Thrice Lucki At Goffs UK August Sale

Head and shoulders above his compatriots during the Goffs UK August Sale on Wednesday, Third Time Lucki (Ire) (Arcadio {Ger}) (lot 85) brought a sale-topping £190,000 from Fergal O'Brien.

The dual Grade 2-winning chaser was offered by the Jamie Railton Sales Agency and was part of the Mike Newbould Dispersal.

Two other members of the dispersal featured among the top lots, with the unraced 4-year-old Lathan (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) (lot 18) bringing £60,000 on the bid of J P McGrath Bloodstock; and lot 46, Goonhilly (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}), was knocked down to Dan Skelton Racing for £40,000.

Peter Niven bought Quintus Arrius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) (lot 36) for £50,000 from Kevin Ryan's Hambleton Lodge Stables, to round out the top four lots.

Of the 126 offered, 105 sold (83%) for a gross of £1,247,100. The average was £11,878 and the median was £5,500.

Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said, “Today has been another successful day at Doncaster and we would like to extend a special thank you to Mike and Eileen Newbould for their support in sending their partial dispersal to this sale. Third Time Lucki came into the sale as the highest rated chaser offered anywhere this year and it was very rewarding to see him sell so well.

“Today marks the start of a busy month for the Goffs team as we hold our £300,000 Harry Beeby Premier Yearling S. at York's Ebor Festival and our Premier Yearling Sale at the end of the month. We look forward to seeing everyone on the racecourse, and at Doncaster, over the coming weeks.”

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‘It’s Almost Like Dancing,’ – Top Consignors On The Art Of Showing

Jamie Railton and Charles Brière, two of the leading consignors in Europe, have spoken out about the difficulties in attracting sales staff and agreed that a good show person was just about the most important aspect when it comes to maximising a horse's value in the ring. 

The short supply of staff entering the racing and bloodstock industries in Europe has been described by many key stakeholders in recent years as a crisis and Railton and Brière admitted that the lack of new faces getting involved in the game is a worry. 

However, Railton said that earning a good wage whilst travelling the world and working hands-on with thoroughbreds is something that needs to be showcased more in an effort to attract prospective talent and said he'd 'be thrilled' if one of his kids decided to one day work the sales circuit. 

He said, “Finding new people is the hardest thing. There aren't too many new people coming onto the scene. I'm sure we could source more people from the showing scene. This is a great career and provides people an opportunity to travel the world and meet a huge variety of different people. It's something I would encourage any person coming into the business to give a go because it is an avenue that not many people know that much about.”

Railton added, “It is very exciting working up close with a very special animal. We sell horses of all different varieties, from foals right up to horses who have raced on the track, so there is nothing dull or boring about it. Every day is different and that makes the job very interesting. You can travel the world with these magnificent animals. I mean, how much fun is that? If one of my own kids said they wanted to do it, I'd be thrilled.”

Constance Vincent: has spoken positively about her experiences as a show person

The freelance nature to the sales work was put forward as a possible deterrent for more young people getting into the profession by well-known sales person Constance Vincent. Currently based with Baroda Stud in Ireland for the yearling prep, the French native has worked for some of the top training operations and sales consignments in the business. 

The 25-year-old has said the experiences she has gained in the handling of young thoroughbreds whilst working for some of the major consignors and the contacts made on the sales circuit is standing her in good stead with a view towards her long-term goal of becoming a breeze-up trainer.

Vincent said, “I always dreamed of becoming a trainer, but when I did the yearling sales with Monceaux in 2019, I realised how attractive and exciting working the sales circuit is, and how much buzz you get from selling a horse. You work very hard, it's non-stop all day long. It is tough both physically and mentally because you have to give the best show possible whether you feel fresh at 8am or tired at 6pm. At the end of each day, we all look at our phone to see how many miles we walked in a day. Funny enough, the more miles you do, the prouder you are! The reward of taking the horse you have been looking after for the week through the ring makes this work addictive. 

“There is a great atmosphere at the sales, you have 'craic' with people you work with and, if you have a tricky horse, someone comes around to help you straight away. There is great goodwill and camaraderie on the sales circuit. I also found that the buyers are very considerate about the work you are putting in for them. They never look down on you and are always very polite. Recognition is crucial in this game to keep everyone happy and to make you want to challenge yourself by pushing your own limits.”

