Tag: New Bay

Ballylinch Sires Loom Large During Purple Patch

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

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

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

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

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

 

Zarak in Demand

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

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

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

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

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

 

French Trainers in Clover

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

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

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

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

 

At Monceaux, Sharing is Caring

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

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

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

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

The post Ballylinch Sires Loom Large During Purple Patch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ballylinch Stars As Book 2 Closes With Record Returns

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Stroud And Ballylinch Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Knight Starstruck for Ballyvolane Colt

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

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

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

 

 

The Nays Have It

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Shadwell Invests

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

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

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

 

Havana Field Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Stars Align As Windmill Farm Provides a One-Horse Wonder

NEWMARKET, UK–Dubawi (Ire) and Frankel (GB) may occupy the top two spots in the sires' table, but not far behind them, and with Baaeed (GB) still to be unleashed on Champions Day, is Sea The Stars (Ire), who had his own moment in the spotlight at Tattersalls as the sire of the 800,000gns top lot.

A Book 2 record was set in 2019 when the million-guinea barrier was breached for the first time, but Monday's leading light, who was sold less than an hour after the start of trade, was still a long way in excess of last year's top price of 525,000gns.

The only horse in the sale to be offered by Fiona Marner of Windmill Farm, the colt (lot 570) was bred under a foal-share agreement by the Kitcarina Partnership and Sunderland Holdings. The partnership takes its name from the 7-year-old mare Kitcarina (Fr) (Shamardal), a winner at Kempton for Windmill Racing on her first start after she was bought as a 3-year-old from Haras de Saint Pair. The mare's full-sister Kitcara has already produced the treble Group 3 winner Al Aasy (Ire) and the listed-placed Sea Karats (Ire) from matings with Sea The Stars, and further encouragement can be drawn from a pedigree laced with plenty of German black type and containing the stallions Konigstiger (Ger) and Pentire (GB).

Anthony Stroud, in action for other clients along with Godolphin on Monday, confirmed that the colt will enter training with John and Thady Gosden.

“Since her purchase the pedigree has just really developed,” said Fiona Marner, who also divulged that Kitcarina is back in foal to Sea The Stars. “This colt has been so special all along, though I'm not sure we realised he was that nice.

“It is such a team effort, we are just a tiny farm, we only have five young mares. This mare is owned with two very longstanding and loyal partners, Derek James, who is in America–l will call him now and wake him up–and Peter Wollaston.”

As the buyers' bench broadened to include plenty of people who tried and came up short for yearlings from last week's bumper Book 1, the figures recorded during the first of three Book 2 sessions were almost identical to those set last year. Garnering overall turnover of 18,618,000gns from the sale of 209 yearlings (86%), the average of 89,081gns was marginally down from 89,318gns, while the median dropped slightly to 65,000gns (-7%).

 

 

Hot Cross for Classic Dream

The cross that has already produced the Classic winners Adayar (Ire) and Homeless Songs (Ire), and which contains the magic names of Frankel and Dubawi, as seen in effect with the day's second-top lot (lot 787) sold by Genesis Green Stud on behalf of Rabbah Bloodstock. Will Douglass made an attempt from the back stairs, but he had to settle for the role of underbidder as the son of Frankel was knocked down at 700,000gns to an online buyer which later transpired to be Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland.

The chestnut, out of the Dubawi half-sister to listed winner Hadaatha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), was originally intended for Book 1 until the decision was taken to delay his sales appearance.

“He was a big horse, and he was always a tall and narrow horse, but with prep he hasn't grown at all but he's [filled out]. He's turned into a Dubawi basically, with a Frankel walk,” said Genesis Green's Michael Swinburn. “And obviously it's a cross that has done so well with a number of Group 1 winners.”

 

 

Another Saint Pair Family to the Fore

A colt by Sea The Moon (Ger) out of Pearly Spirit (Fr) had been a bold pinhook at 110,000gns last year but , as the auctioneers like to say, he “walked into money” as he prowled around the ring at Tattersalls, attracting bids from Anthony Stroud, Joseph O'Brien, Karl Burke and, finally at 410,000gns, from Michel Zerolo.

Sitting in the seats with Jean-Claude Rouget, who will train the colt, Zerolo confirmed that he will race in the colours of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, which were seen in Grade I-winning action over the weekend aboard Tattersalls graduate In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}). They were of course also carried by the Rouget-trained Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr).

