That purchase through Blandford Bloodstock's ace agent Richard Brown came after the team spent 750,000gns on He's A Monster (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Just Bring It (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) from Alex Elliott's Imperium Sales draft on Tuesday.

The modus operandi has been simple; source quality horses, and in Dark Trooper, Wathnan Racing have secured a talented sprinter whose best days could be ahead of him still. Trained by Ed Walker, Dar Trooper has won six times and reached a rating of 104. He was last seen finishing sixth, beaten just two lengths, in a Group 3 at Ascot. 

“The idea is to buy quality over quantity, that is the message from Olly Tait to me and Ali Al Kubaisi, who is working the sale with me,” Brown said. “This horse has been on the radar for most of the year because Al Donald, who bought him and managed him, and Ed Walker, who trained him, have been trying to get me to buy him most of the year saying there is a lot more to come.”

Brown added, “He won a very competitive Ascot handicap on quick ground and then was unlucky in the Bengough. He is an interesting horse and will go to Qatar. There is a programme for him in that part of the world, but he is the sort of horse who could come back here. He is a gelding so can run on for a number of seasons. He will be trained by Alban de Mieulle and we'll see how things go.”

There was a good feeling at Park Paddocks throughout Wednesday and that extended to the figures. The average climbed 5% to 48,248gns while the median fell 2% to 23,500gns. However, the aggregate was down 12% to 11,869,000gns and the clearance rate fell 3% to 89%. 

The 104 rated DARK TROOPER (by Dark Angel) sells for 500,000gns at the #TattsAutumn HIT Sale

The Ed Walker consigned gelding has been bought by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. pic.twitter.com/tBj779kRsm

— TDN (@theTDN) October 25, 2023

Saudi Buyers Go Head-To-Head For Classy Sea The Casper

Two heavy hitters from Saudi Arabia went head-to-head for the 105-rated Sea The Casper (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) with Mubarak Al-Ruwis seeing off Najd Stud at 425,000gns.

Sea The Casper will be aimed at the Saudi Cup Carnival, according to the owner Al-Ruwis, who has a small but select string in the Gulf. 

The owner said, “He will ship straight to Saudi. We have two horses already in Saudi. We need a quality horse for the big Saudi Cup meeting. We think this horse could be a champion.”

Predictably, the Saudi investment at Tattersalls this week has been strong and Najd Stud struck earlier in the evening for Group 2 winner Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole to land the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville in August, Jack Darcy was one of the wildcards added to the sale and was drafted by Barton Sales. 

Oliver Cole said, “I think he is a Group 1 horse in the making. I would have preferred to keep him in training with us but owners have to do what they want to do.”

“We wanted to run in the Prix Dollar and he ran very well, arguably his best race, and we wildcarded him here.” 

Najd Stud also went to 170,000gns to secure Bresson (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) from Juddmonte and paid 155,000gns for Godolphin's Parchemin (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) earlier in the session. The leading Saudi buyers have added 12 horses to their haul this week to the tune of 1,483,000gns.

Royal Patronage Off To Oz

He has advertised his abilities in Britain and America but now Australia beckons for the 110-rated Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) after Johnny McKeever signed for the four-year-old on behalf of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. 

It was McKeever who lit up Park Paddocks on Tuesday evening when going to 575,000gns for Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) out of Alex Elliott's Imperium Sales draft. 

Royal Patronage came highly recommended by his trainer Graham Motion, according to McKeever, whose total spend has now reached 1,280,000gns for the week.

He said, “We spoke to Graham Motion about the horse and he gave us a very positive report.. The horse had a few small training issues, nothing to worry about at all. 

“He is an ideal horse to go to Australia so we were confident that this is the right thing to do. It is hard to find Group form in the sale and he has got a certain quality. We are not guessing here, we know he is a pretty good horse if all goes well for him.” 

Royal Patronage has not raced since June. Prior to that, he landed an allowance race at Keeneland for the Motion team. But he is perhaps best known for showing high-class form for Mark and Charlie Johnston in Britain–for whom he landed the G2 Royal Lodge S.–before he was shipped to America. 

Juddmonte Draft Adds Intrigue

A Juddmonte draft always generates plenty of attention regardless of the sale and it was no different on Wednesday with 13 horses selling for a combined 1,368,000gns. 

The draft was headed by Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), a three-time winner and listed-placed for Francis-Henri Graffard, who was knocked down to BBA Ireland online for 320,000gns.

BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe revealed afterwards to the Tattersalls blog that the horse had been bought alongside Niall Dalton of Stakes Horses and will continue his career with trainer Phil D'Amato in America.

Donohoe said via telephone, “I have left the sale ground and so it worked well for me to bid online. The horse has been bought in conjunction with Niall Dalton of Stakes Horses to go to California and is for a new client with trainer Phil D'Amato, who has had a good bit of success training European horses.”

He added, “Halfway Line was recommended by Francois-Henri Graffard as well as Barry Mahon of Juddmonte. He should suit California-he is progressive, he goes on firm, he has a turn of foot, all the attributes you need.”

Juddmonte's Ziryab (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a winner for John and Thady Gosden, was another major attraction in the draft. The three-year-old was sold to Peter Trainor and Ciaron Maher for 240,000gns. 

Trainor said, “He goes to Ciaron Maher. Last year we bought Future History here from Juddmonte and this is the same type of horse with the same profile. Hopefully he will follow the same path and be a fun horse.”

He added, “Ziryab is well-bred and we were quite taken with his last run. He is lightly-raced and there is loads of upside with him.”

Smart Juvenile Hurdle Prospect Joins Jackdaws Castle 

Just 10 days after Mt Fugi Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) provided syndicate Tanzanite with its first winner from as many attempts when scoring on debut for Jonjo O'Neill at Ffos Las, the owners returned to the market to snap up smart juvenile hurdle prospect Circuit Breaker (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). 

Not only can Nathaniel get you a top-class horse on the level, as we saw with the brilliant Desert Crown and Enable, but the King George and Eclipse winner has proved he can get classy jumpers as well. 

The team at Jackdaws Castle will be hoping they have found the next Zanahiyr (Ire) after agent Matt Coleman signed for the Ralph Beckett-trained Circuit Breaker for 260,000gns on behalf of Tanzanite..

Coleman said, “He is going to Jackdaws and we had an order to look for a juvenile hurdle horse. This is a big fantastic-looking horse by Nathaniel. He looks like a National Hunt horse. Ralph [Beckett] was very complimentary about the horse and is extremely pleased with how well he has done on the Flat considering his size. He won on debut and ran second to Urban Outlook (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) [who made 280,000gns to Domeland] last time.”

The Tanzanite team can count themselves lucky to have come away with Circuit Breaker as, just when the hammer was about to fall, Harold Kirk tried to throw in one last bid. Alas, it was too late and the principal buyer for Ireland's champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins was forced to fill the role of the underbidder.

