Tag: juvenile sale

Following Wind Takes Breezers To Record Sale

DONCASTER, UK—There may be “wars, and rumours of wars”, but somehow for the bloodstock market it seems as though these things really will just pass.

Having emerged from the economic shock of the pandemic with record business last year, the Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-Up once again raised the bar as investors seemingly remain impervious to dramatic new volatility in the geopolitical environment.

The juvenile sector had been first to take the Covid broadside in 2020, and no meaningful comparisons can duly be made with the auction salvaged—in conjunction with one hosted by Arqana—that July. But last year this sale seamlessly resumed the bull run that had animated trade before that trauma, with £6,219,500 turnover breaking down to a £48,590 average and £34,000 median (128 sold of 144 into the ring).

Well, on Thursday those indices were in turn effaced, albeit narrowly, by transactions totalling £6,495,500 for a £49,208 average and £36,000 median, the only slippage coming in the clearance rate at 132 sold of 158 offered (81.6%). Following a very strong start to the European circuit at Tattersalls last week, and with unmissable momentum on the racetrack, consignors can dare to believe that the good times really are back.

“As ever with a breeze-up sale, vendors can only expect to be paid for those that perform their very best when galloping prior to sale,” said Goffs UK Managing director Tim Kent. “And those that ticked all the boxes sold very well today. A record-breaking 17 horses sold for £100,000 or more, with three making more than £200,000, which helped to return a record average price that was just shy of £50,000 for the first time in the sale's history.

“It has been a fantastic few days in sunny Donny and, as ever, we would like to thank our loyal band of vendors who again prepared some truly exceptional horses to showcase their talents on Town Moor. Much of the talk during the last few days has been the search for Royal Ascot runners as this sale has an unrivalled record of success at that meeting.”

 

Byrne Family Helps Whyte Pick up the Pieces

There are three things indispensable to a breeze-up consignment: horsemanship, horsemanship and horsemanship. Scale doesn't come into it. True, scale doesn't get in the way, and this was duly another fertile day for those masters of all trades at Tally Ho Stud. But top billing this time should surely be reserved for Michael Byrne and his family at Knockgraffon Stables—not just for a fine result with their own, solitary offering, but also for a service rendered to another small operation in what is, after all, a community of colleagues as much as rivals.

Matty Whyte of Bushypark Stables in Co Kildare similarly breezed just the one horse here on Tuesday, a Tasleet (GB) colt found in the same ring for just £14,000 last August. But he went so well as lot 97 that Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock was forced all the way to £230,000 in his quest for a new Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum.

After shaking hands with Brown, however, Whyte candidly diverted all credit to Byrne and his family.

“I'll be honest,” he explained. “I got badly broken up in a fall in January, cracked vertebrae and the lot, and I had to spread seven horses among friends and colleagues. And all the credit for this one goes to Michael Byrne. He prepped the horse, I was just getting weekly videos.”

Though he joked that he might have to delegate the work routinely in future, Whyte naturally remained entitled to congratulation for having started the process—most notably in having found the horse so cheaply.

“No, he didn't cost much,” Whyte said. “But he costs enough now! Look, he was up there in the top corner, the consignors had done a lovely job with him but he was just a little immature, a little raw, and I thought there might be a bit of improvement there.”

Brown, for his part, will be hoping that this colt can emulate Perfect Power, who had similarly multiplied his yearling value (16,000gns out of Book 2) when bought for £110,000 at this auction last year—but nonetheless went on to prove a bargain in winning at Royal Ascot, plus two Group 1s before his successful reappearance at Newbury last weekend.

This colt will carry the same colours. “We bought Far Above (Farrh) from Matty three years ago,” Brown said, recalling the 105,000gns purchase of that brief-but-bright sprinting star at the Tattersalls Guineas Sale. “He was extremely talented, and is now at stud with I have to say some pretty exceptional foals in his first crop. This is a gorgeous colt and, for me, he did an absolutely outstanding breeze.

“He did a very good time, which is important in a horse bred as he is. But he also showed a great attitude, which is something we place a big emphasis on, and a great stride and action. Tasleet was a very tough, talented horse, and Ardad was another first-season sire last year, of course—and the rest is history. It's been well documented how we got Perfect Power at this sale, and Sheikh Rashid was keen to try and find another very nice colt. Let's hope we've done so, because this horse has plenty of scope: he's not just a whizzbang.”

As for Whyte, asked how he was feeling a few months on from his accident, he replied: “Euphoric! Look, I'm back in one piece. I'm alive and well, and meanwhile all thanks to Michael.”


