Tag: Newmarket

Shadwell Draft Propels Final Session as Tattersalls December Ends

Demand for bloodstock continued in Newmarket on Thursday, albeit at a lower price bracket, as Adaalah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a member of the Shadwell draft, brought 82,000gns to top the fourth and final session of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale as the curtain fell on the sales season at Park Paddocks for 2021.

Thanks in part to larger drafts from the aforementioned Shadwell, Juddmonte and Godolphin, the former pair having lost their patrons earlier this year, turnover at the December Mare Sale was in excess of 60 million gns, with 788 lots sold from 964 offered (82%) for an aggregate of 62,412,700gns. This was an improvement of 45% on the sale total from 2020. Both the entire sale's average and median were also up at least 30%, with the former at 79,204gns (+35%) and the latter at 26,000gns (+30%).

Four mares made seven figures led by Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) (lot 1839) at 2.2 million gns, and followed by 2-million gns buy Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (lot 1840). Sunday Times (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 1810) and Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 1798) rounded out the quartet at 1.8 million gns and 1 million gns, respectively.

Consigned as lot 2277, Adaalah, in foal to Eqtidaar (Ire), was purchased by Najd Stud. A daughter of the dual listed winner Muteela (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was also second in the G3 Supreme S. and G3 Oak Tree S., Adaalah's stakes-winning and dual group-placed granddam Nufoos (GB) (Zafonic) is responsible for G1 Middle Park S. hero Awzaan (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), G3 Sweet Solera S. victress Muraaqaba (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Hajras (Ire) (Dubai Destination).

“We don't know plans yet, I need to call Saudi and find out,”said Saud Al Qahtani, who was bidding on behalf of Najd Stud's Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz. “She may stay here with other mares or she may ship to Saudi. We have also bought lot 1790, Under The Stars (Ire) (300,000gns), who is in-foal to Frankel (GB). They may stay with Ted Voute, who, of course, reared this year's champion Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

Adaalah's foal of 2021 was knocked down for 15,000gns by BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

“This mare is by Oasis Dream, which was very attractive for us,” continued Al Qahtani, who also signed for two other mares on Thursday, among them Shadwell's winning Etaab (Street Cry {Ire}) (lot 2328), in foal to Muhaarar {GB}, for17,000gns. “He is a good broodmare sire. She has had a very nice foal this year by the same stallion. We are hoping to build a significant operation in Europe.”

Another Shadwell consignee, Sareeha (Ire) (Shamardal), caught the eye of JD Moore at 52,000gns. Lot 2379, out of the winning Saraha (GB) (Dansili {GB}), has one run to her name. The second dam is the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte victress Kareemah (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and this is the extended family of champion and Shadwell royalty Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).

“She is for a client, we like her profile and she is by Shamardal,” JD Moore said. “She looked green on her start at Chelmsford in September. We will make plans when she gets to her new yard.”

Completing the top three lots was Brook Stud's Golden Wattle (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (lot 2294). Charlie Peate acquired the 3-year-old after she left the ring for 40,000gns. Her dual Group 3-winning dam Chrysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was also third in the G1 Pretty Polly S., already has G3 Classic Trial winner Cunco (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to her credit.

Thursday's session benefitted from Shadwell's offerings, with five of the top 10 lots hailing from that consignment. Of the 163 fillies or mares offered, 105 sold (64%) for a gross of 845,700gns. The average increased to 8,054gns and the median was also up to 5,000gns, gains of 59% and 67%, respectively.

Taking a fortnight of selling into account, a staggering total of 1,667 lots sold from 2,034 offered (82%) across the Tattersalls December Yearling, Foal, and Mare Sales. The gross was 98,781,700gns, up 35% on 2020's 73,353,300gns during the first year of the covid pandemic. The average and median were also higher than their 2020 counterparts-59,257gns average (+20%) and 25,000gns median (+25%).

At the conclusion of the 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented, “Beginning with Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the 2021 Tattersalls sales season has consistently outperformed expectation and the global demand throughout this week's December Mares Sale has seen the momentum sustained to the very end.

“Record medians at both the December Yearling Sale and December Foal Sale demonstrated the extraordinary depth in all sectors of the market and we have seen that replicated over the past four days with buyers from throughout the world all contributing to a sale which has not only comfortably surpassed last year's returns but also the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

“The 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale has produced turnover well in excess of 60 million guineas, 45% higher than last year, wide-margin gains in average and median, an impressive clearance rate above 80% and an unprecedented 164 fillies and mares which have sold for 100,000 guineas or more. Annual turnover at Tattersalls has leapt from 260 million guineas in 2020 to more than 320 million guineas this year, a figure bettered only twice and a clear demonstration of a wider industry which has quickly regained confidence and vibrance after the rigours of last year.