Mt Fugi Park was sourced by Coleman at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale for £290,000 after he won his point-to-point for trainer Donnchadh Doyle.

Coleman continued, “We were really pleased with Mt Fugi Park. The syndicate has two horses and they are both real out-and-out National Hunt types. For instance, Mt Fugi Park is very much a staying chaser of the future, and that's why we wanted to get something here with possibly a bit more speed.” 

That wasn't the only Beckett-trained gelding to be received well by the market as the previous lot, Campaign Trail (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), was sold to Ed Bailey Bloodstock and Peter Kerr Syndicates for 200,000gns. Both horses were consigned by Jamie Railton.

Buy of the day

Wednesday's buy of the day is something of a collaborative effort as the Racing Post's James Thomas made a strong case for Gaiden (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) to be given the nod. 

Trained by Richard Hannon, Gaiden was well-fancied and sent off as the 3-1 favourite to win on debut over the minimum trip at Windsor back in April. 

If connections had come away from that effort with any disappointment that would have soon dissipated with what the winner, Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), went on to achieve. 

Sadly, Gaiden hasn't followed a similar trajectory. She followed up on that effort with a rock-solid third in a listed contest at York, bagging valuable black-type in the process, but has been well-beaten in her three subsequent starts. 

Gaiden was knocked down to the Gaiden Partners for 32,000gns on Wednesday and she may well represent a bit of value. Even if she were never to set foot on a racecourse again, she has achieved black-type without winning and is by one of the sexiest stallions in the game. She looks well-bought. 

Away from Gaiden, Eastmore (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) could look well-bought by Charles Byrnes at 80,000gns. Placed in all three of his maidens for legendary trainer Kevin Prendergast in Ireland, he has been snapped up by one of the shrewdest dual-purpose handlers in the business and looks an ideal type to go down that route.

Thought for the day

Is it just me or is this the first year in a while where the National Hunt trainers have been able to play on the higher-rated juvenile hurdle prospects?

In previous years, even the top operators were being blown out of the water by international buyers for the three-year-olds who stayed 10f and beyond. 

This week, we've had Jonjo O'Neill buy the 89-rated Circuit Breaker for 260,000gns while Ed Bailey landed Campaign Trail for 200,000gns. At a lower end, we saw Charles Byrnes secure a nice horse for 80,000gns while Gordon Elliott has added five to his team over the past few days.

There has been a dearth of collective talent in the two-mile hurdling division in recent years and this week's results can only be a positive with a view towards providing the sphere with a much-needed shot in the arm.

There are few things as exciting as a Champion Hurdler at full cry. Think of that golden era of Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Harchibald and Mac's Joy. 

We have been starved of such competition in recent years over hurdles but, who knows, the first signs of this avenue being reopened to the jumps handers were apparent at Tattersalls this week. Who knows, we could be writing about Circuit Breaker or Campaign Trail by the time Cheltenham rolls around.

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It was Juddmonte's Sam Guyette, shortlisting for the top bloodstock agent this week, who first lauded the Norelands Stud-drafted colt as a potential nap. 

Brown revealed that, after taking this nugget with a heavy pinch of salt initially, he was then bowled over by Wednesday's topper when he made his way down to Highflyer.

“A lot of credit has to go to our spotters because it's very hard to get around these numbers,” Brown said after securing the colt for his existing client. “Sam Guyette, who works for Juddmonte, has been helping us get through the numbers this week and told me very early that there was a special horse for me to see. I sort of raised my eyebrows and went down to see him and went, 'wow, this is a very serious horse.' 

“I knew he'd be hard to buy. He's by one of the greatest stallions around and has a proper back page. Luckily I had somebody who was willing to stretch and have a proper go. He'll stay in England.”

The Sea The Stars colt is out of Dawn Approach (Ire) mare Miss Aiglonne (GB), who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mekhtaal (GB) (Sea The Stars). It was a combination of that strong pedigree and likable physical attributes that enticed Brown to go to 425,000gns. 

“He's not a huge horse,” the agent explained. “He's a perfectly-sized horse for me. I got to see Baaeed (GB) quite a lot in William Haggas's. Baaeed had this huge, flat quarter and great width of hip. He wasn't actually a huge horse. This horse had a similar hind end to Baaeed. He has great movement and is just a classy animal.”

Brown added, “We're all realists and know that most horses are not very good. But, buying a horse who looks like that and is by Sea The Stars, it gives you a chance of having a top Group 1 horse.”

Similarly to Book 1, the trade at Park Paddocks this week didn't quite compare to last year, but Brown was left focussing on the positives at close of play on Wednesday.

He concluded, “I think the market has been strong. I think it's been really good. It has been well documented that last week was tricky. This week has been hard to buy. 

“I didn't buy as many this week as I did last week and I've tried on plenty. There's definitely cracks and it would be foolish for everyone involved to say it was completely smooth sailing. But, overall, you'd have to have a positive take away from the sale.”

Key Figures Fall At Book 2

The key figures took a dip at Book 2 this year; the aggregate fell by 11% at Book 2 compared to 12 months ago. There were similar dips with the median and average which fell by 11% and 10% respectively. The clearance rate fell by 1% to 85%.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “As referenced last week the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sales reached extraordinary heights the like of which we may not see for many years to come, so for Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale to produce returns which, although falling short of last year, compare favourably with all bar two renewals of Europe's largest yearling sale gives some perspective. 

“As recently as 2016 the turnover at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was below 40 million guineas, with a then record average price of 65,000 guineas, a record-equalling median of 50,000 guineas and an unprecedented 117 lots selling for 100,000 guineas or more. This year's sale has achieved an average in excess of 80,000 guineas, a median second only to last year's runaway record and a clearance rate of 85%. 

“The outstanding Dubawi filly who topped the sale at 725,000 guineas was the second highest priced filly ever sold at this sale, 55 lots have sold for 200,000 guineas or more which is fractionally fewer than last year and the diversity of buyers has been notable at all levels of the market.”

He added, “As ever the support from the consignors has been outstanding. Year after year horses purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are successful at the very highest level throughout the world, annually demonstrating the extraordinary quality of yearlings that British and Irish consignors, alongside many from mainland Europe, commit to this sale. Buyers, both domestic and international, derive huge confidence from the consistent racecourse achievements of Tattersalls October Yearlings and buyers from throughout Europe and the Gulf region, as well as Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and the USA have all made valuable contributions this week alongside the domestic British and Irish participants who will always be the backbone of the October Yearling Sales.

“It is a source of pride that Books 1 and 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale showcase so many of the best yearlings to be found in Europe, but as we move on to Books 3 and 4 we should also highlight the quality of the yearlings to be offered in the next few days. The likes of last year's Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lezoo and recent Group 2 Beresford Stakes winner Deepone were both bought at Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale and are graphic illustrations of the opportunities still to be found at Tattersalls this week.”