She added, “My dream is to have my own breeze-up operation and I have learned so much working with young horses at the sales from many great people and that will be a major help for when I decide to set up my own business. At the sales, you are surrounded by proper horsemen and women and you learn hugely from them. If you are with the right people and you are willing to learn and take your time, the sales trip is a massive plus for young people.”

A graduate of the Thoroughbred Breeding Management course at the Irish National Stud, Vincent spent last winter working with renowned breeze-up handlers Mick and Sarah Murphy of Longways Stables and is set to work at the American breeze-ups in October for Niall Brennan. Working the sales season has proved a cost effective way for the young operator to gain experience before setting up by herself.

She explained, “Basically, I wanted to learn about how to buy yearlings but also how to gain horsemanship skills. And so the sales circuit was a great opportunity to do so because it is so flexible and easy to find work, you can decide which sales you will be earning money and gaining hands-on skills, and which sales you can go on your own cost and follow a bloodstock agent.

“The freelance nature of working at the sales may not appeal to a lot of young people who want security and that may be one of the reasons why more new people are not getting involved. But I can only speak from my own experiences and say that working at the sales has been a hugely positive thing for me and I would recommend it for any person who wants to gain experience and have a lot of fun doing it.”

Charles Briere | Tattersalls

Brière set up his successful Fairway Consignment operation in France back in 2015 after cutting his teeth working for such powerhouses as Coolmore, Aidan O'Brien, Bill Dwan of Castlebridge and Peter O'Callaghan at Woods Edge Farm in Kentucky. 

The French man compared showing horses to riding and even dancing in terms of the level of skill required and, while he described his Fairway Consignment to be in decent shape with regards to staff ahead of the busy yearling sale period this year, he admitted that recruiting employees in recent times has been a major headache. 

He said, “This year we have been lucky as we are okay for staff but for the previous few years, we found it very difficult to get staff on the farm for prepping the horses. We have one person on the team this year who is a complete novice, they never worked with thoroughbreds before in their life, but sometimes I find employing these people easier as they have no bad habits. Like I said, we are not in bad shape this year, but last year was very difficult.”

On what makes a good show person, he added, “Light hands, patience and a natural feeling. I would compare the art of showing horses to riding them. You need to have a feel for the horse, to know whether to walk slower or faster, and to show it to best effect. It's as difficult to ride a horse than it is to show a horse properly. You can teach the basics but, after that, it's like riding and it can take years to become a very good show person. Some people are just natural and they have a very good feeling. It's almost like dancing. Some are just better than others.”

Like Brière, Railton put forward light hands as one of the most desired characteristics when it comes to sales staff, and said that he is one of the more demanding consignors when it comes to how he likes his horses presented. 

He explained, “We would be a lot fussier than most when it comes to employing show people at the sales. We would expect a higher level than most people would, I think that's fair to say. We absolutely cherish and appreciate our staff and the difference between good show people and bad show people is night and day.

“It's all about having good sympathetic hands. Most of our good show people have come from the showing world and that's not a coincidence. Everyone has a different list of priorities but for me, good staff is right up there with being one of the most important aspects of the sale season.”

He added, “But when the numbers get very big, it can be hard to maintain standards but that does not mean you shouldn't try. That's the way I look at it. Yes, the numbers can get very big and sometimes you need to call upon staff that you don't really know that well but you still have to try and maintain standards and we really do focus on that. Before every sale, I talk with new members to explain what standards are expected from them.”

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Group 1 Winner Thunder Moon Highlights Tattersalls Autumn HIT Catalogue

Group 1 winner Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 749) is one of the highlights of the 1552-strong Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale catalogue that was released on Tuesday. Set for Monday, Oct. 24 to Thursday, Oct. 27, the sale–which contains 70 group and listed performers–begins at 9:30 a.m. each day.

Offered by The Castlebridge Consignment, Thunder Moon was trained by Joseph O'Brien and won the G1 National S. as a juvenile. Part of a 155-strong draft, he currently holds a rating of 108 by Timeform, and was also placed in the G1 Dewhurst S. and G1 Prix Jean Prat.

Sunday's Irish Cesarewitch victor Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 275) is part of Coolmore's 41-lot draft. Rated 116p by Timeform, the lightly-raced 3-year-old is joined by G2 Dante S. third Bluegrass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 678), who is rated 107.