“The four outstanding seven figure lots, Waldlied, Cayenne Pepper, Sunday Times, and Flotus, all paid tribute to the consistent demand for bloodstock of the highest quality which has been the feature of the 2021 Tattersalls sales season, but the real highlight has been the opportunity to welcome back so many international buyers to Park Paddocks. The Tattersalls December Mares Sale showcases the very best breeding stock to be found in Europe, and the easing of travel restrictions has seen the return of the uniquely international atmosphere to this historic fixture with international buyers competing at all levels of the market. Buyers from America, Australia, France and Japan have been particularly prominent and the throng of overseas participants have faced strong competition throughout from their British and Irish counterparts.

“As well as recognising the massive contribution from the buyers we must also pay tribute to the consignors who every year make the Tattersalls December Sale a highlight of the international bloodstock sales calendar. The major consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates, as well as the dispersal of Sir Robert Ogden's fillies and mares, proved to be hugely popular and the support of the top consignors from Britain, Ireland and France has yet again been rewarded with the unrelenting global demand which has long been the hallmark of Europe's premier sale of breeding stock.”

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Sunday Stallion Beat A Treat As Always

NEWMARKET, UK–There's still some important business to be done in the sale ring but the Sunday between the foal sale and the mare sale at Tattersalls always has something of an end-of-term feel to it as breeders tour the local studs to view stallions and sample a range of hot sausage rolls.

First stop on a mini tour for the TDN team, which sadly did not include all the studs, was to Lanwades to see an impeccable quartet. One of the most enjoyable features of Kisten Rausing's traditional December open day is that it invariably includes either the owners of or those closely connected to her sires. Sure enough, this Sunday Sir Percy's owners Victoria and Anthony Pakenham were there along with the Derby winner's former trainer Marcus Tregoning and his son George, who posed for the lovely accompanying photograph taken by Nancy Sexton. Sir Percy is now the veteran of the Lanwades ranks at the age of 18 but looked a picture in the winter sunshine with his devoted handler Peter Manuel.

Heike Bischoff and Niko Lafrentz, the proud owner/breeders of the German Derby winner Sea The Moon (Ger), whose popularity seems to grow with each passing season, were also on hand. The Gestut Gorlsdorf owners have enjoyed some good foal sale results of late, including topping the Goffs November Sale with a Frankel (GB) half-sister to Sea The Moon.

The Niarchos family's racing manager Alan Cooper was also at Lanwades and was keenly videoing the French Derby winner Study Of Man (Fr), who has let down into a magnificent specimen. A reminder of the greatness of his sire Deep Impact (Jpn) had been provided that same morning by Contrail (Jpn), who brought the curtain down on a glittering career with victory in the Japan Cup. European breeders are fortunate to have access to his bloodline via Saxon Warrior at Coolmore in Ireland and Study Of Man, a grandson of the great Miesque, in Newmarket.

Sir Mark Prescott, who must be the apple of Kirsten Rausing's eye, having trained Alpinista (GB) to emulate her grandam Albanova (GB) by winning three German Group 1 races this season, was one of a number of trainers at the Lanwades parade, along with Sir Michael Stoute, Jane Chapple-Hyam, Rae Guest, David Simcock and George Margarson. Emma Balding was also in attendance and is an astute breeder in her own right as well as being the mother of Andrew, who trained Sandrine (GB) to win the G2 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. in the Lanwades colours this season. The filly is an exciting Classic prospect next season for her imposing sire Bobby's Kitten, the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner and son of Kitten's Joy.

That sireline has of course been seen to great effect on these shores via the late Roaring Lion and more recently by 2000 Guineas winner Kameko, who is another sire well worth a visit at Longholes Stud this week with a year at stud now under his belt. Price Bell Jr, who stands another top-class son of Kitten's Joy in Oscar Performance at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky, had come to check out the opposition at Longholes and was a welcome visitor along with Dr Chandler.

The handsome dark brown Kameko led a trio of sires from Tweenhills who are in Newmarket for a temporary holiday. One who should feel right at home in the town is Lightning Spear (GB), who spent three of his six seasons in training in Newmarket under the excellent care of David and Jenny Simcock. He always appeared to be a laidback individual out on the Heath in the mornings and that lovely temperament has not deserted him in his second career.