Owner Makes Hay At Book 2 By Splashing Out On Nine Yearlings

Jim Hay, whose wife Fitri's colours have been carried by Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory (GB) and more recently by smart sprinters Khaadem (Ire) and Equilateral (GB), outlined his passion for British racing after buying nine yearlings at Book 2.

That outlay was headed by a 325,000gns Gleneagles (Ire) colt from Whatton Manor Stud on Wednesday. Hay had been active at the yearling sales from Arqana through to Keeneland, Goffs and now this week at Tattersalls. 

Shortly after snapping up the Gleneagles, the owner's Ciro Di Marzio (Justify), a €518,519 purchase from the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale earlier this year, won a Kempton novice for trainer Ralph Beckett. 

Hay, who expects to be represented at the Breeders' Cup by Nakatomi (Firing Line) [who he owns in partnership with Sheikh Fahad] and Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), admitted that his love for British racing comes fraught with frustrations, but put on the record his commitment to racehorse ownership after bolstering his team for next year. 

Hay said, “We bought a few today. We like Gleneagles and have had a lot of success with them-Royal Scotsman and Highland Chief-so we like the bloodline. The one we bought today is out of a Pivotal (GB) mare, the same as Royal Scotsman, so we like that cross. The experts [agents Ed Sackville and Dermot Farrington] tell me that he looks the business.”

He added, “UK racing is in a terrible bloody state financially. But that's okay, we'll keep doing what we've been doing for twenty-odd years. We'd love UK racing to actually become sensible and be funded properly.”

Hay ran 34 individual horses in Britain this year alone and, along with Beckett, he supports Andrew Balding, Paul and Oliver Cole, Richard Hannon, Charlie Hills and more. A 310,000gns Churchill colt bought from Clare Castle Stud also featured on Wednesday's shopping list for a man who spent $1 million at Keeneland earlier this year. However, Hay relayed his ongoing worry over what the future lies for the industry in Britain due to affordability checks on punters.

He said, “The big dream with all of this for everyone is to produce a stallion that could potentially be worth a lot of money. Otherwise, the whole thing is just basically shredding money. The other thing is these affordability checks. 

“A bookie won't let me put a fifty quid each-way bet on but I've just spent over three-hundred-grand on a horse. This is the nonsense in all of it. All this kind of stuff needs to come to a halt.”

The Gleneagles colt was consigned by Whatton Manor Stud, who were also in lights when selling a Too Darn Hot (GB) colt to Highclere for 320,000gns. Those figures elevated Whatton Manor Stud to end Book 2 as the second busiest consignors with 22 selling for 1,879,000gns. That was only bettered by the 2,628,000gns aggregate posted by Tally-Ho Stud for 28 yearlings. 

Reflecting on the week, Whatton Manor's Ed Player said, “Trade feels tough when you are selling quite a few horses. We had four horses in Book 1 and 25 in Book 2. It has been quite tough but, if you have nice horses, there are plenty of people for it. It definitely feels tougher than it has done in previous times but trade just can't keep going up year after year. But, if you have a nice horse, there is still great trade.”

He added, “A lot of work has gone into these two weeks. The guys at home work incredibly hard and you've just got to try and show the horses as best you can. If people don't like them, that's the market value at that given time. When Tattersalls come and inspect the horses in June, obviously some progress a lot and others don't do as well. Overall, trade is perfectly okay but it's just tougher this year than other years.”

O'Brien Lands Colt By 'One Of The Top Sires In The World' 

Joseph O'Brien has been a constant presence at Tattersalls since Book 1 and bought horses at every level in the past week. The leading trainer picked up a 310,000gns Siyouni (Fr) under the banner of Opm Equine, a partnership that includes American bloodstock agent Justin Casse. 

O'Brien commented, “Siyouni has had an exceptional year. This is a nice strong colt and we're lucky to have gotten him. We've had a few by Siyouni and he's one of the top sires in the world. We're delighted to have him. He's been bought with Justin Casse and Olivia Perkins-Mackey, who works with Justin. We're looking forward to hopefully a mature two-year-old.”

The Siyouni was expertly pinhooked by Guy O'Callaghan of Grangemore Stud from Etreham at Arqana last December for €78,000. He is out of an unraced Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare whose dam is a sister to high-class Ballydoyle-trained runners Rhododendron (Ire), Magical (Ire) and Flying The Flag (Ire).

O'Callaghan said, “He is a smashing colt from a very good family and Siyouni has had an amazing season with two of the best three-year-olds [Tahiyra and Paddington] around. This is just a lovely simple horse and I bought him with my brother Robert for €78,000 from Haras d'Etreham and the late Lady O'Reilly.”

Golden touch

By Georgia Cox 

Lot 1270 

Sire: Mohaather (GB) Dam: Maid For Winning (GB)

Bred by Claiborne Farm

Consigned by Ballyvolane Stud

Purchased by Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock for the Guest Family

This colt is out of the well-named Maid For Winning, who has produced seven winners from eight runners including three black-type performers. Most notable of which is the Group 3 winner Yourtimeisnow (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). 

Bought by John Foley under the banner of GHS Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Foal Sales for 55,000gns, the Mohaather colt almost doubled in price when selling to Howson and Houldsworth Bloodstock on behalf of the Guest family for 100,000gns on Wednesday.

The Guest family are big supporters of George Margason and the trainer could have plenty to look forward to with this colt by freshman sire Mohaather, the progeny of which have been snapped up by notable buyers, including Shadwell, Highflyer, Ed Sackville, Dermot Farrington and Paddy Twomey this week alone.

Buy of the day

A strong case can be made for the last horse [lot 1351] in the ring on Wednesday, a belter of a Blue Point colt, being the best bought horse on the day. Consigned by Hascombe & Valiant Stud, this colt snuck marginally under the average [133,900gns] posted by the stallion this week at 130,000gns, but he was anything but average. He was bought by Thomond O'Mara, a prominent breeze-up handler and, assuming the colt breezes well, he could be one to turn a profit. He'd fit in nicely at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale here next spring and looks very well-bought. 

Thought for the day

Some of the talent displayed by the sales staff on the sales ground over the past few days has been off the charts. We have had the odd yearling get loose in the parade ring, but thankfully, there was no harm done. That's been down to the quick-thinking and skill displayed by the men and women on the ground. A job well done.

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The Richard Hannon-trained 4-year-old won her first stakes, the Listed Dick Hern S., at Haydock in August. Favoured in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown, she ran to her odds and delivered a three-quarter length victory earlier this month. If entered, she would face Group/Grade 1 winners Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Msqe De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) among others in that one-mile contest.

“We've all had a chat and we we're absolutely delighted with Sandown,” said Brown. “She is a filly on a sharp upwards curve and when fillies do that you don't know how far they can go, so we'll most likely supplement her for the Sun Chariot.”

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The John and Thady Gosden trainee won his first three starts, before running third in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and fifth in the G1 St Leger, both times to Heart's Cry (Jpn) colt Continuous (Jpn).

