Cormac Farrell, a trainer and a trader of both breeze-up and point-to-point horses, is a firm believer in the concept. After launching CF Bloodstock in 2023, the horseman has ambitious goals in mind for his fledgling operation's future.

“I want to produce horses that go on and become good racehorses,” Farrell said. “The dream is to produce a champion. You see these guys like Willie Browne, Con Marnane, Norman Williamson and Eddie O'Leary. I can't name them all, but they've produced Group 1 winners. You want to see your horses go on and fulfill their potential at whatever level, but if we could produce a couple of champions along the way, that would be the dream.”

Farrell's new operation could hardly have gotten off to a better start last year when CF Bloodstock co-topped the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale with a €55,000 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale pinhook. The Zoffany (Ire) colt sold for 200,000gns to Richard Hughes and Ted Durcan. Now named Bracken's Laugh (Ire) and campaigned by Bernadine and Sean Mulryan, he was an auspicious debut maiden winner last September for Hughes and in his 3-year-old debut last week, claimed the Cardinal Conditions Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths.

Farrell said that he was always a believer in the colt and admitted that he had been a bit relieved when the horse got the job done in his first start last year.

“I had sort of built him up enough that if he wasn't any good, I was going to look a bit silly really because I was pretty bullish about him from the word go,” he said. “He was a big, raw horse and we did very little with him the whole way through because we were allowing him just to fill into his frame. We were rewarded with our patience because he came to hand in time to do a lovely breeze. Hopefully Richard has an unbelievable year with him and it'll be great for everybody.”

But Farrell is no rookie to consigning big-ticket horses. He previously formed half of Leamore Horses, which he ran in partnership with his ex-wife Anna Calder. Dancing City (Fr) (Feel Like Dancing {GB}) is the latest high-profile graduate from that consignment, having  just won a second Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree on Friday.

Since last year's breeze-ups, Farrell has been active not only in buying his next crop of pinhooks, but he also acquired a yard for his operation. Partnering up with his longtime associate, owner and breeder Douglas Taylor, Farrell took over the prolific Copper Beech Stables from trainer Michael Halford. The property located just a few minutes from the heart of the Curragh grounds has provided an optimal setup for Farrell to get the business off and running.

“I pinch myself every day with the excitement,” said Farrell. “I never thought I'd be in a place like this. Never. So for Douglas to be as supportive as he's been throughout it all and for the success we've had and everything, to be here right now is so exciting. Hopefully it's just going to keep going in the right direction. It's a lot of pressure. This place wasn't cheap and it all has to be paid for, but I think we've got an incredible bunch of horses this year.”

Farrell was represented by just over a dozen breeze-up horses last year and that number has grown to 30 for 2024. In addition to a handful of horses pointing for the racetrack, point-to-point trainees round out the roster. But Farrell said that the breeze-ups sales are where he hopes to concentrate his focus.

“I won't completely get away from the point-to-pointers because Douglas stands a couple of very nice National Hunt stallions and there is a lot of nice young stock coming through the ranks here,” he explained. “I'd be happy to train them because he's gone out and bought some fantastic mares and he's got some very good jumps stallions, but I prefer the global market of the breeze-ups. It's such a vast market and it seems to be very strong at the moment. Hopefully that relays into the breeze-up sales.”

CF Bloodstock will be sending seven juveniles through the ring at next week's Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. Among the group, Farrell pointed out a Kameko colt (lot 121) out of stakes winner Miss Sugars (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) as well as a Sioux Nation colt (lot 123) out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Mo Chara.

“I think they're a solid bunch,” he reported. “They're all very sound. They all X-ray clean and the scopes are excellent. Until they breeze and we get that out of the way, you don't know where you're going to land. All the homework is done now and I hope they all do themselves justice.”

Farrell's pinhook shopping takes him everywhere from Goffs and Tattersalls to Arqana and Keeneland. No matter where he's buying, Farrell considers conformation to be non-negotiable for his breeze-up prospects.

Bracken's Laugh sells for 200,000gns | Tattersalls

“If I had any amount of money to spend, I'd go for a gorgeous horse that is well put together before anything else,” he explained. “Then I think in terms of the breeze-ups, you need a bit of stallion power and then the pedigree nearly comes last. The Sioux Nation that goes to Craven is huge. I just felt that as a yearling last year he screamed 'racehorse' to me. He was a very mature yearling and now he looks like a 3-year-old. Funnily enough, last year Bracken's Laugh was also a very big horse and people probably didn't think he would be ready.”

“You have to think outside the box a little bit buying breeze-up horses because if everybody wants to buy the same horse, none of us would be able to buy a horse,” he added. “There's a lot of luck involved. We buy a lot of horses and some go right and some go wrong, but I look for a horse that catches my eye, that sort of tells me that he wants to be a racehorse.”

Of course the purchasing of the horse is oftentimes the easy part. The training is where the real work begins. Farrell, who has a background in eventing, cited that this area in particular is where he hopes his business garners a positive reputation.

“The way the horses are produced and their performance at the sale and going forward beyond the sale is a reflection on how we produce them,” he explained. “We do a lot of flatwork with them and they all ride very nicely. If you get them to clock fast and they turn out that they've been drilled to clock fast, that's not good for everybody. There is no point in getting a horse to breeze and then a trainer gets them and says that the horse is so rank that he's unrideable. That would be no good for business.”

