Tag: Najd Stud

Dam of TDN Rising Star Coach Prime Brings $610K at KEENOV

Breaking out of the pack to kick off Monday's opening session of  Book 4 at the Keeneland November sale in Lexington, Act Now (Street Sense) (Hip 2184), dam of recent runaway winner at Del Mar and TDN Rising Star Coach Prime (Quality Road), brought $610,000 from Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock. The 8-year-old mare was consigned by Nardelli Sales, acting agent to dissolve a partnership with Bill Werner.

“We thought she could make that much, because Coach Prime was a such a lovely horse,” said Kim Nardelli. “We did know all the major players we on her, so we were suspicious she was going to go out of our price range.”

She continued, “Oddly enough, we were disappointed. When you sell a mare that well, it's a shame to be disappointed. Hey, that's part of the business, right? It's hard to find mares like that and it's hard to replace them but it's also nice to make some money.”

Giving legs to Nardelli's earlier suspicions, McStay explained that the mare's recent winner factored into the decision to buy her.

“She's a quality mare, I loved [Coach Prime] with Bob Baffert as a yearling,” he said. “She's been purchased for a commercial breeder who's being trying to buy a mare good enough to visit Justify over the past week. Let's hope she's lucky–the 2-year-old looks exciting.”

Act Now, who sold in foal to City of Light, was bred by Colts Neck Stables. Nardelli and her brother Rodney, in partnership with Werner, purchased Act Now in foal to Kitten's Joy for $150,000 at Keeneland January in 2020.

“Since our partner needed to tie some things up now, we had to run her through the ring,” said Nardelli, explaining the decision to part with the 8-year-old mare. “We were going to try and buy her back, but Coach Prime ran way to well for us to do that.”

Act Now's first foal, Dr Oseran (Kitten's Joy), finished third in this season's Texas Glitter S. at Gulfstream. Her subsequent foal, a colt by Quality Road, brought $1.7 million from agent Donato Lanni at Keeneland September in 2022.

Named Coach Prime, the bay finished third for Zedan Racing at Santa Anita last month before becoming a TDN Rising Star with an impressive 7 1/4-length win at Del Mar Nov. 10. Her most recent offspring, a colt by Union Rags, sold for $80,000 this past September.

A half-sister to stakes placed The Right Path (Quality Road), Act Now is out of unraced Always Trouble (Bernardini), herself a daughter of a half-sister to Group 1 winner and English and Irish Highweight Minardi and GSW Tale of the Cat. Granddam Spunoutofcontrol (Wild Again) is also responsible for Grade II winner Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway) and SW Spun Silk, dam of GI Vosburgh S. scorer Joking (Distorted Humor).

Clearly a standout in Book 4, Nardelli explained that at the time the catalog was printed, the picture was still unclear.

“We requested to be in Book 3 or 4, mainly because, at the time, Coach Prime had not started and City of Light was still a little quiet,” she said. “It worked out for us from that point of view. We knew if she hit, people would find her and they certainly knew where she was.”

In addition to Monday's session topper, the Nardelli's sold four other mares, including a pair that were re-purchased by the Nardelli's Springwood LLC–Afleeting Lisa (Afleet Alex) (Hip 2186 i/f to Liam's Map)  and Now Now (Tiznow) (Hip 2024 i/f to Mandaloun).

They also sold a pair of weanlings, a filly by Bolt d'Oro (Hip 2027) for $87,000 and a colt by McKinzie (Hip 2145) for $72,000.

“We had another group that we were selling to dissolve the same partnership and they were more suited for the later books rather than the earlier ones,” she explained. “We are small consignors so we needed a 'one and done' group sale. We didn't want them all spread out through the sale.”

Nardelli Sales was the second leading consignor of the session, amassing a gross of $891,000 with an average of $127,286.

She concluded, “We are happy with how things went. We had two mares we bought back ourselves out of the partnership. But they were not the same quality as Act Now.  We had weanlings that sold well, so we are happy with the way things went.”

