Tag: Kingman

Whitsbury’s ‘Year Never to Forget’ as Chaldean’s Sister Makes a Million

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin

NEWMARKET, UK–It wasn't too hard to imagine that a Kingman (GB) half-sister to this season's leading juvenile Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) would steal the show at Tattersalls, and with shades of two years ago it was Juddmonte that swooped for the weanling from Whitsbury Manor Stud's increasingly influential broodmare Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) at an even million gns.

This time though Juddmonte's general manager Simon Mockridge was forced to stake almost double the amount it took to buy Chaldean, and that is largely thanks to the colt's exploits this season, with his four victories including the G1 Dewhurst, G2 Champagne and G3 Acomb S.

But Suelita is far from just a one-trick pony: her five black-type offspring and six winners from six runners include the G2 Mill Reef S. winner and young sire Alkumait (GB), by Whitsbury Manor's Juddmonte-bred stallion Showcasing {GB}), and his full-sister Get Ahead (GB), who has been retained by the Harper family.

It was Chris Harper who bought the four-time winner Suelita at Tattersalls nine years ago for 21,500gns, having been involved in the family in the past through Chaldean's third dam Horatia (Ire) and a half-sister to her fourth dam named Heady (GB). The breeder, whose son Ed is now at the helm of Whitsbury Manor, wiped away tears as Suelita's latest offspring left the ring with a seven-figure price tag.

He said, “This is Gerald Leigh's old pedigree and years ago Gerald and I shared Horatia and Heady. This mare came up for sale and I went and had a look and thought she was a lovely mare, all quality. If I can buy for under 30,000 I do and she has been such a star. She's in foal to Showcasing and I hope she has a filly for obvious reasons, because she has to go back to Frankel now and if she has a filly then we won't be able to afford to keep her.”

Harper added of the million-guinea transaction, “This is a fabulous moment, it has never happened before, and we are all so thrilled.”

Whitsbury Manor is currently riding the crest of a wave as the breeder of one of the most exciting juveniles of the season and with a stallion roster that includes the proven Showcasing, leading first-season sire Havana Grey (GB), and Sergei Prokofiev, whose first foals have been well received this week.

Harper continued, “I bought my first stallion in 1974, he was called Philip Of Spain (GB), and I know that the majority of stallions fail. So we've battled on and we've always been lucky enough to have one that has carried the others–whether it was old Compton Place, or Cadeaux Genereux–and they have kept the show on the road. Now we are in the really amazing position of having two really popular horses and one that is going so well.

“It has been a year never to forget.”

Simon Mockridge and the Juddmonte team have played a significant part in that memorable year, and they now have a legitimate Classic contender on their hands for 2023, a situation made even more pleasing for them by the fact that Suelita's star colt is a son of Frankel.

Mockridge said of the latest member of the family to join the Juddmonte fold, “You know that it is going to be expensive buying a filly like her, especially when you have a new Group 1 winner on the page and Chaldean is very exciting. We're delighted to be able to buy him from Whitsbury and the Harpers do a great job. I'm very pleased for Ed Harper and his team.

“The [Abdullah] family wants to reinvest in families. This is a very strong page and, with Chaldean, who knows what's going to happen next year. She could be a very valuable filly going forward.”

He added, “Chaldean was a slightly smaller horse. She's bigger. She's got a great, big backside on her and she looks faster–if you can say that. She's an exciting filly. Kingman has had such a good season–two Group 1 winners, 14 individual group winners, and he is going from strength to strength.”

As with so many bloodstock auctions this year, the December Foal Sale also appears to be going from strength to strength. Last year 19 weanlings made 200,000gns or more; this time around it was 24. That pushed the session aggregate to 20,045,000gns, more than 3 million gns clear of the 2021 tally, with the average arising by 19% to 110,495gns and the median by 13% to 68,000gns. With 182 foals sold from 226 offered, the clearance rate was 81%.

 

Heatherwold's Last Hurrah

The purchase of the sale's top lot was by no means Juddmonte's lone strike as Mockridge signed for the four of the six most expensive weanlings of the session for a total of 2,425,000gns. The quartet included a Frankel filly bred by Eminent Kind Ltd and the final offering from Mike Caddy's Heatherwold Stud. The February-born weanling, who was sold for 500,000gns, is the second foal of the dual listed winner and Grade I runner-up Awesometank (GB) (Intense Focus).

“It is bittersweet really, as she is the final youngster to be sold from Heatherwold Stud under Mick Caddy's ownership,” said Heatherwold's bloodstock advisor Jeremy Brummitt. “He is ceasing operations and has gone out with a bang.

“I bought the granddam Janey Muddles; I remember seeing her win first time out at the Curragh, I think she was Lawman's first winner as a 2-year-old, she passed the whole field and was on the slowest of the ground.”

He continued, “I never forgot her and when the owner came around to sell her, she was carrying her second foal which was an in-house covering to Intense Focus. I bought her here for 115,000gns in 2014. That foal became an absolutely lovely yearling, was named Awesometank–we bought her back at the sales and raced her.

“She took us to Canada and Chicago and was second in the [GI] Beverley D [S.], and now she is breeding. She lives in a field with her dam and they are two of the happiest mares I have ever seen, and they both raise happy and contented foals.”

Kingman Filly:

 

Langton Stud's Day In The Sun

In a cloudless blue sky above Park Paddocks a daredevil pilot in a small plane was flying a loop-the-loop over Somerville Paddock R at Tattersalls as members of the media and fellow breeders flocked to congratulate Giles Wates. With two members of his Langton Stud draft (lots 928 and 929) having just exited the ring for a cumulative price of 685,000gns, it's likely that Wates felt like looping the loop himself, for this was by far the biggest sale result for his Dorset farm since he decided to sell his stock solely as foals 10 years ago.

