Tag: Lope de Vega (Ire)

John O’Connor Q&A: ‘He Could Be A Dominant Horse Next Year’

 

Rare are the days that John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud enjoyed at Ascot on Champions Day last Saturday. No sooner had the G1 QEII celebrations died down after Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB})'s victory, a horse the stud bred and co-owns with Teme Valley, when another runner that the stud owns jointly, Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), lowered the colours of Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Champion S.

   It was an afternoon that propelled Ballylinch resident New Bay into the spotlight and continued the excellent momentum that the stud has enjoyed in recent weeks after homebred Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) bagged the G1 Prix de l'Opera.

   From discussing plans for Bayside Boy, Bay Bridge and Place Du Carrousel to describing New Bay as an elite stallion, Ballylinch Stud's John O'Connor makes for an excellent interview in this week's Q&A.

 

Brian Sheerin: Now that the dust has settled on British Champions Day, have you had the time to think further about the Breeders' Cup for Bayside Boy and Bay Bridge?

 

John O'Connor: The Breeders' Cup is under consideration for both horses. We'll let the horses tell us if they are ready to go or not. It's a short run in from British Champions Weekend to the Breeders' Cup, so everything needs to go right and the horses will need to have bounced out of Ascot well. We'll play it by ear.

 

BS: You hinted earlier in the week that one of the two could go to stud next year. Has that conversation moved on at all?

 

JO'C: Those are ongoing conversations. These are good horses and deserve plenty of thought put into their future plans and that's what we will do.

 

BS: It could be viewed as an afternoon that propelled New Bay into elite stallion status if he wasn't already considered to be in that bracket already. How proud are you of the stallion?

 

JO'C: He was already on his way to elite status and Saturday really pushed him over the threshold. That confirmed that he is an elite stallion. He's managed to do it with relatively smaller numbers. He didn't have huge numbers but the really good horses, I have found down through the years, always have high percentages of elite runners. When you have that, you know they are going to make it.

As the numbers increased, he has confirmed that as he went on and he has been one of those horses whose stats have always told us that he is a really high quality stallion. He's confirming that now with his runners reaching a high level. He has bigger and better crops to come–he covered a very good book this year–so there's been an incremental increase in the quality of mares that were sent to him. The really top breeders want to use him so he is in a good position.

 

BS: Alex Elliott commented at one of the yearling sales recently that he was on a mission to buy up as many New Bays as possible because, sooner rather than later, they were going to be out of his price-range. It must give you huge pleasure to see that so many in the industry have cottoned onto the horse from an early stage.

 

JO'C: It does, yes. Some very good judges like Alex cottoned onto him early and he actually bought Batemans Bay (Fr) who we race in partnership with one of his clients. He's a pretty good horse as well, and a progressive one, so yes, Alex has been one of those who identified New Bay at an early stage and he will be the beneficiary of that.

 

BS: Bay Bridge has only run 10 times so, if he was to stay in training next year, you'd imagine there could be a lot more to come from him given he's trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

 

JO'C: I would hope so. That's obviously a conversation that we will have with his owner-breeder James Wigan who is a very astute man in the business. James has experience with horses at the highest level so we will take on board his views on that. I think he could be quite interesting if he does stay in training. He could be a very dominant horse next year. He had an injury-curtailed season this year and he's a lightly-raced horse who has a very good win to run strike-rate. He has an awful lot that you would like in a top-class horse in the sense that he has an ability to quicken and a fantastic will to win. When you tackle him, he fights really hard and is hard to beat in a finish so he is an admirable racehorse and one I am looking forward to seeing on his next run, wherever that may be.

 

BS: It wasn't all about the boys last weekend, either. Fact Or Folklore (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has had a brilliant time of it with her first two foals, Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and Self Belief (Ire) (Make Believe GB}), winning a series of listed races. Perhaps the broodmare band at Ballylinch sometimes doesn't get the recognition it deserves with the stallions flying the flag so well.

 

JO'C: That's the nature of the business, that the stallions get the most publicity because that's the way the industry is set up. But I have always taken the view that broodmares are extremely important to any stud farm and we have invested and had good support from owners with funding the purchase of some really nice mares.