Knockgraffon's own offering was scarcely less impressive. Remember this is very much a family operation, with Byrne, wife Kitty and sons Michael Jr. and Stephen assisted only by rider Evan Dwan at their yard outside Cashel in Co. Tipperary. Between them they'll reckon on pre-training around 15, with another 10 to breeze. Nonetheless they had a right touch at this sale four years ago, when catapulting a €12,000 Tamayuz filly to £140,000, and they had another cracking result with the Havana Gold (Ire) filly they brought here as lot 31.

This time it was Stephen Byrne doing the honours, having picked her out for £22,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland sale (transferred to Newmarket) last September. He was relieved by not surprised by her flashy breeze on Tuesday, which caused her value to stretch to £120,000 from Stroud Coleman Bloodstock.

“She did exactly what I thought she would,” Byrne said. “She's never disappointed me, she's always done everything so easy. I loved her the moment I saw her, she had that big round scopey action. We got her home and she's been a queen ever since.”

 

Brown Tries To Improve On Perfection

Brown's investment in the sale-topper crowned a hectic few minutes in which he doubled down on the success he has enjoyed at this auction, not just with Perfect Power but also in finding that horse's sire.

And he went back to the same well in giving £160,000 for another son of Kodiac (GB) (lot 92) from the farm that sent Ardad here in 2016, when he co-topped the sale at nearly the same price (£170,000). This time Tally Ho had sent the son of an unraced Bushranger (Ire) half-sister to the dam of Ardad.

“So he's closely related to Ardad, and obviously from the same consignors, but he's a different type of horse,” Brown remarked. “He's a May foal, he'd be a little more backward than Ardad was, and will probably take a little more time. Myself, I'd be keen to put a line through Ascot but that's not my job now and we'll see what the trainer says.”

Who will enjoy that privilege remains to be seen, but the silks will be those of Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum, brother to Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Juma. And their good friend Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi will also be competing through a brother to last year's G2 Queen Mary S. winner Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) acquired from Oak Tree Farm for £125,000 (lot 99). Al Qassimi has a smart young sprinter in Caturra (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who made a promising reappearance when second in the G3 Prix Sigy for Clive Cox only the previous day.

“All these guys are unbelievable horsemen in their own right,” Brown emphasised. “Sheikh Rashid is a championship endurance rider. They're great to buy for, and great to train for: if a horse needs time, the horse will be given time.”

Brown's commitment to the sale, incidentally, had been marked by his unanimous selection by the Goffs UK Board as winner of the Willie Stephenson Memorial Trophy for the biggest contribution to the company's profile over the past year.

“Richard has been a great friend to DBS/Goffs UK over the years,” said managing director Tim Kent. “And it's entirely appropriate that we present him this trophy at the very sale from which he has bought so many wonderful horses. Perfect Power is one of several and it's indeed fitting that it was Richard who bought Ardad's first Group 1 winner, having also bought Ardad in 2016.

“Perfect Power continues to do wonders for the Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale, following his brilliant win on Saturday, and there is plenty to look forward to with his Classic clash next month and we wish Richard and connections the very best of luck. We thank Richard for all his support over the years and we are sure he will be unearth many more Group 1 talents in the years to come.”

 

Another Back to the Tally Ho Well

Repeat business for Tally Ho was again central to one of the other big transactions of the day, with breeze-up regular Michael O'Callaghan forced to £200,000 for the Mehmas (Ire) colt they presented as lot 94.

This is the first foal of an Epaulette (Aus) half-sister to the dam of Epsom Icon (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), from the Cheveley Park family of Red Camellia (GB).

“He's a lovely colt and did one of the best breezes of the day,” O'Callaghan observed. “Visually, he's very impressive—and he's obviously by a sire conquering all before him. He's from a hotel we've had a lot of luck buying from, and came highly recommended. Hopefully he can make an Ascot horse: he looks early and fast, but has enough size and power that you'd hope he'll not just be early.”

The Curragh trainer has learned to appreciate the groundwork of Tally Ho through, among others, a couple of horses found at this sale: Classic-placed Now Or Later (Ire) (Bushranger {GB}) cost just £45,000, while only last year the tough and classy Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) co-topped the sale at £210,000 before proceeding to win the G3 Cornwallis S. on the 10th of 11 starts at two.

 

Fresh Travels Beckon Munnings Migrant

The breeze-ups have for some reason become the one surviving route into the affections of European investors for American stock, and the latest to boom in value for a transatlantic journey was a colt by the flourishing Ashford sire Munnings presented by Ballinahulla Stables as one of the last into the ring as lot 177.

Signed for at Fasig-Tipton last October by Shamington Farms at just $32,000, the grey was strongly contested by Johnno Mills of Rabbah but eventually fell for £205,000 to Colm Sharkey.

Tadgh Ryan of Ballinahulla was keen to stress the partnership of Micky Cleere, while both expressed a debt to Donal Keane who was doing the legwork in Lexington.

