Michael Donohoe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Michael Donohoe – ‘A Good Trainer Will Make A Bad Agent Look Very Clever’

Michael O'Donohoe of BBA Ireland and leading owner Zhang Yuesheng have been making waves off the track in recent weeks after buying a number of high-quality broodmare prospects to visit the Chinese businessman's Group 1-winner Lucky Vega (Ire) at the Irish National Stud.

Zhang Yuesheng also has Royal Ascot heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who Donohoe bought from Coolmore for 305,000gns in 2020, to look forward to in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

As well as speaking about Zhang Yuesheng's growing operation in Ireland, Donohoe shares his background in racing, how he became a leading bloodstock agent and what particular area of his profession gives him the most pleasure in this week's Q&A.

Brian Sheerin: It seems as though Zhang Yuesheng has been in the news every week recently for the acquisitions made off the track but excitement levels must be reaching fever pitch ahead of the Irish Oaks with Magical Lagoon?

Michael Donohoe: You could say that Saturday is the fruition of a lot of hard work. Mr. Zhang and Yulong have put in a lot of investment in Irish racing and Jessica [Harrington] and Shane [Foley] have worked hard in producing horses like Magical Lagoon to perform at their best in races. Mr. Zhang trusted us from the outset, gave us a nice budget to work with, and we were able to buy Magical Lagoon from Coolmore. She gave us great excitement in winning at Royal Ascot and we're hoping there will be more to come from her on Saturday at the Curragh with a bit of luck. Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be hard to beat but it's gratifying to know that we have a live chance in a Classic.

BS: The market suggests that Emily Upjohn will be extremely difficult to beat but what are the confidence levels like in the Magical Lagoon camp?

MD: We're hopeful. It's hard to be confident against fillies of the calibre of Emily Upjohn and Tuesday, although Tuesday has had a couple of hard races of late so we'll have to wait and see if she is declared. Emily Upjohn has to travel over to Ireland for the first time and it's a new track for her. It's hard for these horses, especially fillies, to be travelling when it's so hot and warm and we have the home advantage. Magical Lagoon is a course winner and only has to travel a half an hour over the road. We're hoping that will give us a small edge but we're hopeful rather than confident.

BS: She's always looked like she wanted 1m4f and proved that at Ascot. On top of that, she has only run five times in her life so is open to further progression.

MD: That's it. She's bred to get this trip–she's a half-sister to Novelist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), a multiple Group 1 winner over 1m4f, and is from a stout German family. We were a bit disappointed by how she ran in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Ascot last year but, in hindsight, what she did as a 2-year-old was very impressive. The trip was what won it for her in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot as she out-stayed her rivals. We're hopeful that we'll see a bit more improvement from her on Saturday and that she'll see the trip out well.

BS: She's already worth her weight in gold as a broodmare prospect. Are there any plans made on that front?

MD: No plans, and Mr. Zhang and Sam Fairgray will make the decision, but Jessica, Shane and myself believe that she'll be even better next year. Almost everything in that family, they seemed to excel as 4-year-olds, and obviously Galileos train on. She's of such a sound disposition and is improving with every start so we'd love to see her in training next year. To be honest, we think she could reach a different level altogether if she does.

BS: You have been busy bolstering your broodmare band in order to support Lucky Vega. The commitment to Lucky Vega must be a massive vote of confidence for outsider breeders as well.

MD: It has a knock-on effect and several of the mares Mr. Zhang bought were from Irish owners. He has based all of his breeding stock in Ireland and has them spread out between a couple of different farms. All told, and including horses in training, Mr. Zhang has 100 horses in Ireland which obviously generates plenty of employment. He's a big supporter of the Irish bloodstock industry. There were several farms in England and France interested in standing Lucky Vega but, in fairness to him, he decided to stand him at the Irish National Stud. He had his first winner in Ireland, Yulong Baobei (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), and has an affinity to Irish racing.

BS: What were the picks of the broodmares you picked up at the sales?

MD: Obviously Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is very exciting and will head to John Sadler in California to run in the [GI] Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 20. We're really looking forward to her. She's a Classic winner already, a Group 2 winner, a lovely physical who will make a lovely broodmare down the road. We bought a few lovely fillies at the July Sale at Newmarket as well. We got a lovely Siyouni (Fr) filly called Le Designe (Ire) [for 180,000gns], a couple of well-bred Galileos, the pick of which was Shining Bright (Ire), a full-sister to Changingotheguard (Ire). We have Galileo's Compass (Ire), a full-brother to Changingoftheguard, who looks very exciting. I was actually with Jessica on Tuesday morning and he did a lovely piece of work. Shining Bright was probably the pick of them but we got mares by Dubawi (Ire) and Pivotal (GB) as well. It was hard work and there was plenty of competition but I think we did a good bit of shopping.