Havana Gold (Ire), one of the faster sons of Teofilo (Ire) who already has his own Group 1-winning son Havana Grey (GB) at stud at Whitsbury Manor, completed the trio. For those trying to breed a durable, early 2-year-old, it's worth remembering that Havana Gold's son Chipotle (GB) won the Brocklesby on the first day of the 2021 season and, eight starts later, completed his year with a win the listed Two-Year-Old Trophy, having also won at Royal Ascot. 

Longholes is also hosting the Newsells Park Stud stallion Without Parole (GB) this week and the elegant Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB) is another who must be seen in the flesh as he is about to embark on his second season at stud.

There is also a collaborative approach between stallion masters at the National Stud, which, along with its own stallions, is temporarily home to Whitsbury Manor Stud's son of Scat Daddy, the statuesque Sergei Prokofiev, and A'Ali (Ire), who has recently retired to Meadow Farm Stud in Marlborough, a new stallion base owned by well-known equine vet Rob Dallas and his wife Catherine. A'Ali, a compact son of the late Society Rock (Ire), has a racing profile and physique which will doubtless make him popular with commercial breeders. 

Whitsbury Manor and the National Stud have gone into partnership, along with Coolmore and Nick Bradley, to stand Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) in Newmarket. Lope is the operative word for the 4-year-old, who has a long, loose walk and appears to be pretty relaxed about life. The winner of the G3 Round Tower S. as a juvenile, the son of Lope De Vega (Ire) was then third in the Irish 2000 Guineas and placed in three further Group 1 races at three before returning at four to run second to Palace Pier (GB) in the G1 Queen Anne S.

Time Test (GB), one of the emerging success stories of the season for the British stallion scene, will return to the National Stud from New Zealand on Dec. 20 and looks set to have a very busy season in Newmarket.

Breeders in town for the sale this week can also take advantage of visiting the stallions at Juddmonte, Cheveley Park Stud, Shadwell's Beech House Stud and Darley's Dalham Hall Stud. The latter is showing the new recruits Palace Pier (GB) and Space Blues (Ire), who are bound to attract plenty of visitors.

Our thanks to all the studs who have opened their doors, and especially to the stallion handlers for their hard work and patience on a cold day.

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The Longer Game Extends Foal Demand

NEWMARKET, UK—Both the quality and the quantity were hiked, but the energy remained pretty seamless on the second day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. Once again business far surpassed the equivalent session last year, no surprise by this stage despite the unexpected resilience of that market, and measured up pretty closely to the tempo recorded in the pre-Covid innocence of the 2019 sale.

With the pinhookers meeting conspicuous competition from end-users, especially for well-bred fillies, turnover soared by 32% to 9,225,000gns from 7,014,800gns, also eclipsing the 8,532,700gns banked in 2019. With a bigger catalogue for this session, however, that translated into an average 39,225gns, up 16% from 33,888gns last year while just shy of 40,826gns in 2019; while the median rallied to 30,000gns from 25,000gns (not quite matching 33,000gns in 2019).

The pinhookers will doubtless find themselves under still greater pressure in Friday's third session, which traditionally sees a further upgrade.

 

The Thought That Counts

It's not often that the top price of the day looks equally good business for buyer and vendor alike, but that was arguably the case with the Sea The Stars (Ire) filly who topped the day's trade at 225,000gns.

After all, her sire stands at €150,000 and you can put an additional premium on foaling and raising a healthy foal to stride out as purposefully as did lot 691. To that extent, the clients of purchaser Richard Brown are entitled to feel that their investment looks very fair value as things stand. For Whatton Manor Stud, even so, this was an authentic “touch”, as the foal-share launch of a very young mare.

Moreover it was fitting that this should be one of those occasions when everyone could feel a winner, because both parties to the transaction had actually contributed to its inception. For it was Brown who bought the filly's dam Careful Thought (Brazen Beau {Aus})—a half-sister to G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Lowther S. winner Best Terms (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), with a famous fourth dam in Time Charter (GB)—for the Player family. While things did not work out for her on the racetrack, all has ended well now.

“It's quite a good story,” explained Ed Player. “We'd had a good yearling sale, and we always say to Richard that if he sees a future broodmare prospect anywhere, that we are always in the market. And he found this lovely filly in Book 3 from Newsells—and he immediately thought, 'I'll have some of that money back off the Players!' So we bought her for 20,000gns and sent her to Mark Johnston. He thought she was quite useful, but she got injured after one run. We retired her, and it has now all come full circle.”