“I think he's going to be better on top of the ground and he still ran an admirable race,” said Brown, reflecting on the colt's St Leger performance.

“He's a big colt and by the far the biggest, most scopey horse in that field and he's only going to get better from three to four. He still ran with credit, but we'll put him away now and we'll look at turning him into a Cup horse next year.”

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“I thought he probably ran right up to form, as John [Gosden] said afterwards carrying the three pound penalty [for his Gold Cup win] is tough over that trip,” said Brown. “We were delighted with the run because it sort of showed that Ascot wasn't a fluke. We hoped it wasn't and Coltrane is a very good horse on his day–they're the best stayers around really.”

“Our horse was strong at the line, we know he gets two and a half miles obviously, and I'd say that the Cadran will be his next target.”

According to Brown, soft ground at ParisLongchamp remains a slight concern.

“I would be a bit worried about a bit of soft ground. You never know really until you try it, I think he'll be OK but you never know,” he said. “After the Cadran that will be it for him this year as everything is geared around trying to win a second Gold Cup.”

Fellow Wathnan runner Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), who was purchased by the operation following a second-place effort in Goodwood's G2 Richmond S. on Aug. 3, held the same spot once again last time in the Aug. 23 G3 Acomb S. at York.

“I was actually delighted. He obviously bumped into one at Goodwood and I'd say there's a fair chance he's just bumped into another good one at York,” said Brown of the Adrian Paul Keatley trainee.

“He ran well, possibly he'd prefer soft ground and also he was a breeze-up horse who has had some quick runs. We're going to give him a bit of a rest and give him just one more run this year, I would say. He's shown he's a group level colt and I think he'll only be better next year as well as he's still relatively unfurnished.”

Brown also indicated that stable runner multiple group winner Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is likely for a break as well following a fourth behind winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the Aug. 26 G2 City of York S.

Earlier this spring, he was runner-up in the G1 French 2000 Guineas in May, subsequently fourth in the June 10 G1 St James's Palace S. before finishing second to Kinross in Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. Aug. 1.

“It's the quickest we've run him back [between the Lennox and the City of York] and I wonder if he was a touch flat,” Brown surmised. “Kinross is a brilliant horse, and we were a bit farther behind him than we were at Goodwood, which I suppose makes you think he was just a touch flat.”

He concluded, “We haven't made any plans for him. Myself, Brian [Meehan] and Olly Tait will sit down and do that in a couple of weeks, but I'd imagine we'll give him a six-week break now and give him one more run somewhere.”

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Wathnan Racing advisor Richard Brown said, “We said after Ascot that his main target would be the Leger and that [the Great Voltigeur] was the obvious race to take en route. We'd love to have won it, but they went pretty hard up front–those early fractions were pretty fierce. We were initially disappointed, but then you see where the two horses that went with him finished and where he finished. Frankie [Dettori] looked after him when his winning chance had gone and actually when he stood up on him, the horse ran on again on his own.”

Looking ahead, he added, “Back up to a mile and six [furlongs] in the Leger is going to be much more his game. I've been in racing long enough not to be overly optimistic as things go wrong and maybe he's not good enough, but I think he's going to go there with a big chance.”

Gregory is the 3-1 market leader for the Leger with Paddy Power, with his York conqueror Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) a 4-1 shot and Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who carries the colours of the King and Queen, next in line at 11-2.

Brown said, “He's come out of the race in great shape, John and Thady [Gosden] are very happy with him, it's all systems go and we're looking forward to it.”

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William Haggas had been in the royal procession on Wednesday and he put his name back on the invitation list for next year by becoming the first trainer to provide the King and Queen with a winner at Royal Ascot in the King George V S., named after the present monarch's great grandfather.

Bred by the late Queen, Desert Hero (GB) hails from a family which has been well represented at the royal meeting in recent years. His dam Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a full-sister to the G2 Hardwicke S. winner Dartmouth (GB), who appeared at Royal Ascot in three consecutive years, and both siblings were gifted to the Queen by their breeder Sheikh Mohammed. 

The 'new Ascot', as old-timers still like to call it, can feel a little devoid of atmosphere on occasion, even on the big occasion, but not so for a royal winner. Every step, every balcony and every tier was stuffed with racegoers cheering in Desert Hero and Tom Marquand, as the King and Queen, accompanied by the Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Tindall, arrived in the winner's enclosure.

“This is what it's all about for us, and when you are given the privilege of training some horses for the late Queen and The King and Queen, it's an honour,” said Haggas.

“They have been looking forward to Royal Ascot for a long time and they hoped to have as many runners as possible. I think they will be absolutely delighted. It's very important for horseracing, but it's also important that the King and Queen enjoy it, which they clearly appear to do. Long may that continue.”

It didn't take long, however, for the King to have his thunder stolen by the upstager-in-chief, Lanfranco Dettori. With the quality of horses on offer from Wathnan Racing, the breakthrough owners on the scene who have made quite a splash this week, Dettori will certainly be enjoying this new, albeit brief, association.

Wathnan Racing is the operational name for the horses owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, whose brother Sheikh Joaan is already a familiar face on the international racing scene as the principal of Al Shaqab Racing and owner of Haras de Bouquetot.

First, Gregory (GB) gave the team the Queen's Vase, only for Courage Mon Ami (GB) to plunder an even bigger prize 24 hours later after an epic stretch battle with the plucky Coltrane (Ire) in the Gold Cup. What these hugely exciting emerging stayers have in common, as well as being trained by John and Thady Gosden, is that their Royal Ascot victories were both their first runs in the colours of Wathnan Racing. 

Courage Mon Ami was bred and raced until recently by Anthony Oppenheimer of Hascombe and Valiant Studs, who was also the breeder of Gregory's sire Golden Horn (GB). Gregory represents Philippa Cooper's Normandie Stud and a family which has been replete with quality stayers over the years. While the latter has the target of the St Leger, the four-year-old Courage Mon Ami, similarly unbeaten, has announced his presence at the top of the staying division having arrived in the Gold Cup straight from a Goodwood handicap. This he won a day after Gregory landed the Cocked Hat Stakes at the same course.

“It's a wonderful day for Hascombe and Valiant,” said Oppenheimer as he congratulated the horse's new connections by the winner's circle.

“We're very pleased. We've got plenty of the family. We very nearly retired him before he ran because he was so big, but he had those two fantastic races last year when he won by about ten lengths.”

As Oppenheimer watched the presentation, made by the King to Courage Mon Ami's new owners, he was joined by Jayne McGivern, who now owns Golden Horn, having bought him last year to stand at Overbury Stud, where he has covered 184 mares this season.

“Your horse is doing very well!” Oppenheimer said to McGivern with a grin. “I'm very pleased with Golden Horn, he's doing much better than ever before. I have a couple of really nice horses by him coming up.”