BS: Was that the sole reason why you ventured to the July Sale or did you bid on any horses in training?

MD: I bought one horse on the third day for some clients in the Middle East. We had a go at a couple of other horses at the July Sale but didn't have any joy. I did buy horses from the sale at Fasig-Tipton the other night. The marvels of modern technology means that you can buy those form horses from anywhere in the world. It's not as imperative to see them in the flesh once you have a good person on the ground and Dr. Michael Hoare, who vetted them for me at Fasig-Tipton, does a very good job.

BS: The demand for horses in training seemed to be very strong at the July Sale.

MD: As well as buying mares, Mr. Zhang sold horses at the July Sale. Bopedro (Fr) (Pedro The Great), a decent horse, made 80,000gns and Exquisite Acclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) made 100,000gns. I have been travelling to the Middle East for the past 15 years but the market has really opened up there properly now. They are racing four days a week in Saudi Arabia and making huge progress. The Middle Eastern market is exploding and some of the owners out there have started having horses in Europe and are having great success. It's really taking off now and they all want a piece of the action, which is great.

BS: We've heard a lot about the people you work for but what about yourself? What's your background in the game?

MD: I was born at a sales house. My first memories are not of sport or anything like that, it is of Goresbridge Sales, which my parents set up. I was kept busy by sending out catalogues or mucking out stables and did a little bit of riding but always had an interest in trading when I was younger. I would buy half-bred foals and sell them as yearlings and it progressed from there.

Miley Cash, one of the most famous sport horse dealers, taught me how to tell the age of a horse by looking at his teeth. He also taught me about standing into a horse and confirmation so I picked up tricks like that from a very young age. I was always intrigued by looking at horses when they were young and trying to envisage what they'd be like when they were older.

It progressed into Thoroughbreds and obviously there are a lot of horse breeders and trainers around Goresbridge–Paddy Mullins, Willie Mullins, Tony and Mags Mullins-and I worked for my uncle Michael, whose son Dick is now training. I worked in Tony Mullins' at the weekends as well, Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud, I did a stint at Ballylinch Stud and another stint in Norelands Stud. I'll never forget my mother telling me that everyone has an opinion and it's up to you to decide and decipher what you take from everyone. I spent some time in America, also worked for Coolmore and for Paul Shanahan, and of course Eamonn Riley gave me my first real start. I have had loads of mentors but I'd say Eamonn is the standout. He has been unbelievably good to me down through the years, got me going and gave me a chance.

BS: And is there any advice that has stuck with you until this day?

MD: Yes, and that's to trust your own opinion. There are people coming into the game and they pick out horses because they think it's what their client, or what another agent, would buy. However, you should always go with your own gut instinct on a horse.

BS: It all seems to have happened pretty organically for you but is there a moment when you realised that, not only could you carve out a living at being a bloodstock agent, but you could be a pretty successful one?

MD: I was always confident enough in my own ability. Obviously you have to make your mistakes and learn from them and you need to develop an eye for what works. We were out for dinner the other night in Newmarket and Karl Burke reminded me of the time I came down to him to tell him I found a real one over at Keeneland. That horse turned out to be Lord Shanakil, who we bought for $110,000 in 2007, and he turned out to be a good horse. You get a bit of confidence from things like that but, as well as that, there are plenty of horses who you think will be champions and they don't work out. A lot of luck is required and sometimes a good trainer will make a bad agent look very clever. To be honest, I have been lucky to have been buying for some very good trainers.

BS: You bought Silver Birch (Ire), who won a Grand National, early in your career and are now buying horses to go all over the globe but is there a particular aspect of the game that gives you the most pleasure?

MD: Buying the yearlings and seeing them go on and be successful on the racetrack, that's what I love the most. If it's Book 6 at Keeneland or the last day at Fairyhouse, I love trying to find that gem who will go on to justify your opinion, that's a very satisfying aspect of the game.

BS: We're heading into the yearling sale season. Is there any sire you will be looking out for or what is it that you will be looking for?

MD: I would have always been of the opinion that it's all about the horse but I have changed my opinion over the past few years. From experience, I am putting more emphasis on pedigree than I ever did before. Obviously, the mainstay is that you need an athlete, and you need that feeling from a horse, but you need to see how a yearling takes to the sale and see if they are willing. I have bought horses who were not terribly well-behaved at the sale and I regretted it every time. It's all about temperament and your gut feeling but I'm putting more emphasis on pedigree and sire-power now.