“And it was really Micky who saw the video,” Ryan said. “Donal does it on the ground, and Micky sends me a shortlist of the videos he likes. That video work can be brutal! But this was a gorgeous horse as soon as he came over, with a great mind and a great constitution. He loves the game, and I really think he could be pretty good. We took a gamble bringing him here, they wanted him for Dubai, but it's worked out and Colm is one of the best judges out there.”

In the event, the colt will be heading out to the desert after all, as Sharkey was acting for clients in Dubai—perhaps aware that Ryan and Cleere had also been behind another American import in Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front). Sold here by Arqana last year for £120,000, he finished second in the G2 UAE Derby and has been flown back to his native land for the GI Kentucky Derby itself.

“He's the only horse I wanted to buy, so I've waited all day for him,” Sharkey said. “He's got a nice pedigree, did a nice, even breeze and vetted well. He'll head to Dubai now and hopefully race at the backend, once they get going in October or November.”

Underbidder Mills did secure a notable U.S. import, and quite a celebrity too: a half-brother to California Chrome himself.

The emigration of the dual Horse of the Year to Japan could well prove a good career move, breeders out there having repeatedly made their Bluegrass counterparts regret their commercial prejudices. In the meantime, however, his sibling by Accelerate—himself an absurdly generous fee, and a far more accomplished animal than California Chrome's sire Lucky Pulpit—was also exported, from Keeneland last September, to Powerstown Stud for just $62,000.

Here he advanced his value, as lot 36, to £110,000. His breeze having shown him to be functioning well, at this stage of his development, that may well turn out to be something of a bargain. “He's a May 16 foal, and will be given all the time he needs,” stressed Mills. “But he's the right stamp of horse, very solid, and his ultimate destination will be Dubai.”

That makes a lot of sense, given this horse's dirt antecedents, though it's possible that he will get an initial grounding on turf in Europe.

 

Top Hats Booked Down Under

An abrupt opening bid of £125,000 from Stuart Boman for the Kessaar (Ire) colt offered by Star Bloodstock (lot 26) put any dozing competition on the back foot in the morning session, and though one or two recovered briefly it was the Blandford Bloodstock agent who completed the job at £160,000.

Boman explained that this calculated, “disruptor” flourish had been imported on behalf of his good friend James Harron, who had jointly instructed him and Martin Buick from Australia.

“James got in touch with Martin and myself with a view to finding a runner for Royal Ascot,” he explained. “Like so many Australians they'll be glad to be able to leave the country and it sounds like they're all coming! We had very strict criteria and identified this as the one horse we wanted to buy, hence the bidding tactics. He's a very mature horse, he was the quickest colt in the sale and, while time isn't everything, in this instance you're looking for a five-furlong horse and he was particularly quick. He'll be joining Richard Hannon.”

After a “shocking” start to their cycle at the Craven Sale, according to Matt Eaves, this was a welcome touch for Star Bloodstock on a £25,000 pinhook in this ring last August by Byron Rogers. Here was yet another case of investors returning eagerly to Tally Ho, also the source of two headline successes for Star Bloodstock in G2 Norfolk S. winner A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), found here for £35,000 before his £135,000 sale at this auction in 2019; and GI Breeders' Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf runner-up Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), a £120,000 private sale at the refugee Arqana auction staged here last year, after her £29,000 acquisition the previous August. Malavath has meanwhile contributed to a breeze-up spree in the Classic trials with her reappearance success in the G3 Prix Imprudence.

“I'm delighted,” Eaves said. “We've had so much success buying from Tally-Ho and bringing them here to sell. At home, this horse has just been fast all the way. At the end of the day it's racetrack results that we want, so let's hope he goes and wins the Norfolk for them.”

 

Boman and Buick returned to the fray for lot 130, on behalf of the same clients, in the process completing another fine pinhook for Longways Stables, who had picked out this Zoustar (Aus) filly for £26,000 here last summer—even though her dam Ainippe (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}) won twice in group company and was placed at the highest level. This time, with the benefit of a lightning breeze, she raised £150,000.

“Sharp filly,” Boman said. “She went very quick, one of the top five times, and she's very fit and forward so we can expect her to be early and hopefully we can get her to Ascot. Obviously you don't have to explain Zoustar to Australians, and this filly also has some residual which you can't say of every horse in this sale.”

Longways had also rolled the dice on a Zoustar colt here last August, and were again well rewarded in converting his value from £35,000 to £130,000 from Bryan Smart lot 135.

Overall this catalogue is unabashedly promoted on the Royal Ascot record of its graduates and the same handful of races, now barely two months away, were duly on the mind of investors throughout the day.

Fawzi Nass was one, when giving Kessaar (Ire) another significant boost in the £160,000 acquisition—the docket signed in the name of Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock—of a February colt found here for just £20,000 last summer and recycled as lot 114 by Bansha House Stables.