“I am just about getting my breath. It has been great but it has been quite stressful too,” said Wates after being paid a huge compliment by one of the best breeding operations in the business when Simon Mockridge of Juddmonte Farms went to 500,000gns for the Lope De Vega (Ire) filly out of the G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Poet's Vanity (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}).

He continued, “It has been a few years getting here, but we have got there now, we are on our way and the team has done a great job.”

A half-sister to fellow stakes winners and proven black-type producers Lesson In Humility (Ire) (Mujadil) and Boastful (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), Poet's Vanity was bought by the Wates family with Richard Brown from Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale for 200,000gns and proved to be worth every penny, with a group win to her name as a juvenile followed by a placed finish in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. and two further victories.

“She's a lovely mare, a gentle giant,” Wates added. “She is in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB) and will probably then be rested as she will have a late foal. This filly's older brother by Kingman has been retained and has gone to Andrew Balding.”

Juddmonte looked to have the filly bought at 450,000gns until Philipp Stauffenberg made one last bid at 480,000gns, which was quickly countered.

“We knew she was very, very popular, everyone liked her,” said Mockridge. “She is a great athlete, a great walker, and has been well produced by Langton. We thought we'd have to be strong on her, but for us she is an outcross pedigree for the longer term. She is a beautiful filly, hopefully she can be a race filly now and then come back home.”

Following the Lope De Vega filly was a daughter of Night Of Thunder (Ire) out of Shemya (Fr) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 929) and from the family of G1 Champion S. winner Bay Bridge (GB). Michael Fitzpatrick, signing as JC Bloodstock, was the eventual buyer at 185,000gns and for him it was a case of returning to a successful source, as he pinhooked the filly's half-brother by Kingman (GB), later known as the Group 3 winner Cormorant (GB), for 135,000gns as a foal before selling him on in Book 1 for 1,050,000gns.

The Juddmonte team returned to the ring a little later to buy out Anita Wigan, with whom they co-bred a Kingman (GB) half-sister to G2 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Angel Power (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), at 425,000gns. Lot 973 was consigned by Selwood Bloodstock and is out of the Aussie Rules mare Burning Rules (Ire), a half-sister to Group 3 winner Blue De Vega (Ire) from the Gestut Ammerland family of German Group 1 winners Borgia (Ger) and Boreal (Ger). Burning Rules will be among the first book of mares to visit Baaeed (GB) next spring.

LDV Filly:

 

Taking The Long View With Frankel

In the upper echelon of the foal market the air can get a little thin for pinhookers but a variety of owner/breeders were out in force on Friday, looking to bolster their own broodmare bands with new blood.

Along with Juddmonte, the successful operations of Moyglare Stud, Shadwell, Sumbe, and Gestut Fahrhof were among those investing at the top end of a strong foal market and each of those named went home with a Frankel weanling.

Moyglare Stud has raced a homebred Classic-winning daughter of Frankel this season in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs, and Fiona Craig signed for a filly by him from the draft of Luke and Tabitha Lillingston's Mount Coote Stud at 550,000gns.

The filly in question (lot 1063) is out of Sunny Again (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), who has already proved her worth as the dam of Group 3 winner Elisa Again (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}).

“She's not a big, long-striding thing, but I know what Homeless Songs looks like, and I wasn't trying to buy an Oaks winner, I was trying to buy something fast,” said Craig. “Speed is so hard to find and she looked fast to me. The pedigree is great, and Mount Coote is great–they've raised loads of good horses.”

Tabitha Lillingston added, “We've been so lucky with that mare; she does it every time and now she has some really exciting horses to run for her. When Fiona saw her she said she was really like Homeless Songs.

“We bought the mare for 15 grand and she has really rewarded us. Sometimes you just get lucky.”

Tina Rau has been active throughout the foal sale on behalf of Andreas Jacobs's Gestut Fahrhof and together they signed for a Frankel filly from the Whitsbury Manor Stud draft out of the listed-placed Heartwarming (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), a half-sister to the G2 Queen Mary S. winner Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}).

“She's been bought to race,” Rau commented after bidding 320,000gns. “We liked the pedigree. There's a lot of quality coming up in the next three or four years, there's lots of potential for it to grow. We love the mating, Frankel over Showcasing, and she's a handy version of Frankel which we like.”

Gestut Fahrhof has recruited five new weanlings from the sale for 836,000gns, including a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to Group 2 winners Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass) and Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) from Yellowford Farm for 280,000gns.

 

Sumbe Joins Frankel Fray

With Mishriff (Ire) having joined the stallion ranks in France at Sumbe, there has been added significance to the purchasing of well-bred fillies and lot 1056, a New England Stud-consigned daughter of Frankel, fit the bill at 425,000gns.

A daughter of the dual stakes winner Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the filly is from a family the Sumbe team is familiar with and she will be put into training, according to stud manager Tony Fry.

He said, “We were underbidders on the Starspangledbanner (Aus) [half-brother] as a yearling. She'll go back to Hesmonds Stud now. We have a plethora of stallions so, when she finishes her racing career, she can visit them.”

He added, “We bought yearlings for Clive Cox and Roger Varian and all of our French-breds will stay in France.”

G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff's fee has been set at €20,000 in his debut season at Haras de Montfort et Preaux and he will stand alongside Golden Horde (Ire), De Treville (GB) and Recorder (GB).

Asked how Mishriff has been received, Fry said, “Super. We haven't started showing him yet but the bookings have started to come in already. When people see him they will be very impressed by him.”

 

Sons On The Rise

Ghaiyyath (Ire) is one of the first-season sires being much talked about at the sales and he was the only one of his intake to nudge into the top 10 courtesy of his smartly-bred daughter from Norelands Stud (lot 1074) who was bought by Shadwell for 375,000gns.