BS: And on that, what sires will you be looking out for?

MD: It's all about horses who want to please and, for me, Mehmas (Ire) seems to instill that in his horses. It doesn't seem to matter what they are, how the look or what way they are bred, they want to win. Even at a low level, they might be rated just 50, but they try. The Frankels (GB) and the horses on the Dubawi (Ire) line, they really try and have great minds. That will to win is what you need.

The post Michael Donohoe – ‘A Good Trainer Will Make A Bad Agent Look Very Clever’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Yulong Backing Lucky Vega

When a colt retires to stud, a regular theme of the promotional drive to attract mares involves a bullish statement by the owner pledging to support the stallion with their own mares, as well as a commitment to invest in the stallion's progeny at the foal and yearling sales. Yulong Investments' Yuesheng Zhang has hit the ground running with his commitment to his young sire Lucky Vega (Ire), who kicks off his Northern Hemisphere stallion duties at the Irish National Stud early in 2022. Spearheaded by BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe, Zhang's Yulong Investments began a shopping spree for mares in earnest at Goffs last month, where its near €2-million spend included the €825,000 sale topper Plying (Hard Spun)–already the dam of a brilliant performer in Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never)–along with a number of other 'blue hen' types all purchased to visit Lucky Vega.

The investment continued at Tattersalls and Arqana, where again seven-figure sums were put on the table to assemble what looks like being a stellar book of mares for the Group 1-winning son of Lope De Vega (Ire).

“In fairness to Mr. Zhang, he's a great man and he realises the potential Lucky Vega has in both hemispheres and he wants to give him the best chance of being a success at stud,” Mick Donohoe said. “He wanted to target those nice stakes-producing mares, and obviously Plying was an standout one to try and buy. She is still a young mare and already is the dam of two stakes winners including Alcohol Free, who is a Group 1-winning 2-year-old and a proper top-class filly, and there aren't too many first-season sires being sent that type of mare.”

Lucky Vega's first Irish book will also include €330,000 Goffs purchase Eytarna (Ire), whose two stakes winners include G2 Blandford S. victress Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who won five group races in total. The stakes-placed So Unique (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and a pair of Galileo (Ire) full-sisters, Grenadine (Ire) and Sapphire Ring (Ire), were also snapped up at Goffs.

“We all know what Galileo can do as a broodmare sire; I don't think there will be an equal to him for many years so we were keen to stock up on them,” Donohoe said. “We then bought seven or eight high-end mares at Tattersalls, including a few more by Galileo as well as mares by Pivotal (GB) and Siyouni (Fr), so it is very exciting.”

Among the Tattersalls acquisitions was Class Act (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to stakes winner Most Beautiful (GB) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) offered in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB); and Rose D'Etoile (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a stakes-placed mare carrying to the same sire. Donohoe said some of the foals the mares are currently carrying could go through sales rings.

“Mr. Zhang is running a business and in Australia he sells a lot of yearlings, so I imagine he will follow a similar path over here,” he said. “Obviously I'll have to talk to Mr. Zhang and Sam [Fairgray] and see what the long term goal is, but I would say a lot of the progeny would be offered for sale. He is a trader and he wants it to be as viable a business as possible, so I imagine that will be the plan.”

Galileo was again to the fore when an energised Donohoe continued on to Arqana for Europe's final flat breeding stock sale of 2021, and it was two daughters of the late, great stallion that featured among another significant spending spree. The stakes winner Ame Celeste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and It's Magic (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to Mukhadram (GB), are both slated for Lucky Vega when they deliver their respective Siyouni (Fr) foals early next year. Donohoe again went down the tried and tested route of buying a Pivotal (GB) mare when purchasing the well-bred Duet (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who is in foal to Blue Point (Ire).

“We bought some gorgeous mares in France and as well as the Galileos and the Pivotal, we also got a lovely mare called Pink Paint (Fr) by Redoute's Choice (Aus) from the family of Peintre Celebre,” Donohoe said. “She cost €130,000 in foal to Almanzor (Fr) and we think she was well bought, as she is a winner and comes from a fantastic deep family. They are all lovely purchases and being in foal to such high-class stallions, they could be carrying future champions already.”

“Mr. Zhang is very much of the mindset about breeding Classic horses rather than just early maturing fast 2-year-olds, hence the investment in the Galileo mares,” Donohoe added. “We know Lucky Vega could probably have stayed a mile and a quarter if we had asked him to, but he was more of a speedy miler than anything. He showed amazing speed to win his Group 1 over six furlongs as a 2-year-old when he sprinted away from them, so he should be a good speed influence for those Galileo mares.”

