogue, the juvenile is rated 109 and will be consigned by William Haggas's Somerville Lodge. He currently holds an entry in the G1 Middle Park S. on Sept. 30.

Some of the other notable lots include G1 Criterium International victor Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 674) from Coolmore; a pair of group winners consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment–Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 1057) and Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) (lot 663); and Juddmonte's G2 Prix Niel third Bravais (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 1076).

In 2022, I'm A Gambler (Ire) (No Nay Never) topped the sale at 850,000gns when sold to Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal prior to becoming stakes-placed in the U.S. From a smaller four-day catalogue, 1,006 horses sold for 36,164,500gns. The average was 35,949gns and the median was 16,000gns.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Every year we see horses purchased at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale winning at the highest level, with no less than 83 individual group/listed winners since 2020 bought at the sale including seven Group/Grade 1 winners. That continued success is the key to the sale's enduring appeal and this year's catalogue looks set to cater to both domestic and international demand.”

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The son of the listed-placed Elle Galante (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of 48 horses in/out-of-training and he is a half-brother to Cheltenham's G1 Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills (Ire) (Motivator {GB}) and Group 2 Royal Ascot winner Balios (Ire) (Shamardal). The listed-placed filly Understated (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is lot 17, while dual winner Desert Voice (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is also set to sell off a rating of 80.

Also in the catalogue are eight mares and a like number of stores. Lorelei Rock (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) (lot 65) is offered in foal to Havana Grey (GB). The unraced 3-year-old filly Warrior Maid (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 52) is part of the Juddmonte consignment and shares the same family as top sire Dansili (GB), etc. A trio of in foal mares featuring foals at foot by Almanzor (Fr) (lot 59), Ectot (GB) (lot 60) and Masked Marvel (GB) (lot 57) round out the catalogue.

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The stakes-placed colt Quality Road (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) (lot 38), who has been entered in the G3 St Leger and G1 Preis von Europa, is also part of the sale, as is lot 56, Western Soldier (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), himself a group-placed brother to Whispering Angel (Ger), Winning Spirit (Ger), and Wangari (Ger).

Part of the Big Week in Baden-Baden from Aug. 26-Sept. 3, the sale begins on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 12 p.m. and ends on Friday, Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. There are five additional wildcard slots available and entries will be accepted until Monday, Aug. 14. To view the catalogue and for more information, please visit the BBAG website.

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The 88-rated gelded son of Italian Group 3 winner Silver Step (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}) was consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables. His extended family features stakes-winning German gallopers Network (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and Novello (Ger) (Esclavo {Fr}).

McSharry said, “As a new trainer we are hoping to get some nice runs from him, and we hope he might deliver some Saturday wins. He will come straight into training and we would be aiming to keep him over a similar distance. The horse has some good form at seven furlongs so we will get him home, assess him and see where we get to.”

Garrettstown House Stables' Anadora (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) was knocked down to Anadora Partners for 17,500gns to be second on the leaderboard. Sold as lot 27, the 4-year-old filly sports wins on both turf and all-weather to date. She is out of the listed-placed Keladora (Crafty Prospector), herself a daughter of stakes winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches second Karmifira (Fr) (Always Fair).

Rounding out the top four were a pair of lots by Cotai Glory (GB)–lot 10, Knockeen Racing's winning 80-rated filly Cosmic Invasion (Ire), and Richard Fahey's Musley Bank Stables-consigned Gannon Glory (Ire) (lot 15), who won just three days ago. The former sold to Kilross Bloodstock for 12,500gns, while the latter went for 13,500gns to Paul Naughton.

Of the 32 lots offered, 18 sold (56%) for a gross of 127,505gns. The average was 7,084gns and the median was 4,500gns.

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Leading the Godolphin consignment is four-time winner Silent Film (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) as lot 48, and another lot of note is dual winner Winwood (Ger) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 49). Other consignments represented include Andrew Balding, Robyn Brisland, Byerley Stud, Tom Ellis, Harry Fry, Bradley Gibbs, Richard Hannon, Darryl Holland, Eve Johnson Houghton, Alan King, Martinstown Stud, Mickley Stud, Hughie Morrison, Paul Nicholls, Joseph Parr, Shade Oak Stud, Oliver Sherwood, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Tom Ward, Archie Watson, Paul Webber and Adam West. Supplements will be accepted until Tuesday, May 30.