“He's got a fine page and it's a pedigree we know well in France,” said Zerolo of the colt whose unraced dam is a full-sister to recent G1 Matron S. winner Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

“He comes from a very good family developed by Mr. Putsch, and Sea The Moon is most definitely a serious stallion.”

The shrewd team at Yeomanstown Stud was behind the profitable pinhook for the colt described by the farm's David O'Callaghan as “exceptional”.

He said, “He was a Book 1 horse in Book 2, but that was part of the plan. We always like to put a horse like him into Book 2. He was exceptional: a beautifully balanced horse, bay with black points, a beautiful mover and very correct. I don't think there was a man or woman on the sale ground who did not admire him.”

 

The Son Also Rises

Charlie Vigors may have had to give best to his mother Fiona Marner's top lot, but his Hillwood Stud also featured among the leading lots of the day on two occasions.

Hillwood sold lot 669, a Lope De Vega (Ire) sister to G3 Solario S. runner-up King Vega (GB) for 375,000gns to Paddy Twomey, and lot 644, a colt by Showcasing (GB) out of Megan Lily (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), to Anthony Stroud, for 260,000gns.

“We knew they were two nice horses coming here and they vetted out clean and well. Thankfully the market agreed with us,” Vigors said.

The Lope De Vega filly was bred by Fortescue Bloodstock from the Teofilo (Ire) mare Moi Meme (GB), who up until this season has been mated exclusively with the Ballylinch Stud resident, producing some notable results in the process. A listed winner herself and a daughter of the dual Group 3 winner Di Moi Oui (GB) (Warning {GB}), the 10-year-old was bought for €440,000 and her four previous yearlings have all commanded six-figures sums in the sale ring, including the maiden winner King Of Conquest (GB), who was bought by Godolphin for 900,000gns.

Having started life with Andrew Balding, the Group 3-placed King Vega is now at Graham Motion's stable in the US, which is also the country where another of the mare's offspring, Capital Structure (GB), ended up after being bought by Mike Ryan for Klaravich Stables. He recently finished runner-up in the GIII Waya S. at Aqueduct.

Vigors explained, “Fortescue Bloodstock is one of our breeding syndicates that breeds on a commercial basis. The mare has been fantastic for us on the commercial front and has gone on and is delivering on the track. That's a cross that has been working well and she is actually in foal to Night Of Thunder now. It's an exciting family.”

 

New Bay Colt for Derby-Winning Owner

In his days working for the late Duke of Roxburghe, Chris Gillon was no stranger to consigning expensive yearlings at Tattersalls, and now under his own Gillon Bloodstock banner and still operating from Floors Castle, the consignor featured on the top 10 list.

The New Bay colt he prepared on behalf of breeders Joanna and Malcolm Imray was Gillon Bloodstock's sole offering for Book 2, and he will eventually race in some famous silks, having been bought by agent Richard Brown for 325,000gns on behalf of dual Derby-winning owner Saeed Suhail. His most recent victory in the Epsom Classic came just this year with Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who was also bought by Brown from Book 2 two years ago.

“It's fantastic to do that in only our second year and our first time at Book 2,” said Gillon.

“Joanna and Malcolm Imray are just 10 miles from Floors and sent him to us in February. He has exceeded expectations and has been very popular here. He sold himself–he showed himself off and looked a million dollars. When you look at his page, he has a strong page as well.”

That page for lot 723 includes his Group 3-winning half-brother Psychedelic Funk (GB) (Choisir {Aus}) and the 13-time winner Gale Force Maya (GB), his half-sister by Gale Force Ten (GB), who has won two listed sprints in September since the catalogue was published. Their dam, Parabola (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was picked up by the Imrays at the July Sale of 2010 for just 4,000gns but died last year, making her New Bay colt her final offspring.

Brown added, “I'm a big fan of the stallion. I think he is going places–any son of Dubawi you have to take very seriously and he is doing it. He is for Saeed Suhail, who is here and will be here all week.”

“We will work out training plans once the week is over. Saeed makes all the decisions with racing manager Bruce Raymond. I am sure any trainer would be delighted to have this horse.”

Brown also issued an update on Desert Crown. He said, “Desert Crown is absolutely fine. He had a bit of hiccup, but he is now out in the paddock and will go back into training in the next couple of weeks. We're all really excited about next year for him.”