Reflecting on her elite maiden cover, Player noted that Best Terms had promptly produced Star Terms (GB) by Sea The Stars to become a Group 1-placed listed winner, among plenty of other stakes action.

“The pedigree was very current,” he reasoned. “Things were happening in the family, and she's a lovely individual, so we thought we had better give her the best chance we could. Obviously the Sea The Stars filly out of Best Terms topped Book 1 at 1,500,000gns, so other people are thinking that works pretty nicely as well.

“Sadly, the mare is not in foal, but we'll enjoy the moment. We're absolutely over the moon, flabbergasted. She'd been very popular, vetted a lot of times, and we hoped she'd make up to the 200,000gns mark. But to actually get it, we couldn't be happier.”

Player noted that the most expensive foal sold by the farm to this point was Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who made 165,000gns en route to his 150-1 G2 Coventry S. success. He has just started out at the Irish National Stud.

Brown, for his part, could put this acquisition—on behalf of Andrew Stone of St. Alban's Bloodstock—in the same category as Careful Thought, as a young filly bought with a long-term eye on her second career.

“Andrew had a phenomenal Book 1 sale, he sold a Frankel (GB) for 925,000gns and a Lope De Vega (Ire) for 725,000gns, and he's had a great year on the racecourse too,” Brown said. “We're always looking for opportunities, and she's been bought to race before hopefully being a broodmare for the future. Andrew is trying to build a boutique, high-quality broodmare band and she'd be a great addition to that.

“I manage quite a few horses at Whatton Manor, we do quite a bit together, so I've seen this filly all the way along. In the summer she was a bit 'first foal'-like, she probably lacked a little bit of muscle, but she's just improved and improved and turned into a very nice filly. She's on a very steep upward trajectory, although I had a bit of an advantage having seen where she's come from.”

 

French Target Petches Draft

This auction obviously owes much of its impetus to pinhookers but this was a day when plenty of end-users saw the merit of “cutting out the middle man”. Among them was Arthur Hoyeau, who gave 110,000gns for a filly from the first crop of Magna Grecia (Ire) (lot 595). This is a new strategy for the French agent, whose clients have clearly decided that a year's keep will ultimately represent a saving.

“She is to race, she'll go to the owner's farm in France,” Hoyeau explained. “We were looking for fillies, it's been tough to buy yearlings this year so we're trying to find a bit of value, to buy some foals and get them into the system. They may eventually be bred from, we'll have to see how good they are, but buying as foals is really a response to the strength of the yearling market more than anything. This is a lovely, scopey filly, a good mover, with a good mix of [grandsire] Invincible Spirit (Ire) and [damsire] Fastnet Rock (Aus).”

Consigned by Petches Farm, the filly represents an accomplished international family—most notably a second dam whose siblings include multiple group winner/G1 Sussex S. runner-up Nayyir (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and G1 St Leger runner-up Highest (Ire) (Selkirk). Her dam, who won in a light career for Willie Mullins, was acquired for 80,000gns here three years ago.

All three of the farm's draft in this session will cross the Channel, as Hoyeau also gave 45,000gns for its Calyx (GB) filly (lot 597) while Fairway Partners went to 80,000gns for the colt offered in between, a Masar (Ire) half-brother (lot 596) to the stakes-placed dam of those hardy stayers Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}).

Simon Venner, whose father Paul owns the farm, was delighted with their export trade. “The Magna Grecia filly has been stunning since day one, knockout, very straightforward,” he said. “We got her into prep and she never put a foot wrong. Every time she came out of the box, she just marched around.

“The Masar colt is a different type, and looks like he should from the family. I was a little unsure how popular he would be as a foal and slightly surprised how busy he has been. The Calyx has a lovely temperament, again she just came out and walked, just lovely and relaxed. They've been prepped very well by the new team under Ollie [Costello], so very well done to them. It's hard work up here, for them and the foals, and they've done a great job.”

Magna Grecia, incidentally, returned another handsome yield on his €22,500 start-up fee (now offered at €17,500) when Tom Malone gave 100,000gns for lot 649, a March colt from Glashare House Stud. The agent explained that he was acting on behalf of Megan Nicholls, who had picked him out but could not stay for his arrival in the ring.

“He's been bought for Roger Peel,” Malone added. “He'll board at Branton Court Stud, and will be re-consigned next year by Hillwood.”