“Royal Ascot is always the plan,” Nass said with a grin. “But it's not that easy. The way he's built, well put together with a nice stride, he looks a proper 2-year-old type—so he should be sharp enough to come out very soon. He'll be trained by Roger Varian.”

His pedigree is certainly more commensurate with his April price than his August one: his dam is a half-sister to the three elite winners—Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})—produced by the O'Briens' blue hen Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill).

A couple of lots later Robin O'Ryan was endorsing another young sire in Sioux Nation, giving £130,000 for a colt consigned by Gaybrook Lodge as lot 116.

“We've two and we like them,” said Richard Fahey's assistant, here representing an established patron of the yard. “This one was well recommended before coming here. And while he breezed a little bit green, we liked him. They're all Royal Ascot horses at the moment. But he does look racy.”

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Kodiac Filly Anchors Wednesday’s Craven Session

NEWMARKET, UK—The excellence of the Tattersalls marketing team is familiar, but nobody realised they had friends in quite such high places. For the racing gods, as a rule so notoriously uncooperative, have this week followed a script that could scarcely have promoted the Craven Breeze-Up Sale more lavishly—with graduates of last year's auction winning Classic trials, just up the road on the Rowley Mile, shortly before each of its two sessions.

On Wednesday it was the turn of champion juvenile Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who extended his unbeaten record barely two hours before the resumption of the auction where he was bought last year for 210,000gns. And the market responded with due fervour.

True, the sale hasn't quite retrieved the peak of the bull run that climaxed in 2017 and 2018, when the average exceeded 140,000gns. But it has emphatically put the travails of the past two years behind it.

A breeze-up catalogue that majors in quality rather than quantity can be rather volatile in the distribution of its fastest times. That was certainly the case last year, when the second session average basically dipped to 70,000gns from 100,000gns on the first day. This time round, a very consistent yield meant that even Tuesday's 22% gains were wildly surpassed, catapulting the session average a staggering 58% to 110,363gns; and the median 50% from 60,00gns to 90,000gns

For a more even read, the sale in the round achieved a rock-solid advance even on the commendably resilient performance of a sector that was brutally exposed to the advent of the pandemic. Over the two days, 103 head of horse were traded for 11,939,500gns, yielding an average and median of 115,917gns and 90,000gns, respectively. That amounted to gains of 15%, 35% and 32% on 2021 (10,408,500gns turnover for 121 lots sold, for an average of 86,021gns and median of 68,000gns).

The one slippage came in unsold lots, up to 31 from 16. But while the wider economic climate does not necessarily feel more secure than over the past two years, and a very different stamp of horse will as usual be offered at Doncaster next week, the sector as a whole can only derive huge encouragement from the business done here.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony did not neglect his cue. “The fact that this auction has produced the winners of both of this week's principal Classic trials is a powerful endorsement of our premier breeze-up sale,” he said. “And the competition over the past two evenings has reflected the sale's reputation for consistently delivering 2-year-olds of the very highest calibre.

“The array of lucrative Tattersalls bonuses on offer for all Craven Breeze-Up purchases continues to attract owners and trainers in all sectors of the market, and the domestic buyers have faced stiff opposition from a diverse crowd of overseas buyers—all of whom have contributed to gains in the key metrics of average, median and turnover, albeit with a clearance rate which has not matched last year's record level. In addition to the strong overseas contingent, from America, Bahrain, Dubai, France, Italy, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, we have had live internet bidders registered from Hong Kong and Japan and the global profile of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up continues to rise.

“As ever, there have been some outstanding pinhooking triumphs, all of which reflect the professionalism of the consignors whose support of the Craven Breeze-Up is key to its success. As an unbeaten European champion, Native Trail may be a hard act to follow, but we look forward to rewarding even more owners with lucrative £15,000 Craven Breeze-Up Bonuses and hopefully to another winner of either of the substantial Royal Ascot and Group 1 bonuses. In the meantime, there are plenty more quality 2-years-olds on offer at the forthcoming Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses-in-Training Sale, and we look forward to sustaining the momentum.”

 

Tally-Ho Double Top With Kodiac

Even by their own remarkable standards, Tally-Ho Stud had thrived in Tuesday's opening session and it did not take long to renew that momentum. Having topped the sale with a 525,000gns Kodiac (GB) colt, they moved a daughter of their game-changing stallion onto the silver step of the podium when lot 96 realized 460,000gns.

This filly, a half-sister to dual Italian stakes winner Evil Spell (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) from the family of the sizzling Mind Games (GB) (Puissance {GB}), was said to have melted the stopwatches in her breeze on Monday and there was corresponding interest from Jake Warren, Richard Brown and David Redvers before they yielded to one of the most committed supporters of the breeze-ups in Michael O'Callaghan.