The filly is a half-sister to the Aga Khan's recent juvenile maiden winner Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal), who is highly regarded by her trainer Dermot Weld, as well as the Group 3 winners Tanaza (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Taniyar (Ire) (Shamardal). Their dam Tanoura (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was purchased by David Nagle of Barronstown Stud for €200,000 last year.

Shadwell's Angus Gold has signed for six weanlings this week, including a Frankel half-brother to the German champion 2-year-old Wonderful Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) at 370,000gns. The colt was bred by Sea The Moon's breeder Gestut Gorlsdorf and consigned from Marwell Park.

Ghaiyyath was not the only son of Dubawi to post some decent results at the most prestigious of the four foal sessions this week. The Fagan family's Deerpark Stud sold lot 969, a colt by New Bay (GB), to Shadwell for 210,000gns. The half-brother to three winners is a grandson of 1000 Guineas Trial winner Zavaleta (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) whose descendants include Group 1 winner Intense Focus and Skitter Scatter, while further back the family also includes Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune (Ire).

Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe operation also bought a long-term racing prospect when going to 200,000gns for lot 924, a filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire) out of a sister to the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) from Prospect Stables. The filly was bred in partnership by Romanised's owner Robert Ng and his breeders the Aherne family. The filly's granddam Romantic Venture (Ire) (Indian Ridge {GB}) is a half-sister to the treble Group 1 winner Designs On Rome (Ire) as well as GII Arlington Derby winner Simple Exchange (Ire).

 

Sea The Stars Filly Heads Southcourt Dispersal

To sell or not to sell will be the decision for James Hanly of Ballyhimikin Stud to make after purchasing a jewel from the partial dispersal of the late Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's Southcourt Stud. Offered as lot 1002 from Peter Stanley's New England Stud, the daughter of Sea the Stars (Ire) and the listed winner Waila (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}), from the family of former Horse of the Year Crystal Ocean (GB), was knocked down at 400,000gns, with Johnny McKeever conducting the bidding on behalf of Hanly.

“James will probably put her back through Book 1, but she also has the potential to be a foundation broodmare,” McKeever said. “It is so hard to get into these families and it is a once-in-lifetime opportunity, sadly, with the passing of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild there is a chance to get into families that would never be available.”

The filly's full-sister Infinite Cosmos (Ire) was beaten just a short-head on her debut for Sir Michael Stoute last month, and she features in next week's Mare Sale at Tattersalls, along with her mother, the 12-year-old Waila, who is in foal to Pinatubo (Ire).

McKeever added of Infinite Cosmos, “It will be interesting to see which trainer gets hold of her, but I believe Sir Michael thinks she is very good. That was an added incentive to buy this foal.”

Peter Stanley, who sold four foals from Southcourt Stud and will consign some of the farm's broodmares next week, said, “It is incredibly sad when it comes to the end of an era and Evelyn was the most charming man. I would much rather be talking to him than selling his horse for a lot of money. It is a great credit to him that he had four foals on the ground and they all sold as well as they did.

“He created a couple of fantastic families, and we should not forget that his sister, [the late] Renee Robeson, was really the power behind the scene, she was the one who created these families with Evelyn. He gave her the firepower to do it, but he was always prepared to back her judgement.”

He added of the next week's sale, “There are some lovely mares there; it is sad to be letting go of horses like that. It is a legacy and I think what is wonderful is that Evelyn has left behind something to be very proud of, and for the family to be very proud of.”

A Sea The Moon half-brother to the promising Crystal Caprice (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is another to feature in next week's sale, was bought from the draft for 210,000gns by Bitzen Bloodstock.

 

O'Leary's 'Big Bite' For 280,000gns Colt

Eddie O'Leary has been one of the more active buyers at Tattersalls this week, and he has signed for 12 foals at a total spend of 995,000gns, headed by a 280,000gns No Nay Never colt from Awbeg Stud.

That was by far the most expensive of his purchases but, if he was feeling any pressure with his new acquisition, he scarcely made it be known after out-bidding Yeomanstown Stud.

“That's a big bite,” O'Leary joked, before adding, “I hope it doesn't come to bite me back!”

The No Nay Never colt (lot 965) is out of a winning Aqlaam (GB) mare Southern Belle (Ire) who has produced two winners, including Janoobi (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who started his career with Mark Johnston before winning and reaching a mark of 93 for Ger Lyons.

Heaping praise on his new addition, O'Leary added, “They all say this, but that's actually my pick of the whole sale. He's a brilliant horse by a brilliant sire and hopefully he goes places.”

 

Brown Named FBA Agent of the Year

Richard Brown was named as FBA Bloodstock Agent of the Year for the second year in a row at Tattersalls on Friday.

The Blandford Bloodstock agent, who bought this year's Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) for owner Saeed Suhail, was also responsible for buying the G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) and G1 Caulfield Cup winner Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) as well as G2 Lowther S victrix Swingalong (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and G3 JRA Cup winner Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Geoffrey Howson, honorary president  of the FBA, said, “When Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock received his FBA Bloodstock Agent prize last year, he told me that he was determined to win it again in 2022. I replied that the only way he could receive the award two years' running was to have bought the winner of the Derby.

“Immediately after his Book 2 yearling purchase, Desert Crown, won the Derby, he texted me, 'Told you I wanted another bottle of Krug!'”

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Who’s Hot Ahead Of The Tattersalls December Foal Sale?

The insatiable demand for foals was evident in the figures recorded at Goffs last week with turnover rising 16% to €29,561,000 and the average climbing 16% to €40,110.

At the top end of the market, Kingman (GB) dominated with three foals by the Juddmonte-based stallion selling for a combined €1,540,000 and one of Europe's leading pinhookers Philipp Stauffenberg signing for the €550,000 top lot by the sire. 

Tally-Ho Stud may be best known for being sellers but they pipped Stauffenberg for the biggest spenders title by signing for 19 foals for €1,429,000. Juddmonte, Yeomanstown, BBA Ireland and Camas Park Stud were also on the front foot at Goffs. 

