Tag: Mohaather

‘It’s a Privilege to Have a Horse Like Baaeed’

Speaking in the TDN's Conversations series last month, Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold reiterated the fortuitous appearance of Baaeed (GB) on the global stage so soon after the sad death of his breeder Sheikh Hamdam Al Maktoum.

“I don't think it could be overstated how important Baaeed coming along, and the timing of it, was,” Gold told Brian Sheerin.

Baaeed's significance as a racehorse was exemplified by his recent ratification as the top-rated turf horse in the world in 2022, his mark of 135 making him the clear leader among the offspring of his sire Sea The Stars (Ire), ahead even of the former Horse of the Year Crystal Ocean (GB), who shared that accolade with Enable (GB) and Waldgeist (GB) in 2019 on a rating of 128. But when a colt retires to stud, the slate is in a sense wiped clean and he has it all to prove once more.

Baaeed will not be without support in this regard, however. It is perhaps no surprise to hear Will Wright, Shadwell's UK nominations and European marketing manager, say, “He has gone down exceptionally well.”

Since late November, breeders have been inspecting him, first at Beech House Stud during the December Sales, and later at his new base at Nunnery Stud's stallion unit, which was once home to his relations Nashwan, Unfuwain, and Nayef, with the latter still in residence in retirement. 

“It's a privilege to have a horse like Baaeed,” Wright continues. “From a Shadwell perspective, it has obviously been a wonderful journey right from moment one and his win at Leicester, and all the way through. All that excitement is now transferred to the Nunnery. Everyone here has got that buzz. To have a horse who was as good as him, bred in the Shadwell blue, and who traces all the way back to Height Of Fashion, it's a credit to Sheikh Hamdan and his family for all that work that he put in.”

Baaeed's dam, the French listed winner Aghareed (Kingmambo), had quite the year in 2022, and it was Baaeed's full-brother Hukum (GB) who who got the ball rolling for the 14-year-old mare with his victory last March in the G2 Dubai City of Gold at Meydan, a win naturally enjoyed by his owner Sheikha Hissa on her home turf. Hukum, now six, backed that up with his first Group 1 success in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, though his winning performance sadly came at a high price as he sustained an injury that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Baaeed in the meantime was diligently adding to the two Group 1 races he won as a three-year-old by bowling from race to race at four, winning the Lockinge in May, Queen Anne in June, Sussex in July, and then, stepping beyond a mile for the first time, adding the coveted Juddmonte International to his record at his trainer William Haggas's beloved York in August. As history relates, Baaeed's perfect ten remained just that, and he was defeated for the first time in his eleventh and final race on Ascot's Champions Day, where the previous year he had beaten Palace Pier (GB) in a thrilling renewal of the Queen Elizabeth II S.

That transpired to be the final occasion on which the late Queen attended her racecourse, making Baaeed, with his roots firmly in the royal broodmare band, a fitting winner of the race named in her honour. That same day, Shadwell's homebred filly Eshaada (GB) won the QIPCO British Champion Fillies & Mares S., and for her first cover this season the daughter of Muhaarar (GB) will be among Baaeed's smart first book, as will the dual Group 1 winner Nazeef (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

The hallmark of Baaeed's racing career, along with his obvious athletic talent, was his apparently rock-solid temperament, a facet of his nature which was referred to regularly by his jockey Jim Crowley. The buzz of the big days didn't bother him, and this laidback attitude has continued as Baaeed settles in to his new Norfolk home. 

“When he first came in we were actually a little worried that he was too relaxed, but that's just him,” Wright notes. “His temperament is something else and that's a sign of him being the complete package: the ability to listen to the handler, to the rider, and that has helped him settle in. He's not fussed over at all. He's just a relaxed horse and that makes everyone's life a lot easier.”

He adds, “We had our parade during the December Sales and my phone has not stopped ringing. Stephen Collins's phone has not stopped ringing. We had nominations being applied for from before he retired. It has to be a careful selection, and it's been incredibly difficult, but we've got an exceptional book of mares, and breeders that have seen him have not been disappointed.”

Baaeed may come with an obvious wow factor but he will still have to earn his laurels in the stallion yard along with his three fellow young residents. Farthest ahead in this regard is Tasleet (GB). One of two sons of Showcasing (GB) on the roster, he made an encouraging start with his first juveniles last season. Leading the pack was Bradsell (GB), winner of the G2 Coventry S. for Archie Watson and Bahrain-based Victorious Racing.

“We were gutted when [Bradsell] picked up a setback that knocked him out for the rest of the year. In the Coventry he defeated Blackbeard, Persian Force, Royal Scotsman, and did it in fine style. That shows us the mark of [Tasleet's] ability as a sire and that was recognised last year as he covered his biggest and best book yet. If they can replicate anywhere near what his two-year-olds did last year with the quantity that's going to be on the track, he'll be an incredibly hot prospect.”