Despite such an accumulation of stock in recent times, Yulong has not yet dipped its toe into land investment in Ireland, preferring instead to outsource the boarding of mares and young stock.

“The majority of the mares are with Bill Dwan in Castlebridge and Mr. Zhang doesn't really have the appetite at the moment to buy his own farm in Ireland. His main interest is in Australia and there hasn't been any talk of buying somewhere here. There are around 30 mares in Ireland and at that level he's happy enough to board them with top-class people such as Bill.”

If Zhang were someday to develop a European base, one can be sure it would be a project carried out to the highest standards, Donohoe said. “I've seen it already with other projects he has undertaken, whether it's building that magnificent farm in Melbourne, acquiring some top-class stallions like Written Tycoon (Aus), or developing that fantastic training facility in mainland China; Mr. Zhang has the means and the expertise to get things done and to do them right,” he said. “He also has a very good guy, Sam Fairgray, working with him in Australia, where as I mentioned already his main bloodstock interests lie.”

What this means for Lucky Vega is that he will continue to shuttle between both hemispheres as long as he stays healthy and well, and unusually for a horse born, raised and raced in Ireland, he is technically a reverse shuttler, having been launched in Australia.

“He's done his first season in Australia and he was very popular, especially with anyone who got to see him as he's such a good physical,” Donohoe said. “He is the type of horse that appeals to both Europe and Down Under, as he has that great hindquarter, hip and walk and a lot of those attributes that Australian breeders put importance on.

“As popular as he is in Australia, I think he will be received even better in Ireland as people got to see him run here.”

While that statement is true, there did appear to be an element of unfinished business on the track for Lucky Vega, as he ran only three times as a 3-year-old before he was summoned to Australia in mid-summer for their breeding season. Despite not getting his head in front, he ran with great credit finishing third in the G1 2000 Guineas, then fourth in the Irish version before posting a runner-up spot again behind Poetic Flare (Ire) in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot.

“He retired sound and it was a commercial decision made by Mr. Zhang to send him to Australia, in part to capitalise on the popularity of Lope De Vega down there,” Donohoe said. “The team in Ireland were obviously disappointed to see him go, but we understood the rationale behind the decision. Mr. Zhang is buying these yearling colts and our job is to make stallions out of them, and he was a prime candidate to go and do that even though we firmly believed he could have won at least another Group 1 in the second half of the season.

“I hope Jessie [Harrington] won't mind me saying, but I'm not sure her horses were firing on all cylinders in the early part of the flat season and we might not have even seen Lucky Vega at his very best. He ran a smashing race at Royal Ascot and he proved that he trained on to be a high-class 3-year-old, and that he wasn't just a top juvenile.”

Lucky Vega's placement at the Irish National Stud is also a feather in the cap of Cathal Beale and his team in Kildare. Explaining the link up, Donohoe said, “Mr. Zhang was looking for someone to stand the stallion on his behalf. Apart from that, though, he has been a big supporter of the National Stud over the years, particularly with Invincible Spirit (Ire), a horse he has bought a lot of yearlings by and also sent mares to. Also, the Irish National Stud is a state body, something that Mr. Zhang puts a lot of importance on, so we are very happy with the arrangement. Even from a BBA Ireland point of view, the INS has stood stallions for Ms Patino, who is a long-standing BBA client so it ties in well for all involved.”

With such a powerful and determined team behind him, coupled with Lucky Vega's own inherent credentials, it should be exciting times for all involved, and Donohoe is already looking further down the line. “I'm very much looking forward to buying Lucky Vega's progeny in the coming years and the instructions from Mr. Zhang are to go and try to buy the best of his foals and the best of his yearlings,” he said.

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Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In Training Sale Off To A Strong Start

NEWMARKET, UK–Well, if the astounding yearling market is to make any kind of sense, then this one needs to prove every bit as strong. And the early signs, after the opening session of the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale, are that those who invested so heavily in new stock at the October Sale can pin their hopes on other dividends beyond the notorious limits to domestic prizemoney.

Year-on-year comparisons at an auction like this must carry a caveat, granted the random element in the calibre and distribution of the best stock. But in the context of the overall market, which has absorbed the shock of the pandemic with such buoyancy, it seems reasonable to accept at face value a return the levels achieved in the first session in 2019. For while this sector did suffer more than most in 2020–when the surprising resilience of the yearling market was perhaps complemented by a “fire sale” mentality with horses that had shown their hand–the recovery in values appears to form a fairly perfect 'V'.