 

Looking for Another Forte?

At this sale three years ago, a weanling colt by Violence out of Queen Caroline (Blame) was purchased for an unassuming $80,000 before going on to become the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion and Eclipse Award winning juvenile for that season. Hoping the sale's Gods might smile on them again, Monday's buyers continued to show interest in the day's weanling selection, led by Najd Stud who paid $155,000 for a colt by Vino Rosso (Hip 2258). Out of Celia's Song (Distorted Humor), the May 1 foal was consigned by Greenfield Farms. The chestnut is a granddson of GSW and MGISP Warbling (Unbridled's Song), a half-sister to SW Arianna's Passion, who in turn is responsible for MSW and MGSP Distorted Passion, dam of MGSW Mrs McDougal.

Clay Scherer paid top price of $110,000 for the highest priced weanling filly of the session. By Midshipman (Hip 1925), the Feb. 8 foal was offered by Legacy Bloodstock, acting on behalf of Hermitage Farm. The chestnut filly is the first foal out of Heartful (Bandbox), who is a daughter of stakes winner Love's Reason (Not For Love). The 5-year-old mare is a half-sister to Grade III winner Majestic Reason (Majestic Warrior) and the stake-placed duo of Jump for Love (Jump Start) and Good Reasoning (Scat Daddy).

At the conclusion of Monday's session, a total of 285 horses through the ring sold for $9,044,100, decreasing 5.76% from the sixth session last year when 246 horses brought $9,596,900. The average decreased 18.66% from $39,012 to $31,734, and the median of $23,000 is 23.33% lower than $30,000 last year. There RNA rate for Monday's sixth session was 25.47%.

Through six sessions, a total of 1,343 horses have sold for $163,792,100, for an average of $121,960 and a median of $65,000. The gross decreased 14.71% from $192,033,900 through the corresponding period last year, while the average is 18.26% below $149,210 in 2022 and the median is 15.58% lower than $77,000.

The Keeneland November Sale continues through Thursday, with sessions beginning at 10 a.m. It will be followed by a single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale Friday.

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Pinatubo Colt Adds to Najd Stud’s Major Investment 

NEWMARKET, UK–As the week wore on, the shorts came off and the waterproofs went on. Goodbye summer, and hello more realistic weather for October, bringing with it more realistic prices for yearlings.

Shamardal's sons have had plenty to say for themselves of late. Blue Point (Ire) leads the freshman sires' championship with his first runners, and Pinatubo (Ire) and Earthlight (Ire) have found favour in the sales-rings of Europe with their first yearlings. During the opening session of Book 3 on Thursday, an Earthlight yearling passed the test of one fine judge in Tony O'Callaghan at 95,000gns, and come Friday, it was a son of Pinatubo who topped proceedings, bought for 90,000gns by Saud Al Qahtani of Saudi Arabia's Najd Stud. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, the colt (lot 1733) is a half-brother to Mighty Gurkha (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), winner of the G3 Sirenia S., out of the unraced Royal Applause (GB) mare Royal Debt (GB).

Al Qahtani explained after the sale of the Barton Stud-consigned colt that Najd Stud has bought 30 yearlings so far in 2023, the majority of which will go into training in Britain.

He said, “I hope, Inshallah, that Pinatubo will be a good sire. He was the champion two-year-old by Shamardal so why not? We hope that he will be a very good sire. We put 100,000gns on him as a budget.

“He might stay here in Britain or go to Saudi. We'll think about this and decide later. We've bought 30 yearlings this year. Eight of those will go to Saudi and the rest will stay here. It has been a very good market, very competitive.”

Najd Stud is represented in Saturday's G1 Native Trail Dewhurst S. by Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}), who was bought earlier this year at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale.