While Courage Mon Ami's victory means that the extraordinary Frankel (GB) has been represented by a Group 1 winner on every day of Royal Ascot so far, from a mile to two and a half miles, it cannot be overlooked that Oppenheimer has enjoyed great success in the past with another of his sons, Cracksman (GB). Now a Darley second-season stallion, Cracksman is responsible for one of the most exciting three-year-old colts of the season in the Prix du Jockey Club winner Ace Impact (Fr).

Olly Tait of Australia's Twin Hills Stud and his old friend Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock have been charged with the advising and buying duties for the Qatari-based Wathnan Racing, and both have passed with flying colours in delivering on their brief.

“I was asked to buy some proper horses who could go to the big meetings and compete in the big races, and this is as big as it gets,” said Brown. “Olly is the advisor for Wathnan Racing, which was the leading stable in Qatar over the winter. He approached me and said that they were interested in buying a few horses. I obviously jumped at the opportunity. I've know Olly for 25 years. We actually lived next to each other in Newmarket when we first there in about 1998. The opportunity to work with him was extraordinary. We haven't bought very many, we've been very selective, but there are a couple more to come out.”

There is just one part of the brief that Tait and Brown may struggle to adhere to if the current level of success continues. 

Brown added, “The owners want to be under the radar slightly, though I think the last two days has just blown that apart, but they are private people. It was just a case of getting started with a few horses and this has been a dream start.”

The post Holding Out For a Hero appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Monday's breeze took place on testing ground, with some two-year-olds handling it better than most, which will all be taken into account by the buying bench, according to Blandford Bloodstock's ace scout. 

As if to remind the strike-rate Blandford Bloodstock has enjoyed at this sale in recent years, posters of previous purchases Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), last year's Coventry S. hero, and the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Perfect Power, hang proud either side of the rostrum. 

Describing what that sight meant to the team of international bloodstock agents upon arriving at the sale ground, Brown said, “It was epic. We left Newmarket at five o'clock on Sunday morning for the practice breeze and, when we walked into the ring, it was very cool to see Bradsell and Perfect Power either side of the rostrum. They are two really good horses who have come out of this ring. This place has been very lucky for us in the past. I watched Perfect Power's breeze over the weekend just to refresh the memory for what we are looking for so fingers crossed we can find another one.”

Perfect Power | Scoop Dyga

He added on the conditions, “It's very soft ground. I actually thought that times came into it less than ever at the Craven Sale. The fastest horses in the breeze are very often not the best horses to come out of the sale. There are so many different things that go into the melting pot.

“The great thing about the breeze-up sales is that lots of people use different methods to buy horses out of these sales. There are so many purchasers using different methods that it provides a great spread to the buying bench and that bore out last week. There were plenty of horses who did very little in terms of time at the Craven and they still made plenty of money.”

In searching for the next star, Brown explained that the Blandford team marries up many strands of information and evidence before playing on certain horses. 

He said, “If you went to the breeze-up sales and just went by the timesheet and bought the fastest horses, you really would spend a lot of money and do very badly. 

“Time is a factor but there are a lot of other factors to it as well–the style of the breeze, the horse's action and its attitude. The horse's attitude is something we place a huge amount of emphasis on as the whole process is a massive test.”

He added, “On top of all that, you've still got to like the horse physically. There are plenty of horses who breeze well and, if I don't like the look of them, I won't buy them. I'm not just going to buy an ugly horse who does a fast time. 

“But it usually adds up. When a horse breezes well, moves well and shows some speed at some point in the breeze, you usually look at the horse and say, 'yea, I get it.'”

Brown, who was crowned Bloodstock Agent Of The Year for the second year running in 2022, bought four horses at last week's Craven Sale at Tattersalls from 65,000gns to 350,000gns and a total spend of just under 1 million gns. 

He labelled himself as pleasantly surprised by the buoyancy of the first domestic breeze-up sale of the year, especially in terms of the clearance rate, and predicted the top end to remain strong this week at Goffs UK.

Brown said, “I have some clients who want colts, some people looking for fillies only, others looking to get going–in terms of that they are looking for sharp two-year-olds–and I also have orders for back-end horses as well. I wouldn't say the brief changes from sale to sale, because different types can come from any sale, and actually, Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}), who came from this sale and got as close to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as anything in the Jacques le Marois, can do something big up here this year before going back to Australia. He wasn't in any way a whizz bang horse and, in actual fact, is getting better with every run.

“Obviously Donny has set its stall out to be a good source of two-year-olds and we expect to see those but that doesn't mean that if a nice big and backward horse comes up there, that we don't have orders for those types as well.”

He added, “The top is very strong and I imagine that will continue to be the same. I actually thought that the clearance rates were better than I was expecting them to be at the Craven and that the market was pretty buoyant. I bought four horses but got beaten on more than that in the middle market and at the top end as well.”

One consignor facing into the Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale off the back of a productive Craven Sale is Cormac Farrell. Consigning under the banner of C.F. Bloodstock for the first year, Farrell sold three horses for just over 500,000gns at Tattersalls and is hoping to keep the momentum going this week. 

“The Craven was amazing,” Farrell started. “They were all very professional and it was a great sale. I have to say, the results were down to a team effort and everyone plays a role. Rory Cleary is a huge help to us, in fairness. He's a top-class judge and a great horseman. Rory broke most of our horses and rode them all work so it wouldn't have been possible without him.”

Farrell's Footstepsinthesand (GB) colt [lot 80] clocked particularly well given the conditions and makes up a three-pronged draft for the Curragh handler who has also achieved some notable success selling point-to-point horses. 

He said, “The Footstepsinthesand colt cost 20,000gns here at the Premier Yearling Sale and, from day one, he has been very straightforward. We were expecting him to breeze well so we are delighted. Visually, it looked very good and I have since heard that it is up there with some of the fastest times. Regardless of the time, though, I have no doubt that he is going to go on and be a good horse. Hopefully we have a good sale and get them all sold and to good homes. That's important because you need to get a name for selling nice horses.”

The sale kicks off at 10am on Tuesday where 191 horses will go under the hammer at a sale that has produced seven Royal Ascot winners in as many years. 

The post Brown On The Search For Next Perfect Power At Goffs UK appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Brown, a renowned bloodstock agent with over 20 years of experience in the game, went to 280,000gns to secure Desert Crown on behalf of Saeed Suhail at Book 2 at Tattersalls in 2020 and counts himself as extremely lucky to have sourced what he believes is a once-in-a-lifetime colt. 

“I ended up at Sir Michael's for quite a few glasses of wine on Saturday night,” said Brown on Monday. “I called him yesterday [Sunday] to thank him and I said, 'look, you've done this before but I haven't and I'm sure I never will again.' 

“He gave me a bollocking and told me not to be a pessimist. I think it's once-in-a-lifetime stuff, mainly because so few Derby winners are offered up at public auction and you are up against the might of the top breeding operations like Coolmore, Juddmonte, Aga Khan and Godolphin. The chance of buying a horse like Desert Crown is so slim. We got very lucky.”