Away from the top end, there were interesting trends to emerge last week that could well impact how this week's December Foal Sale plays out at Tattersalls.

What first-season sires do the buyers want? Who are the emerging forces in the stallion ranks and where might the value lie at Tattersalls? We've examined all of that and more.

Stock In Mehmas And New Bay Is Booming

It's been a breakout year for Mehmas (Ire) and New Bay (GB), who have had their fees for 2023 hiked off the back of memorable campaigns for their respective progeny and, judging by how well their foals went down at Goffs, they can again be expected to play a leading role at Tattersalls.

Let's start with Mehmas, a horse who began his stud career at Tally-Ho in 2017 at a fee of €12,500 and has justified his bump to €60,000 after another memorable campaign, highlighted by Group 1-winning sprinter Minzaal (Ire).

New Bay has done something similar at Ballylinch in that he has climbed the ranks the hard way. He also entered the stallion ranks in 2017, standing for €20,000, but has had his fee for 2023 increased to €75,000 from €37,500 with Bay Bridge (GB), Bayside Boy (Ire) and Saffron Beach (Ire) doing their bit to advertise their stallion's prowess at the highest level this season.

Nine New Bays sold at Goffs for an average of €80,750, headed by colts who sold for €145,000 and €140,000, while Mehmas enjoyed a similarly productive sale with 26 foals selling for an average of €62,455. Four foals by Mehmas broke the €100,000 mark with BBA Ireland going to €160,000 to secure a colt by the stallion.

What's clear about last week's results is that Mehmas and New Bay are the emerging forces in the European stallion ranks. There are 30 foals by Mehmas and 16 New Bays at Tattersalls this week and it will be interesting to see how they perform.

Sergei To Make A Splash?

The Whitsbury Manor Stud team got to dip their toe into the market with some of the first foals by Sergei Prokofiev (Can) going under the hammer at Goffs. How that will prepare an operation who excelled itself with leading first-season sire Havana Grey is hard to know given the amount of foals due to be sold by Sergei Profkofiev at Tattersalls this week. 

The Goffs offering went down well; one colt made €52,000 while the WH Bloodstock team paid €45,000 for another. Of the six foals that sold at Goffs, they averaged at €34,167. Not bad going for a stallion who stood at £6,500 in his first season at stud. 

Indeed, Sergei Prokofiev hails from that Scat Daddy line that is proving so popular. He was clearly quite the looker, too, given he fetched $1,100,000 as a yearling before carving out a decent career without managing to win a Group 1 for Aidan O'Brien. 

There are 60 foals by Sergei Prokofiev at Tattersalls this week. They should provide a better sample size into the standing in which he is held in with the buyers.

Najd Stud Snap Up Foals

We have become accustomed to Najd Stud playing a major role at the horses-in-training sales but it was interesting to see the Saudi Arabian-based outfit sign for four foals at Goffs. Is that a sign of things to come at Tattersalls this week?

Najd Stud didn't shoot the lights out, either, at Goffs. A Ghaiyyath (Ire) colt topped the total spend of €134,500 across five foals. Interestingly, a filly by Shadwell's Commonwealth Cup winner Eqtidaar (Ire), who has his first runners next year, was among the purchases at €36,000 as was a €3,500 Belardo (Ire) colt on the final day of the sale. 

Kildangan-Based Sires Come Up Trumps

Speaking of Ghaiyyath, the Kildangan-based freshman sire enjoyed a rock-solid start at Goffs with 11 of his first foals selling for €824,000 which averages out at €74,909.

Leading pinhookers Pier House Stud bought the top two colts by the stallion for €185,000 and €145,000 respectively and few would be surprised if the offerings by the four-time Group 1 winner go down well at Tattersalls as well. 

Of the 11 foals cataloged by Ghaiyyath at Tattersalls, a filly out of a sister to New York Girl (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and a half-brother to Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal) stand out on paper at least.

Fellow Kildangan-based stallions Blue Point (Ire) and Earthlight (Ire) also performed well. Earthlight had 17 foals sell for €942,500 at an average of €55,441 with Tally-Ho, Lynn Lodge Stud, Peter and Ross Doyle among the significant buyers of his progeny.

Even more impressive were figures posted by Blue Point, who had 20 lots sell for €1,011,500 at an average of €56,194. Top of the pops were colts knocked down for €200,000 apiece to Camas Park Stud and Katsumi Yoshida.

Blue Point's yearlings were similarly well-received. Famous for winning the King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee S. in the same week at Royal Ascot in 2019, Blue Point will have his first two-year-olds hit the track in 2023, with yearlings by the sire averaging over €100,000 this year. 

His stats performed favourably against proven sires Dark Angel (Ire), Showcasing (GB), Kodiac (GB), Starspangledbanner (Aus) and Acclamation (GB) in terms of average for a similar number of lots through the ring at Goffs last week. It will be interesting to see if he can carry over that sort of momentum at Tattersalls. 

First-Season Sires

Next year's race to be crowned champion first-season sire is being billed as one of the most exciting renewals for a long time with Too Darn Hot (GB), Blue Point, Waldgeist (GB), Magna Grecia (Ire), Ten Sovereigns (Ire), Calyx (GB), Advertise (GB), Invincible Army (Ire), Land Force (Ire) and Soldier's Call (GB) having their first runners in 2023.

As mentioned above, Blue Point performed well at Goffs while a number of leading pinhookers got behind the progeny of a number of the first-season sires. 

Advertise was one who came out nicely on the figures from a relatively small sample size at Goffs and one would imagine that Tattersalls will provide a more accurate barometer given he has 19 foals there.

But the Goffs results read well. Six foals sold for an average of €32,167 which was more than Invincible Army [14 for €29,773], Ten Sovereigns [15 for €26,833] and Soldier's Call [14 for €26,417]. Those figures could well average out this week. Time will tell.