Farrell applauded the many consignors he has known over the years who have had a hand in developing the breeze-up sales' track record for producing effective athletes.

“The people producing the breeze-ups horses are doing an incredible job,” he said. “The horses are all coming out and winning within weeks of the sale. It used to be months, but it's weeks after the sale now and they're super sound. They're conditioning them to race and they're standing up to training a lot better. Their longevity is a lot better. The breeze-ups are proven to be an unbelievable source of good horses and let's hope it continues to be that way. I'm excited to be a part of it and I hope I can live up to some of the people that have come before me and do as well as they have.”

The post “The dream is to produce a champion,” Farrell Set for Breeze-Up Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Horses available for naming that will run in the claret and gold silks of Sheikh Fahad al Thani are:

• a filly out of Group 1 winner Con Te Partiro (GB) (Time Test {GB}) who is trained by John and Thady Gosden
• a filly out of listed heroine Ripples Maid (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who is trained by James Ferguson
• and a colt out of Quads (Ire) (Shamardal) in training with Archie Watson.

The winners will be selected by Sheikh Fahad, chairman of Qatar Racing, and Qatar racing manager David Redvers of Tweenhills Stud, where the G1 2000 Guineas hero stands. The prize will include two tickets for the opening day of the QIPCO Guineas Festival, which begins on Friday, May 3.

To enter, follow Qatar Racing on social media @Qatar_Racing (Twitter/X) or @qatarracingltd (Instagram), reply to any of the social media posts with your suggestions. Names must be clean and a max of 18 characters.

The post Naming Competition For Trio Of Kameko Juveniles Launched appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The one-mile event, worth £200,000, is the final Group 1 of the British Flat season and is set to be contested on Saturday, Oct. 28. A total of 66 entries remain, including Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten G1 National S. winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“We are delighted to be able to support the 2023 Kameko Futurity Trophy, a race that consistently provides one of the highlights of the Flat season by whetting the appetite for the following year's Classics,” David Redvers, Qatar Racing's bloodstock and racing manager and owner of Tweenhills, said.

Recent Futurity Trophy winners Kameko (Kitten's Joy) and Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) both went on to victories in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and this year's G1 Betfred Derby, G1 Irish Derby and G1 Irish Champion winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the Futurity Trophy's reigning champion.

“Qatar Racing continue to be tremendous supporters of British Racing and we are delighted to secure their support of what is one of the highlights of the season at Doncaster,” David Leyden Dunbar, group director of Commercial Strategy and Partnerships at ARC, said. “Kameko will always have a special connection with the race as 2019's renewal, run at Newcastle Racecourse and won by Kameko, remains the only British Group 1 race to be run on an artificial surface. Our thanks go to them and the entire team at Qatar Racing for their support.”

For tickets to the Kameko Futurity, visit the Doncaster website.

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A general 8-1 chance for Guineas glory, Juddmonte's Chaldean will be bidding to chart the same path to victory as his sire Frankel, who took the Greenham before turning in one of the most memorable performances of all time in the Newmarket Classic. 

Balding is no stranger to Guineas success himself. In 2020, he sent out Kameko to win the race under Oisin Murphy. While Kameko won the 2000 Guineas without having a prep race, Balding is happy to adopt a different approach with Chaldean, given how the colt thrived on his racing last year. 

Balding told TDN Europe, “We are very happy at this moment in time. Chaldean has done very well in his coat and has come forward in his work so, at this moment in time, we are just where we want to be.”

He added, “I think we'd prefer a prep for the Guineas with him and the Greenham would be the obvious one for him. He's not penalised in that and it's eight miles down the road from us. It would be the equivalent of having a good gallop at home to go there and have a race. 

“He's a horse who improved with racing last year–with every race he got better–so we have been planning for a prep with him. That is the intention at the moment, to go to Newbury and then on to Newmarket all being well.”

Chaldean went from strength to strength last season. After suffering defeat on debut, he went on to win his next four starts, culminating with victory in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster followed by a battling victory over Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the G1 Dewhurst S at Newmarket. 

Asked if the fact that Chaldean is a May foal contributed to his stupendous progression last term, Balding said, “It could well be. If I'm honest, he was a little unlucky first time out as he got caught in a pocket and was just a little bit inexperienced but he learned a lot from that and, as I said, with each run he seemed to get better. It was a very rewarding two-year-old career and hopefully he can do as well this year.”

He added, “After he ran a few times last year, he became not particularly flashy at home. He's very relaxed and every time we took him to the track, he put it in. He's just a great horse to have anything to do with.”

Frankie Dettori partnered Chaldean to his Champagne and Dewhurst wins and Balding confirmed that the intention is for the legendary jockey to maintain the partnership. 

He concluded, “That's the intention [for Dettori to keep the ride this season]. We are hoping that is the case.”

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   After a hectic few months perusing this year's foal and yearling crops, we asked the buyers to share their thoughts on the young stallions with first foals and yearlings. From leading bloodstock journalist Nancy Sexton to top pinhooker John Cullinan, the pulse was taken on the ground at Tattersalls where opinions have now been formed on first-crop sires Ghaiyyath (Ire), Earthlight (Ire), Sergei Prokofiev and much more.