We've been lucky to have raced some very nice mares as well and Fact Or Folklore is one example. We raced her in partnership with David Hyland and we were happy to buy her to continue her stud career here. She's made an exceptional start to her new career as a broodmare. Statement is her first foal and Self Belief is her second foal. Her third foal, a colt by New Bay, sold extremely well at Tattersalls Book 2 last week for 425,000gns to Stroud Coleman. She looks like she's an elite broodmare and it shows you that they don't have to start off being outstanding to turn out to be really good. She's one of those who is going to work her way up through the ranks, I think. It would appear that Lope De Vega passes on some very good traits and he's a very promising broodmare sire.

 

BS: We should probably credit Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega) for kick-starting this golden run.

 

JO'C: That's absolutely true. Place Du Carrousel is a filly we bred and we retained half of her as a yearling. She's out of a mare [Traffic Jam (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire})] that we bought with a good race record. Her racing owner Alexis Adamian owns her in partnership with us and she boards at Ballylinch. This is her first foal, it's an extraordinary start for a broodmare to breed a Group 1 winner with their first foal. Place Du Carrousel will probably stay in training next season, so we could see her in the top fillies' races next year, for sure.

 

BS: And it turned out to be a timely win for Place Du Carrousel in the Prix de l'Opera as her half-sister by Kingman (GB) sold for 1,050,000gns at Book 1 to Shadwell.

 

JO'C: It's lovely to see that Shadwell are back buying top-class stock and a pleasure to see Sheikha Hissa so involved. She takes a personal interest in looking at the horses and that's wonderful to see. It's a great legacy that her father left her that interest and knowledge of the business. We would look forward to Sheikha Hissa having great success in the future. She has two very nice horses to go to stud next year in Baeed (GB) and Minzaal (Ire), so that could set Shadwell up for the next number of years in their stallion operation. If it is self-sustaining, that would be wonderful.

 

BS: And on the market at Tattersalls and beyond, I suppose we are running out of superlatives to sum up the demand for yearlings.

 

JO'C: You could say that it defies gravity when you think about what's happening in the world. The bloodstock market has always had its own internal mechanism and sometimes it is affected by greater world events but quite often it is not. It seems to have its own momentum. There aren't many horses at the top level and there are enough players at that level who want to participate. It can defy what's happening in the international monetary markets. Sometimes the top end of the bloodstock market is a bit of a special commodity in its own right.

 

BS: It could be another exciting weekend for Ballylinch with Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and promising juvenile Lord Of Biscay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) running at Newbury.

 

JO'C: Lord Of Biscay is an interesting horse who won his maiden very well on good ground. It remains to be seen if he will be equally as effective on soft ground. He seems to have plenty of speed and he's a half-brother to Bayside Boy, so Alava (Ire) (Anabaa) is a mare who has been doing very well. Roger [Varian] likes him a lot and he's a horse who didn't go into training early in the year and we took our time with him. Roger has always said he's a real natural runner and he showed that first time out. It's a big step up and a change in surface conditions so it will be a big learning curve for him and us on Saturday. There's another horse we bred and part-own running in the race called Oviedo (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and he has legitimate aspirations of running well in that race as well. Lone Eagle had a little setback earlier in the year so we are looking forward to getting him back on the track.

 

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Ballylinch Sires Loom Large During Purple Patch

DEAUVILLE, France–It's beginning to feel as if it's John O'Connor's world and we're just living in it. After selling 27 yearlings for almost 6.5 million gns at Tattersalls last week, Ballylinch Stud, which he manages, was then represented by a Group 1 double at Ascot's Champions Day when first Bayside Boy (Ire) won the Queen Elizabeth II S., followed by the triumph of Bay Bridge (GB) in the Champion S. Both are sons of Ballylinch resident New Bay (GB), and Bayside Boy was bred and is co-owned by Ballylinch, while the stud bought into the James Wigan-bred Bay Bridge.