First Crops Of Note

Along with Ghaiyyath, Earthlight and Sergei Prokofiev, who we have already mentioned, a number of stallions had their first crop go under the hammer at Goffs. 

Some of the more interesting results were posted by Arizona (Ire), perhaps unsurprisingly given he is a son of the sire of the moment, No Nay Never, while King Of Change (GB), Mohaather (GB), Sottsass (Fr) and Without Parole (GB) caught the imagination. 

Peter Nolan paid €60,000 for an Arizona half-brother to Eldrickjones (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) while the Coolmore-based freshman sire, who stands for just €5,000, averaged a respectable €20,192 for 13 foals.

Sottsass was a classier racehorse than most of his first-crop rivals and it told in the figures at Goffs with the former Arc winner posting averages comparable with Mehmas, Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Dark Angel. There were 11 foals by Sottsass at Goffs and they sold for an average of €61,100 and a top price of €180,000. 

G1 Sussex S. winner Mohaather created a good impression with five foals selling for an average of €49,250 including a top lot of €95,000 while Without Parole had four foals sell for an average of €27,000 and a high of €70,000.

King Of Change was subject to a recent transfer after being snapped up by Starfield Stud from Derrinstown and it looks like it could prove to be a decent move given how his first foals performed. 

Peter and Ross Doyle paid €50,000 for a colt by the sire who averaged a solid €24,714 for seven foals sold. That's a good return for a Group 1-winning stallion who is set to stand for just €5,000 next year.

Coolmore Can Count On Wootton Bassett And No Nay Never

Wootton Bassett (GB) and No Nay Never flew the flag for Coolmore at Goffs while demand for the progeny of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) was evidently up off the back of an excellent autumn for the first-season sire. 

Wootton Bassett was bettered only by Kingman and Galileo, who between them accounted for just four foals at Goffs, for the highest averages posted. 

The sire of brilliant G1 National S. winner Al Riffa, Wootton Bassett clearly captured the imagination last week, with seven foals selling for €1,345,000 at an average of €224,167 which earned him a top-three finish in that particular table. 

No Nay Never enjoyed an eighth-place finish in averages posted on €134,800 and, while Saxon Warrior was down on that list at €52,263, he posted a chunky aggregate with 21 foals selling for €993,000. That was the seventh-highest aggregate recorded by any stallion. 

 

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Stauffenberg Secures Kingman With “Stallion’s Pedigree” For 550k At Goffs

Philipp Stauffenberg broke new ground at the November Foal Sale at Goffs on Wednesday by signing for a Kingman (GB) half-brother to Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) for a sales-topping €550,000 on a day where the Juddmonte-based stallion shined brightest.

The Airlie Stud-consigned colt is not just a half-brother to that 2018 champion 2-year-old filly in Ireland but also the promising Charlie Appleby-trained Victory Dance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the €550,000 it took to buy him represented a new record for Stauffenberg.

The fact that lot 727 boasted a stallion's pedigree provided Stauffenberg with the confidence to push on and buy the colt who brought the leading pinhooker's total spend at Goffs this year to over €1 million.

Stauffenberg said, “As the auctioneer said, he has a stallion's pedigree and I was actually the underbidder on the Dubawi (Ire) [Victory Dance (Ire)] as well. I think there is a lot of upside and, from what I hear, the Dubawi is going extremely well. They pushed him a little and thought he was a little bit earlier than he was. If he wins something nice next year, which you would hope he can, it will improve the page again. He definitely has a stallion's pedigree. It's a very good family and if Kingman (GB) comes up with a nice horse I'm not too worried.”

Asked if the significant outlay could make securing a pinhooking profit more difficult, Stauffenberg replied, “On one side, yes, but on the other, how many chances do we have to come up with something like him to go to war with next year? We spent a lot of money but hopefully we spent wisely. Sometimes it is more risky to buy one for €200,000. I think he was a no-brainer. I never gave this much for a foal before but I did underbid one for €1.2 million but didn't get her. She was the first crop of Frankel out of Finsceal Beo (Ire). This is the most expensive foal I've bought.

“Like all the others, he will come back to the farm. I will have to tell my staff that we have quite a valuable thing there. We treat everything the same and he will be raised like all the others then we will make a decision about where we are going, but I think it's an obvious decision about where we will go next year with him.”

Stauffenberg spent €1,113,000 on six foals at Goffs this week, including a Night Of Thunder (GB) colt (lot 601) for €280,000 who was offered from the Irish National Stud.

 

Asked if he was confident that the market would stay strong into the yearling sales next year, Stauffenberg replied, “Listen, who was confident this year? We were blown away with how well the yearling sales went and this is another thing with a horse like him; whether you are a high-end racing owner or someone looking for a stallion prospect, a horse like him will always have a value with his pedigree. I think you can be a little bit safer on that level than on a lower level. Whether I am right or not, we will know next year. I am happy to have him.”

The German-based operator was also happy to snap up the Night Of Thunder colt from the Irish National stud earlier in the afternoon.

On that acquisition, he added, “There aren't many Night Of Thunders on the open market and I've been very lucky with the sire already. I sold a filly by him in Book 1 to Godolphin who was an absolute queen so you could say I'm quite biased towards the sire. This was just an exceptionally good colt and I was keen to get him after missing out on one earlier today.”

That Night Of Thunder colt was owned by the Irish National Stud Mares Syndicate and the dam in question, Persona Grata (GB) (Sire Percy {GB}), a six-time winner including twice at listed level, was a relatively new recruit having been snapped up at Arqana December last year for €190,000.

Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud, said, “This is the fourth year of the syndicate. A lot of the foals we are selling are in different syndicates. The Night Of Thunder was in the newest version. We bought four mares last year and, what we try to do is, there are 100 shares and we offer half of them out and we keep the other half. That's what we try to do. It's gone fantastically well.