Dermot Farrington, agent, on Advertise (GB) & Kameko:

“If you look at the list of people who have bought yearlings and foals by Advertise, it's a long time since a young stallion has attracted the who's who of the bloodstock world, and that's exactly what he has done. Whether it be yearlings to breeze, yearlings to race or foals to pinhook, Advertise has attracted what I would call the best horse men and women in the industry. He's hugely popular among the right people and it truly is amazing. People will say I am biased given I bought the horse and my father-in-law [Martyn Meade] trained him, but I genuinely think he'll be a big success.

“Of the first crop of foals, Kameko is producing some very nice stock. I was actually very disappointed not to buy a colt on Thursday night by Kameko. I was the underbidder on him and Mick Fitzpatrick bought him. Kameko was a classy racehorse and I'd be backing him to do well from what I have seen so far.”

John Cullinan, pinhooker, on Pinatubo (Ire) and Blue Point (Ire):

“Everyone loves the new kids on the block and I'm no different. Ghaiyyath is the new exciting stallion and I was delighted to get a colt by him this week for 240,000gns. He's producing fantastic stock but sure he was the outstanding racehorse of his generation and is by a sire of sires in Dubawi (Ire). Look at Night Of Thunder and New Bay for example. Hopefully Ghaiyyath can carry on in that direction because they are a nice bunch of horses.

“I also bid strong on a Pinatubo on Thursday night but I didn't get him unfortunately. I like what I have seen from him. I don't usually buy many foals by sires who have their first runners the following season because, when you are only buying a few every year, you could leave yourself open. It's a huge risk, huge exposure. Having said that, myself and Roger [Marley] had a chat the other evening, and I hope to God that I am not putting the kiss of death on him now, but we both think Blue Point will have a big season next year. For any horse to win twice in the one week at Royal Ascot, they have to be blessed with uncommon talent. We have one very nice colt by him to breeze next year and, on the strength of what he's been doing, we bought a foal by him this week for 72,000gns, but it's not something we'd do normally.

“The market has been interesting this week and I think we could be facing a tough spell, especially in Britain, which is why we have been concentrating on the top end. The thinking there is, if we do hit a little bump next year, we will have the horses to sell to the recession-proof buyers. And, sure if all else fails, we can go out in a blaze of glory! But in all seriousness, it's been very tough at the sales because everyone has had the same idea. We looked at 136 horses, only vetted 14 of them and came home with three. I'm after leaving myself a little light on numbers but I have some high-end horses, which was the plan. I bought 11 foals last year and the ones I bought cheaply were the ones who didn't make money. The ones I pushed on and gave the few quid for, they left money behind, so I decided to spend my money this year, but on fewer horses at a higher level.”

Nancy Sexton, journalist and pinhooker on Ghaiyyath, Earthlight and King Of Change (GB):

“It's no secret that Ghaiyyath has some lovely foals: they have a look of Dubawi about them but they also have scope and the ones I've seen have been good movers. It's easy to see why they were so popular at Goffs and at Tattersalls.

“I also liked the Earthlight foals: on the whole they were good movers and straightforward. King Of Change wouldn't have many soldiers, but from the small selection over the last two weeks I thought they were good-looking and good-moving horses. He was a little underrated on the track and as a well-bred son of Farhh (GB), anything could happen.”

Eddie O'Leary, Lynn Lodge Stud on Ghaiyyath, Earthlight, Arizona, and Advertise:

“The Ghaiyyaths are gorgeous. They are big lovely-walking foals and they have plenty of quality about them. I've seen plenty of nice Earthlights and there were a few Arizonas who caught my eye as well. I actually underbid the Arizona colt who Peter Nolan bought at Goffs for €60,000. Advertise has his first runners next year and, after what I saw on my gallops at home recently, I was keen to pick up a few foals by him and I'm happy I did. I think he'll do well next year.”

Clare Manning, Boherguy Stud, on Ghaiyyath & Earthlight:

“I'm going to have to nominate two because I have been very impressed by the first foals by Ghaiyyath and Earthlight. They really seem to be stamping their stock. The Ghaiyyaths have plenty of size and are good walkers. He was a brilliant racehorse and is producing fine-bodied individuals. Earthlight is out of a New Approach (Ire) mare, which is obviously a big plus for me, and I have been a fan of what I have seen from him so far.”

Julie Woods, owner, on Ghaiyyath, Sergei Prokofiev & Without Parole (GB): 

“Ghaiyyath is putting a nice stamp on his foals and Sergei Prokofiev seems popular as well. We bought a Without Parole because we like the Frankel (GB) line and followed Cracksman (GB) last year. There's a lot to look at but those are the ones we have really concentrated on.”

Freddy Tylicki, agent, on Ghaiyyath, Sergei Prokofiev, Advertise & Blue Point:

“I have been very taken by the Ghaiyyaths and the Sergei Prokofievs. Ghaiyyath is producing very good and attractive foals so let's see if they can run. The Sergei Prokofievs are going down as well as hot biscuits and he looks like he is stamping his foals. I bought an Advertise foal and it looks as though she was a giveaway as she cost just 2,500gns. I liked him when I saw him at stud and I loved him as a racehorse. I also bought a Blue Point foal and I think they will be fast.”