 

Grande Result For Whatton Manor

Fresh from selling a 1.5 million gns Dubawi colt to Godolphin during Book 1 on behalf of breeder Andrew Stone, Whatton Manor Stud was back in the limelight on Monday and this time with a homebred. Lot 659, a filly from the first crop of Too Darn Hot (GB), is out of the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Minwah (Ire), who was unraced herself but has already produced a black-type winner in her current 3-year-old, Grande Dame (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

After watching the filly sell for 230,000gns to Anthony Stroud, Whatton Manor's Ed Player said, “When Grande Dame started doing what she did this year, winning her listed race, we knew we had a good chance, and then when she was third in the Sun Chariot that was a lovely update to come into the sale with.”

He added of Minwah, whose colt by Roaring Lion died as a yearling, but who is now in foal to Ardad (Ire), “The mare has been a little unlucky, but the two who have made the racecourse have been very talented. She is a lovely mare, we bought her here with Larry Stratton for 46,000gns. She's beautiful and luckily she breeds good-looking horses, too.”

 

Dreaming of Manderley, Again

Jonathan Portman makes something of a habit of winning the G3 Cornwallis S. and, having claimed the race for the third time on Friday with Rumstar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), he was at Tattersalls on Monday to buy a yearling colt out of one of his previous Cornwallis winners, Mrs Danvers (GB) (Hellvelyn {GB}).

He's a colt by no ordinary sire, either, as Mrs Danvers visited Galileo for each of her first three coverings. Two colts by the late champion sire featured in Monday's session and, mystifyingly, neither reached six-figure prices. They were both bought by shrewd trainers, however, with Mark Johnston going to 57,000gns for the colt out of Just Pretending (lot 556), while Portman is going home with the colt he came to see “for old times' sake”, having bought him from the Manister House Stud draft at 65,000gns.

“I don't like to be seen as being optimistic because then one looks silly when it all goes wrong,” Portman once told TDN on a bleak January day at his Lambourn yard. Nevertheless, Rob Hornby, who partnered Rumstar to victory at Newmarket, let on that the trainer had told him months ago that the colt would win the Cornwallis.

Portman confessed at Tattersalls on Monday, “I did say that, and I also said it about Mrs Danvers when someone tried to buy her after she'd won her maiden at Lingfield. They said, 'I know you've bought her for the Super Sprint but if that goes wrong could you bear us in mind?' And I said 'No, because she's a Cornwallis filly.' Of course we can all look clever when it happens, but it is nice to have a plan, and the pleasure is in the planning.”

Things went rather swimmingly for Mrs Danvers, who was famously a vendor buy-back at £1,000 when offered in the February of her 2-year-old season. She won on debut four months later and then just kept winning, including the Weatherbys Super Sprint, Listed St Hugh's Fillies' S. and the Cornwallis.

Asked about the plans for her son, Portman said, “Cotton wool, I should think. We don't buy expensive horses and I only came up to have a look at him for old times' sake. But he was stuck on 50 grand and I didn't want to see someone buy him for 52 that wasn't me, and then he took off a bit.”

He added, “With that pedigree I'd obviously have preferred him to be a filly, and I do love training fillies. I kept closely in touch with Jessica Harrington who bought his full-sister [Danvers Gold] last year. She was third at the Curragh and she is going to run her again soon, and she really likes her. So that gave me a bit of confidence that it wasn't just a flash in the pan.

“I like going back to families that have looked after me, and if they've been sound and had a good temperament, those are two very key things. I didn't come here expecting to go home with him. I was intending to be a spectator.”

It would seem, however, that the planning has already begun, though this time Portman is eyeing a bigger target than the Cornwallis.

He said, “He's not small but he looks ready to run now–I would like him to be ready to run on May 4, 2024. I want to win the Guineas with him. I'd happily give up the Super Sprint if he could win the Guineas.”

The trainer celebrated his surprise purchase over tea and cakes with Connie and Mark Burton, the breeders of Mrs Danvers, who leased her to the Turf Club for her racing career before selling her privately as a broodmare prospect.

“We're over the moon, we'll be even more frequent visitors to the yard,” said Connie Burton, who still owns Mrs Danvers's dam Rebecca De Winter (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) as well as a half-sister. “They made us feel so included in all of Mrs Danvers's races and we celebrated alongside them all.”