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Nonetheless the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, after a fairly quiet start, rallied powerfully to complete what has been an extremely strong British cycle in the breeze-up calendar, registering an 18% hike in average from 35,678gns to 42,145gns and a new record in turnover.

This catalogue traditionally invites a slightly longer view than the earlier auctions, and a gratifying case in point was the Zoffany (Ire) colt found by Cormac Farrell at Fairyhouse last September for €55,000.

Brought here as lot 301, he had put a few eyeballs on stalks with the time he clocked the previous day, not least in view of the sturdy German blood clustering down the page. But he corroborated the impression made on the Rowley Mile with his languid stride round the ring, forcing Richard Hughes (with Ted Durcan alongside) all the way to 200,000gns to bring down the gavel.

“I think he might be a freak,” Farrell said. “He can do sectionals like a six-furlong horse, not one that should be wanting a mile and a half. He's a big rangy horse, nearly 16.2, but he just had this insane foot, it didn't make sense, particularly as we thought a bit of the other horses we had, the Kodiacs and the 'Starspangleds', and he could keep up with them. So he could just be exceptional.

“We'd just been nursing him along, he was raw and we minded him really, went very steady. It was only a month ago that we asked him to show us what he could do, and it came so natural to him that we only had to do a couple of gallops. It sounds silly, but we did come here thinking we might be able to top the sale. You never know until you get the breeze out of the way, though, so it's great that he's done what we hoped he would.”

Farrell acknowledged that the colt had not been an obvious type for the job.

“We thought we'd given plenty for him, at the time,” he admitted. “He was a big raw yearling, and people laughed when I said we were going to breeze him. And I could see why: in December he looked like an overgrown yearling still, but he has thrived since.”

He was delighted, moreover, to hear that his new trainer did not intend to press on with the horse immediately.

“We'll probably turn him out for some May grass,” Hughes confirmed. “I think six weeks will do him good and then we'll get him in and look to get him ready for an October maiden. He shouldn't be able to do what he's doing, really, at this time of the year, it's almost odd with the backbone of his pedigree a top-class German staying family.”

Sure enough, the colt is out of a sister to two most accomplished stayers: Getaway (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) won group races in Britain, France and Germany; while G1 Italian Oaks winner Guadalupe (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) has herself delivered two elite winners.

200,000gns for lot 301 at the #TattsGuineas Breeze Up Sale

This colt, by the late Zoffany, was a €55,000 yearling and was sold by C.F Bloodstock to @RHughesracing / @TedDurcan pic.twitter.com/ku9SjvfdN7