 

Ladyswood Also Focus on the Female

Another playing a longer game was Harry Fowler in giving 105,000gns for the first foal—a filly by Coolmore's soaraway Wootton Bassett (GB)—out of Italian listed winner Lorelei Rock (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) on behalf of Alex Frost's Ladyswood Stud.

“Ladyswood is looking for some fillies to race, and we loved this one, she has a great action,” Fowler said after signing the docket for lot 668. “The mare was fourth in a Group 2 in Ireland, she was class, and she was early type: she won on her debut, in the May of her 2-year-old season. Alex is looking for a couple of fillies to go back and join the broodmare band, if they are good enough.”

The filly was sold by Altenbach Bloodstock, Lorelei Rock having originally been acquired by Powerstown Stud as a €40,000 yearling and retained after a fruitless trip to the breeze-ups. She has repaid that perseverance now, as well she might with a page featuring some smart black type, notably under her granddam, one of whose daughters gave us the elite runner and producer Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).

Yet another filly bought to work on her residual value was lot 740, a daughter of Acclamation (GB) from the family of Farhh (GB) and Fame And Glory (GB) consigned by Riversfield Stud. That was a resonant formula for Ross Doyle and his father Peter, who bought Acclamation's G2 Richmond S. winner Harbour Watch (Ire) from the same farm at the 2010 December Yearling Sale here, for just 58,000gns.

“I haven't seen an Acclamation filly like that for a long time,” declared Doyle Jr. after signing a 115,000gns docket. “I thought she was an outstanding physical. She has been bought for long-term connections to race, though it hasn't yet been confirmed where she'll go.”

 

But Pinhookers Still Mean Business

Needless to say, the pinhookers remained pivotal to trade—albeit knowing they pretty much need to have Book 1 in mind if finding themselves on the leaderboard after the first day. That seemed a pretty legitimate aspiration to as good a judge as Michael Fitzpatrick for a filly presented by Overbury Stud as lot 591, and rightly so: though an Apr. 29 foal, she had both the make and page to suggest some margin for improving even on an outlay of 130,000gns.

Her half-sister Ayacara (GB) (Violence) was placed at graded-stakes level in the United States, while their unraced dam is a half-sister by Pulpit to three others of whom the same can be said. And the third dam is Kostroma (Ire) (Caerleon), who was a Group 2 scorer in Ireland before being exported to win three Grade Is in California.

“I would only really pinhook a filly who is likely to get into Book 1,” Fitzpatrick said after signing the docket for JC Bloodstock. “It's difficult to get a filly by a proven stallion and with a pedigree. But this one has a champion on her page, and she's out of a young mare with two winners from four foals. She's been bought off a good farm, and hopefully there will be a good few updates next year.”

Perhaps these might start with the yearling half-brother by Showcasing (GB) bought out of Book II by Stroud Coleman for 200,000gns.

 

Moon First to Rise

In the early exchanges of a marathon session, bidders were repeatedly exhorted from the rostrum to emulate “the early bird”. But only one six-figure transaction was registered all morning, when a Sea The Moon colt (lot 490) was knocked down to Yeomanstown Stud for 110,000gns.

A Mar. 31 colt out of an unraced sister to dual group winner Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), he was presented by Kellsgrange Stud on behalf of Clive and Pamela Brandon of Haddenham Stud Farm.

“He'll be coming back next year, he could go to any sale,” remarked Robert O'Callaghan of Yeomanstown. “He's a very simple colt: a big, strong horse with a great walk, he kinda has everything: we were mad to get him. He has a good page and we've had luck with Sea The Moon, who seems to get better year on year, and with better crops to come. And of course his own sire Sea The Stars is doing phenomenal things.”

The dam, who is still only six, was bought from Saint Pair through Blandford Bloodstock at the Arqana December Sale three years ago for €52,000, her page featuring an illustrious granddam in G1 Prix Vermeille winner Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}).

“We were hoping he might stay under the 100,000gns mark, but for the good ones you have to stretch,” O'Callaghan added. “Hopefully he'll come back here heathy next year and leave us a bit of profit. Trade has been strong, you just have to pick and choose your battles and not get too carried away. We bought 20 [at Goffs] last week, between ourselves and Grangemore, and we'll be looking to buy about the same again here. Time to get stuck in and stock up.”

Sure enough, Yeomanstown landed four others on the day, notably a colt (lot 706) from the first crop of Ten Sovereigns (Ire) for 130,000gns at the other end of the session.