WHAT. A. PERFORMANCE.

DESERT CROWN provides Sir Michael Stoute with his sixth @CazooUK Derby victory and a first for @RKingscote with a hugely impressive performance in the @EpsomRacecourse showpiece #CazooDerby pic.twitter.com/RaiPMMSnix

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 4, 2022

Desert Crown became Stoute's sixth Derby winner when powering home at Epsom under Richard Kingscote who, like Brown, was securing his first Derby. Prior to Saturday, Brown may have been best known for sourcing dual Group 1-winning juvenile Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) and top-notch sprinter Dream Ahead. However, Desert Crown eclipses all other achievements in the business and Brown is convinced he will never come across one better. 

He explained, “This won't be topped. It can't be topped. Rabbah Bloodstock was formed in 2006 and Jono Mills, who is one of my greatest mates, is the managing director and I work very closely with him, Bruce Raymond and Philip Robinson. It's through them that I have been able to buy for the people that I do. Also, I have known Sir Michael for a long time and, while we haven't done a lot of business together, we share a pretty big passion for cricket, which is all we ever seem to talk about. To be a small part of that team and to do it with these guys is very special.”

Brown added, “I am fortunate to buy for the people I do. I get to go to the sales and pick out the horses I like for people who trust me. It gives you a sporting chance. I spent many years going to the sales and not being able to buy these types of horses so I realise how fortunate I am that I have people who will back me to stretch out if I like one.”

Brown clearly liked Desert Crown as a yearling, as did plenty of others, given the colt fetched 280,000gns, above average for a colt by Nathaniel. But Brown was never going to be beaten to Desert Crown. Such was his love for him as a yearling, Brown revealed how he even ignored his own advice by laying his cards on the table and declaring his interest in the colt before he walked into the ring.

He recalled, “It's easy to say it now but he was outstanding, just a gorgeous horse with a great temperament, which he is showing now as a racehorse. We put a lot of emphasis on temperament at the sales and he just showed fantastically well. 

“I actually pride myself on my poker face at the sales but I couldn't hide my love for this guy. I told Gary Robinson, who bred the horse, what an outstanding specimen that he was and, as the words were coming out of my mouth, I was thinking 'what are you doing, what about your poker face?' He was just bombproof, such a cool dude, and he showed that on Saturday. He walked around the paddock and down to the start like a pro and he was a pro during the race as well.”

Brown has been buying for Desert Crown's owner Saeed Suhail, whose colours were also carried to Derby glory by Kris Kin (Kris S) in 2003, for three years. He sources between eight and 10 yearlings for the owner every year and, while the first batch were forgettable, Brown believes he is making up for his mistakes with Desert Crown. 

He explained, “Desert Crown is part of the second crop of horses I bought for Saeed Suhail. I didn't do a very good job with the first crop. We had some winners but didn't have a good horse. “I don't think I got the brief properly in the first year but we gave a good throw for a few horses in the second crop and luckily it's working out. To produce a Derby winner for Saeed Suhail is fantastic and there's some very positive reports about a couple of the 2-year-olds so hopefully that first crop is well and truly forgotten now.”

Brown added, “Nathaniel is a top-class stallion. You can't sire a mare like Enable (GB) without being top class. Andrew Stone of St Albans Bloodstock, who I do a lot of work for, had God Given (GB). She won a Group 2 in Britain before winning a Group 1 in Italy and was actually Luca Cumani's last Group 1 winner, so we have been huge fans of Nathaniel all the way through and the market does not give him the respect that he deserves. 

“That can happen. I have always thought he was a very underappreciated stallion so, when I saw a colt as nice as Desert Crown, I knew we had a chance. If he was by Frankel (GB), Dubawi (Ire) or Sea The Stars (Ire), I wouldn't have been able to buy him. He's an absolute beauty and the exciting thing is that he was still one of the more unfurnished colts in the Derby field so there should be a lot more to come from him.”

There is still an amount of celebrating to do before a plan is drawn up for the rest of the season but Brown is convinced that Desert Crown can build on Saturday's heroics. 

He said, “Sir Michael's training was exemplary. This horse had a minor setback in the spring. I went to see him in March and he was standing in his box so he was definitely undercooked heading into the Dante. When he won the Dante, I did think we had something special on our hands and it's looking that way now.”

“We are all having dinner tonight and I am sure it [future plans] will be discussed but that's well above my pay grade. The great thing is that, when you have guys as experienced as Bruce Raymond, Saeed's racing manager, and Sir Michael, you don't need to worry about it. They'll get things right. Where they decide to go next, that's down to them, I'm just lucky to be a small part of the team.”

The post ‘Sir Michael Stoute Gave Me a Bollocking and Told Me Not to Be a Pessimist’  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Having emerged from the economic shock of the pandemic with record business last year, the Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze-Up once again raised the bar as investors seemingly remain impervious to dramatic new volatility in the geopolitical environment.

The juvenile sector had been first to take the Covid broadside in 2020, and no meaningful comparisons can duly be made with the auction salvaged—in conjunction with one hosted by Arqana—that July. But last year this sale seamlessly resumed the bull run that had animated trade before that trauma, with £6,219,500 turnover breaking down to a £48,590 average and £34,000 median (128 sold of 144 into the ring).

Well, on Thursday those indices were in turn effaced, albeit narrowly, by transactions totalling £6,495,500 for a £49,208 average and £36,000 median, the only slippage coming in the clearance rate at 132 sold of 158 offered (81.6%). Following a very strong start to the European circuit at Tattersalls last week, and with unmissable momentum on the racetrack, consignors can dare to believe that the good times really are back.

“As ever with a breeze-up sale, vendors can only expect to be paid for those that perform their very best when galloping prior to sale,” said Goffs UK Managing director Tim Kent. “And those that ticked all the boxes sold very well today. A record-breaking 17 horses sold for £100,000 or more, with three making more than £200,000, which helped to return a record average price that was just shy of £50,000 for the first time in the sale's history.

“It has been a fantastic few days in sunny Donny and, as ever, we would like to thank our loyal band of vendors who again prepared some truly exceptional horses to showcase their talents on Town Moor. Much of the talk during the last few days has been the search for Royal Ascot runners as this sale has an unrivalled record of success at that meeting.”

Byrne Family Helps Whyte Pick up the Pieces

There are three things indispensable to a breeze-up consignment: horsemanship, horsemanship and horsemanship. Scale doesn't come into it. True, scale doesn't get in the way, and this was duly another fertile day for those masters of all trades at Tally Ho Stud. But top billing this time should surely be reserved for Michael Byrne and his family at Knockgraffon Stables—not just for a fine result with their own, solitary offering, but also for a service rendered to another small operation in what is, after all, a community of colleagues as much as rivals.