Joe Foley, Ballyhane Stud, on Sands Of Mali (Fr), Mohaather (GB), Soldier's Call (GB), Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Too Darn Hot (GB):

“I have been very pleased with the Sands Of Malis. He did well at Goffs and a nice colt sold for 27,000gns so we're very happy with that. In other news, the Mohaathers have been catching my eye. He was a lovely yearling himself, a lovely horse and a very good racehorse, so I was very interested in his foals. They have come back in his real Showcasing (GB) shape and they have that action. They look like runners to me. We bought a few Soldier's Calls last week at Goffs and again this week and I fancy him to do well in his first season next year and to become a good sire. Ten Sovereigns is another stallion whose yearlings I have liked the shape of and we bought a foal by him last week at Goffs. But that's a risky game, buying foals in the hope that the stallion clicks with its first runners.

“Next year is probably one of the most competitive years I can remember for first-season sires but, you know what, the good ones will come through. People are clever nowadays and, with all of the statistics available to everyone, they will be able to spot the good ones at the different price ranges. The likes of Too Darn Hot, who was a very good racehorse, his yearlings look very racey and appear to have plenty of Dubawi about them. I bought a few by him this week so I took a gamble there.

“And, speaking of Dubawi, Ghaiyyath has done well with his first foals. He was the highest-rated horse in the world at one point and is a very good-looking horse with a great attitude and a wonderful pedigree. Not only that, he showed good acceleration for a horse who stayed 10 furlongs. I'd like him as well. There are some very nice horses coming through the ranks which is great because we need some more good stallions. There are very good stallions coming through over the next few years and that's what makes this game so interesting.”

Liam Norris, agent and pinhooker, on Kameko:

“For me the Kameko foals are all a similar type. I like to see a stallion stamping his stock and I have seen a good few of his foals that I've liked.”

Larry Stratton, agent and pinhooker, on Sergei Prokofiev:

   “There's a real consistency to the Sergei Prokofiev foals. One after another they have been really strong; he's really stamping them. They have lovely strong tops like himself.”

Amy Lynam, agent, on Mohaather, Without Parole, Too Darn Hot, Magna Grecia (Ire) and Masar (Ire):

“Of those with first foals, I have liked the stock of Mohaather. He's stamping his stock and obviously if they take after him you'd definitely like that. I've liked some of the Without Paroles as well; I think they are good walkers with a bit of quality about them.

“From the first yearlings I liked the Too Darn Hots. They were probably a bit too expensive for me, but I liked them all the same and I am excited to see what he can do. I also bought a yearling by Magna Grecia in Doncaster and he was one of my favourites that I bought. Invincible Spirit (Ire) is a proven sire of sires, Magna Grecia was top class himself and he is very impressive to look at. I also liked Masar's yearlings and it has been great to see his foals sell well this week as well.”

Harry Dutfield, pinhooker, on Earthlight, Sergei Prokofiev, and Kameko:

“Over in Ireland, the Earthlights made the list. At the cheaper end of the scale, Sergei Prokofiev has hit the mark repeatedly, and the Kameko foals are good-bodied sorts. But if you had a small mare, Sergei Prokofiev seems to be stamping them: they are big, brawny, lengthy horses with plenty of size and scope.”

Tom Whelan, pinhooker, on Sergei Prokofiev, Mohaather & Earthlight:

“For me the Sergei Prokofiev foals were the best. I underbid one at 92,000gns. I liked him a lot and I followed one in again today who made 70,000gns. They are good, strong foals.

“I also saw some nice Mohaather foals. Some of them look very like Showcasing and the way he has gone that can't be a bad thing. The Earthlights were also very consistent.”

John Bourke, Hyde Park Stud, on Ghaiyyath, Earthlight, and Soldier's Call:

“Ghiayyath is the one everyone is raving about and the Earthlights are nice as well. I'm not a big foal buyer but I buy a lot of yearlings and mares, they are my big thing, so I'm always watching the young sires coming through. That's one of the most interesting parts of this game for me.

“I might try and buy a mare who is in foal to one of the up-and-coming stallions next week. The way I look at mares is, I'll be looking at sending them to a stallion who will have his first runners next year. I sent two mares to Havana Grey (GB) in April when it looked like he was going to do the business. People can be panicking about getting their mares in foal but I will always keep a few back to see what first-season sires are going well and I'll take a chance on the ones who are showing the right signs.

“Soldier's Call is one I'll be backing. To be honest, I've one or two at home who are being prepared for the breeze-ups and they look like rockets. There's one filly in particular there and, if she can't gallop, I'll be very surprised.”

The post Young Guns: Buyers Have Their Say On The Up-And-Coming Stallions  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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But to justify the day's top price tag of 250,000gns at this stage of his young life, the colt had to have plenty more going for him, and his half-brother Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) has certainly helped in that regard with a trio of top three finishes in Group 1 sprints and five victories to his name.

The Whitsbury Manor Stud consignee was bought by one of the best judges in the business, Philipp Stauffenberg, who carried on his bold spending from Goffs with a first strike at Park Paddocks. He said, “He's a racy-looking horse and a brother, nominally, to a Group 1 winner. He's the one I wanted to have today.

“I liked [Havana Grey's] first crop but I didn't buy one, but he has proved that he is capable of getting a good horse.”

The colt is a son of the Arcano (Ire) mare Arcamist (GB), a winner at three and herself the daughter of the Group 1-placed Good Enough (Fr) (Mukaddamah) whose seven winners include two at listed level.