Though this lad was presented by the National Stud, manager Tim Lane acknowledged, “We met him here: he was bred by Andrew Rosen and has been reared at Kilshannig Stud. He's been very popular, with a lot of vets.”

 

Foley Answers His Own Stallion's Call

Poignant as the circumstances are, the Shadwell cull has been one of the big drivers across the market this year. But the empire was always on a scale that permitted opportunity to an alert prospector, as was the case when Con Marnane picked up the unraced Safeenah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for just €7,500 at Fairyhouse in 2018. She's out of a stakes-placed half-sister to champion sprinter Muhaarar (GB), who was of course by the same sire.

It looks as though there may have been a degree of seller's remorse, as the mare's first foal by Invincible Spirit (Ire) brought 150,000gns at this sale last year—from Shadwell. This time round she again produced a handsome return, with her colt by the rookie Soldier's Call (GB) making 100,000gns from Joe Foley.

“Safeenah is a queen of a mare,” enthused Marnane, whose daughter Amy consigned the colt as lot 659. “Her first foal is a very good sort, and hopefully he's a good horse for Shadwell next year.”

Foley, of course, stands Solder's Call at Ballyhane Stud. “Joe is an absolute gentleman to deal with,” Marnane said. “And two of the stallions he has there at the moment were with me, too: Prince Of Lir (Ire) and Sands Of Mali (Fr). I'm absolutely delighted with this result. I told Joe after this foal was born that I thought he was special, and Joe obviously thought so too. The stallion is getting gorgeous, gorgeous stock. I sent him two mares—I should have bought a share in him.”

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Foals Keep Up Market Momentum at Tatts

by Chris McGrath

NEWMARKET, UK — The world certainly looks a different place from when these babies slithered into the straw. A less frightening one, thankfully, to many breeders, who have been relieved by a remarkable strength and depth in all levels of the market after the global economy absorbed the shock of Covid. So while the Tattersalls December Foal Sale opened in the customary low register, business on Wednesday unequivocally maintained the buoyant morale established in other sectors. Indeed, the clearance rate of 84% was a session record, and likewise the 16 transactions of 40,000gns or more.

In fact, even if you set aside a sale that performed rather better than anticipated last year, business comfortably outstripped even the pre-Covid levels of 2019. Year on year, meanwhile, a virtually identical offering (204 entered the ring, three more than 12 months ago) yielded turnover of 2,624,800gns, up no less than 66% on 1,585,100gns. That translated into a giddy 15,350gns average, up 31% from 11,741gns (10,091gns in 2019); and a 10,000gns median up from 8,000gns (a mere 5,000gns in 2019). Just 33 lots failed to find a new home, compared with 66 last year.

And these figures, in a way, perhaps represent a more instructive harvest than those recorded at the top end. For it is days like this that can tell you most about horses and horsemen alike, and how they respectively cope with the attrition of the market's lower reaches. Many more “obvious” foals will doubtless be offered on Thursday, but the real judges were already at work and their acuity and diligence should, if only the wind keeps blowing behind them, find due reward many of these animals return to market next autumn.

Passing Every Test…

Time Test (GB) is the only rookie stallion in Europe to have mustered four black-type winners from his debut crop but here he owed his latest headlines to the people who stand his rival Ardad (GB), who has matched him with two group scorers.

For it was Overbury Stud who presented a son of the National Stud stallion to achieve the top price of the opening session, at 75,000gns, from Redpender Stud. And Time Test must share the credit for Lot 362 with his dam, Wild Mimosa (Ire) (Dynaformer), who had further decorated what is already an excellent family when the result of their first mating, Love Interest (GB), made a stylish winning debut for David O'Meara at Newcastle since the publication of the catalogue.

Wild Mimosa was confined to a single start in a frustrating career for the Lloyd-Webbers and was culled for 52,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock in this ring four years ago–despite a productive start as a broodmare, and counting two Group 1 winners (Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer) and Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and the dam of champion The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) among her siblings. It is not difficult to understand why, however, judging from the testimony of Simon Sweeting.

“She's a mare we have to take the foals off straightaway as she savages them,” explained the Overbury Stud manager. “She has done it twice. So we were told not to let her see the foals, and to raise them on foster mares: we have one organised every time now. But she's been a huge success.”

Indeed, her yearling colt by Ardad brought six figures at the October Sale here.

“The 2-year-old looks like she might be okay,” said Sweeting. “She'll go back to Time Test. She was in foal to Ardad, but sadly lost it at 42 days.”