“We had a Dark Angel (Ire) colt out of Nabeyla (GB) make €78,000 and now this Night Of Thunder colt makes €280,000. We have a Showcasing (GB) and a Mehmas (Ire) that we will sell on behalf of the syndicate as yearlings and the mares are back in foal to different stallions now as well.”

He added, “Hopefully we will try and produce some stakes winners along the way and appreciate the mares if at all possible. We want to try and continue to sell foals profitably. That's the game. We bought this mare for €190,000 at Arqana so, to get the price of the mare back already, you don't fully expect to do that in your first year.

“He was a smashing colt and he's gone to a great home. He will be reoffered and hopefully he can make a good profit for Philipp next year.”

Those sales stood out in an exceedingly strong sale. The aggregate was a whopping €15,242,500, up 27% on last year's figures, while the average jumped 22% to €88,619. The median also rose 16% to €58,000. Of the 203 foals offered, 172 were sold, which represented a clearance rate of 85%.

 

Juddmonte Snaps Up Half To Derby Contender

Just over a month on from Arrest's narrow defeat in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Juddmonte paid a handsome compliment to their Derby contender by securing his half-brother by Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 591) for €340,000 as well as a €530,000 Kingman (GB) colt (lot 606).

Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) went from strength to strength this season, ending his campaign with a head defeat to Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) in France, and can be backed at odds as big as 40-1 for next year's G1 Derby at Epsom.

 

Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said after the sale that parallels could be drawn between Arrest and his Swordlestown Little-consigned little brother.

Mahon said, “He's a half-brother to a good one. He [Arrest] was unlucky the last day to get beaten just a head in a Group 1 in France and the Abdullah family were particularly keen to buy him given how well the brother had done for them. I looked at him the other day and felt he was a very nice horse and that we'd be happy to have him. They gave me the confidence to kick on and buy him.”

Asked if there were similarities between the two, Mahon added, “They are both big strong-looking horses. This fella might be a little bit sharper than the brother but they are both good-sized, good-moving quality animals. It was an easy decision with how well the brother has done for us.”

 

The sale capped off a wonderful afternoon's work for Marriann Klay and Des Leadon of Swordlestown Little with their offerings by the sire as, not only did their homebred sell to Juddmonte for €340,000, but they also secured €280,000 for a Wootton Bassett filly (lot 565) from Tally-Ho Stud earlier in the day.

 

Des Leadon said, “Nisriyna (Ire) (Intikhab) is just fantastic. We're just so lucky to have her. She's a wonderful mare with a wonderful temperament and how exciting to sell a half-brother to what may be next year's Derby winner. It's not often you have horses like that and, in their own way, our two Wootton Bassetts in this environment as foals are as precious as the Alpinistas (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Baaeeds (GB).

“These are collectors items and they don't come along very often. We feel very lucky to have Marvada (Ire) (Elusive City) for our very good friend and client Alan O'Flynn and to have Nisriyna ourselves. To have the support of Juddmonte, who have been wonderful to work with, has been brilliant and Nisriyna goes to Kingman next year. We have a Dark Angel in utero and we are very happy to work with such professionals within the industry and, in our own small way, to enjoy everything that it brings to us. It's a very special day.”

Asked what led to the decision to support Wootton Bassett, Leadon said, “Because he was here and that he had done so well. We wanted to use better and better sires because the mare had shown us what she could do. The accessibility of Wootton Bassett was a big factor in our decision.”

Wootton Bassett broke the €1-million marker on the day. The sire of this year's impressive G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) had six foals sold for an aggregate of €1,345,000 on Wednesday.

On how the Nisriyna story began, Leadon continued, “Mariann and I rode out for John Oxx for many years. That's where we first met the mare. We bought her here in Goffs [for €2,000 in 2010] and tried to develop her as a broodmare from there. We can't do it without the raw material and these Aga Khan families are wonderful. John Oxx was so good with them and it gave us an insight into the thinking of elite stud farms like that and to John's wonderful assessment of horses.”

 

Kingman Reigns Supreme

Kingman reigned supreme at Goffs on Wednesday. Not only did he supply the top lot and the Roundhill Stud-drafted colt who was knocked down to Juddmonte for €530,000 but he completed the clean sweep when The Castlebridge Consignment's filly (lot 688) by the stallion was snapped up by Japanese buyers for €460,000.

Shingo Hashimoto, who has made the trip to Goffs in the past, signed for that Kingman filly on behalf of Katsumi Yoshida.

He said, “She has been bought to race in Japan. Kingman has done well in Japan and has a runner [Schnell Meister (Ger)] in a Group 1 there this weekend. She looked good and the pedigree is very strong. She is lovely. She has been bought for Katsumi Yoshida.”

Honora and Bobby Donworth of Roundhill Stud know a thing or two about selling big ticket items and, in lot 606, the second-highest priced foal of the sale, the perfect suitor was found.

Honora Donworth explained, “I'm so pleased he is going to Juddmonte. For me, that was everything. Everything. He's going where he should be going. We wanted to give it every shot in the world and the mare has been bred to Frankel so fingers crossed. There has been a good horse every year and it goes back to his grandmother who we bought in America. It's the most wonderful family.”

There were just three foals sold at the November Foal Sale at Goffs by Kingman and they filled the top three slots at an aggregate of €1,540,000.

 

No Nay Never Colt Commands 300k

Off the back of a memorable season, No Nay Never had his fee for 2023 increased by Coolmore to €175,000 and progeny by the sire proved popular on the day at Goffs with a colt (lot 602) selling for €300,000 from Rockfield Farm to Rockbank B/S.

A first foal out of Piece Of Paradise (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who carried owner-breeder Michael O'Flynn's red and yellow silks to victory at listed level, the No Nay Never colt delivered on the high expectations that everybody at Rockfield Farm had for him.