The Curragh trainer is among Tally-Ho's many satisfied repeat customers, and only last year co-topped the Goffs UK sale at Doncaster when giving £210,000 for their Twilight Son (GB) colt since familiar as Twilight Jet (Ire)—who proceeded to win the G3 Cornwallis S. on the 10th of 11 starts at two. Previous graduates of the farm include the Classic-placed pair Now Or Later (Ire) (Bushranger {GB}), acquired at Doncaster for £45,000, and Blue De Vega (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who came through Goresbridge for €75,000.

“I have bought a lot of good horses off Tally-Ho,” said O'Callaghan. “And this is a lovely filly who did a very fast breeze. She's a lovely physical with a great pedigree, so she ticks all the boxes and hopefully she will make up into a Royal Ascot filly.”

She is a sixth recruit for the stable from new client Amo Racing.

Tally-Ho duly ended the sale as leading consignor, processing eight horses for 1,787,000gns (average 223,375gns).

 

 

Sioux Nation's Gleaming Start

The early bird might catch the worm but it's a different story as evening draws on and there was fierce competition for only the third lot into the ring, thanks partly to the presence of GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) front and centre on his page.

That filly had already finished second as the favourite for the G2 Queen Mary S., besides winning a listed race at Deauville, by the time her half-brother (lot 84) by rookie Sioux Nation entered the ring at the Orby Sale last year. Somehow he slipped through the cracks, knocked down to JB Bloodstock for just €50,000 but apparently returned to his breeders at Pier House Stud. They tried again with a winter at Mocklershill and, now that Willie Browne had worked his magic, nobody was missing him here. Eventually Anthony Stroud was forced to 380,000gns to see off Richard Brown and, seated with representatives of Najd Stud, Peter Doyle.

Stroud was acting for KHK Racing in Bahrain, who will keep him in England to be trained.

“He looked a real 2-year-old,” Stroud said. “I thought he moved very well in his breeze and he's from a very good consignor. Richard is a very good judge and he was underbidder and, while it sounds a bit repetitive, he ticked all the boxes. Personally, though it's always easy to say, he was the horse we wanted to get to tonight.”

The dam, an unraced daughter of Dansili (GB), was culled by the Royal Studs despite being out of a dual stakes-winning daughter of that treasured G2 Ribblesdale S. winner, Phantom Gold (GB) (Machiavellian). The Morrin family at Pier House will be hoping for further updates for their mare, Twilight Gleaming having set herself up for a return to Royal Ascot when second on her recent reappearance at Keeneland.

 


 

Najd Stud Follows the Trail

Having co-signed for the sale's poster boy Native Trail (GB) as a 67,000gns yearling, Mags O'Toole reiterated her eye for a diamond in the rough when picking up an American Pharoah colt at Keeneland last September for just $57,000—barely half the cover fee.

Brought here by Lynn Lodge Stud as lot 114, he proved in rather greater demand and will now resume his travels after Peter Doyle signed a 260,000gns docket on behalf of Najd Stud.

It turned out that the pinhooking of Native Trail had been instrumental in getting Saud Al Qahtani, seated alongside the agent, onto the plane. “This is a good sale and has produced the 2-year-old champion,” he said. “That encouraged us to come over. This horse will be aimed for the Saudi Derby.”

“That's the hope, anyway!” Doyle said. “He's a lovely horse, and very sound. They were bidding on him for Hong Kong, and he would have had to pass everything for them to be interested. And obviously with the dirt the American-breds do well out there.”

The colt is out of an Oasis Dream (GB) half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Twice Over (GB) (Observatory), culled by Juddmonte for 140,000gns at the December Sale here in 2017. She changed hands again at Keeneland last November, for $95,000, and her new owners will doubtless be monitoring this colt's progress with interest.

The Middle East is also the destination, incidentally, for another Keeneland September graduate in the War Front colt offered as lot 125. He made 220,000gns from Satish Seemar, getting a $170,000 play by Grove Stud over the line. She will have residual value, after all, as the daughter of GI Alcibiades S. winner Dancing Rags (Union Rags).

An even giddier pinhook held together when a Kingman colt  (lot 145) bought here in Book 1 for 210,00gns—he's out of group winner Fate (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), herself half-sister to that marvellous mare Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre)—was cashed out for 300,000gns by Longways Stables to Ross Doyle.

“A real good physical,” the agent said. “Very straightforward, a good mover, he's probably a seven-furlong/miler type—and we've been lucky buying off Sarah and Mick from Longways.”

Doyle signed in association with Omni Horse. “It's a new syndicate,” he explained. “Kia [Joorabchian] from Amo Racing is involved, hopefully it will be exciting. I'm not sure of training plans for this horse.”