— TDN (@theTDN) May 4, 2023

The Main Talking Points

• Turnover for both sections of the sale reached a new high, for an aggregate 7,468,000gns on the day. Tally-Ho meanwhile continued their exceptional spring, leading consignors in processing eight juveniles for 438,000gns–highlighted by a 150,000gns Farhh (GB) colt (lot 309) sold to Rabbah.
• One of the principal services of the breeze-up sector is to bridge the abyss that has culpably opened in recent years between dirt-bred American horses and the European circuit. The latest imported pinhook to impress buyers with her speed over the turf was a brilliant effort, a Congrats filly brought here by Katie Walsh of Greenhills Farm as lot 308. Picked up by Alpha Bloodstock at Keeneland last September for just $20,000, here she made 150,000gns from Oliver St Lawrence for Fawzi Nass. She'll join Jamie Osborne with Dubai in the back of their mind.
• Rookies to celebrate headline sales included Calyx (GB), whose Apr. 28 foal from Bushypark Stables (lot 306) won over Richard Brown of Blandford at 135,000gns and who later added a 120,000gns colt (lot 351) sold by Tally-Ho; Magna Grecia (Ire), whose colt from Yeomanstown (lot 272) brought 115,000gns from John McConnell; and Soldier's Call (GB), who sold two colts at 110,000gns apiece, one from Powerstown (lot 289) to a stable that has excelled at this sale in Alan King (co-signed with Federico Barberini) and another from Derryconnor Stud (lot 327) to Amanda Skiffington.
• Profitable (Ire) has dropped to a four-figure fee at Kildangan but his third crop showed how he can make that pay when registering a couple of big scores: Richard Ryan gave 150,000gns for the 32,000gns Somerville pinhook presented by Malcolm Bastard (lot 204); while another son brought 78,000gns as lot 267. Ryan's fellow, acquired for Teme Valley and Opulence Racing, will join Profitable's trainer Clive Cox.
• After a fairly long and winding road, Starspangledbanner (Aus) has reached a new peak in his global reputation and prepared for the resumption of his shuttling career with two daughters catching the eye of shrewd racing syndicates. Middleham Park gave 120,000gns for lot 288, sold to Fozzy Stack at the Orby for €40,000 and brought here by A & N Bloodstock; while Nick Bradley landed lot 304, a 27,000gns Book 2 buy by Kilronan and consigned by Knockanglass, for 80,000gns.
• At a sale that provides some oxygen for those bred to need a little more time and distance, plaudits for showcasing potential within the constraints of the format went to Michael Cleere for turning an Almanzor (Fr) colt (lot 190), found in this ring for just 9,000gns last October, into a 95,000gns sale to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. The agent in turn gave credit to client Peter Jeffers, saying, “He doesn't want the whizz-bangs.”
• Whether enough attention was being paid to the breeding potential of fillies in the Horses-in-Training session must be in doubt, seeing that 5,000gns sufficed to land the collector's item that was Margaret Beaufort (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 29). Though her two recent wins for George Scott had come at a very modest level, her granddam is the only foal ever delivered to the tragic George Washington (Ire).
• The final transaction of the day prompted warm applause for auctioneer Ollie Fowlston, laying down his gavel after 25 years with Tattersalls to become managing director at Dullingham Park. He was never going to go quietly, given the volume he tends to favour! But there was no mistaking the affection and esteem of the many colleagues and friends who gathered to wish him well in his new role.

@richryanracing & @OpThoroughbreds team up to buy lot 204 for 150,000gns at #TattsGuineas Breeze Up Sale.

This colt by Profitable was consigned by Malcom Bastard and has been bought to race in partnership with Teme Valley. pic.twitter.com/NwTJj1n2qo

— TDN (@theTDN) May 4, 2023

O'Callaghan Passes Test of Resolve

Michael O'Callaghan has done too well, too often, with the business model he has more or less trademarked at the breeze-ups to be disheartened even by the calamity that befell his record-breaking Harry Angel (Ire) colt in a freak transport accident following his £500,000 purchase at Doncaster.

Certainly the trainer will deserve redress from Lady Luck with the Time Test (GB) colt (lot 322) that again took him to the top of the sale, alongside the Zoffany colt sold by Cormac Farrell a few minutes earlier, at 200,000gns.

Found in the same ring as a foal by Pier House Stud, for 67,000gns at the 2021 December Sale, he was brought back by the masterly Willie Browne of Mocklershill. The colt has some top-class blood behind him–his mother is an unraced sister to G3 Queen's Vase winner Mikhail Glinka (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the pair out of a sister to none other than Sir Percy (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire})–and Brendan Morrin of Pier House soon decided that he might be a longer-term project.

“Willie does five or six breezers for us every year,” he explained. “And this horses has a lot of Galileo in him. We decided we'd hang on and wait for breeze, rather than sell as a yearling. Sometimes those plans don't work out, when you're buying them as foals, but we have been lucky today: Willie has done a fantastic job on him. He went there in January unbroken, but we'd handled him with the sales yearlings.”

“He's a magnificent-looking horse,” enthused Browne. “He looks a racehorse, he has a great walk and a great mind on him. I thought waiting for this sale might give him a bit of extra time, and he was a standout today.”

O'Callaghan was additionally intrigued by a resemblance to G2 Beresford S. winner Crypto Force (GB), another son of Time Test that he found at this sale last year for 160,000gns.

“He's a lovely, quality horse, and I hope lightning can strike twice,” O'Callaghan said. “Crypto Force was also out of a Galileo mare. This horse has a lovely action, he was a bit green in his breeze but we can forgive him that.”