Mitch Barry, the racing and stud manager at Rockfield, said, “It's great and we've always liked the colt, he's been a cracker from day one. When we came up here everything just clicked with him and he came out of his box every day and did everything perfectly. We couldn't be happier. He's been busy but I was humming and hawing whether he'd get to €300,000 but I'm delighted he surpassed that.”

He added, “We're big fans of No Nay Never, he's had a phenomenal season. The mare is in foal to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and she's a beautiful mare. It's been a great family for Michael and all the O'Flynns and this is a great day for the farm.”

No Nay Never has had an exceptional year with Blackbeard (Ire), introduced on the Coolmore roster at €25,000, Little Big Bear (Ire) and Meditate (Ire) winning Group 1 juvenile races.

Five colts were offered by him on Wednesday, selling for an aggregate of €674,000 and an average of €134,000.

The post Stauffenberg Secures Kingman With “Stallion’s Pedigree” For 550k At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Fahrhof’s Day as BBAG Ring is Litt Bright

BADEN-BADEN, Germany–A German breeder, a British stallion, an American buyer. In a fully reopened world, the international participation that had been anticipated ahead of BBAG's major yearling sale was played out as Jason Litt made a splash on his first visit to Baden-Baden when signing for the sole Kingman (GB) yearling in the sale, offered by the day's leading vendor Gestut Fahrhof and commanding the top price of €450,000.

Along with Litt, buyers from Britain, China, Ireland, France, Italy, Dubai, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, and of course Germany underlined a diverse and vibrant market which led to gains of 24% for both aggregate and average. Of the 204 horses offered through the one-day sale, 157 (77%) found a buyer, with the clearance rate dropping just slightly from 80% last year, but the average up to €53,258 with the overall turnover at €8,361,500.

 

Fahrhof to the Fore

It has been quite the week for the partnership of Gestut Fahrhof and Kingman, with the stallion reaching a new high of 50 stakes winners and 30 group winners courtesy of the stud's homebred Habana (Ger), a 'TDN Rising Star' who went on the land the G3 Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden on Wednesday.

In the sale ring two days later, Kingman's son (lot 62) from the family of this year's G1 Deutsches Derby winner Sammarco (Ire) was the draft's leading light when topping the sale, selected by a first-time visitor to the auction.

“I'm really happy right now,” said American agent Jason Litt. “We got the one we wanted. We came here trying to buy what we thought was the best horse in the sale, and we thought he was the best horse in the sale.

“He's likely to stay in Europe but it is all to be determined. He has a great attitude and great balance.”

Litt added with a laugh, “He checked all the boxes, as everyone hates to hear.”

The colt's relative Sammarco, who is now a dual Group 1 winner, returns to the track on Sunday to take on Torquator Tasso (Ger) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, and plenty of other members of the close family have won stakes races in Britain, Ireland, France, and Australia. His dam Sarandia (Ger) (Dansili {GB}) was herself narrowly denied a Classic win when second in the G1 Preis der Diana, and three of her five wins came in listed races.

The Fahrhof draft was also represented among the top lots by a Frankel (GB) half-brother to Group 1 winner Potemkin (Ger) (New Approach {GB}), who will race in Germany for Eckhard Sauren, the President of the Cologne Race Club who bought lot 58 for €210,000. The colt's dam Praia (Ger) (Big Shuffle) was herself a winner and listed-placed and is a half-sister to Paita (GB) (Intikhab), a former champion 2-year-old filly in Germany.

An international bidding skirmish was in play later in the day for another Fahrhof consignee, the first foal of Listed Diana Trial winner Realeza (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) by Darley's Night Of Thunder (Ire). Anthony Stroud was involved for a while, but it was Andreas Suborics who had the last word at €325,000, with Michael Donohoe the unlucky underbidder from outside the ring. Suborics confirmed that he will train the chestnut colt (lot 156) for owner Jurgen Sartori.

The mixing of Dubawi and Monsun bloodlines has worked well in this family already, with Realeza's three-parts sister Rumh (Ger), a listed-winning daughter of Monsun, having produced the multiple Group 1 winners Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB), both of whom are by Dubawi.

Gestut Fahrhof, which has also consigned yearlings at the Tattersalls October Sale in the past, offered all its yearlings for sale at BBAG this year, and was the sale's leading vendor with 12 sold for €1,420,000 at an average price of €118,333.

Reflecting on a good day for his team, Fahrhof's owner Andreas Jacobs said, “It is a fantastic sale, a boutique sale at a wonderful location. It's wonderful because of great food, great restaurants, great hotels, but also a great sales crowd. This year we had some good genuine prices, so expectations from the vendors were reasonable, and I think the catalogue was better than last year.”

He continued, “On the Farhrhof side we had better horses in the sale because we didn't send any to Tattersalls, so that helped our sale. I'm very proud to have sold the most expensive Kingman. I've loved Kingman since he was a racehorse and I think he was one of those that has everything you want to have–good character, a good scope, and he improved with the work every minute.

“The Night Of Thunder we sold was equally smart and everyone was on him which was why he generated an exceptional price. We're very happy with the day's results, and also with the Baden-Baden race results. To have a Kingman filly; there's nothing better than to have a 2-year-old group-winning filly. I'm very excited about her and very proud.”

 

Prize Fillies for Owner-Breeders

Out of luck with bidding on Fahrhof's Night Of Thunder colt, Michael Donohoe was successful only a short while later when buying the only Frankel filly in the catalogue for €250,000 for Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments. Lot 161, who was offered by Ronald Rauscher, is the third foal of the Acclamation (GB) mare Vagabonde (Ire), a dual winner in France and a half-sister to a pair of Group 3 winners in Kalahara (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Sasparella (Fr) (Shamardal).

“Mr. Zhang has had plenty of luck with the sire and I thought she was lovely,” said Dononhoe. The Yulong Investements silks have been carried to Group 1 glory in Australia by a homebred daughter of Frankel in the Chris Waller-trained Hungry Heart (Aus), winner of the Australian Oaks and Vinery Stud S.