Longways, incidentally, had earlier achieved a handsome yield on an Adaay colt found in Book 2 for 57,000gns, processed here as lot 103 to Opulence Thoroughbreds for 150,000gns.

And O'Toole and her colleague Norman Williamson meanwhile kept up their momentum—Oak Tree Farm had sold a War Front colt for 425,000gns in the opening session—when Avenue Bloodstock gave 165,000gns for the Camelot colt lot 126 O'Toole had acquired for €80,000 at Arqana last August.

 

Gredley Cuts a Dash for Zoustar Filly

One big personality recognised another when veteran owner-breeder Bill Gredley, looking exceptionally dapper, stretched to 270,000gns for the Zoustar (Aus) filly presented by Gaybrook Lodge Stud as lot 121. He was determined not to yield after missing out minutes earlier on Yeomanstown's 150,000gns Dark Angel (Ire) filly lot 116.

“I liked the grey filly, but was underbidder,” Gredley said. “I like this filly, but so did a lot of people—so she was a lot of money. But if you want something good, you have to pay for it. I don't often buy at the breezes, but we took a look at her and she has a nice personality. I like nice people, and I like personalities! I don't know who will train her yet, I'll have a chat with my son [Tim] who's away show-jumping in Spain.”

Having signed in the name of Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs, Gredley naturally has the option of tapping into this filly's Juddmonte roots. Her dam is an Oasis Dream (GB) half-sister to Monarchs Glen (GB) (Frankel {GB}), that pair in turn out of the G1 Prix de la Foret third Mirabilis (Lear Fan)—whose brilliant half-sister Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) won the G1 Prix de Diane in 2003. As such she was well bought here at the Somerville Tattersall Sale here last year, for 70,000gns from Galloway Stud by MC Bloodstock.

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Kodiac Colt Leads The Way At Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK—We know that these breeze-up consignors have nerves of steel: otherwise they simply couldn't do the job. As such, the bloodstock industry could not have appointed a better echelon to test the stormy waters of the last couple of years, when they were first to be broadsided by the pandemic and then tried to put things back on an even keel last year. The opening session of the opening sale of the European circuit, then, gave them a chance to put their world back on its axis—even as they found themselves having to navigate the fresh uncertainties of war and soaring energy costs. And the initial signs were most promising.

All sectors of the bloodstock market, on both sides of the ocean, soaked up the Covid crisis with astounding resilience. But the Craven Sale understandably subsided from the boom that had peaked in 2017 and 2018 with averages exceeding 140,000gns, clocking an average over the past two years of 95,000gns and 86,000gns, respectively.

But the opening exchanges here represented a huge rally. Albeit the clearance rate slipped a little, the average for the first session roared up 22% from 99,769gns to 121,365gns; with the median also advancing nicely from 80,00gns to 86,000gns. Turnover was only marginally down (3%) despite withdrawals leading to a diminished offering: 52 of 67 sold, compared with 65 of 76 last year.

Obviously a breeze-up catalogue tends to be very uneven, depending where the fastest breezers may be lurking, and that volatility can be exaggerated in a relatively boutique offering. So we'll see how things stack up after Wednesday's second session, but the first impressions were certainly heartening.

Loughnane Tops Session For 525,000gns Kodiac Colt

Some of the most extraordinary chapters in the extraordinary story of Kodiac (GB) have been written at the breeze-ups, and there was another one here when David Loughnane signed a 525,000gns docket to make lot 29 the sire's most valuable 2-year-old yet.

The February colt was presented by the farm that has supervised the rise and rise of Kodiac, Tally-Ho Stud—and that operation's trademark acuity is condensed by the fact that they acquired his dam No Lippy (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for just 20,000gns at the 2018 December Sale here. This was a full-sister to stakes winner Polybius (GB), and the winner of three of her first four juvenile starts; while her mother Freedonia (GB) (Selkirk) won the G2 Prix de Pomone before being Grade I-placed on turf in the U.S. And now No Lippy's first foal into the sales ring has hit the ball out of the park.

“I loved everything about him,” Loughnane said after seeing off underbidder Oliver St Lawrence. “He looks an out-and-out Royal Ascot horse. His dam was a very good 2-year-old for Mark Johnston, and he's a lovely, very well-balanced horse that did an exceptional breeze, the second-fastest of the lot. Fingers crossed he can back it up on the track, but the sire has obviously done it year in, year out, and he comes from a very good farm.”

Loughnane said he was acting on behalf of a new syndicate, and signed jointly in the name of OMNI Horse. “I knew he wasn't going to be cheap, but thankfully I have some owners who are willing to back me,” he said.