Sweeting declined to be partisan about Ardad's rival, describing him as a very different sire–while “almost” as good. In fact, he has a breeding right in Time Test. “He's a fabulous stallion,” he said. “And he's got a lot farther to go, we're very excited about him. It's great that the National Stud has such a good horse, I'm thrilled about that.”

The new owner of this colt, Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud, said: “He's a nice-looking horse by a promising young sire. I've never had a Time Test before, but this one is well-made, so we'll hope for the best. There's a bit going on in the pedigree. I thought less would buy him, but you have to keep bidding if you want one.”

Time Test had another colt stoke up the embers of the session when one of the very last into the ring, presented by his home farm as Lot 433, brought 66,000gns from Michael Fitzpatrick. This is another pinhook project, interestingly about an Apr. 25 foal, but he was certainly an elegant one.

“Time Test is a son of Dubawi and they're doing well,” explained Fitzpatrick, after signing as Good Will Bloodstock. “It's a trend that is becoming apparent. I'd like to have a Time Test to sell next year as I think his first crop will go on again as 3-year-olds.”

 

Hoping For the Stars To Come Out…

The market is gradually waking up to the gift made by Tweenhills in introducing the Australian sensation Zoustar (Aus) at such an inviting fee, and if his first Northern Hemisphere crop lives up to expectations next year then he may prove a very fertile pinhooking medium.

Sure enough, the March colt consigned by Highclere Stud as Lot 355 brought one of the top prices of the day from Billy Jackson-Stops.

“This is for a new pinhooking venture for Tony Elliott's Rogues' Gallery,” the agent explained, after signing a 70,000gns docket as JS Bloodstock/RGS. “He's a good physical, and hopefully there will be good upside with Zoustar. He's likely to be prepped for next year's sales back here.”

His dam is also entitled to contribute, of course, as a listed winner on both sides of the Channel. Making Eyes (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is catalogued as Lot 2067 in Highclere's mare consignment here next week.

Railton Boards The Ulysses Bandwagon…

As the son of a Derby winner and Oaks winner, Ulysses (Ire) appears eligible to do better still as his debut crop benefits from maturity and middle distances next year. That obviously makes his achievements already still more auspicious, with 16 juvenile winners from 37 starters including G3 Eyrefield S. runner-up Piz Badie (Ire).

Some pinhookers were ahead of the curve, as they would hope to be, most notably Hegarty Bloodstock in converting a 4,000gns punt on a colt by the Cheveley Park stallion in this ring 12 months ago into a bumper payout of 150,000gns in Book 3. Demand has risen accordingly, and Jamie Railton was obliged to pay 60,000gns–the highest price of the morning–for a colt offered as Lot 279 by Bearstone Stud.

“We will just have to see how Ulysses turns out, but he has certainly made a promising start,” Railton said. “I've not been fortunate enough to have one yet, but he was a top 10-furlong horse so looks a sire with a future. Let's hope this horse matures and develops and goes the right way: I just thought he was a nice, attractive individual–and that is what they cost.”

There should be an injection of extra speed from the dam, as one would expect from a speed-oriented nursery like Bearstone. A five-furlong winner by Indesatchel (Ire), she has already managed to produce a stakes-winning sprinter in Vintage Brut (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}). That horse is clearly the best by his own sire, on ratings, and the mare has also produced winners by Firebeak (GB) and Equiano (Fr) from her only surviving foals so far on the track. As such, Railton is entitled to hope that Ulysses, with ripening stock to fly the flag in the meantime, will appear a real upgrade by the time he returns this Feb. 8 foal to the yearling sales.

The young stallion still has an awfully long way to go, of course, before he can aspire to the status of farm legend Pivotal (GB), whose death in peaceful retirement, aged 28, was mourned five days before the sale. Pivotal was a sprinter whose progeny often had more stamina than expected, but in threatening to reverse that paradox Ulysses is playing a commercially useful game.

The Force Is With Rookie Sire…

Needless to say, a lot of the energy in this market traces sooner to a newer cycle; to the search for a future Time Test, Ardad or Ulysses. And plenty of rookies predictably prompted an early roll of the dice.

One was Land Force, the G2 Richmond S. winner by No Nay Never who, after a single start at three in Australia, returned to Europe to cover 155 mares at Highclere Stud. That gave him quite a footprint here and he landed a couple of breakthrough punches in his home farm draft–both ending up in the day's top six transactions.

“They look runners,” said Con Marnane, such a good judge of the evolving physical, after giving 65,000gns for a February colt (Lot 380). “This is a lovely, quality colt, and we had to go an extra bid or two to get him. But I think the stallion could have some quality yearlings next year. Of course, he was a very good racehorse himself.”