He continued, “There's a nice bit of Acclamation about her and she looks like she might be quite a forward Frankel. We loved the pedigree and thought she represented good value. I was underbidder for different clients on the Kingman and the Night Of Thunder. It's a really strong market.”

A bidding tussle between Tina Rau and Ronald Rauscher saw the latter come out on top for Haras de l'Hotellerie's filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) out of the listed winner Imagery (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) (lot 44) at €250,000.

A pedigree with roots in Gestut Schlenderhan, which includes three black-type half-siblings for the yearling, and another four of the same for her dam, was enough to persuade Rauscher's client, one of Germany's leading breeders, to purchase the filly with her future broodmare career in mind.

“She's been bought for my main partner, Christoph Berglar,” Rauscher confirmed. “He loves Sea The Stars and he loves that Schlenderhan family, and there's Monsun in there. She's very nice, I liked her a lot.”

Guillaume Garcon of Haras de l'Hotellerie offered the filly on behalf of her breeder Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals of Yeguada Centurion, who bought Imagery at Tattersalls four years ago for 95,000gns. The mare also has a colt foal by Sea The Stars.

A good day continued for the Hotellerie team when the Bated Breath (GB) half-sister to Group 3 winner Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) sold for €130,000 to Stall Salzburg. Extra black type has been provided for their dam Noble Pensee (Fr) (Orpen) by her 3-year-old listed-placed daughter Noble Star (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), while Noble Heidi, now four, added the Listed Baden-Baden Cup to her tally of victories on Wednesday. The granddam of lot 151, Turning Leaf (Ire) (Last Tycoon) was placed in the G2 German 1,000 Guineas.

 

Franco-Irish Alliance for Le Havre Filly

One of the 'talking horses' of the sale was the sole yearling by the late Le Havre (Ire), who, catalogued as lot 61, was offered by Stauffenberg Bloodstock on behalf of her breeder Gestut Honyhof. The flashy chestnut is a granddaughter of the G1 Preis der Diana winner Salve Regina (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), who was also runner up in the Deutsches Derby, a race also won by her full-brothers Samum (Ger) and Schiaparelli (Ger). More recently, the family has been boosted by the yearling's Group 3-winning half-brother Sea Of Sands (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who triumphed in the Derby-Trial and is one of five winners for their dam Salve Haya (Ire) (Peintre Celebre).

The well-established partnership of Ireland's Ballylinch Stud and France's Ecurie des Charmes had the final say for the filly at €205,000, with Ghislain Bozo signing the docket in the company of John O'Connor.

“She was a really nice filly, we think Le Havre is a plus as well and it's a very nice staying family, a very strong German family,” Bozo said. “She's a lovely mover and well-balanced, the type of physique we like, and should be a lovely broodmare in the future. She may go to Ballylinch first, they have a really lovely pre-training facility.”

Bozo had earlier signed for Gestut Hof Ittlingen's colt by the late Lord Of England (Ger) at €180,000. Bought for an undisclosed client, lot 47 is a half-brother to Loft (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), winner of the GII Belmont Gold Cup S. in America as well as the G2 Oleander-Rennen is his home country. The pair emanate from Hof Ittlingen's signature family of the homebred champion Lando (Ger), whose seven Group 1 wins included the Japan Cup, and who is a brother to the colt's granddam Laurella (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}).

 

Waldgeist Filly to Wohler

Gestut Ammerland's half-sister to Blue De Vega (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ger}) from the first crop of Arc winner Waldgeist (GB) (lot 79) is to be trained by Andreas Wohler for a “well-established French owner-breeder” after being signed for at €160,000 by Alexandra Saint Martin of ASM Bloodstock.

Unable to divulge the name of her client, the agent added, “She is a lovely filly with a great page and she has been bought as a broodmare prospect. She will be trained in Germany.”

The filly was the most expensive yearling of the day by Waldgeist, who was well represented at BBAG with eight of his yearlings sold for an average of €63,750.

Another of this year's freshman sires, Darley's Too Darn Hot (GB), featured just once in the catalogue but his yearling colt, who is a half-brother to the German champion 3-year-old sprinter Namos (GB) (Medicean {GB}), found favour with breeze-up pinhooker Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud.

“He's a good, racy colt and I like the sire. I think he has a good chance,” said Whitehead, who has done well buying breezers from this sale in the past and paid €150,000 for lot 54 from breeder Gestut Brummerhof.

 

New Bay an Old Friend for Elliott

Alex Elliott is another regular visitor to BBAG and secured two six-figure lots on Friday, the first being lot 53, bought for the Chelsea Thoroughbreds syndicate  at €120,000.

The colt by New Bay (GB) is to be trained by Ralph Beckett, a stallion with whom Elliott and Beckett have enjoyed previous success courtesy of his first-crop son New Mandate (Ire), winner of the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. as well as a pair of listed races.

There was plenty to recommend the Ronald Rauscher- consigned colt beyond his sire, however, as he is out of Nightlight Angel (Manduro {Ger}), a winning three-parts-sister to Dr. Christoph Berglar's champion colt Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), a Group 1 winner in three different countries who is now at stud in Japan. The family has been given another major boost this season by the Irish Oaks victory of Novellist's half-sister Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Elliott also went to €165,000 for Haras de Grandcamp's Wootton Bassett (GB) half-brother to G3 Prix des Chenes winner Evasive's First (Fr) (Evasive), who was appropriately, consigned as lot 165.

Holger Faust of the HFTB Agency was the sale's busiest buyer, signing for 11 yearlings for a total of €568,000. The group included Intisar (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), who will race in the same Darius Racing colours as her sister, the G1 Preis der Diana runner-up Isfahani (Ger), and was bought from Gestut Karlshof for €120,000.

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