Stars Align For Oakgrove

The last lot catalogued in the first half of the sale, comprising older Horses-in-Training, actually belonged to the same crop as the breezers that followed. But this Sea The Stars (Ire) filly, out of an unraced Nathaniel (Ire) half-sister to G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), arrived with a challenging history as one of 30 yearlings purchased for some £20 million by Richard Knight Bloodstock last year, only for client Saleh Al Homaizi to fail to come up with payment.

Most have already been re-offered (including one that won at Salisbury on Thursday afternoon) but this filly, who made 600,000gns when consigned by Newsells Park at the October Sale, has meanwhile been in pre-training and, according to Oakgrove Stud manager David Hilton after signing a 150,000gns docket, has had to overcome a “couple of niggles”.

Whatever her immediate future, Hilton emphasised that his employer John Deer had targeted the filly as a long-term project for Oakgrove, given a long screed of black type beneath her granddam Puce (GB) (Darshaan {GB}).

“This is very much a pedigree-based purchase,” explained Hilton. “We have [Pongee's daughter] Poplin (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and she's doing well for us. Whether we race her or not is up for debate, but we're very happy to buy her and she will join the broodmare band eventually.

“I spoke to Megan Evans at [consignor] Vicarage Farm, who was very honest and said they have not done a great deal with her. She's a big filly but very elegant, a good mover with a lovely head. She's very Sea The Stars, and Nathaniel (Ire) is starting to do well as a broodmare sire. The mare is based at Newsells and I'm sure they will be looking after her very well, so we'll be looking on with interest.”

The only runner to date out of this filly's unraced dam is Paz (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), a dual juvenile scorer in France who ran second in the Listed Prix des Lilas at Chantilly Thursday evening.

saving the best for last at #TattsGuineas HIT Sale

Lot 154 – a filly by Sea The Stars from the family of Chiquita, sells for 150,000gns. She was consigned by @vicarage_farm and has been bought by @OakgroveStud. pic.twitter.com/R0X24g3rre

— TDN (@theTDN) May 4, 2023

Records All Round

Having seen his rivals at Doncaster celebrate a remarkable auction last week, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony was glad to note the continued strong trade here.

“The momentum from the recent record-breaking Craven Breeze-Up Sale has been well and truly sustained at a second consecutive record-breaking renewal of this sale,” he said. “The combined turnover for the breeze-up 2-year-olds and horses-in-training has surpassed last year's record of 6.7 million guineas; the key indicators of average and median have matched or exceeded last year's impressive returns; and 13 2-year-olds have sold for 100,000 guineas or more, which is another record for the fixture.

“This sale traditionally attracts an abundance of overseas buyers and this year has been no exception with international demand, most notably from throughout Europe and the Gulf region, proving to be a feature of the sale which has also produced a combined clearance rate well in excess of 80%.

“Domestic buyers have as ever made a huge contribution to a successful sale and it is a tribute to the consignors that the breeze-up sector continues to go from strength to strength. There is no doubt that the consistent ability of both the Tattersalls Craven and Guineas Breeze-Up Sales to produce Classic and Group 1 winners has not gone unnoticed by the buyers, and we look forward to seeing plenty more quality performers emerge from both sales in the coming months.”

The post 200,000gns Farrell ‘Freak’ Shares Top Billing At Guineas Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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In foal to Space Blues (Ire), the maiden mare is also a three-parts sibling to Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Herald The Dawn (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), and a half-sister to the dam of G3 Tattersalls S. winner Sanus Per Aquam (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Listed winner Freed From Desire (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) (lot 32) from Albany Stud is also part of the catalogue; as are a trio of Clongiffen Stud mares with filly foals at foot–Kitten On The Keys (Kitten's Joy) (lot 36) in foal to Kuroshio (Aus) and with a Far Above (Ire) foal, lot 37, Melya (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), also with a Far Above filly carrying to King Of Change (GB), and Mossy's Lodge (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) (lot 38), with a Smooth Daddy filly foal and in foal to King Of Change (GB). Among the horses-in-training is the 84-rated TellthemI'mhere (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) (lot 10), who won her last two starts.

Bidding will commence at noon on Wednesday, May 10 and will close from noon on Thursday, May 11.

The post Three-Quarter Sister To Dawn Approach Anchors Tattersalls Online May Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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