Though not on the list of consignors in Deauville this week, a strong Ballylinch feel continued at Arqana on Tuesday as Haras d'Etreham's colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 240) topped the second session and final day of Part I when finally secured at €210,000. He became the latest purchase by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, who bid via telephone through Arqana's Freddy Powell after the partners' earlier departure. The first foal of German listed winner and Classic-placed Cherry Lady (Ger) is very closely related to his dam's fellow stakes-winning half-sister Celebrity (Ger), who is by Shamardal, while Cherry Lady is herself by Soldier Hollow (GB), whose role as a broodmare sire was enhanced this year by the two Group 1 wins of Helmut von Finck's Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The Lope De Vega colt was consigned for his breeder Haras Voltaire by Nicolas de Chambure's Haras d'Etreham, which has enjoyed a decent two days of trade, selling 21 yearlings for €1.9 million to be second on the list of vendors.

Twenty lots later, and acting through Amelie Lemercier, American owner John Ballantyne of NBS Stables went to €160,000 for a daughter of Ballylinch freshman Waldgeist (GB) out of the listed-placed Deauville Shower (Ire) (High Chapparal {Ire}). Consigned by Elevage de Tourgeville on behalf of breeders Thierry Storme and Thierry Lohest, the bay filly (lot 260) was the most expensive of the five yearlings by Waldgeist in the sale, who sold for an average of €83,400. Meanwhile, the sextet of Lope De Vega yearlings sold has brought an average price of €176,667.

With the two days of Part I of the October Sale now in the books, another €6,131,000 was added to the ledger on Tuesday, bringing a running total for the sale to €18,955,000 with three days left to run. Tuesday's clearance rate was 81%, with 82 of the 101 yearlings sold for an average of €74,768 and median of €62,000,

Overall, the average for Part I was €76,741 with a median of €60,000 and healthy rate of lots sold at 81%.

 

Zarak in Demand

Anthony Stroud was back on the phone to Freddy Powell when lot 299 entered the ring and bought the Zarak (Fr) filly for €180,000 from the Haras de Hoguenet consignment. The second foal of the G2 Prix de Malleret runner-up Fuse (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), she was bred by Guillaume de Saint-Seine, the co-owner of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who will return to this year's Breeders' Cup meeting in a bid to go one better. The Wertheimer-bred Fuse hails from the family of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Falco.

Late in the session, Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock was another to opt for a Zarak yearling (lot 325) when buying the half-brother to G3 Firth of Clyde S. winner Queen of Bermuda (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) for €160,000.

“There was a lot of Dubawi about him and Zarak is really making waves as an emerging young stallion. The mare has done it: she has bred two fast horses and she was fast herself. He'll be going to William Haggas.”

The colt was bred by Yeguada Centurion from the stakes-placed Haafhd (GB) mare Imperialistic Diva (GB) and consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie. Though he was bought for a different unnamed client, McStay has done well with his purchases for Hong Kong-based owner Bon Ho, who owns the current favourite for the Melbourne Cup, the Guy Heald-bred Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was bought by the agent at Arqana in September 2020.

Asked about the 3-year-old's travels to Melbourne, he replied, “Fingers and toes crossed. The horse travelled really well and James Ferguson is on his way out there right now. His team, led by Alison, have done a great job getting him there. There's a lot of pressure being favourite but it's a great position to be in. Mr Ho and his wife are flying out there and so am I. It's a great experience to be involved in. He's a fantastic horse who has already done us all proud so hopefully he can run well.”

 

French Trainers in Clover

Deauville-based trainer Stephane Wattel signed up the most expensive offspring in the sale of another first-season sire, Calyx (GB). Lot 237, out of the listed-winning Arch mare Cheriearch, is a half-brother to Al Shaqab's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau winner Welwal (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}) and was bred in partnership by Ariane Gravereaux, OTI Racing and Oceanic Bloodstock, was bought from the Haras des Capucines draft for €170,000 and will race for a syndicate led by Peter Savill. The owner-breeder and former BHB chairman has put together a group of friends from Britain, Ireland, France and Australia with the intention of racing four juveniles in France next season.