Eddie's Boy (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) (lot 643), who won the G3 Prix Eclipse, will go through the ring from the The Castlebridge Consignment, while other 2-year-olds of note include G2 Royal Lodge S. second Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) (lot 768A) from Kingsley Park. Eve Lodge Stables' listed winner Rocket Rodney (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) (lot 1138) and the Listed Chesham S. second Pearling Path (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 674) from Baroda Stud are also set to sell.

Godolphin and Shadwell Estates will offer 28 and 14 lots, respectively, with a notable lot Shadwell's group winner Mujbar (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) (lot 657). Juddmonte's 23-lot draft contains the 97-rated Special Envoy (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 1086) among others.

Andrew Balding's Park House Stables' draft of 47 features G2 July S. winner Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) (lot 1059).

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale has a remarkable record of producing top class winners with no less than 76 individual group/listed winners in the last three years bought at the sale including seven Group/Grade 1 winners. That continued success is the key to the sales enduring appeal to both domestic and international buyers and this year's catalogue has all the ingredients to appeal to the customary global audience including the significant, high-class consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates.”

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Foals Keep Up Market Momentum at Tatts

by Chris McGrath

NEWMARKET, UK — The world certainly looks a different place from when these babies slithered into the straw. A less frightening one, thankfully, to many breeders, who have been relieved by a remarkable strength and depth in all levels of the market after the global economy absorbed the shock of Covid. So while the Tattersalls December Foal Sale opened in the customary low register, business on Wednesday unequivocally maintained the buoyant morale established in other sectors. Indeed, the clearance rate of 84% was a session record, and likewise the 16 transactions of 40,000gns or more.

In fact, even if you set aside a sale that performed rather better than anticipated last year, business comfortably outstripped even the pre-Covid levels of 2019. Year on year, meanwhile, a virtually identical offering (204 entered the ring, three more than 12 months ago) yielded turnover of 2,624,800gns, up no less than 66% on 1,585,100gns. That translated into a giddy 15,350gns average, up 31% from 11,741gns (10,091gns in 2019); and a 10,000gns median up from 8,000gns (a mere 5,000gns in 2019). Just 33 lots failed to find a new home, compared with 66 last year.

And these figures, in a way, perhaps represent a more instructive harvest than those recorded at the top end. For it is days like this that can tell you most about horses and horsemen alike, and how they respectively cope with the attrition of the market's lower reaches. Many more “obvious” foals will doubtless be offered on Thursday, but the real judges were already at work and their acuity and diligence should, if only the wind keeps blowing behind them, find due reward many of these animals return to market next autumn.

Passing Every Test…

Time Test (GB) is the only rookie stallion in Europe to have mustered four black-type winners from his debut crop but here he owed his latest headlines to the people who stand his rival Ardad (GB), who has matched him with two group scorers.

For it was Overbury Stud who presented a son of the National Stud stallion to achieve the top price of the opening session, at 75,000gns, from Redpender Stud. And Time Test must share the credit for Lot 362 with his dam, Wild Mimosa (Ire) (Dynaformer), who had further decorated what is already an excellent family when the result of their first mating, Love Interest (GB), made a stylish winning debut for David O'Meara at Newcastle since the publication of the catalogue.

Wild Mimosa was confined to a single start in a frustrating career for the Lloyd-Webbers and was culled for 52,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock in this ring four years ago–despite a productive start as a broodmare, and counting two Group 1 winners (Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer) and Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and the dam of champion The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) among her siblings. It is not difficult to understand why, however, judging from the testimony of Simon Sweeting.

“She's a mare we have to take the foals off straightaway as she savages them,” explained the Overbury Stud manager. “She has done it twice. So we were told not to let her see the foals, and to raise them on foster mares: we have one organised every time now. But she's been a huge success.”

Indeed, her yearling colt by Ardad brought six figures at the October Sale here.

“The 2-year-old looks like she might be okay,” said Sweeting. “She'll go back to Time Test. She was in foal to Ardad, but sadly lost it at 42 days.”

Sweeting declined to be partisan about Ardad's rival, describing him as a very different sire–while “almost” as good. In fact, he has a breeding right in Time Test. “He's a fabulous stallion,” he said. “And he's got a lot farther to go, we're very excited about him. It's great that the National Stud has such a good horse, I'm thrilled about that.”