As the weather deteriorated dramatically through the late afternoon, there were at least two bright spots for Tattersalls when October Sale graduates Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Inquisitively (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) took the G1 Fillies' Mile and G3 Cornwallis S. respectively on the Rowley Mile. That pair had come from Books 1 and 2 last year, but Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and Honey Girl (GB) (Mayon {GB}) are among the Book 3 graduates to have won group races this season, and they were bought for 8,000gns and 4,500gns. A reminder that good racehorses can be found at all levels of the market for those with enough staying power to last the fortnight at Park Paddocks after a hectic fortnight prior to that in Ireland. 

Talking Points

The market adjustment has continued through this week, with Book 3 figures running below last year. The clearance rate has remained pretty high, however, and is currently at 83% with another session of Book 3 yearlings still to sell on Saturday morning. In Friday's session, 141 yearlings (74%) were sold for an aggregate of 1,725,500gns, average of 12,238gns and median of 10,000gns. Comparative figures are tricky as the Book 3 format has changed from last year owing to the sale clashing with two days of racing in Newmarket. Generally, though, trade is running between 15 to 20% down on last year.

The favourable first impression created by the stock of Haras d'Etreham's Hello Youmzain (Fr) had been a feature of the Arqana August Sale and that continued at Tattersalls. During Book 3, he has had three yearlings sold for an average of 55,667gns, to James Tate, Mick Fitzpatrick, and the buying team of Jamie Piggott and Oliver Cole. The son of Kodiac (GB) also achieved a 71,000gns average with his three sold at Book 2.

Far Above (GB) has been the fastest son of Farhh (GB) to grace the track to date, and one man who knows more about the Group 3-winning sprinter than most is his former trainer James Tate. He stepped in to buy lot 1835, a colt consigned by Q-Cross Stables and out of the dual-winning New Approach (Ire) mare Bittern (Ire), for 70,000gns. Tate, who said that he has three Far Above yearlings in his yard, also noted that he is no longer a private trainer for Rabbah but is open to offers from all owners.

Buy of the Day

Good luck to Marcus Collie, who looks to have secured a bargain in lot 1769, a filly by Masar (Ire) from Mickey Stud. Bought for 9,000gns, well below Masar's covering fee of £14,000, she is out of Tadpole (GB), a winning Sir Percy (GB) half-sister to group winners Beaten Up (GB) and Harris Tweed (GB), and to Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Vow (GB). The dynasty has received a further boost in recent years with the exploits of multiple Group 3 winner and Irish St Leger runner-up Hamish (GB), who is out of another of Tadpole's half-sisters, Tweed (GB). 

It's a prolific family whose members tend to improve with age, so here's hoping that this daughter of a Derby winner can bring some compensation to breeder David John Meaden by way of reflected glory as and when she adds to her clan's tally of victories. 

Thought of the Day

Books 3 and 4 bring the curtain down on the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Saturday, a day which also sees yearling sales take place in Spain and Germany, along with a mixed Flat sale which includes foals and yearlings at Auctav in France. That's before another five days of action kicks off at Arqana on Tuesday. 

The sales calendar is more congested than it has ever been, and the increase in dates, for both physical sales and those held online, is clearly in response to a growing demand from owners and breeders to trade. It is a sign of the times, but it is one which must lead to scheduling headaches for sales companies, and logistical nightmares for consignors and agents.

And for those with a season ticket on the sales charabanc, all I can say is keep taking the Berocca, maybe with the odd dash of gin.

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Sovereign Prince Tops ERA HIT Sale At AED1.3M

Listed winner Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the AED1.3-million (£283,981/€324,675/US$353,982) topper at the Emirates Racing Authority Horses-in-Training Sale on Tuesday.

Successful in the Listed Jumeirah Classic in 2022, the former Godolphin inmate went to Najd Stud, who was active during Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale last month.

Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who also raced in the royal blue, went for AED1.2 million to Athbah Racing. He was placed in the Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield last May, and was later third in the G3 Bahrain Trophy S. at Newmarket.