Jean-Claude Rouget and Michel Zerolo continued their support for the stock of Wootton Bassett (GB) when signing for lot 289 at €170,000 from La Motteraye Consignment. From the further family of Superstar Leo (Ire) and One Master (GB), the daughter of juvenile winner Fille Du Septembre (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) was bred in partnership by Gwen Monneraye and Lucie Lamotte with Gerard Ferron.

Wootton Bassett has had a strong representation at Arqana so far this week, and 21 members of his final French-conceived crop have proved popular, selling for an average of €134,619.

Christophe Ferland will take charge of lot 272, a Night Of Thunder (Ire) granddaughter of G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Emily Bronte (GB) (Machiavellian), who was bought by Arthur Hoyeau for €160,000. Bred by Ecurie de Cachene and consigned on their behalf by Edwige Le Metayer's Haras du Buff, the filly is the first foal of Dubai Opera (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a sister to Group 3 winner Lockwood (GB).

 

At Monceaux, Sharing is Caring

Victor Kiam famously said of Remington shavers, 'I liked it so much I bought the company' and through Peter Brant is unlikely to be able to secure Siyouni (Fr) himself from the Aga Khan, he has invested plenty in his stock over recent seasons and struck for another of his yearlings on Tuesday. The filly (lot 239), bought for €170,000 in the name of White Birch Farm, is out of the unraced Cherriya (Fr), a Montjeu (Ire) half-sister to the treble Group 1 winner Cherry Mix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).

She was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the sale's leading vendor who on Monday had sold a Wootton Bassett filly bred by various members of the Monceaux staff for €210,000. Eleven individuals were involved in the breeding syndicate, including former yearling manager Antoine Bellanger–who now runs his own Arcadia Elevage consignment–his successor Jordan Tancrede, Charlotte Andre, and broodmare manager Bruno Dieuaide.

Tancrede, whose job it is to oversee the prep of the Monceaux yearlings, explained, “Henri Bozo bought the mare Avocate for the staff and asked me if I wanted to be involved. We had a Siyouni colt from the first year and sold him in the August Sale for €80,000. But then this was a big surprise, the price the Wootton Bassett filly made. She was a very nice filly but we thought she might make something like €110,000, not €210,000.”

The daughter of the Lawman (Fr) mare Avocate (Fr), from the family of Group 1 winners Ectot (Ire) and Most Improved (Ire), will race in America for Klaravich Stables.

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Lope De Vega’s Quantanamera Slays Winterkonigin Rivals

Jurgen Sartori's unbeaten 2-year-old filly Quantanamera (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Quaduna {GB}, by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) posted an impressive three-length debut success tackling nine furlongs at Dortmund last month and blitzed those that dared once more in Sunday's G3 BBAG Preis der Winterkonigin, Germany's premium event for juvenile fillies, at Baden-Baden. The well-backed 6-4 favourite was sharply into stride from the outside stall and bowled along under a firm hold on the front end. Settling the contest in an instant when shaken up at the top of the straight, she left toiling rivals trailing in her wake from the quarter-mile marker and quickened clear in impressive fashion before gearing down inside the final furlong to easily outclass Empore (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by an untroubled 8 1/2 lengths.

“After Quantanamera had worked two weeks ago, I said to my wife that we might have a really exceptional horse in the stable,” Cologne trainer Andreas Suborics told GaloppOnline after registering a first win in the one-mile contest. “She is the best filly I've ever had in training and my pulse was racing today. It was a gala performance and she will now get entries for all the major races, including the [G1] Prix de Diane, but we will enjoy this success first.”

Quantanamera, a half-sister to Listed Prix Le Fabuleux runner-up Quello (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), becomes the 61st pattern-race winner for her sire (by Shamardal) and is the third of five foals and second scorer from as many runners out of dual G3 Premio Verziere victrix Quaduna (Ger) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). Quaduna is the leading performer for G2 Schwarzgold-Rennen winner Quelle Amore (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), herself a full-sister to Listed Prix Max Sicard victor Quidamo (GB). Quelle Amore is also kin to Listed Badener Steher Cup winner Qsar (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). Quaduna, who hails from the family of dual Group 1-placed G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and G2 German 1000 Guineas heroine Que Belle (Seattle Dancer), has a yearling filly by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and a weanling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) to come.