“He is probably a bigger model than Dragon Symbol, but Arcamist just keeps throwing lovely stock,” said Harper. “It is a family we have done really well with and we have had for a long time. Dad bought the second dam Good Enough in the US around 25 years ago. She was the most expensive mare he'd bought ever at that time.”

With more squalling rain drenching the foals and their handlers intermittently through the day, a steady start gave way to a livelier evening session which pushed the figures slightly past the markers set in the equivalent session last year. The average and the median were both up, by 8% and 7%, to 42,372gns and 32,000gns. With 223 foals sold at a clearance rate of 81%, the second-day aggregate was also up slightly at 9,449,000gns.

In Mehmas We Trust

There may be plenty of competition from the arrivistes with their first crops for sale, but Mehmas (Ire), who in a few short years has earned a major stamp of approval from the market, commanded plenty of respect in the ring on Thursday. His colt out of the Stormy River (Ire) mare Heavenly River (Fr) stole a significant march on his rivals early in the day when sold to Peter and Ross Doyle for 240,000gns.

His specific cross has already been tried by breeder John McEnery of Rossenarra Stud with some success as the 11-year-old mare's previous mating with Mehmas resulted in the American listed winner and Grade III-placed Quattroelle (Ire), who was set to run in Thursday evening's GIII Red Carpet S. at Del Mar. The family has been given a further boost this season by the G2 Queen Mary S. victory of Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who is out of Heavenly River's listed-winning half-sister Katie's Diamond (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}).

“We've always liked the foals by Mehmas and we'd had a bit of luck with Dark Angel. I thought the first year he was too expensive at €12,500, and I got caught for €25,000 last year,” said McEnery, who bought Heavenly River seven years ago at Tattersalls for 5,000gns.

“I had to go home to Ireland and left my nephew Billy to look at a few pedigrees and he picked her up. She was a maiden mare and we bought her out of Karl Burke's yard.”

After selling one of the session leaders (lot 667), Rossenarra Stud's next lot into the ring, by a different son of Acclamation (GB) in Dark Angel (Ire), was knocked down at 85,000gns. The son of the Redback (GB) mare Charlotte Rua (Ire) is a full-brother to the G2 Duke of York S. runner-up Nahaarr (Ire).

Ross Doyle, whose familiarity with Mehmas stretches back to buying him at the Craven Breeze-up Sale for Al Shaqab Racing, said of the purchase of the session-topper for an undisclosed client, “As always it's the physical and it's a huge bonus that he's by Mehmas. He's from a very good nursery in Rossenarra and is closely related to a very good filly. I thought he was an absolute standout.

“He had a lot of strength for his age; he's naturally very strong with a good deep girth and he was a real pro for every show. That's his dad's influence coming through. He might come back [for resale] but I'd say long-term they'll race him.”

He continued, “Mehmas has obviously been very lucky for lots of people including ourselves. We bought Persian Force last year for Amo Racing. We've had massive pleasure out of Mehmas and so have so many people, going right back to John Cullinan and Roger Marley in his breeze-up days, then at Richard Hannon's yard, and all the staff there were mad about him. They used to say to me that he'd go the races, come home, go for a pick of grass and put on weight. Then he ended up at Tally-Ho, which is one of the best studs in the world, and they've done a wonderful job with him.”

Tally-Ho reaffirmed their support of the stallion when buying lot 766, Plantation Stud's Mehmas half-brother to Group 3-placed Flash Gordon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for 115,000gns.

, #

Rossenarra Stud's colt by Mehmas @HoStud has set the bar for the second day of the foal sale at Tattersalls. He was bought by @Doyle_Racing. pic.twitter.com/DN5ZfZFpAm

— TDN (@theTDN) November 24, 2022

Ghaiyyath And Earthlight Impress

Ghaiyyath (Ire), whose first-crop members have been the subjects of increasingly positive bulletins, was responsible for three of the six-figure lots of the session including lot 789, Kellgrange Stud's half-brother to the useful Harrow (Ire) (El Kabeir), and from the further family of Group 1 winners Dream Ahead and Fairyland (Ire).

John Cullinan and Roger Marley, signing under the name of JR Bloodstock, held their nerve to 240,000gns for the Ballyreddin Stud and DCL-bred colt but Cullinan was heard to comment after signing the ticket, “I think I need a change of underpants now.”

He added, “I saw the horse yesterday and loved him. We were keen to buy a Ghaiyyath as he's one of the stallions who has been on our mind as a first-crop sire. He looks to have very good stock, he was a brilliant racehorse and was the highest-rated racehorse in the world for a time and is by a sire of sires.”

Cullinan continued, “This is a lovely individual. He vetted very well, and we were at full stretch at that price, but nice horses are always hard to come by, and have to pay a bit more for the ones you want. We will try to keep him safe and come back to one of the premier sales.”

Ringfort Stud also had a decent result with a Ghaiyyath filly from the listed-placed Shenoya (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}). Sold as lot 705, she brought a final bid of 130,000gns from Tally-Ho Stud and boasts a suitably smart pedigree which includes two prominent horses of this season in G1 Champion S. winner Bay Bridge (GB) and G3 Sweet Solera S. victrix Lakota Sioux (Ire).

“We thought Ghaiyyath would would suit the mare physically,” said Ringfort's Derek Veitch. “He is a big, scopey stallion and would suit a smallish mare. We are delighted with that price.”