So even if we set aside a giddy elevation in Monday's trade compared with last year–condensed by leaps of 72% in turnover (7,126,000gns for 263 sales from 4,138,500gns for 244); 60% in average (27,095gns from 16,961gns); and 78% in median (16,000 from 9,000gns)–then the session performed pretty well in step with the equivalent one in 2019, where turnover of 7,696,700gns for 265 sales yielded an average of 29,044gns and median of 13,500gns. The median, key to that critical middle market, performed exceptionally well and the clearance rate also attested to demand, up to 88% from 84%.

Who can say how long racetrack competition in this country can sustain international credibility when prizemoney so clearly does not? It's a precarious and paradoxical foundation for viability, but once again conspicuous overseas investment–notably from the Middle East–testified to enduring faith, for now, that the priceless heritage of British racing guarantees the quality that purse money cannot.

Horoscope Retains Bright Future

Another conundrum, and one unique to this market, is that the best stables sometimes pay a price for their own excellence, purchasers being sceptical of their own ability to eke out further improvement. But the way Horoscope (Ire) (No Nay Never) has continued to thrive on a busy campaign for the peerless Aidan O'Brien prompted hectic demand as soon as he entered the ring as lot 302. Indeed, someone tried to hit the ball out of the park with an opening bid of 100,000gns, but that bold flourish was soon placed in perspective and it ultimately took a single intervention from BBA Ireland, at 325,000gns, to land the colt for undisclosed Middle Eastern clients.

Horoscope admittedly disappointed in the G2 Challenge S. on his latest start, but had been progressing markedly before that, with a listed success at Killarney setting up a storming finish for a close third (and an official rating of 110) in Group 2 company at Leopardstown. He has a pedigree to support his improvement, too, with none other than Sonic Lady (Nureyev) as third dam and a plethora of black-type performers and producers under her unraced daughter Lady Icarus (GB) (Rainbow Quest).

“He's a good-looking horse with the pedigree to be a stallion down the road,” said Michael Donohoe after signing the docket. “With that rating he can run in all those top races in the Emirates, he goes on quick ground, and he's versatile.”

Investment from the Gulf drove much of the day's trade and the very next lot in the draft, Lough Derg (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 307), was another case in point. Having been just run out of a group prize at Dundalk last month, he brought 120,000gns from Peter Doyle and Najd Stud.

On the face of it, two other sons of Galileo (Ire) offered by Coolmore earlier in proceedings had achieved pretty much what they were bred to do, having respectively finished third in the Derby and St Leger.

Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (lot 237) made the podium at 66-1 behind stablemate Serpentine (Ire) at Epsom last year, in one of the more mystifying races in Derby history. This summer he confirmed sufficient ability to romp away with the G2 Curragh Cup, but he has since been beaten an aggregate 71 lengths in three starts and CUB Bloodstock, bidding online, was able to land him for 78,000gns.

The Mediterranean (Ire) (lot 238), in contrast, was third in the oldest Classic only last month, and runner-up in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. before that. He may not have absorbed his Doncaster effort when stepped up to two miles in a couple of subsequent outings, and it will be interesting to monitor his future endeavours for Domeland, whose 100,000gns bid was also made remotely.

Magic Still Casting A Spell

Donohoe had earlier ensured that I Am Magic (Ire) (Magician {Ire}) remains well named, sealing a second lucrative pinhook cycle.

Found as a yearling by Aguiar Bloodstock for just 14,000gns at the Ascot Yearling Sale, he breezed at the Craven Sale here with sufficient dash to advance his value to 95,000gns. That has in turn proved to be a good investment for Michael O'Callaghan, whose stable has developed an astute niche as a trading nursery. A maiden winner at the Galway Festival, he had appeared to struggle with a rise in grade on his next two starts and was duly sent off at 66-1 for the G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown just nine days before the sale. But he really put himself in the shop window there, worn down only in the closing stages to be beaten a length in third, in the process hoisting his rating to 101.

That persuaded Donohoe to go to 200,000gns for lot 257, again on behalf of an unnamed client in the Middle East. “The immediate plan would be the Saudi Derby,” the agent explained. “He should get into the race with the rating he has, and should get the trip well. I've been following his career all the way through, I saw him breeze and was at Leopardstown last week when he ran so well. He has plenty of size and scope, and looks the type that will keep getting better as a 3-year-old.”