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
BBAG – PREIS DER WINTERKONIGIN-G3, €155,000, Baden-Baden, 10-16, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:44.58, sf.
1–QUANTANAMERA (GER), 128, f, 2, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Quaduna (GB) (MGSW-Ity & SW-Ger, $129,881), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire)
2nd Dam: Quelle Amore (Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Qelle Amie, by Beau Genius
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€200,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Jurgen Sartori; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (GER); T-Andreas Suborics; J-Martin Seidl. €85,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €89,200. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Empore (Ger), 128, f, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Elora (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €31,000.
3–Tamarinde (Ger), 128, f, 2, Amaron (GB)–Tadai (GB), by Dai Jin (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee; B-Gestut Hachtsee (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €20,500.
Margins: 8HF, SHD, NK. Odds: 1.50, 4.90, 4.40.
Also Ran: Elle (Ger), Colonia Victoria (Fr), Taiora (Ger), Extrabunt (Ger), Laguna Beach (Ger), Northern Starlet (Ire), Kleeblatt (Swi).

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Ballylinch Stars As Book 2 Closes With Record Returns

NEWMARKET, UK–With almost 100 lots still to sell, the turnover for Book 2 had already surpassed the tally set in 2021 and, just as witnessed last week at Tattersalls, this second catalogue of four for the October Yearling Sale, bettered all markers of a year ago.

There was a broader spread of buyers, but Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, whose principal Anthony Stroud had been so busy on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation during Book 1, was again active throughout, with the agency ending Book 2 as the leading buyer with 23 bought for 5,625,000gns.

Tally-Ho Stud dominated the consignors' list all week, and the farm's flagship stallion Kodiac (GB) was paid several compliments by leading owner-breeders keen to buy his daughters, notably Cheveley Park Stud and Watership Down Stud, who spent 320,000gns and 150,000gns on a filly each.

In his closing statement, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony  referred to “Three extraordinary record-breaking days at Book 1”, which was neatly followed by more records tumbling at Book 2 for the second year running. The average of 96,020gns was up by 14%, while the median also climbed, by 13% to 70,000gns. At the final fall of hammer after three days and another 732 yearlings through the ring at Park Paddocks and a clearance rate of 86%, Book 2 had pulled in 60,780,500 (+11%) to add to the 126,671,000gns accrued from Book 1 yearlings.

“The word most commonly used to describe the trade we have experienced throughout this week has been 'unrelenting',” Mahony said. “There have been records established in pretty well every conceivable category. Turnover, average and median have all reached unprecedented levels and yet again Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been the second-highest grossing yearling sale in Europe, second only to Book 1. The number of yearlings selling for 200,000gns or more is a wide margin record as is the number selling for 300,000gns or more, and never before have seven yearlings at Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale broken the 500,000-guinea mark.”

He continued, “Following on from Book 1, buyers from America, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and throughout the Gulf region have all continued to make significant contributions over the past three days. European buyers have also been conspicuous at all levels of the market while the domestic British and Irish demand continues to be the bedrock of Europe's largest yearling sale which annually showcases so many of the best commercial yearlings to be found and consistently produces top class horses like this year's outstanding unbeaten Derby winner Desert Crown.”

 

The Stroud And Ballylinch Show

Anthony Stroud signed for two members of a strong Ballylinch Stud draft, for two different owners. Lot 1303, a Lope De Vega (Ire) filly out of a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to the classy dual Group 1 winner Chriselliam (Ire), went the way of Godolphin for 650,000gns, but Stroud had to see off a determined attempt from the Coolmore camp.

“I knew she'd sell well but I did not expect that,” said John O'Connor, manager of Ballylinch Stud, which bred the filly. “But when you get a clash between two very interested buyers, these things can happen. There were lots of people on her, too. This is a family we have been associated with a long time. I originally bought [third dam] Ingabelle from Tom Lacy, Tony Lacy's father, and we have bred most of the black-type horses on this page.”