Matty Whyte of Bushypark Stables in Co Kildare similarly breezed just the one horse here on Tuesday, a Tasleet (GB) colt found in the same ring for just £14,000 last August. But he went so well as lot 97 that Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock was forced all the way to £230,000 in his quest for a new Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum.

After shaking hands with Brown, however, Whyte candidly diverted all credit to Byrne and his family.

“I'll be honest,” he explained. “I got badly broken up in a fall in January, cracked vertebrae and the lot, and I had to spread seven horses among friends and colleagues. And all the credit for this one goes to Michael Byrne. He prepped the horse, I was just getting weekly videos.”

Though he joked that he might have to delegate the work routinely in future, Whyte naturally remained entitled to congratulation for having started the process—most notably in having found the horse so cheaply.

“No, he didn't cost much,” Whyte said. “But he costs enough now! Look, he was up there in the top corner, the consignors had done a lovely job with him but he was just a little immature, a little raw, and I thought there might be a bit of improvement there.”

Brown, for his part, will be hoping that this colt can emulate Perfect Power, who had similarly multiplied his yearling value (16,000gns out of Book 2) when bought for £110,000 at this auction last year—but nonetheless went on to prove a bargain in winning at Royal Ascot, plus two Group 1s before his successful reappearance at Newbury last weekend.

This colt will carry the same colours. “We bought Far Above (Farrh) from Matty three years ago,” Brown said, recalling the 105,000gns purchase of that brief-but-bright sprinting star at the Tattersalls Guineas Sale. “He was extremely talented, and is now at stud with I have to say some pretty exceptional foals in his first crop. This is a gorgeous colt and, for me, he did an absolutely outstanding breeze.

“He did a very good time, which is important in a horse bred as he is. But he also showed a great attitude, which is something we place a big emphasis on, and a great stride and action. Tasleet was a very tough, talented horse, and Ardad was another first-season sire last year, of course—and the rest is history. It's been well documented how we got Perfect Power at this sale, and Sheikh Rashid was keen to try and find another very nice colt. Let's hope we've done so, because this horse has plenty of scope: he's not just a whizzbang.”

As for Whyte, asked how he was feeling a few months on from his accident, he replied: “Euphoric! Look, I'm back in one piece. I'm alive and well, and meanwhile all thanks to Michael.”

NEW TOP LOTlot 97 @GoffsUK @BrzUps Sale sold for £230,000 to @BlandfordBldstk. This colt is by first season sire Tasleet , @ShadwellStud, and was consigned by Bushypark Stables. The colt was a £14,000 yearling purchase from the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. pic.twitter.com/K373tBxZyh

— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022

Knockgraffon's own offering was scarcely less impressive. Remember this is very much a family operation, with Byrne, wife Kitty and sons Michael Jr. and Stephen assisted only by rider Evan Dwan at their yard outside Cashel in Co. Tipperary. Between them they'll reckon on pre-training around 15, with another 10 to breeze. Nonetheless they had a right touch at this sale four years ago, when catapulting a €12,000 Tamayuz filly to £140,000, and they had another cracking result with the Havana Gold (Ire) filly they brought here as lot 31.

This time it was Stephen Byrne doing the honours, having picked her out for £22,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland sale (transferred to Newmarket) last September. He was relieved by not surprised by her flashy breeze on Tuesday, which caused her value to stretch to £120,000 from Stroud Coleman Bloodstock.

“She did exactly what I thought she would,” Byrne said. “She's never disappointed me, she's always done everything so easy. I loved her the moment I saw her, she had that big round scopey action. We got her home and she's been a queen ever since.”

Brown Tries To Improve On Perfection

Brown's investment in the sale-topper crowned a hectic few minutes in which he doubled down on the success he has enjoyed at this auction, not just with Perfect Power but also in finding that horse's sire.

And he went back to the same well in giving £160,000 for another son of Kodiac (GB) (lot 92) from the farm that sent Ardad here in 2016, when he co-topped the sale at nearly the same price (£170,000). This time Tally Ho had sent the son of an unraced Bushranger (Ire) half-sister to the dam of Ardad.

“So he's closely related to Ardad, and obviously from the same consignors, but he's a different type of horse,” Brown remarked. “He's a May foal, he'd be a little more backward than Ardad was, and will probably take a little more time. Myself, I'd be keen to put a line through Ascot but that's not my job now and we'll see what the trainer says.”

Who will enjoy that privilege remains to be seen, but the silks will be those of Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum, brother to Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Juma. And their good friend Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi will also be competing through a brother to last year's G2 Queen Mary S. winner Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) acquired from Oak Tree Farm for £125,000 (lot 99). Al Qassimi has a smart young sprinter in Caturra (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who made a promising reappearance when second in the G3 Prix Sigy for Clive Cox only the previous day.

“All these guys are unbelievable horsemen in their own right,” Brown emphasised. “Sheikh Rashid is a championship endurance rider. They're great to buy for, and great to train for: if a horse needs time, the horse will be given time.”

Brown's commitment to the sale, incidentally, had been marked by his unanimous selection by the Goffs UK Board as winner of the Willie Stephenson Memorial Trophy for the biggest contribution to the company's profile over the past year.

“Richard has been a great friend to DBS/Goffs UK over the years,” said managing director Tim Kent. “And it's entirely appropriate that we present him this trophy at the very sale from which he has bought so many wonderful horses. Perfect Power is one of several and it's indeed fitting that it was Richard who bought Ardad's first Group 1 winner, having also bought Ardad in 2016.

“Perfect Power continues to do wonders for the Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale, following his brilliant win on Saturday, and there is plenty to look forward to with his Classic clash next month and we wish Richard and connections the very best of luck. We thank Richard for all his support over the years and we are sure he will be unearth many more Group 1 talents in the years to come.”

lot 92 sells for £160,000 @GoffsUK @BrzUps Sale. This colt by Kodiac, who is very popular at the sales, was consigned by @HoStud and bought by @BlandfordBldstk. pic.twitter.com/lNelf60scC

— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022

Another Back to the Tally Ho Well

Repeat business for Tally Ho was again central to one of the other big transactions of the day, with breeze-up regular Michael O'Callaghan forced to £200,000 for the Mehmas (Ire) colt they presented as lot 94.

This is the first foal of an Epaulette (Aus) half-sister to the dam of Epsom Icon (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), from the Cheveley Park family of Red Camellia (GB).

“He's a lovely colt and did one of the best breezes of the day,” O'Callaghan observed. “Visually, he's very impressive—and he's obviously by a sire conquering all before him. He's from a hotel we've had a lot of luck buying from, and came highly recommended. Hopefully he can make an Ascot horse: he looks early and fast, but has enough size and power that you'd hope he'll not just be early.”