Blueberry's Fruitful Investment

Touch of the day was completed when Atalis Bay (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) entered the ring as lot 358. Picked up as a short yearling by Scuderia Blueberry SRL for just 800gns at the February Sale here in 2019, he has since won five races in 12 starts for Marco Botti, including a listed sprint at Sandown–and here advanced his value to 130,000gns from Tom Morley and Middleham Park to join Robert Cowell.

“We're setting up a little syndicate between Middleham and Tom,” said Cowell. “They had a nice 2-year-old this year [Dynamic Force (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})], so we're trying to stay lucky. He looks like something we can do well with.”

“He's a very fast horse, he was second to Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) at York and that's pretty decent form,” reasoned Tim Palin of Middleham Park. “He's still a colt, so the dream is very much alive that he could be a superstar. The way he won at Sandown was brilliant, and I can see him winning heritage handicaps or maybe even better.”

In the meantime, all credit to his previous owners for a terrific investment–and to Botti for his skilled contribution to a real rags-to-riches tale.

Opportunity In Shadwell Draft

The Shadwell cull that dominates this catalogue has created an unusual opportunity in the release of many horses that remain “work in progress.” A group of juveniles in this session, for instance, included Majalh (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 191). Earlier this month, fitted in a tongue-tie for his third start, he had won a Brighton maiden by four lengths for William Haggas. With a granddam so closely related to Fame And Glory (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), further progress seems likely and that drove Jassim Mohamed Al Ghazali, bidding remotely online, to 155,000gns.

The Qatari trainer, usually such a reliable presence at this sale, was regretfully unable to travel this time owing to ongoing Covid restrictions. But Will Douglass, who assists his shopping here, said: “This horse was very well presented and produced by Shadwell, and ticks all the boxes: by Siyouni out of a Sea The Stars (Ire) mare, he's just a 2-year-old and it looks as though there's more to come from him.”

While Majalh will be continuing his career in the desert, the previous lot into the ring was a case of cutting to the chase for Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud, who will retire Falaj (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 190) unraced. In giving 100,000gns for this half-sister to group-placed sprinter Fashion Queen (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}), after all, McCartan was only matching what she had cost Shadwell in the same ring as a foal. Besides throwing two years' keep into the package, Falaj has meanwhile been distinguished by her half-sister's son Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), winner of the G2 Richmond S. and placed in the G1 Prix Morny this summer for Alan King.

Ballyphilip famously gave us Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and more of the same seems possible from a family replete with stakes sprinters including G2 Flying Childers and G3 Molecomb winner Wunders Dream (Ire) (Averti {Ire}), a half-sister to Falaj's dam. The dam of Battaash, remember, was bought at this auction nine years ago for just 14,000gns.

“This sale has been lucky for us,” McCartan said. “And we loved her pedigree: Asymmetric is a good horse and his half-brother was stabled next to us this year, a Gleneagles (Ire) colt from Redpender, and he's a beautiful-looking horse. We have a breeding right in Showcasing (GB) so she may go to him.”

There was the customary interest in older Shadwell stock, too. Montather (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), for instance, brought 140,000gns as lot 280 from Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Ciaron Maher Racing. The 4-year-old has needed patience, mustering just three starts across his first two seasons, but has settled on a mark of 94 and the agent said he considers him tailormade for Australia.

“Roger has handled the horse beautifully,” Boman said. “We've had a bit of luck at this sale over the years, and I think this is a very talented horse who will appreciate the faster pace in Australia, because he can get a little bit keen, and he loves firm ground too.”

Hoping For Another Mishriff

Seeing is believing, and while few would have viewed Make Believe (GB) as an obvious dirt influence before his son Mishriff (Ire) took to the surface with such lucrative effect in the Saudi Cup, then compatriots of his owner Prince A.A. Faisal were clearly inspired in giving 135,000gns for the homebred 3-year-old Third Kingdom (GB) (lot 201).

Assumptions about the versatility of bloodlines do tend to be self-fulfilling, being so rarely tested. Regardless, this colt responded to blinkers in spectacular fashion for John and Thady Gosden at York last month, winning a handicap by eight and a half lengths. That performance belatedly renewed the promise he had shown with a similarly emphatic maiden success last year, and secured a new rating of 103.

In fairness, unlike Mishriff, Third Kingdom's maternal family contains a number of blatant clues that dirt might prove congenial, notably a second dam whose half-brother Tejano Run (Tejano) ran second in the GI Kentucky Derby. (Dam Spring In The Air {Spring At Last} did win the GI Alcibiades S. but that was during Keeneland's synthetic experiment.)