Along with Chriselliam, the filly's dam Gallitea (Ire) is a half-sister to the G2 Cape Verdi S winner Very Special (Ire), herself by Lope De Vega. The further family also includes Ingabelle's champion 2-year-old daughter Priory Belle (Ire) (Priolo) and her half-sister, the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Eva's Request (Ire) (Soviet Star).

Lope De Vega was not the only one of the Ballylinch stallions to feature prominently on Wednesday. With Night Of Thunder (Ire) having been hugely popular through Books 1 and 2 at Tattersalls, it was the turn of another son of Dubawi (Ire), New Bay (GB), to shine in the closing session when Anthony Stroud went to 425,000gns for lot 1264, the half-brother to G3 Concorde S. winner Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}).

Peter Harris, the former successful breeder and trainer at his Pendley Farm in Hertfordshire, has meant business with his purchases this week, and this colt out of the Lope De Vega (Ire) mare Fact Or Folklore (Ire) is another to be joining Jane Chapple-Hyam's Newmarket stable, where Harris already has a number of horses in training. The trainer will be delighted with the latest recruit as she had great success with the offspring of his sire of late, including with the dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (GB) and Group 3 winner Claymore (Fr), both of whom won at Royal Ascot this year.

“The trainers really like the New Bays,” said O'Connor. “And with the kind of mares he is covering now he has the opportunity to step to a higher level again. Every horse has to take that opportunity, but we believe he can. The major players are still here and they are still anxious to buy nice horses. There were plenty of bids coming for him from all over the sale ring.”

New Bay had nine yearlings sell in Book 2 for an average price of 141,333gns.

 

Knight Starstruck for Ballyvolane Colt

A strong sale for Starspangledbanner (Aus) included a colt from John Foley's Ballyvolane Stud out of the Dandy Man (Ire) mare Great Dame (Ire), who brought the hammer down at 600,000gns and was signed for by Richard Brown. Lot 1321 was bred by The Great Dame Partnership and is the first foal of the half-sister to the G2 Goldene Peitsche winner Donnerschlag (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and to listed winner Izzy Bizu (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The mare has a Churchill (Ire) filly foal on the ground and was covered this year by Ardad (Ire).

Richard Knight, active through Book 1 but quiet so far this week, signed for the colt and said, “He was the only one we picked out in this sale, thought he was a lovely individual. I like the fact that the mare was a useful 2-year-old herself and he looks like he will be sharp. We felt he will be a great addition to the horses we have already bought and he shouldn't take a huge amount of time.”

Now five, Great Dame, won at two over the minimum trip for the Nick Bradley Racing syndicate and was bought three years ago at the December Sale by Barry Lynch for 28,000gns.

 

 

The Nays Have It

A horse that can do it on both sides of the world, No Nay Never had a good day on Wednesday, siring the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Madame Pommery (Aus) at Caulfield in Melbourne and featuring among the leaders during the final day of Book 2 yearlings at Tattersalls.

His popularity this sales season is no surprise given the season No Nay Never has had, which includes Group 1 victories from Blackbeard (Ire), Little Big Bear (Ire) and the tough filly Alcohol Free (Ire), who extended her tally of top-level wins to three at ages two, three and four.

His colt consigned by John Cullinan and Roger Marley of Church Farm & Horse Park Stud as lot 1113 was an expensive foal-turned-even more expensive yearling when the duo's initial investment of 110,000gns last December grew to 360,000gns.

Reporting an “up-and-down week”, Cullinan said of the son of Bright Sapphire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), “The whole way through the year, I always thought he was our banker.”

His confidence was justified when MV Magnier agreed with him and snapped up the half-brother to the G2 Herbert Power S. winner Wall Of Fire (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}).

Charlie Gordon-Watson was another to plump for No Nay Never, buying lot 1180, Baroda Stud's son of the G3 Park Express S. winner Czabo (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), for 325,000gns following an earlier purchase from Manister House Stud of lot 1155, for Al Shaqab Racing, at 220,000gns. The latter, out of the useful dual winner Conniption (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), was bred by Frank Hutchinson.