Waiting in the wings with his first runners for the coming season is the imposing homebred Eqtidaar (Ire), winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup and an Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-brother to the 2,000 Guineas runner-up Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

“He's the sort of horse who I think is flying under the radar but we could be telling a different story come May if he has a few early runners, and we've been hearing good things from from buyers and trainers alike,” says Wright.

Then there's Mohaather (GB), another son of Showcasing bred by Gaie Johnson Houghton from her classy family which includes the G1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}). His first foals caught the eye of many a good judge last November and that commercial popularity looks sure to carry through with the sleek dark brown Mohaather's first yearlings. 

“He was an incredibly talented racehorse. His Sussex Stakes win, when he defeated Circus Maximus, Kameko and Siskin, wasn't his only his day in the sun. He was a  group winner at two, three and four, winning the Horris Hillß at two, and the Greenham at three,” says Wright.

“The foal prices during the sales reached 110,000gns and we supported him ourselves. People are coming to him in the third year off the back of that.” 

Baaeed is not the only newcomer at Nunnery Stud as Will Wright only joined the Shadwell team last October, taking over the role of Tom Pennington.

“I have to pinch myself joining at this time,” he admits. “To have a horse like Baaeed on your doorstep along with an exceptionally exciting roster of stallions, you really can't ask for much more.”

If you missed seeing the Shadwell stallions in November but are in Newmarket for this week's February Sale, Eqtidaar, Mohaather and Tasleet will all be available for viewing at Shadwell's Beech House Stud, close to Tattersalls, on Thursday and Friday from 10am to 3pm.

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Foal Trade Reaches New High at Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK–A pair of colts by the young Darley and Shadwell stallions Masar (Ire) and Mohaather (GB) shared the top spot on the final day of foal trade at Park Paddocks which brought the curtain down, not just on a record week for weanlings but also a record year for Tattersalls–and that's before the Mares Sale even begins.

The average and median for the fourth session were both up on last year, with a total of 2,267,750gns added to the overall tally from the sale of 150 foals. For the sale as a whole, the aggregate of 35,255,050gns represented an increase of 13% on last year's trade, with the average up by 11% at 47,386gns and the median by 4% to 26,000gns. From a larger catalogue of 1,173 foals, of which 983 were offered and 744 sold, the only figure to drop was the clearance rate, which was down to 76% from 81%.

Commenting on a week led by a million-guinea Kingman (GB) foal from Whitsbury Manor Stud, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Strong yearling sales will always drive demand for foals and the extraordinary strength of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales has been followed by a Tattersalls December Foal Sale which has achieved significant increases in average and median as well as a record turnover in excess of 35 million guineas. The cream of the British and Irish foal crop has been assembled here at Park Paddocks and buyers at every level of the market and from throughout the world have all contributed to yet another record-breaking sale in a year of extraordinary sales at Tattersalls.”

 

Sweeting's Surprise

On the day that Overbury Stud announced that it would be standing G2 Flying Childers S. winner Caturra (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) next year, the farm's draft took co-top billing when selling a Masar (Ire) half-brother to this season's Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for 110,000gns to Yeomanstown Stud.

The colt was born three months after his dam, the G3 Cumberland Lodge S. winner Hawaafez (GB) (Nayef), was sold by her breeder Shadwell for 14,000gns to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, who, unbeknown to Overbury's Simon Sweeting, bought the 14-year-old mare on his behalf. Three days after she safely foaled her Masar colt, his 3-year-old sister Rogue Millennium stormed to her listed victory. Enhancing the pedigree further was the victory earlier this month of 2-year-old Naomi Lapaglia (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}),  who won on debut at Kempton for Richard Spencer.

“I wasn't around and [Richard] did it himself,” said Sweeting. “It looked like a chancey buy to start with but the mare was an exceptional racehorse and Rogue Millennium has come along, and everything else has landed into place. The 2-year-old is now one for one and her Kingman yearling has gone to trainer George Boughey.”

He added, “It is definitely a progressive family. That sale did take me by surprise, but it is a lovely surprise to have. He was a late foal, but he has been very straightforward and everything has worked out well.”

 

Shadwell Restock With Classy Foals

While the Masar colt was one that escaped the Shadwell clutches, some new recruits have been added to the future racing string for Sheikha Hissa, with Angus Gold signing for seven foals this week, including the day's other 110,000gns colt, by first-season sire Mohaather.

“Obviously, we are a bit biased,” Gold confessed. “Mohaather was a very special horse for us. We thought he was slightly underrated if anything. For me, what he did at Goodwood that day in the Sussex S. was out of the ordinary. I haven't seen a horse quicken like that since Kingman in the same race.”

He continued, “So we are big fans and I have liked the stock I have seen. What I particularly liked is that, leading into this week, lots of people have told me that they have a really nice Mohaather foal, which is great to hear. We bought one two days ago, and the vendor told me they had an even better one at home. There are some really good vibes about him.”