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Highflyer Soar As Power’s New Bay Colt Tops Tattersalls Ireland

RATOATH, Ireland–Well, Highflyer certainly soared at Fairyhouse this week with Anthony Bromley signing for 16 yearlings, including two for €100,000 on Wednesday.

However, it was Alex Elliott who was responsible for the top lot (243) at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, a €115,000 Tradewinds-drafted New Bay (GB) colt that was purchased on the same afternoon.

No buyer had a busier two days than Bromley, though. Much like a man rushing to get his Christmas shopping done, he admitted to setting his stall out to fill the lion's share of his orders at another yearling sale where more impressive figures were recorded.

Of the 458 yearlings offered, 448 were sold, representing a clearance rate of 90%. While the aggregate was down 2% on 2021 figures to €12,421,000 and the average also fell 5% to €30,075, the median jumped 11% to €26,000.

For a list of reasons far too complex to enumerate, this year's yearling market has proved incredibly strong despite the global economy supposedly heading down the swanny and, after spending almost €600,000 across the two-day session, Bromley shared a belief that things were about to get even harder for buyers.

He said, “The market is remarkable and it's hard to work it out. Everyone who comes through the gates at a sale must just switch off their telly and forget everything else that's going on in the world. I thought this sale was really healthy and strong but not crazy. I felt that this was the sale to buy at because it's a domestic market. If you look around, it's mostly just English and Irish, whereas next week at the Orby Sale, there will be a surge of Americans and Newmarket will be the same.”

Bromley added, “When you think the sales are too strong, you hear of people saying that they are going to wait until the later sales but, in practice, that is probably the wrong thing to do. It's better to get some tickets for the lottery now. I still have orders for Goffs and for Tattersalls but it's better to get some tickets early sometimes. If anything, it looks like the market is going to get stronger, so I am happy to have got some business done early.”

Bromley spent a total of €581,000 at an average of €36,312 and it was a filly by Tally-Ho's Inns Of Court (Ire) [lot 279] and a colt by Sioux Nation [lot 390] that forced him into the six-figure mark on both occasions.

Speaking after securing Gibbonstown Stud's Sioux Nation colt, Bromley said, “He has been bought for Andrew and Jane Megson, the owners of Polly Pot (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), the winner of the G2 May Hill S.

“The Megsons also owned Severance (GB) (Nathaniel {GB}), the half-brother, and this guy is a big scopey horse by a red-hot stallion. He will be trained by Ben Pauling.

“He's a beast of a horse and he won't be rushed. Ben's Flat string is starting to grow and Harry [Dunlop] has entered Polly Pott in the [G1] Irish 1000 Guineas today so the Classic dream is alive. “Polly Pott will have one more run this season and they have agreed to supplement for the [G1] Fillies' Mile at Newmarket.”

The €100,000 Highflyer paid for Tally-Ho's Inns Of Court filly meant that the Westmeath stud's young stallion was responsible for two of the top three lots of the sale after Ed Sackville paid €110,000 for Mountain View Stud's colt on behalf of John and Jess Dance on Tuesday.

Bromley revealed that lot 279 was purchased on behalf of Simon Munir and Isaac Suede, who purchased four yearlings all told at Fairyhouse. Three of the four will be trained by Joseph O'Brien, including the Inns Of Court filly, while lot 85, a €21,000 Cotai Glory colt, will join Richard O'Brien.

“The Inns Of Court was for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede,” Bromley said. “We've got a good 2-year-old with William Haggas called Alpha Capture (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) and he was beaten two inches in the £300,000 sales race at Doncaster. They have a small Flat string but they have a little bit of quality in there and they were looking to expand that. We've been buying for them at the previous yearling sales and I bought three for them on Tuesday as well. Three of the yearlings we've bought will go to Joseph O'Brien and one will go to Richard O'Brien. Joseph will train the Inns Of Court.”

On the burgeoning relationship with Richard O'Brien, he added, “We bought Impulsive Dancer (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) off Richard and then we sent him Surac (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) after that and he managed to win with him over hurdles. We thought we'd give him a yearling and bought him a colt by Cotai Glory (GB).”

Tally-Ho's Roger O'Callaghan told TDN Europe that the best was yet to come from Inns Of Court after the stallion posted some impressive results at the Premier Yearling Sale last month and how right he was. Bromley was suitably impressed by the stock.