The new owner of this colt, Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud, said: “He's a nice-looking horse by a promising young sire. I've never had a Time Test before, but this one is well-made, so we'll hope for the best. There's a bit going on in the pedigree. I thought less would buy him, but you have to keep bidding if you want one.”

Time Test had another colt stoke up the embers of the session when one of the very last into the ring, presented by his home farm as Lot 433, brought 66,000gns from Michael Fitzpatrick. This is another pinhook project, interestingly about an Apr. 25 foal, but he was certainly an elegant one.

“Time Test is a son of Dubawi and they're doing well,” explained Fitzpatrick, after signing as Good Will Bloodstock. “It's a trend that is becoming apparent. I'd like to have a Time Test to sell next year as I think his first crop will go on again as 3-year-olds.”

 

Hoping For the Stars To Come Out…

The market is gradually waking up to the gift made by Tweenhills in introducing the Australian sensation Zoustar (Aus) at such an inviting fee, and if his first Northern Hemisphere crop lives up to expectations next year then he may prove a very fertile pinhooking medium.

Sure enough, the March colt consigned by Highclere Stud as Lot 355 brought one of the top prices of the day from Billy Jackson-Stops.

“This is for a new pinhooking venture for Tony Elliott's Rogues' Gallery,” the agent explained, after signing a 70,000gns docket as JS Bloodstock/RGS. “He's a good physical, and hopefully there will be good upside with Zoustar. He's likely to be prepped for next year's sales back here.”

His dam is also entitled to contribute, of course, as a listed winner on both sides of the Channel. Making Eyes (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is catalogued as Lot 2067 in Highclere's mare consignment here next week.

Railton Boards The Ulysses Bandwagon…

As the son of a Derby winner and Oaks winner, Ulysses (Ire) appears eligible to do better still as his debut crop benefits from maturity and middle distances next year. That obviously makes his achievements already still more auspicious, with 16 juvenile winners from 37 starters including G3 Eyrefield S. runner-up Piz Badie (Ire).

Some pinhookers were ahead of the curve, as they would hope to be, most notably Hegarty Bloodstock in converting a 4,000gns punt on a colt by the Cheveley Park stallion in this ring 12 months ago into a bumper payout of 150,000gns in Book 3. Demand has risen accordingly, and Jamie Railton was obliged to pay 60,000gns–the highest price of the morning–for a colt offered as Lot 279 by Bearstone Stud.

“We will just have to see how Ulysses turns out, but he has certainly made a promising start,” Railton said. “I've not been fortunate enough to have one yet, but he was a top 10-furlong horse so looks a sire with a future. Let's hope this horse matures and develops and goes the right way: I just thought he was a nice, attractive individual–and that is what they cost.”

There should be an injection of extra speed from the dam, as one would expect from a speed-oriented nursery like Bearstone. A five-furlong winner by Indesatchel (Ire), she has already managed to produce a stakes-winning sprinter in Vintage Brut (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}). That horse is clearly the best by his own sire, on ratings, and the mare has also produced winners by Firebeak (GB) and Equiano (Fr) from her only surviving foals so far on the track. As such, Railton is entitled to hope that Ulysses, with ripening stock to fly the flag in the meantime, will appear a real upgrade by the time he returns this Feb. 8 foal to the yearling sales.

The young stallion still has an awfully long way to go, of course, before he can aspire to the status of farm legend Pivotal (GB), whose death in peaceful retirement, aged 28, was mourned five days before the sale. Pivotal was a sprinter whose progeny often had more stamina than expected, but in threatening to reverse that paradox Ulysses is playing a commercially useful game.

The Force Is With Rookie Sire…

Needless to say, a lot of the energy in this market traces sooner to a newer cycle; to the search for a future Time Test, Ardad or Ulysses. And plenty of rookies predictably prompted an early roll of the dice.

One was Land Force, the G2 Richmond S. winner by No Nay Never who, after a single start at three in Australia, returned to Europe to cover 155 mares at Highclere Stud. That gave him quite a footprint here and he landed a couple of breakthrough punches in his home farm draft–both ending up in the day's top six transactions.

“They look runners,” said Con Marnane, such a good judge of the evolving physical, after giving 65,000gns for a February colt (Lot 380). “This is a lovely, quality colt, and we had to go an extra bid or two to get him. But I think the stallion could have some quality yearlings next year. Of course, he was a very good racehorse himself.”