Ghaiyyath's average for four weanlings sold at Tattersalls over the last 48 hours is 143,000gns.

Earthlight (Ire) also featured among the sires of the top 10 lots of the day when Cullinan returned to the ring to sign for lot 827 at 100,000gns. Consigned by Northern Bloodstock, the colt is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Born To Be (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) out of the Intikhab mare Duquesa (Ire).

Yeomanstown Stud, Redpender Stud and Jamie Railton are also among the pinhookers to have taken home an Earthlight weanling. Railton bought two on Thursday, including a colt from Carisbrooke Stud for 72,000gns, while Redpender's Jimmy Murphy bid 78,000gns for lot 594, a half-sister to this season's juvenile winner Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) from Keith Harte's consignment and bred by Derek Iceton.

Sergei the Tongue-Twister

They may not agree on how to pronounce his name, but plenty of buyers appear to agree on the desirability of the stock of Sergei Prokofiev. Whitsbury Manor Stud's newest recruit will have his work cut out to follow the example of Havana Grey but he is certainly not sparsely represented at Tattersalls: so far 29 of his 67 weanlings catalogued have gone through the ring, returning an average of 28,172gns.

They include lot 607, consigned by the stallion's home team and bought by Andrew Black's Chasemore Farm for 95,000gns. The chestnut colt is the first foal of Italian listed winner Avengers Queen (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), whose half-sister El Cabala (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) won the G2 Sandy Lane S.

The first weanling to breach the six-figure mark this week (lot 604) at Tattersalls was by another of the Whitsbury Manor Stud crew, the popular Showcasing (GB), and was bred and consigned by Natton House Thoroughbreds, who have enjoyed a successful couple of days at Park Paddocks.

Chris Dudfield of Natton House explained that he had bought the colt's dam, Parliament House (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) from the Godolphin draft back in 2019 for 22,000gns.

He said, “She was tiny, only about 14.3hh, but she has grown well since and her first two Showcasings have been beautiful foals. Last year's foal made 72,000gns; this horse was even nicer and some of the lads said he is flawless, he is just a beautiful horse.”

The diminutive Parliament House did not excel on the racecourse but she boasts bloodlines that entitle her to be considered a smart breeding prospect. Her dam was Embassy (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), the former European champion 2-year-old filly, who was herself a daughter of the Irish champion 2-year-old Pass the Peace (GB) (Alzao). Top-class performers stemming from those two smart race fillies include King's Apostle (Ire), Atlantic Jewel (Aus), Tarfshi (GB) and Russian Emperor (Ire).

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This colt by Showcasing @WhitsburyManor was consigned by @NattonHouseTb and has been bought by @YeomanstownStud. pic.twitter.com/3LOR1my4wy

— TDN (@theTDN) November 24, 2022

Yeomanstown Stud placed the final bid for the colt at 100,000gns and later went to the same figure for Tweenhills Stud's colt by New Bay (GB). Offered as lot 648, he is out of the listed winner Strawberry Martini (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), who will be offered for sale next week as lot 1480 in foal to Kameko.

Tweenhills' David Redvers said of the colt, “He has a good outlook and action and captured the attention of some big buyers. Strawberry Martini is quite a stout Mount Nelson mare and New Bay gives his progeny a bit of 'energy', which I like.

“She has now had some very good foals. We sold her Masar for 110,000gns at October Book 2 this year to Shadwell, and then this horse has made 100,000gns. She is in the sale next week and is owned by a syndicate of friends, and we will need to have a chat and make a decision as to whether we keep her or sell her.”

New Bay, who has been represented by Group 1 winners Saffron Beach (Ire), Bayside Boy (Ire) and Bay Bridge (GB) this season, also found favour with Joe Foley, who bought the Norelands Stud-bred colt (lot 763) out of the Cheshire Oaks runner-up Moorside (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) for 150,000gns.

Harry McCalmont of Norelands said, “Moorside was a very good racemare. We bought her from Juddmonte and I have always been a fan of New Bay–we got in at the right time. He's going to be very expensive now but she may have to go back to him.”

The mare's first two foals, both by Invincible Spirit (Ire), are in training in Hong Kong and at Kingsclere with Andrew Balding, respectively.

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@YeomanstownStud strike again for a six figure lot, this time for a colt by New Bay @BallylinchStud consigned by @Tweenhills. pic.twitter.com/0y0kCGaWft

— TDN (@theTDN) November 24, 2022

Classic Winners Shine

Both Persian King (Ire) and Kameko, in the top echelon of the Classic generation in 2019 and 2020, respectively, have first-crop foals on offer this year, and the sole weanling by the former was one of the leading lights during Wednesday's session. Based at Haras d'Etreham, Persian King, the winner of six group races, whose three Group 1 victories include the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, was the sire of the third most expensive foal. His first-crop son (lot 779) was bought for 130,000gns by the French-based pinhooking syndicate Fairway Partners, which is led by Charles Briens.

Consigned by Newsells Park Stud on behalf of breeder Al Shahania Stud, the colt is the second foal of the G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Qabala (Scat Daddy), who was covered by Persian King's sire Kingman (GB) in her first season at stud.