So it'll be interesting to see how he fares for Najd Stud, who were represented here by Peter Doyle and Saad Bin Mashraf, who confirmed: “We like the breeding for the dirt, especially on the dam's side, we think he will improve on that surface.”

Descent Taking Off

Increasing competition from Australian and Saudi Arabian investors has made this sale much tougher going for jumps trainers than was the case a few years ago, but Anthony Bromley secured a nice staying prospect for Warren Greatrex in Line Of Descent (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who made 135,000gns as lot 269.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum's homebred gelding, unraced at two, has been brought along to a rating in the mid-80s in the expert care of Simon and Ed Crisford, while remaining unexposed and with obvious scope for his new career.

“He's been bought for my new landlords, Jim and Claire Bryce,” said Greatrex. “We've bought a few nice horses for them recently and they wanted a juvenile, and this horse fitted the bill. We know the Nathaniels jump, and they improve with age. Time will tell but he looks the part so fingers crossed.”

Greatrex has sent out three winners from his new base in Lambourn, Rhonehurst, and hopes that this horse can emulate one of his first flagbearers, Barwell Bridge (GB) (Red Ransom), bought at this auction for 80,000gns before running fifth in the Triumph Hurdle. “But it's a hard sale,” he admitted. “You need a good budget to buy a good one here.”

If At First You Don't Succeed…

Perseverance paid off for breeders Hunscote Stud with Cairn Gorm (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who failed to reach his reserve here as a foal, at just 19,000gns, and again at Doncaster as a yearling, at £35,000. Retained to race in partnership, he won his first three for Mick Channon as a juvenile, including a group race in France, before stabilising on a mark in the mid-90s with a solid handicap campaign this time round. That qualified him to meet the brief of James Couldwell of Value Racing Club, operating on behalf of a shareholder who could now afford to raise his sights to 105,000gns for lot 252.

“Richard Sanderson has been a member with the racing club for some time, but recently sold his business and wanted a horse of his own who could run at the top weekend meetings,” Couldwell said. “The budget was 100,000gns, but we weren't to lose out for an extra bid. That's how it worked out, but we couldn't have gone again. We're usually spending around 30,000gns, so it was a bit nerve-wracking.

“He'll be going to Mick Appleby, who has done so well for us, and hopefully he can target the Wokingham. He did brilliantly as a very forward 2-year-old, but then the others maybe caught up with him a bit at three: he's been running under big weights and not beaten far, so we're hoping that Mick has done the work for us and got him handicapped.”

Still being an entire, moreover, Cairn Gorm gives his new connections the option of rendering him, in the traditional formula, “two stone lighter.”

Fresh Start For Dirtyoldtown

After a breakout season, with 44 winners at a 21% strike-rate, Grant Tuer will face the challenge of consolidation with a promising new recruit in Dirtyoldtown (Ire) (No Nay Never), a runaway maiden winner at Chepstow for George Boughey before failing to cope with a rise in class in the G3 Autumn S. Offered as lot 324, he was knocked down to Alex Elliott at 100,000gns.

“I think he was probably just a bit free the other day, but I know George well and he's very sorry to see the horse go,” the agent remarked. “We've been waiting on him all day, didn't bid for two or three others because this was the one we wanted, but the way the market has heated up we were a bit worried whether we'd get him. So Grant is over the moon. He's had a wonderful season and this one is for a new client of the stable.”

It was Elliott, incidentally, who found Raadobarg (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at Doncaster as a yearling for £200,000, and he was handsomely vindicated when that colt ran up a hat-trick in the spring for Roger Varian in the silks of Amo Racing, culminating in a Class 2 Handicap at Haydock. It feels like a depressing commentary on the curious economics of our business that the colt's earnings nonetheless remain short of £40,000; and nor, even as one of the top lots of the day, could he quite retrieve his original value. Offered as lot 344 through Aguiar Bloodstock, he made 150,000gns from Hamish Macauley Bloodstock and will now transfer to the yard of Johnny Murtagh.

“I'm delighted to get such a high-class horse,” Murtagh said. “His form looks solid and hopefully he can improve from three to four.”

Of course, it's hard to put a price on the sheer pleasure of owning a decent racehorse and there is surely plenty more of that to come for those partners in Ace Rothstein (More Than Ready) who bought out those who sent him into the ring as wildcard lot 364C. He was late resurfacing this season but has looked highly progressive in winning two of three starts since, and returns to Fitzroy House after Nick Bell signed a 125,000gns docket on behalf of his father Michael. He'll be looking to Dubai or Bahrain this winter.