No Nay Never's average for Book 2 weighed in at 162,357gns for 14 sold.

 

Shadwell Invests

As we count down to the swansong of Baaeed (GB) in Saturday's G1 QIPCO British Champion S., it has been encouraging to see his owner Sheikh Hissa present at Park Paddocks on several occasions over the last fortnight, and her Shadwell operation signed for eight yearlings at Book 2, seven of which were fillies.

Heading the list was lot 1190, a Siyouni (Fr) second foal of the listed-placed Dancing Breeze (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who was bought from the Castlebridge Consignment for 350,000gns.

Bred by Merry Fox Stud, which also enjoyed some decent results during Book 1, the filly's dam is a half-sister to G3 Desmond S winner Future Generation (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of G2 Prix de Chaudenay winner Brundtland (Ire).

 

Havana Field Day

Whitsbury Manor Stud can not only bask in the glory of having bred the G1 Dewhurst S winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but the Hampshire farm is also being well represented by its freshman sire Havana Grey (GB) this season.

The former sprinter has sired 36 winners for far this season, including the one-two in Friday's G3 Cornwallis S. courtesy of Rumstar (GB) and Maylandsea (GB), so it was therefore no surprise to see his yearlings closely scrutinised at the sales.

Havana Grey's former trainer Karl Burke landed the most expensive of the group at Book 2, bidding 325,000gns for lot 1226, Kilminfoyle House Stud's Stud's colt out of Dotted Swiss (GB), a three-time winner by the farm's former resident winner Swiss Spirit (GB).

“I saw the colt on Sunday and really liked him straightaway,” Burke said. “He's a strong, powerful horse, very like his sire and came highly recommended. I've had four or five this year by him and this is by far the nicest.”

The transaction secured yet another good result for one the best pinhookers in the business, Michael Fitzpatrick, who bought the colt from his breeder Whitsbury Manor Stud at Park Paddocks last year for 56,000gns,

He said, “I thought he was the best foal here on the Saturday of last year's foal sale. It was big price to give for him as a foal but it has paid off.

Fitzpatrick added, “He looks sharp, and does look a real Royal Ascot 2-year-old. Havana Grey has gone from strength to strength this season, and I'd like to wish Karl Burke all the best with him. Hopefully he can become the next Havana Grey.”

Burke, who buys in partnership with his daughter Kelly, also picked up a colt by another Whitsbury Manor stallion, Showcasing (GB), with whom he has enjoyed great success in the past, notably through the Group 1-winning sprinter Quiet Reflection (GB) and G2 Mill Reef S. winner Toocoolforschool (Ire).

The trainer went to 300,000gns for the colt out of the G3 Musidora S. winner Give And Take (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) from Nicholas Jones's Coln Valley Stud, the sole offering from the breeder in Book 2.

Whitsbury Manor did have its own good result with Havana Grey, however, when selling lot 1233 for 220,000gns to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock. The colt is the first living foal of Dundunah (Sidney's Candy), a winning half-sister to the Grade II-placed Cuvee Uncorked (Cuvee).

Havana Grey, who stood for £6,500 in his second season, recorded a Book 2 average of 150,857gns for seven yearlings sold.

Another 15 yearlings by Havana Grey will be offered in Book 3, which is where the attention now turns for Thursday and Friday during which another 600 or so yearlings will pass through the ring before a short Book 4 session on Saturday morning. It is worth recalling that two of this year's star fillies, Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) were found respectively in these sections of the sale in 2021 and 2020, as Edmond Mahony referenced in his closing address for Book 2.

He said, “The support we receive from so many breeders and consignors from Britain, Ireland and further afield is the key to the enduring popularity of the October Yearling Sales at Tattersalls and is hugely appreciated. There is quality to be found at every level and next up is Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale, which has produced two of this year's top European 2-year-olds; Lezoo, recent winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, and Crypto Force, the impressive winner of the Group 2 Beresford S.”

Book 3 gets underway on Thursday at the slightly earlier time of 9:30 a.m.

The post Ballylinch Stars As Book 2 Closes With Record Returns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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