He said, “I have been very taken by all of the ones I have seen by him. They do look athletic. A lot of the Inns Of Courts stayed on my list for a second look which is a good sign. There were some nice ones at the Somerville and I really liked the one that made €110,000 on Tuesday. I actually bid €100,000 for him. I thought this filly was a queen and, while she was a bit more expensive than I thought she'd be, if you like them, you have to go for them.”

Bromley added, “We got two big ones today and we got 12 on Tuesday. I've had one of my best years on the Flat. I've had 25 2-year-old winners, which is unheard of for me, because it's not a big part of my business. A lot of those horses cost less than 30 grand, so we've had a good run. Polly Pott was 21,000gns, Streets Of Gold (Ire) was £27,000 and Bradsell (GB) was just £12,000 so it's been a good year. Let's hope it can keep going.”

A record 70 horses sold for €50,000 or more at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and Simon Kerins lauded it as a success.

He said, “This week saw the September Yearling Sale take place in Ireland for the first time in two years and the trade has been incredibly strong. Most noteworthy was the record number of horses selling for €50,000 or more and turnover that surpassed all previous sessions held in Ireland.

“We had a catalogue of quality yearlings catering for all sectors of the market and the footfall seen across the last few days has been phenomenal. We focused extra attention on welcoming buyers back to Fairyhouse and we were rewarded with the buzz that was felt around the barns and newly improved sales complex. Purchasers descended in their droves from the UK as well as a strong contingent of overseas buyers who all went to battle with a strong Irish buying bench.”

He added, “We would like to thank the vendors who supported us and purchasers, all of whom have contributed to the success of the past two days. Our thanks also go out to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing who have been exceptional to work with on the lead up to the sale and enticing customers with their excellent IRE Incentive Scheme. The sale has displayed remarkable resilience the last two years and we look forward to moving ahead with it now and continuing to build on it year on year.”

Tradewinds Come Up Trumps With New Bay Colt

Shane Power's love affair with Tattersalls Ireland continued as three of his Tradewinds pinhooks made eye-wateringly good profits, including the New Bay colt that topped the entire sale at €115,000 to Alex Elliott on behalf of Australian-based Spicer Thoroughbreds.

He may be just 29 years of age, but Power had already built up an impressive reputation for being a top-notch purveyor of equine talent, further evidenced by the prowess advertised in transforming his €24,000 foal purchase into a sales-topper.

As if that wasn't impressive enough, Power also secured tidy profits with a Due Diligence filly (lot 152) sold to Joe Foley on Tuesday followed by a Sioux Nation colt (lot 354) that was snapped up by Mick Donohoe of BBA Ireland on Wednesday.

He said, “This place has always been very lucky for us. It's funny, we'd no luck at this sale when it was in England the past two years, but every time we bring horses to Fairyhouse, we tend to do alright. We've had good success at the breeze-up sales here as well. It's been a lucky place.

“We brought six here this week. The Sioux Nation colt was €7,000 into €50,000, the Due Diligence filly was €6,000 into €78,000 and the New Bay colt was €24,000 into €115,000, so it's been great.

“I actually bought an El Kabeir filly today to go breezing as well. We sold Bright Diamond (Ire) (El Kabeir) here in May for €52,000 and she's going for the G1 Fillies' Mile. Hopefully this El Kabeir can be as good.”

Power added, “We set up Tradewinds five years ago. It has taken a bit of time for us to build up relationships with the buyers but, when Bright Diamond won her maiden at Newmarket by nine lengths, it gave us a bit of credibility. Hopefully people will think that we half know what we're looking at now.”

Knowing what you are looking at is one thing, but backing your judgment to go out and buy these foals and then produce them in tip-top shape as yearlings is another. So, what's the secret?

“It's a lot of hard work and some long days,” Power explained. “We don't just turn up with these horses. If your horses don't come here looking well, the likelihood is that you'll be coming home with them. We feed them four times a day and there's a lot of pulling and dragging involved but it's worth it on days like today.”

He added, “It's great coming here and getting a few quid but, when you sell a horse and it goes on to do something, that's the real buzz. We sold Lauded (GB), a colt by Acclamation (GB), in our first year to Ed Sackville. He won his maiden first time out, was placed in the G2 Richmond S. and won a load of races in Dubai as well. He kick-started the whole thing for us.”