Annandale Following Glen Trail

One stayer who eluded both the export and jumping markets was Annandale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who topped the quieter morning trade in fetching 82,000gns as lot 88. Mind you, he will be crossing what remains (for now) an internal frontier, as befits one named after a region of the glorious Scottish Borders.

Winner of four races in the care of Mark Johnston for Ayrshire owner-breeder William Johnstone, Annandale will now join Jim Goldie outside Glasgow–at stables already housing Johnstone's evergreen Euchen Glen (GB) (Authorized), better than ever this year at the age of eight. Goldie hopes that he, too, can progress out of handicap grade as he matures.

“He's obviously from a breeder I know well,” Goldie said. “I'm hoping he will turn into a Cup horse. He's a nice horse, a typical Mark Johnston horse, and I think he'll progress. He might have a break, but he has won at Newcastle and with the All-Weather Finals moving there we might have a think about that.”

Johnstone is a believer in close inbreeding. Euchen Glen's dam Jabbara (Ire), picked up for just €25,000, was out of a Nureyev mare–just like her sire Kingmambo. And Johnstone mated her with a grandson of Nureyev's three-parts brother Sadler's Wells. Annandale, for his part, is out of a mare by Sadler's Wells–who is also his great-grandsire.

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Italian Derby Runner-Up To O’Meara

After one start for local trainer Raffaele Biondi that resulted in a runner-up effort in the May 23 G2 Derby Italiano, Juan De Montalban (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is headed back to Britain and to the yard of trainer David O'Meara after O'Meara and his assistant Jason Kelly went a sale-topping €400,000 for the 3-year-old at Arqana's Summer Sale on Thursday. Juan De Montalban (lot 488) had been bought by trainer Andrew Balding for 85,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, and sold privately to Italy after posting back-to-back wins for Mick and Janice Mariscotti.

“We've bought him for Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, who is a longstanding client,” said O'Meara. “He's a lovely looking horse. I think he still has a lot of room to improve and hasn't yet shown us everything he is capable of.”

Juan De Montalban was offered by The Channel Consignment

Following on from a selective market on Wednesday, day two of the sale saw the clearance rate jump up to 85.8%, with 242 sold on the day for €5,054,500. The final tally for the mixed sale was 411 sold for €8,572,000 at a clearance rate of 80%. The average was €20,859 and the median €10,000.

The second session of the Summer Sale included breeding stock and horses in training, but was dominated by the horses in training and The Channel Consignment likewise sold the winning 3-year-old Parmenion (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 490) to Pierre Boulard, Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for €230,000. Parmenion is a full-brother to the G3 Prix de Royaumont victress Pelligrina (GB), and their second dam is the recently deceased G1 Prix Vermeille scorer and influential broodmare Pearly Shells.

“He'll join Willie Mullins,” said Boulard. “We're very happy. There's nothing not to like about him, he's a lovely horse that won his debut really well.”

Another headed to Ireland is the Wertheimer et Frere-bred 3-year-old Zileo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who won over 2650 metres at Chateaubriant on Apr. 26 and was fourth in the recent Listed Derby du Languedoc. He is headed to Irish trainer Michael Halford after being bought by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe for €150,000.

“He'll go to Ireland to be trained by Michael Halford,” Donohoe said. “He'll be gelded and we'll give him a bit of time. His new owner wishes to run in Dubai, so that'll be his objective next year.”

Saiga (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 356B) likewise heads to Ireland after her sale, but she has a different objective, purchased as she was as a broodmare in foal to Le Havre (Ire) by Horse France on behalf of Castlehyde Farm for €190,000. The 4-year-old carries her first foal and boasted plenty of appeal as a winning and stakes-placed daughter of the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Vorda (Fr) (Orpen).

“We've bought her to develop the broodmare band at Castlehyde,” said Horse France's Robert Nataf. “She corresponds exactly to what we are looking for-a very good pedigree and she is in foal to Le Havre.”

Another mare in foal to Le Havre to find favour on Thursday was Nette Rousse (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 338), a winning half-sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) who was bought by Badgers Bloodstock for €110,000. The 5-year-old will foal out in England and be covered by a leading European sire next year before being exported to Australia.

The Aga Khan's Caliyoun (Fr) (Maxios {GB}) (lot 474) had played his part to boost his profile since the catalogue was published, breaking his maiden in his second start at Lyon on June 9, and he duly caught the attention of agent Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, who went to €200,000 for the 3-year-old entire. Caliyoun is out of a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner and sire Clodovil (Ire) and the G3 Gordon Richards S. scorer Columbian (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), and they are out of the G2 Prix de l'Opera victress Clodora (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}).

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