Of the 143 offered, 137 sold (96%) for AED12,575,000 (£2,746,796/€3,140,562/US$3,424,098). The sale was held in the Meydan Racecourse pre-parade ring at 9 p.m.

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Gun Runner Colt Tops ‘Vibrant’ Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — A colt from the third crop of boom American stallion Gun Runner (lot 18) was hammered down to Stephen Hillen, agent for prominent owner Dr Jim Hay, for €543,210 to top Tuesday's second renewal of the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale, held in the parade ring at Meydan Racecourse. On behalf of the Scotsman, Hillen also acquired the second-dearest offering of the evening, a Justify half-brother to GISW Fog of War (War Front) (lot 2), for the equivalent of €518,519.

Following the withdrawal of 10 horses, 63 juveniles were presented to an enthusiastic group of bidders from a variety of jurisdictions and attended by Sheikh Mohammed and his advisors. Some 42 horses were reported as sold for AED25,814,178, a decrease of 18.2% from last year's AED31,580,000. The average of AED614,624 represented a 1% gain over the inaugural event, while the median of AED537,000 jumped by a whopping 37%. The clearance rate of 67% declined from 80% in 2022.

“The second renewal of the Dubai Breeze-Up in association with Goffs was another sale of vibrant sales ring action,” said Goffs' Henry Beeby. “Whilst the clearance rate was slightly down on last year, the average and particularly the median has grown considerably which demonstrated that the quality was selling extremely well.

“The old adage at these types of sales is 'breeze well, sell well', and those that caught the eye at the breeze were the most active in the sales ring. We built very solid foundations in years one and two and look forward to working with the Dubai Racing

Club to develop this sale into a truly world-class event, and the racetrack success of the first year certainly means that it has a bright future.

“Once again, I would like to extend thanks from all the team at Goffs to the Dubai Racing Club for the trust they have placed in us, and we salute the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in adding the sale to this huge week of international racing at the Dubai World Cup.”

Hay Is For Horses

It was a busy evening for Stephen Hillen and Dr Jim Hay, who ended up securing not only the sale's top two sellers, but four of the top seven overall.

Lot 2 was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt and was consigned to the sale by Willie Browne's Mocklershill on behalf of the breeder. Lead auctioneer Henry Beeby accepted an opening bid of a robust AED500,000 and bidding was steady up to and through the 2-million dirham level before Hay landed his first winning blow of the evening.

“We supported the sale last year,” said Hay, whose two purchases last year included a Gun Runner colt and a filly by Into Mischief. “We didn't do well with the purchases, but nevertheless, there are high-class pedigrees, the catalogue this year looks better. Stephen has had a good look at everything.”

Added Hillen: “He is by a top sire, Willie Browne thoroughly recommended him. I saw him at Willie's place about three weeks ago, big stride and by a good stallion. He'll probably stay here in Dubai to be trained by Bhupat Seemar.”

Hay has racing interests in all corners of the globe, but is encouraged about the trajectory of the local programme.

“The plan is to build up the stable in Dubai, this is where the prize money is and we need to race here,” he said.

“Very pleased with that,” said the consignor. “He was a beautiful horse by a stallion who is going places.”

A Justify colt also topped Monday's opening session of the OBS March Sale in Ocala, Florida, on a bid of $1.2 million.

A short time later, Hay and Hillen bought consecutive lots off Tom Whitehead's Powerstown Stud. Lot 17, a War Front own brother to the stakes-placed Stony Point, was acquired by Chad Schumer for $130,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and fetched €320,928 Tuesday, while Hay went back to the Gun Runner well once more when paying the sales-topping price.

“He was already a big horse when we got him, but he got broader and wider since,” Whitehead said of the Gun Runner son of Brazilian Group 1 winner Baby Go Far (Brz) (Elusive Quality), who was purchased for $160,000 at Keeneland last fall.