But the dam could certainly contribute in that respect, too, having been placed in the G3 Princess Margaret S. and herself being out of a stakes-placed half-sister to dual Classic winner Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley). She was bought by Avenue Bloodstock at the end of her career with Paul Cole, at the December Sale here three years ago, for 190,000gns.

Lot 356, similarly, had the benefit of a young dam with a useful page: she's an unraced Redoute's Choice (Aus) half-sister to G1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup Regal Parade (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and G3 Acomb S. winner Entifaadha (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Farther back, this is the famous Juddmonte family of Zafonic (Gone West), Reams Of Verse (Nureyev) and Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). That steeled Alex Elliott's resolve in giving 60,000gns for this February colt.

“I'm a huge fan of the Scat Daddy line,” the agent said. “And a big admirer of Land Force. But this colt has a lovely pedigree all round, I've always loved the family. And he's a lovely horse, a good early foal with a lot of upside to him. He's bred to be fast, and should be easy to place in any sale next year. I buy for a few [resale] syndicates and he'll probably go to Ireland in the meantime.”

 

Tested Methods Opens New Territories…

Pinhookers seeking motivation through the toil of the months ahead will keep in mind the inspiring touch pulled off by John Foley of Ballyvolane Stud with a Time Test colt picked up in this ring a year ago for 56,000gns. Having elevated his value to 400,000gns in Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale, Foley was back to play up his winnings on a Mar. 5 foal by Territories (Ire) offered as Lot 234 by Hungerford Park Stud.

“He's a lovely horse with good updates,” Foley remarked after signing a 50,000gns docket as GHS Bloodstock. “He'll be for resale, I doubt we can repeat what we did but we'll try.”

Those updates concerned the colt's half-brother Wentwood (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}), who has been in productive form in Australia, notably in winning the G3 Bendigo Cup H. last month. Among those disappointed to see the colt head off to Co. Limerick was Matt Coleman, who gave Foley sporting congratulations as underbidder.

Having kept that powder dry, Coleman was later able to give 55,000gns for the solitary offering [Lot 410] this week by Zarak (Fr), who has shown such promise in beginning to recycle one of the world's greatest pedigrees. He was acting for Daniel Macauliffe and Anoj Don, previously partners in the Group 2-winning juvenile Fighting Irish (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

“He has been bought to race, and they were very keen to buy one by the sire,” explained Coleman. “From here he'll probably go to Culworth Grounds and will race in Britain.”

The February foal, sold by Stauffenberg Bloodstock, represents a rising tide in the Haras de Bonneval sire, who retired at €12,000 but rises to €25,000 next spring after including two Group 1 performers among 17 winners from only 32 starters.

 

Tide Remains Strong For Ocean…

Being every bit as brilliant as he was hardy, the designation of Crystal Ocean (GB) as a National Hunt sire offers a depressing commentary of the state of commercial breeding today. So it's good to see that some prospectors have their wits about them sufficiently to grasp that he has every right, as a top-class son of Sea The Stars (Ire), to add to the proliferation of stakes performers in his family tree.

Matt Houldsworth, for instance, gave 46,000gns for a February colt from an excellent German family, presented by Castletown Stud as Lot 365 and now on his way to Aughamore Stud.

“He has been bought for resale,” the agent confirmed. “He's just a really quality individual, a very good-moving horse. I haven't seen many by the stallion, but he was a very good racehorse. I know he's standing as a jumps sire, but that's not to say he won't be a good sire of Flat horses. Hopefully he can go to something like Book 2 here.”

Guy O'Callaghan of Grangemore Stud was another clear-sighted enough to give 30,000gns for Lot 268, a colt who can count none other than Doff The Derby (Master Derby) as fifth dam.

“This is a great-looking foal, by a champion racehorse out of a good, proven Shamardal racemare and with a good back family,” he said. “What's not to like? Simple as that. Crystal Ocean was a top racehorse by a brilliant stallion.”

Crystal Ocean has made a strong start in his “day job” and ended the recent Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale third in the averages at €35,257 for 30 lots sold, with a top price of €120,000.

A more conventional commercial newcomer to register a decent early strike was Tally-Ho's Inns Of Court (Ire), whose son out of a half-sister to Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) from Highfort Stud [Lot 431] made 49,000gns from Trev Group.

The post Foals Keep Up Market Momentum at Tatts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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