The 2000 Guineas winner Kameko, on the other hand, has had 15 foals sold so far at Tattersalls for an average of 32,800gns and headed by a pair of colts sold for 92,000gns and 90,000gns. Lot 768 was sold by breeder Gigginstown House Stud through Michael O'Leary's British-based Plantation Stud to Roger Marley and is out of the winning Frankel (GB) mare Like (Ire). The Tweenhills draft features seven Kameko foals, including lot 749, a half-brother to Australian Group 2 winner Surf Dancer (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who was pinhooked by Aughamore Stud and Matt Houldsworth for 90,000gns.

Two More Wildcards For Mares Sale

Next week's Tattersalls December Mares Sale has been boosted by another two late entrants. On Monday, the Group 3-placed juvenile All The Time  (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) will be offered by Highclere Stud as lot 1639D. Tuesday's session will now include the Paddy Twomey-trained 3-year-old Limiti Di Greccio (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), who won the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. on her most recent outing in October and has been added to the catalogue as lot 1924C.

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There's always plenty of interest in the offspring of the first-season sires and leading the charge for the newcomers on Wednesday was Shadwell's smart G1 Sussex S. winner Mohaather (GB), one of a rising number of young sons of Showcasing (GB) at stud who was responsible for the co-top lot (486) who sold for 80,000gns.

Joe Foley has long been a fan of Showcasing, having bought Soldier's Call (GB) as a yearling for Clipper Logistics and now standing him at Ballyhane Stud, while Clipper's Steve Parkin bred his daughter, this year's G2 Queen Mary S. winner Dramatised (GB). Foley had to see off some stiff opposition for the Brook Stud-consigned son of multiple winner Lady Freyja (GB) (Mayson {GB}) who was bred by Jon A. Thompson.

Rifling through the rolodex of bloodstock sales cliches, Foley said with a wide grin, “He looked a real weapon. He comes from a good hotel, was a really good physical and he ticked all the right boxes for us. All the right people were on him; Luke Barry was the underbidder and he's some judge.”

The Ballyhane maestro added, “He was a real Showcasing; he reminded us of Showcasing and of Soldier's Call. The mother was a good race filly, she was rated 90 and was useful, and we bought a Ribchester (Ire) from the same family in Book 3. I actually underbid Mohaather as a yearling so we were really keen to buy one as he was a high-class racehorse. His acceleration in the Sussex was a joy to behold. He looks like a racehorse and we will try to make him a racehorse.”

Consignor Dwayne Woods said, “He was bought by superlative judges, and he is a horse who will go forward and make up into a proper yearling.”

,

Lot 486 was sold by @BrookStud to @JoeFoleyBally at the #TattsDecember Foal Sale. The colt is from the first crop of @ShadwellStud's Mohaather. pic.twitter.com/eQkQlySUW0

— TDN (@theTDN) November 23, 2022

The dependable Juddmonte sire Bated Breath (GB) has been a friend to plenty of breeders and that includes Yvonne Jacques of Carisbrooke Stud, who sold her smart filly (lot 346) out of the treble winner Naqaawa (Ire) (Shamardal) to share the top of the table at 80,000gns. Tom Goff, acting on behalf of Surrey-based Rupert Gregson-Williams of Wardley Bloodstock, signed the ticket.

“She is a beautiful filly from a very good farm and with a lovely back pedigree,” said Goff of the relation to dual Group 3 winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “She has loads of class and quality, a good body and good movement. She could race or could come back here next year, we will see how she progresses through the year.

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This filly was consigned by @CarisbrookeStud and has been bought by @BlandfordBldstk / Wardley Bloodstock.
She is from the family of G3 winner Alflaila. pic.twitter.com/O9qLGalo5T

— TDN (@theTDN) November 23, 2022

In addition to Mohaather, the plethora of first-season sires with their debut crop on display at Tattersalls includes the Whitsbury Manor Stud resident Sergei Prokofiev, who has a huge representation of 67 weanlings in the catalogue and made his presence felt during the first of four foal sessions at Park Paddocks. Charles Shanahan and Glenvale Stud's Flash Conroy signed for two by the son of Scat Daddy, lot 470 at 72,000gns and lot 291 at 40,000gns.

The former, consigned and co-bred by Selwood Bloodstock, is out of the Dutch Art (GB) mare Music Lesson (GB) from a family which includes dual Group 2 winner and French-based sire Triple Threat (Fr) and  multiple Group 1 winner Canford Cliffs (Ire).

Shanahan said, “The sire seems to be getting gorgeous-looking horses from what we have seen. He was obviously in training at Ballydoyle and it was thought that he had an awful lot of potential. We are thrilled to get one that looks like he does–he is a great mover with loads of scope, loads of strength, everything you look for in a foal that you want to sell on as a yearling. He was definitely the one we wanted to buy today.”

He added, “I was so impressed with his stock. Flash collected one earlier today so we are very keen on the sire and let's hope for everyone he can kick on over the next two years. This colt goes back to Ireland and Glenvale.”

Lot 291, offered by his breeders WHR John and Partners, is out of the multiple-winning Strategic Prince (Ire) mare Livella Fella (Ire), who has been mated exclusively with Whitsbury Manor Stud stallions and is the dam of Mai Alward (GB), one of the many first-crop winners for Havana Grey (GB) this season.

Sergei Prokofiev's 20 weanlings sold during the opening session sold for an average of 19,400gns from his initial fee of £6,000.