He has given them ample grounds for doing so, after his best season yet in 2021—not least thanks to Go Bears Go (Ire), who won the G2 Railway S. after his 150,000gns acquisition at this sale. That colt is by Kodi Bear (Ire), himself penning a new chapter for Kodiac as a sire of sires.

Mehmas Follows In Studmate Kodiac's Slipstream

Tally-Ho received another handsome dividend—and some corresponding compliments—when Ross Doyle gave 300,000gns for lot 65, a February filly by their latest phenomenon Mehmas (Ire). It was at this same sale in 2016, of course, that the agent and his father Peter bought the son of Acclamation (GB) from Horse Park Farm for 170,000gns.

“This filly comes from one of the very best farms in the game,” the agent said. “And of course we're all huge fans of the sire. He's been very good to a lot of people already, ourselves included, and obviously Richard Hannon is a massive fan too. He has done magnificently well at Tally-Ho.”

The dam Soft Power (Ire) (Balmont) has already hit the bull's eye for the farm, another of whose young sires, Galileo Gold (GB), covered her in his debut season—and promptly came up with G1 Phoenix S. winner Ebro River (Ire). Soft Power is a half-sister to the dam of star sprinter Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Doyle expects that his unnamed client will ultimately seek residual value from that page, but hopes that she will enhance it first. “She looks like she would do what it says on the tin: hopefully, she's a real 2-year-old,” he said. “There's a lot of speed on the page. If she can run like the way she looked [on Monday], you'd hope there might be some black type along the way.”

But Doyle had kept some powder dry for the very last lot into the ring, the wildcard 81A. This was a filly by Zoustar (Aus) picked up by Midland Equine, Ltd. at Arqana last August for €75,000. Having meanwhile lodged with Robson Aguiar, here she elevated her value giddily to 400,000gns.

“She's outstanding,” enthused Doyle, this time operating for a new client. “I haven't seen a filly like that for a long time. She's an unbelievable individual: she has a lovely big ear, an honest head, everything is in the right place and she takes everything very easy. She breezed well, and comes highly recommended from a very good home.”

For his part, Aguiar had earlier done a productive sale with another filly by a young stallion, converting the Tasleet filly (lot 54) he bought for 75,000gns at the Tattersalls Somerville Sale into a 200,00gns purchase for Kerri Radcliffe/OMNI Horse.

Parr On The Trail Of The Champion

Speaking to TDN on the eve of the sale, Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Farm had not disguised his enthusiasm for the War Front colt he brought here as lot 39—and that counted for plenty, in the man who sold subsequent champion juvenile Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) here this time last year.

There was corresponding demand for a colt that had slipped through the cracks of Book 1 at Keeneland last year, but it was agent Ted Durcan who gave Satish Seemar no way back at 425,000gns.

But while Native Trail joined the Godolphin powerhouse, this was a striking roll of the dice for an ambitious name at the other end of the town's training spectrum. Joseph Parr is only embarking on his third season, but here he could be grateful for some extremely purposeful backing from patron Oliver Harris.

“He's a smashing-looking horse from a marvellous stable,” said Durcan. “He's fairly self-explanatory, really. He did a smashing breeze and he's just a beautiful stamp of a horse. He's obvious and you have to pay for them.”

Durcan expects that the horse will be one for seven furlongs and Williamson concurs that he has the build to keep progressing.

War Front is the sire of another of Williamson's star graduates in GI Preakness winner War Of Will. The consignor stressed his gratitude to Mark McStay, who completed a $170,000 private sale through his Avenue Bloodstock agency after this horse went through the ring unsold at that price.

“I have to give Mark a mention,” Williamson said. “He knew I'd had luck with War Of Will, and he said, 'Listen there's a War Front colt out here that's not been sold.' Tim Hyde [Jr.] went out to the farm and took videos and all the rest, but really without Mark we wouldn't have got him.”

Williamson was emphatic when asked whether this colt evoked War Of Will. “Yes,” he said firmly. “He's very similar: action, attitude, he's always fresh and happy with life, which is interesting. If he's as good, then we'll be more than happy. For a War Front, size and build-wise, he's big and strong with a lot of scope. Let's hope he's a racehorse, but he really is beautiful and his breeze was beautiful too.”

War Front's books have been managed with care and his dam earned her access as a graded stakes-placed daughter of Giant's Causeway, out of G1 Oaks d'Italia winner Meridiana (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}).

 Yet Another Admirer For Tally-Ho

The system really is working well, so the “send-more-money” bit should take care of itself. Richard Brown wasn't quite sure which of Blandford Bloodstock's clients would step up to the plate for a Night Of Thunder colt consigned by Tally-Ho Stud as lot 9—but he is confident that it will be a privilege well worth 225,000gns.

That's partly because of the way this colt, a €77,000 Goffs November foal, captivated the agent's attention with both his build and his breeze. But it's also because Blandford and Tally-Ho have clicked so often in the past.