But the dam could certainly contribute in that respect, too, having been placed in the G3 Princess Margaret S. and herself being out of a stakes-placed half-sister to dual Classic winner Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley). She was bought by Avenue Bloodstock at the end of her career with Paul Cole, at the December Sale here three years ago, for 190,000gns.

Lot 356, similarly, had the benefit of a young dam with a useful page: she's an unraced Redoute's Choice (Aus) half-sister to G1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup Regal Parade (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and G3 Acomb S. winner Entifaadha (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Farther back, this is the famous Juddmonte family of Zafonic (Gone West), Reams Of Verse (Nureyev) and Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). That steeled Alex Elliott's resolve in giving 60,000gns for this February colt.

“I'm a huge fan of the Scat Daddy line,” the agent said. “And a big admirer of Land Force. But this colt has a lovely pedigree all round, I've always loved the family. And he's a lovely horse, a good early foal with a lot of upside to him. He's bred to be fast, and should be easy to place in any sale next year. I buy for a few [resale] syndicates and he'll probably go to Ireland in the meantime.”

 

Tested Methods Opens New Territories…

Pinhookers seeking motivation through the toil of the months ahead will keep in mind the inspiring touch pulled off by John Foley of Ballyvolane Stud with a Time Test colt picked up in this ring a year ago for 56,000gns. Having elevated his value to 400,000gns in Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale, Foley was back to play up his winnings on a Mar. 5 foal by Territories (Ire) offered as Lot 234 by Hungerford Park Stud.

“He's a lovely horse with good updates,” Foley remarked after signing a 50,000gns docket as GHS Bloodstock. “He'll be for resale, I doubt we can repeat what we did but we'll try.”

Those updates concerned the colt's half-brother Wentwood (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}), who has been in productive form in Australia, notably in winning the G3 Bendigo Cup H. last month. Among those disappointed to see the colt head off to Co. Limerick was Matt Coleman, who gave Foley sporting congratulations as underbidder.

Having kept that powder dry, Coleman was later able to give 55,000gns for the solitary offering [Lot 410] this week by Zarak (Fr), who has shown such promise in beginning to recycle one of the world's greatest pedigrees. He was acting for Daniel Macauliffe and Anoj Don, previously partners in the Group 2-winning juvenile Fighting Irish (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

“He has been bought to race, and they were very keen to buy one by the sire,” explained Coleman. “From here he'll probably go to Culworth Grounds and will race in Britain.”

The February foal, sold by Stauffenberg Bloodstock, represents a rising tide in the Haras de Bonneval sire, who retired at €12,000 but rises to €25,000 next spring after including two Group 1 performers among 17 winners from only 32 starters.

 

Tide Remains Strong For Ocean…

Being every bit as brilliant as he was hardy, the designation of Crystal Ocean (GB) as a National Hunt sire offers a depressing commentary of the state of commercial breeding today. So it's good to see that some prospectors have their wits about them sufficiently to grasp that he has every right, as a top-class son of Sea The Stars (Ire), to add to the proliferation of stakes performers in his family tree.

Matt Houldsworth, for instance, gave 46,000gns for a February colt from an excellent German family, presented by Castletown Stud as Lot 365 and now on his way to Aughamore Stud.

“He has been bought for resale,” the agent confirmed. “He's just a really quality individual, a very good-moving horse. I haven't seen many by the stallion, but he was a very good racehorse. I know he's standing as a jumps sire, but that's not to say he won't be a good sire of Flat horses. Hopefully he can go to something like Book 2 here.”

Guy O'Callaghan of Grangemore Stud was another clear-sighted enough to give 30,000gns for Lot 268, a colt who can count none other than Doff The Derby (Master Derby) as fifth dam.

“This is a great-looking foal, by a champion racehorse out of a good, proven Shamardal racemare and with a good back family,” he said. “What's not to like? Simple as that. Crystal Ocean was a top racehorse by a brilliant stallion.”

Crystal Ocean has made a strong start in his “day job” and ended the recent Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale third in the averages at €35,257 for 30 lots sold, with a top price of €120,000.

A more conventional commercial newcomer to register a decent early strike was Tally-Ho's Inns Of Court (Ire), whose son out of a half-sister to Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) from Highfort Stud [Lot 431] made 49,000gns from Trev Group.

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