Kildangan Stud-based Earthlight (Ire), whose stock sold well at Goffs last week, is another freshman to have a weanling feature prominently on Wednesday in lot 446. Bred by Alex and Olivia Frost's Ladyswood Stud and consigned on their behalf by Barton Stud, the April-born colt is a son of the Group 3-placed Some Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) from a family that stretches back to the influential matriarch Park Appeal (Ire) and includes the stallions Cape Cross (Ire), Iffraaj (GB) and Diktat (GB). He was bought by Yeomanstown Stud for 65,000gns.

Barton Stud manager Tom Blain said, “He's a cracking colt, bred at Ladyswood, which is a lovely farm and they are great people, we love selling for them.

“The colt came here and performed well and we got a good price, I hope Yeomanstown does well with him. He is just really nice type, and I like the stock that I have seen by Earthlight.”

Continuing the freshman theme, Newsells Park Stud resident Without Parole (GB) was represented by a colt from the draft of Natton House Thoroughbreds (lot 274), who took an early lead during the morning when sold at 46,000gns. The March-born weanling is also a first for his young dam, the dual winner Image Of The Moon (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}) and was bought by Julie Wood under her Woodstock banner.

Wood's famous colours have been represented by plenty of successful runners from the Hannon stable over the years, including Zebedee (GB) and Olympic Glory (Ire), and this season she tasted victory with Rich (GB), who is by another son of Frankel (GB) in Cracksman (GB).

“I thought I'd get in on the Frankel line again and his first-season sire son Without Parole,” she said. “This is a nice foal, he looks quite compact at the moment, has a touch of class and is a good walker.”

Without Parole was the sire of five youngsters to go through the ring on Wednesday for an average price of 26,000gns.

Kameko and Arizona (Ire) were also among the top lots of the day with a colt each sold at 45,000gns. The Kameko colt (lot 398) was offered by his home stud of Tweenhills and was pinhooked by Eddie O'Leary of Lynn Lodge Stud.

Meanwhile the Arizona colt from the family of Bushranger (Ire) was bought from Derek and Gay Veitch's Ringfort Stud by brothers Paul and Jim McCartan.

Roger Marley, better known as a breeze-up pinhooker, signed up an Iffraaj (GB) colt (lot 336) with a good recent update for 55,000gns from the draft of Baroda Stud. The weanling's juvenile half-brother Tyndrum Gold (GB) (Muharrar {GB}) won on debut on Nov. 2 for Roger Varian and Opulence Thoroughbreds.

Bred by the Reed family's Copgrove Hall Stud, the colt is out of a winning full-sister to the prolific sprinter La Cucaracha (GB) (Piccolo {GB}), winner of the G1 Nunthorpe S. among her seven victories.

Park Paddocks returns to action tomorrow with another 10 a.m. start.

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He leads a four-strong roster for Qatar Racing that also includes G1 2000 Guineas hero Kameko at £15,000, down from £20,000 this year. His first foals will be yearlings in 2023. Havana Gold (Ire) has been trimmed to £10,000 from £12,500. His five 2022 stakes winners are led by G2 Sandy Lane S. winner El Caballo (GB), while his Group 1-winning son Havana Grey (GB) leads all British-based first-crop sires to date. Group 1 winner Lightning Spear (GB)'s fee is unchanged at £5,000, and five of his eight runners have won.

Tweenhills owner David Redvers said, “We are extremely excited to welcome Zoustar back to Tweenhills for his fifth Northern Hemisphere covering season. He has got off to a fantastic start with his first runners here and, standing at a fraction of his Australian stud fee of AU$198,000, he is a real coup for European breeders.

“We have been so excited by Kameko's first crop of foals, some of whom will sell at the sales later this month. A record-breaking miler at two and three, he offers outstanding value at £15,000.

“Havana Gold is a proven value sire. His first son to stud, Group 1 winner Havana Grey, has already been crowned GB Champion First-Season Sire and Havana Gold still has his best-quality crops to run.

“Lightning Spear's first runners have done very well. With his improved fertility, a fee of £5,000 offers exceptional value for an extremely talented, tough and durable son of Pivotal.”

Kameko, Havana Gold and Lightning Spear will be paraded for breeders at Longholes Stud in Newmarket during this year's Tattersalls December Sales from Sunday, Nov. 27 to Wednesday, Nov. 30.

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Sunday, May 1, 2022
5th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($109k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400mT
MOZU GOLD BARREL (f, 3, Optimizer–Sweeter Still {Ire}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) validated 1-2 favoritism in winning her maiden cozily on debut over 1400 meters at Chukyo in late December (see below, SC 1) and drops precipitously in class and is back in trip off a pair of competitive efforts at Group 3 level over a mile in her last two starts. Breeder Timothy Thompson acquired this filly's Grade III-winning dam for $1,500 at Keeneland November in 2018 and saw the mare's value begin to skyrocket when her foal of 2017, a Kitten's Joy colt named Kameko, won the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at the tail end of 2019. Kameko would go on to add the 2020 G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Mozu Gold Barrel fetched $190K at KEESEP that fall. A half-sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Kingsbarns (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Group 3 winner Belle Artiste (Ire) (Namid {GB}), Sweeter Still has foaled fillies by Kitten's Joy in each of the last two seasons. B-Timothy Lesley Thompson (KY)

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