Gold indicated that Shadwell will have around 75 to 80 horses in training in 2023 and, having sold a number of mares last year, the stud has a foal crop of only around 35.

“I spoke with Sheikha Hissa and she was keen to get some foals to supplement the racing team, if we could buy at relatively sensible money,” he added.

Tom Blain, more usually seen at the head of his expanding Barton Stud consignment, was one of the breeders of the Mohaather colt under the name of Ickworth Stud. The colt is the first foal of the Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Time Of Change (Ire), a sister to the G2 Gimcrack S. runner-up Taajub (Ire).

“Time For Change is owned in partnership, it is a great thrill and I am delighted for all involved,” Blain said. “It was a bit weird to watch one of our own sell. We bought the mare for 9,000gns and I know the family as we used to board her dam Purple Tiger. There is a lot happening under the second dam.

He added of the colt, “I think he should make up into a serious racehorse and I just want to thank Angus for his support. It is great that Shadwell and Sheikha Hissa are backing their own stallion; we used him a number of times in the first year so we are really happy.”

Mohaather's name featured three times in the top 10 list on Saturday, with Tally-Ho Stud buying another from the Barton Stud draft, a filly out of Muaamara (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), for 68,000gns, while Cathy Grassick went to 50,000gns for a filly from Whatcote Farm Stud who is a three-parts-sister to recent juvenile winner American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}).

 

Freshman Action

As our accompanying vox pop shows, one of the talking points for the bloodstock industry at this time of the year is always which young stallions are taking the eye–and which are not.

Of course, what really matters is what their offspring end up doing on the track, and there will be plenty of disappointments and surprises to come next summer and beyond, but the foal sales always provide a first litmus test of a stallion's progeny.

Ghaiyyath (Ire), as a top-class performer himself, and with two Classic winners as parents, should have what it takes for a decent stud career, and plenty of buyers have backed him at Goffs and Tattersalls. This week his 10 weanlings sold returned an average of 130,700gns, and the only other first-season sire to set a six-figure average was Ghaiyyath's fellow Darley sire Pinatubo (Ire). He only had a handful of foals for sale this week but the quintet changed hands for an average of 126,400gns.

Earthlight (Ire), like Pinatubo a son of Shamardal, also proved popular with 12 sold at and average of 56,500gns, while Mohaather, referenced above, had 21 weanlings sold this week at an average of 41,881gns.

 

The Key Players

With a million-guinea filly in its draft, it was no surprise to see Whitsbury Manor Stud at the top of the consignors' table with 19 foals sold for 2,201,500gns. Norelands Stud posted a decent average for the sale of 123,667gns for nine sold, with Langton Stud's boutique draft had three sold for an average of 248,333gns.

Juddmonte's outlay of 2,425,000gns on Friday put them at the top of the buyers' list but noted pinhookers Tally-Ho Stud, JC Bloodstock and Yeomanstown Stud were all as busy as ever, with 15, 14, and 13 foals bought, respectively.

Concluding his appraisal of the week's trade, Edmond Mahony continued, “To see so many British and Irish breeders rewarded so handsomely this week reflects the quality of the stock which they have brought to the market and we should thank the consignors for their confidence in the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. In addition to Whitsbury Manor Stud's outstanding one million guineas sale-topping Kingman filly, the sale has produced the four highest-priced foals in Europe and a record-equalling 27 foals sold for 200,000 guineas or more.”

He added, “While the December Foal Sale is always dominated by the tireless and loyal British and Irish pinhookers, their European counterparts have also made their presence felt, as have a significant number of the world's leading owners who recognise the December Foal Sale as a consistent source of Classic and Group 1 performers. It is no coincidence that the connections of the Group 1-winning 2-year-olds Blackbeard (Ire) and Chaldean (GB), both bought at the 2020 December Foal Sale, have again targeted this sale, and international buyers from America, China, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Spain, Switzerland and from throughout the Gulf region have also made significant contributions, particularly at the top of the market.

“The international influence will without doubt be even stronger as we move on to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale which starts on Monday and features the inaugural Sceptre Sessions for elite fillies and broodmares. We have an exceptional catalogue which includes some of the best race fillies and mares to be offered at public auction for many a year and we look forward to ending the Tattersalls year on a high note.”

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Freshman Sires All The Rage At Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK–With a hundred extra foals catalogued for this year's December Foal Sale, a lengthy opening session conducted in bursts of driving rain then bright sunshine kicked off the four days of trade in a largely positive manner. Both the average and median were up, as was turnover, albeit from a larger number offered and sold this year. Only the clearance rate, at 70%, was down, from 84% last year. The median of 13,000gns represented a 30% rise, while the average was up by 8% at 16,552gns. With 18 more yearlings marked as sold this year, the aggregate was 3,128,300gns.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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. 

 

The post Who’s Hot Ahead Of The Tattersalls December Foal Sale? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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