The Curragh trainer has learned to appreciate the groundwork of Tally Ho through, among others, a couple of horses found at this sale: Classic-placed Now Or Later (Ire) (Bushranger {GB}) cost just £45,000, while only last year the tough and classy Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) co-topped the sale at £210,000 before proceeding to win the G3 Cornwallis S. on the 10th of 11 starts at two.

lot 94 sells for £200,000 @GoffsUK @BrzUps Sale. This colt is by Mehmas and was consigned by @HoStud, who are having a good sale season so far. @MDOCallaghan was the lucky bidder. pic.twitter.com/SrpI0aPxu6

— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022

Fresh Travels Beckon Munnings Migrant

The breeze-ups have for some reason become the one surviving route into the affections of European investors for American stock, and the latest to boom in value for a transatlantic journey was a colt by the flourishing Ashford sire Munnings presented by Ballinahulla Stables as one of the last into the ring as lot 177.

Signed for at Fasig-Tipton last October by Shamington Farms at just $32,000, the grey was strongly contested by Johnno Mills of Rabbah but eventually fell for £205,000 to Colm Sharkey.

Tadgh Ryan of Ballinahulla was keen to stress the partnership of Micky Cleere, while both expressed a debt to Donal Keane who was doing the legwork in Lexington.

“And it was really Micky who saw the video,” Ryan said. “Donal does it on the ground, and Micky sends me a shortlist of the videos he likes. That video work can be brutal! But this was a gorgeous horse as soon as he came over, with a great mind and a great constitution. He loves the game, and I really think he could be pretty good. We took a gamble bringing him here, they wanted him for Dubai, but it's worked out and Colm is one of the best judges out there.”

In the event, the colt will be heading out to the desert after all, as Sharkey was acting for clients in Dubai—perhaps aware that Ryan and Cleere had also been behind another American import in Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front). Sold here by Arqana last year for £120,000, he finished second in the G2 UAE Derby and has been flown back to his native land for the GI Kentucky Derby itself.

“He's the only horse I wanted to buy, so I've waited all day for him,” Sharkey said. “He's got a nice pedigree, did a nice, even breeze and vetted well. He'll head to Dubai now and hopefully race at the backend, once they get going in October or November.”

Underbidder Mills did secure a notable U.S. import, and quite a celebrity too: a half-brother to California Chrome himself.

The emigration of the dual Horse of the Year to Japan could well prove a good career move, breeders out there having repeatedly made their Bluegrass counterparts regret their commercial prejudices. In the meantime, however, his sibling by Accelerate—himself an absurdly generous fee, and a far more accomplished animal than California Chrome's sire Lucky Pulpit—was also exported, from Keeneland last September, to Powerstown Stud for just $62,000.

Here he advanced his value, as lot 36, to £110,000. His breeze having shown him to be functioning well, at this stage of his development, that may well turn out to be something of a bargain. “He's a May 16 foal, and will be given all the time he needs,” stressed Mills. “But he's the right stamp of horse, very solid, and his ultimate destination will be Dubai.”

That makes a lot of sense, given this horse's dirt antecedents, though it's possible that he will get an initial grounding on turf in Europe.

Top Hats Booked Down Under

An abrupt opening bid of £125,000 from Stuart Boman for the Kessaar (Ire) colt offered by Star Bloodstock (lot 26) put any dozing competition on the back foot in the morning session, and though one or two recovered briefly it was the Blandford Bloodstock agent who completed the job at £160,000.

Boman explained that this calculated, “disruptor” flourish had been imported on behalf of his good friend James Harron, who had jointly instructed him and Martin Buick from Australia.

“James got in touch with Martin and myself with a view to finding a runner for Royal Ascot,” he explained. “Like so many Australians they'll be glad to be able to leave the country and it sounds like they're all coming! We had very strict criteria and identified this as the one horse we wanted to buy, hence the bidding tactics. He's a very mature horse, he was the quickest colt in the sale and, while time isn't everything, in this instance you're looking for a five-furlong horse and he was particularly quick. He'll be joining Richard Hannon.”

After a “shocking” start to their cycle at the Craven Sale, according to Matt Eaves, this was a welcome touch for Star Bloodstock on a £25,000 pinhook in this ring last August by Byron Rogers. Here was yet another case of investors returning eagerly to Tally Ho, also the source of two headline successes for Star Bloodstock in G2 Norfolk S. winner A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), found here for £35,000 before his £135,000 sale at this auction in 2019; and GI Breeders' Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf runner-up Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), a £120,000 private sale at the refugee Arqana auction staged here last year, after her £29,000 acquisition the previous August. Malavath has meanwhile contributed to a breeze-up spree in the Classic trials with her reappearance success in the G3 Prix Imprudence.

“I'm delighted,” Eaves said. “We've had so much success buying from Tally-Ho and bringing them here to sell. At home, this horse has just been fast all the way. At the end of the day it's racetrack results that we want, so let's hope he goes and wins the Norfolk for them.”

lot 92 sells for £160,000 @GoffsUK @BrzUps Sale. This colt by Kodiac, who is very popular at the sales, was consigned by @HoStud and bought by @BlandfordBldstk. pic.twitter.com/lNelf60scC

— TDN (@theTDN) April 21, 2022

Boman and Buick returned to the fray for lot 130, on behalf of the same clients, in the process completing another fine pinhook for Longways Stables, who had picked out this Zoustar (Aus) filly for £26,000 here last summer—even though her dam Ainippe (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}) won twice in group company and was placed at the highest level. This time, with the benefit of a lightning breeze, she raised £150,000.

“Sharp filly,” Boman said. “She went very quick, one of the top five times, and she's very fit and forward so we can expect her to be early and hopefully we can get her to Ascot. Obviously you don't have to explain Zoustar to Australians, and this filly also has some residual which you can't say of every horse in this sale.”

Longways had also rolled the dice on a Zoustar colt here last August, and were again well rewarded in converting his value from £35,000 to £130,000 from Bryan Smart lot 135.

Overall this catalogue is unabashedly promoted on the Royal Ascot record of its graduates and the same handful of races, now barely two months away, were duly on the mind of investors throughout the day.

Fawzi Nass was one, when giving Kessaar (Ire) another significant boost in the £160,000 acquisition—the docket signed in the name of Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock—of a February colt found here for just £20,000 last summer and recycled as lot 114 by Bansha House Stables.

“Royal Ascot is always the plan,” Nass said with a grin. “But it's not that easy. The way he's built, well put together with a nice stride, he looks a proper 2-year-old type—so he should be sharp enough to come out very soon. He'll be trained by Roger Varian.”

His pedigree is certainly more commensurate with his April price than his August one: his dam is a half-sister to the three elite winners—Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})—produced by the O'Briens' blue hen Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill).

A couple of lots later Robin O'Ryan was endorsing another young sire in Sioux Nation, giving £130,000 for a colt consigned by Gaybrook Lodge as lot 116.

“We've two and we like them,” said Richard Fahey's assistant, here representing an established patron of the yard. “This one was well recommended before coming here. And while he breezed a little bit green, we liked him. They're all Royal Ascot horses at the moment. But he does look racy.”

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