He, too, will be trained by Seemar, who said the colt reminded him a lot of his G1 Dubai World Cup hopeful Bendoog (Gun Runner), who was most recently runner-up in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3.

Hay's fourth purchase was a colt from the first crop of Mitole–Warm Breeze (Street Sense) (lot 14) for €246,914. The May 3 foal was consigned by Bushypark Stables, who bought him for $60,000 at Keeneland.

 

 

 

Schumer Happy, Surprised By Results

American agent Chad Schumer does plenty of business in the Gulf region and is responsible for having sold last-out Listed Al Bastakiya S. winner Go Soldier Go (Tapiture) at last year's Dubai Sale. He was more than satisfied with the sale of the War Front colt through Powerstown, but was generally perplexed at the end results

“It's a very good pedigree and we expected that colt to do well,” he said, taking time out from his work down at the OBS sale. “He was a beautiful yearling and vetted well. You never know until you get there so we are delighted.”

He continued, “Tom generally just tries to buy the right kind of horse. This horse was well below what we were willing to spend, so it was a nice surprise we were able to pick him up for that.”

Given the success of last year's event, he was a bit taken aback at the level of engagement this time around.

“It was a real surprise to me,” he said. “Last year it felt a bit spotty to me. If you didn't have the right type, there was no money at all and Goffs did an exceptional job in pushing to get those horses sold. This year, based on the fact that so many of the horses had won and there was the Group 1-placed horse in Japan, I would have thought there would have been voracious demand, but there wasn't. Maybe OBS going on at the same time causes a pull from this sale, I don't know.”

 

 

 

Mitole A Hot Commodity in Dubai As Well

The first-crop offerings by Mitole (Eskendereya) proved popular Monday at OBS, with three lots fetching six-figure prices, and those that went through Tuesday in Dubai made a favourable impression as well. In addition to Hay's aforementioned purchase early in the session, Oliver St Lawrence and trainer Fawzi Nass went to €222,222 for a half-brother to the multiple Canadian stakes winners Dene Court (City Zip) and Jacally (Bold Executive). Lot 66 was purchased by Roderic Kavanagh's Glending Stables for $60,000 at Keeneland in September.

“I liked this colt very much and it seems like the sire is making some good horses,” St Lawrence said. “They have good substance and are good doers.”

The Name's Stroud

Buyers at Tuesday's sale were identifiable by paddles bearing a three-digit number, and lot 42, a colt by Darley America's Street Sense was knocked down to agent Anthony Stroud–holding paddle 007–for €370,370, the joint-fourth highest price of the sale.

Bred in Kentucky by Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding, the bay colt is out of Gold Serenade (Medaglia d'Oro), whose superstar 11-times Grade I-winning dam Serena's Song (Rahy) was responsible for G1 Coronation S. heroine Sophisticat (Storm Cat) and graded-stakes winners Grand Reward (Storm Cat) and Harlington (Unbridled). This is also the family of US champion Honor Code (A.P. Indy).

 

 

 

No Nay Never Colt Leads Euro-Breds

Of the 18 2-year-olds offered during Tuesday's session by European-based stallions, lot 71 proved the most coveted, selling to the burgeoning Najd Stud for €209,877.

A son of 2012 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Princess Sinead (Ire) (Jeremy), the May-foaled bay was led out unsold on a bid of 40,000gns during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sale last fall.

“We are delighted with that,” said Colm Kennedy, whose Drumphea Stables consigned the colt as the property of a partnership. “We were very pleased with the way the horse presented and his breeze [Monday] was very nice. Certainly the sire helped him, but that was a very good result.”

Najd Stud, the operation of Saudi Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz, bought four lots Tuesday topped by a Constitution colt (lot 25) out of a half-sister to multiple graded winner and Grade I-placed Independence Hall (Constitution) for just over €395,000 off Brendan Holland's Grove Stud.

Click here for the full results.

 

 

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