People have long since cottoned on to the fact that Power knows what he is doing. An even bigger secret that has gotten out of the bag, much to the frustration of Elliott, is that New Bay is one of the hottest sires around.

The leading agent said, “The sire has been unbelievable for me. He has been picked up for Brad Spicer. I met him at a sale in Germany a few years ago and, when Covid hit, he couldn't get over so he asked me if I would do some work for him. That was in 2020 and we bought him two Almanzors (Fr), a Camelot (GB) and a Sea The Moon (Ger)–that type of horse.”

Elliott added, “I sent him two horses from this sale and he really liked the look of the New Bay. There's going to be a day coming soon when I can't afford these New Bays so I'm trying to buy as many of them as I can now. They come in all shapes and sizes but they all look like they'd run through a brick wall.”

 

 

Ballyshannon Bag Emotional Success

One of the most emotional results of the week was achieved by James Hughes of Ballyshannon Stud who, along with the help of his late mother, was responsible for the most expensive Havana Grey (GB) to go through the ring in Ireland when Peter and Ross Doyle paid €70,000 for his colt by the leading first-season sire.

Hughes picked up the grey at Newmarket last December for just 14,000gns from Whitsbury Manor Stud and admitted that Wednesday's result was tinged in sadness over the loss of his mother back in February.

He explained, “My late mother, who unfortunately passed away from Covid in February, gave me the thumbs up when I sent her the video of this horse last December. She told me to go ahead and buy him off the video. We set up Ballyshannon together. It's just a pity she wasn't here today to see it.”

Hughes added, “I loved the yearlings by Havana Grey. I thought that they were all fast and early 2-year-olds. We had done a bit of business with Ed Harper at Whitsbury before and found him to be very easy to deal with. He's straight up and there's no bullshit with him. We try to go back to the same farms every year and like doing business with Ed.”

The significance extended beyond the fact that lot 248 became the most expensive son of Havana Grey to be sold in Ireland, but the result was badly needed after Ballyshannon were forced to buy back lot 29 at €33,000, a colt by Havana Gold (Ire), the previous day.

Hughes said, “We were delighted because we've put in a lot of effort and turned the farm around from being a foaling unit into what it is now. We used to look after 80 to 100 mares and last year we just decided that we needed to take a break and that it was getting too much for us.

“My mother was getting on a bit in age and said she'd like to enjoy the racing a bit more and the pinhooking side of things as well because she loved coming up to the sales.”

He added, “We had a little syndicate on the farm between the three of us and bought four foals. The first one didn't go well, we had to vendor him, and we were coming here thinking, 'have we done the right thing here?' Thankfully it has worked out.”

 

Lupini Reinvests After Another Big Sale

No sooner had Natalia Lupini wrapped up a deal for Listed Ingabelle S. third Highly Desirable (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) to continue her career in America, the County Down-based Italian was busy replenishing her stock alongside boyfriend Craig Bryson, with the pair signing for three yearlings across the two days.

Lupini told TDN Europe in the build-up to Irish Champions Weekend that she felt Highly Desirable would out-run her odds of 125-1 in that listed contest and, after doing just that, the filly caught the attention of a number of the big outfits.

Similarly to Arinniti (Fr) (Karakontie {Jpn}), who Lupini sold to Team Valor and Paddy Twomey after the filly posted a creditable second on debut at Naas, Highly Desirable netted connections a huge profit.

Those profits were reinvested on Tuesday and Wednesday with Lupini keen to keep the wheel turning after securing a colt by Twilight Son and fillies by Wootton Bassett and Masar. An owner at the sales also decided to entrust her with a filly by Galileo Gold to train.

She said, “Highly Desirable finishing third in a listed race on Irish Champions Weekend was our biggest result. She has now been sold to continue her career in America and an Irish agent got the deal done. It was a great weekend for us and, to see Arinniti go and win for Paddy Twomey last weekend was good to see as well. I think Paddy is talking about entering her in a listed race at Dundalk next week so we hope she can go on and do well for them.”

Lupini added, “We put our heads together last year and decided to train a few 2-year-olds and it's gone well so we have got a few more yearlings this week. It's also good that people have decided to send us 2-year-olds off the back of that, which happened today, when an owner approached us asking if we'd train a Galileo Gold (GB) filly.”

 

 

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