True, some of their deepest gold strikes have been at Doncaster—most notably Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}), a £36,000 bargain back in 2010; Ardad (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who also proved great value even as a £170,000 co-sale topper at the same auction in 2016; and now, with a turn of the wheel, a son of that horse in Perfect Power (Ire), bought for £110,000 last year before adding two Group 1 wins to his Royal Ascot success. And Brown also has high hopes for another of Richard Fahey's charges, Umm Kulthum (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), confined to a light second season but expected to take high rank as a mature sprinter.

“We have a long and happy history with Tally-Ho,” Brown said. “We've gone back to them for many years now and it's been a source of so many good horses. This colt did a fabulous breeze, I loved all of it. I'm a huge fan of the sire and I'd say he has set sail to reach another level again. I don't have a client as such for him, but I am sure there'll be plenty who will want to train a colt like this!”

The sales pitch should feature his damsire Ghostzapper as a promising addition to a line of classy broodmare sires, plus a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Magical Fantasy (Diesis {GB}) as second dam.

Seemar Bookends The Session With Dubai Exports

It didn't take long to ignite the session, with Satish Seemar forced to 210,000gns to export only the second lot into the ring—a €45,000 Orby pinhook by Johnny Collins of Brown Island Stables.

It was Collins who led the breeze-up sector's fightback in the chaos of 2020, topping this sale when it was eventually staged (in late June) with a 575,000gns Night Of Thunder colt (who, incidentally, broke his maiden for Chris Waller in Australia just a couple of weeks ago).

This lucrative debut at the breeze-ups was obviously a feather in the cap of rookie Saxon Warrior (Jpn), who is off the mark in France already and was here represented by a February colt out of a winning Sea The Stars (Ire) mare.

“With his low [catalogue] number, we were happy to find one at the beginning of the sale,” said Seemar. “One of our regular clients in Dubai has a liking for the Japanese breeding so it was perfect match. As an individual, this horse was very impressive, and he passed the vet the way we like. But I knew with [the] action he was getting we would have to pay a premium—which we did.”

The trainer believes that a young horse will adapt to whatever surface is suggested, and that we should resist assumptions. Dirt will certainly be offered to the horse, then, but to Seemar the key is that young horses of sufficient quality are introduced to the maturing local programme.

“We've been working hard at getting breeze-up horses for the last six years or so,” he said. “If you don't bring in new blood then the programme will never improve. He will ship in a couple of weeks, acclimatise and should be for November or December.”

Having pounced early, Seemar bookended the session by giving 230,00gns for one of the final lots into the ring: a Medaglia d'Oro colt presented as lot 75 by Powerstown Stud.

Collins, meanwhile, pulled off another fine pinhook with an Oasis Dream (GB) colt he had bought at Baden-Baden for €58,000. Here, presented as lot 47, he made 310,000gns from Godolphin.

The previous time he went prospecting for yearlings in Germany, he came back with future G1 Preis Von Europa winner Khan (Ger) (Santiago {Ger})—albeit he sold him at Arqana at a loss.

“I bought three horses, including Khan,” Collins recalled. “It's going to be hard to beat that—though Khan didn't make me any money! This was a beautiful yearling with a great walk, I was surprised that I got him to be honest. He has been a lovely horse all the way through, and shown us a lot of speed. If you go through his pedigree, he's probably bred to get a mile-plus, but I'll let Charlie Appleby be the judge of that!”

Certainly his new owners won't want to end up on the same slide as Khan—who was actually last seen winning over hurdles at Ludlow in January!

The sale resumes at 5.30pm on Wednesday.

The post Kodiac Colt Leads The Way At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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What a Winter Filly Leads BSA November

A juvenile filly by What a Winter (SAf) brought R800,000 (£37,797/€45,051/$50,687) to top the Bloodstock South Africa November 2-Year-Old Sale at the TBA complex in Germiston on Saturday. Purchased by Hollywood Syndicate, the full-sister to G2 Camellia S. and G3 Man O'War Sprint winner Celestial Love (SAf) (What a Winter SAf) was consigned by Hemel 'N Aarde Stud as lot 29.

The sale's priciest colt was lot 49, a son of Querari (Ger), who went to Greg Bortz for R750,000. A half-brother to the stakes-placed duo of Twinkle Toes (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) and Light On Her Toes (SAf) (Gimmethegreenlight {Aus}), the trio is out of Grade 1 winner On Her Toes (SAf) (Western Winter).

At the end of the day's trade, 135 lots were sold for a gross of R18,800,000 (£888,464/€1,058,616/$1,190,758). The average was R140,299 and the median was R100,000 (£4,725/€5,632/$6,336). For the complete results, please visit the Bloodstock South Africa website.

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