Both fillies will test their Classic credentials next month with Hughes stating that he has built up his strongest team yet. Queen Of Zafeen and Star Music are owned by Jaber Abdullah and, while they hold entries in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, the Weathercock House handler is exploring options outside of Newmarket. 

He said, “I'm probably going to run Queen Of Zafeen in the Nell Gwyn because she has no experience on grass and it has all happened a bit quick for her really.

“She will have had a nice break from the Spring Cup to the Nell Gwyn and I'm thinking the German 1,000 Guineas rather than the English version, but we will let her do the talking first.”

Star Music will also be in action that week with the Oh So Sharp S. third set for a run in the Dubai Duty Free S.–better known as the Fred Darling–at Newbury on April 20.

“She will go for the Fred Darling and a theory I have, which might be wrong, is that Zoustars prefer a really flat track,” Hughes continued.

“They are a bit like Exceed And Excels and just seem to act better when it is really flat. She was particularly impressive when she won at Kempton but I just feel Newmarket might not be her track, even though she ran a blinder in the Oh So Sharp. I might think of Longchamp for her if she runs well in her trial.”

Hughes is also holding plenty of hope for Derby entrant Kamboo (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), who is set for an early season appearance in the Bet365 Feilden S. at Newmarket, while the former champion jockey turned trainer feels he is entering the season with some real talent at his disposal.

“Kamboo is one for the Feilden and is showing up well at home,” he added. “It's all a bit undecided at the moment but it's the first time I've had a handful of Group horses in my yard.

“Normally we have one that is a hopeful, but this time I'm pretty confident I have four or five to go to war with, which is pretty good for a small enough string.

“I'm a bit of a realist and Lizzie [Hughes's wife] says I'm negative at times. It's just this year I know I have nice horses to go to war with, so it's been a little bit different in the spring.

“Now they are running so well it is a bonus–everything we seem to be running at the moment is winning or going close, so it's going really well.

Meanwhile, Dominic Ffrench Davis says he is doing a rain dance ahead of a potential tilt at the 1,000 Guineas with the Amo Racing-owned Persian Dreamer (Calyx {GB}).

“Persian Dreamer is not back in the yard yet, she's over with Robson Aguiar in Ireland but he tells me she's doing well so we're looking forward to her coming back,” the trainer said.

“I hope this rain continues because to win a Group 1 with her would be the aim, but she needs to get her toe in.”

The post Hughes Eyes Breakthrough Classic Success With His Queen And Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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It was last February when Halford, who had sent out almost 500 winners from Copper Beech Stables in 16 full seasons, including Group 1 scorer Casamento (Ire), announced that he had taken the decision to combine forces with Tracey Collins under the banner of Conyngham Lodge. 

Farrell, a respected trainer in his own right but perhaps best known for trading horses at the point-to-point and breeze-up sales, bought the property alongside business partner and well-known owner Douglas Taylor shortly after that announcement. 

The new owners are already up-and-running at Copper Beech Stables after Farrell sent out two winners on the track in recent months. However, the trainer explained that he will be concentrating predominantly on trading at the point-to-point and breeze-up sales rather than running horses from the famous yard for the foreseeable future.

He said, “Douglas and I are lucky that we were able to come in and buy Copper Beech Stables. It's an incredibly exciting venture and the facilities here are second to none. We have put our own stamp on the place and upgraded some of the facilities further with a schooling strip and a Wexford sand gallop to train the point-to-point horses. It's hugely exciting for us.”

Farrell, who used to form part of Leamore Horses alongside Anna Calder, enjoyed something of a banner first year when consigning under his own name as CF Bloodstock in 2023. He topped the Tattersalls Guineas Sale when his Zoffany (Ire) colt, later named Bracken's Laugh (Ire), sold for 200,000gns to Ted Durcan and Richard Hughes on behalf of Bernadine and Sean Mulryan. 

Bracken's Laugh: sold for 200,000gns | Tattersalls

Along with Bracken's Laugh, who was a stylish winner of his maiden on debut at Newbury and wasn't beaten far in a Group 1 on his only other start, Farrell secured some notable results at the Tattersalls Craven Sale when three horses sold for a combined figure of 510,000gns. 

“We've had some good horses through our hands and topped the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale last year,” he said. “That was my first year operating under my own name as CF Bloodstock so that meant a lot. Bracken's Laugh was bought by Ted Durcan and Richard Hughes and he could be a very nice horse going forward for connections.”

He added, “When Anna [Calder] and I had Leamore Horses, we met Douglas and have just been very lucky together. Douglas is rowing in alongside me on this venture and has invested in Copper Beech Stables. We've had some nice Jet Aways (GB) together and, the first one we bought, Jet Plane (Ire), has gone on to win plenty of races. Jet Powered (Ire) is another and, while he has had his issues, he could be a nice horse for Nicky Henderson.”

Farrell is said to have almost 60 horses fully moved into Copper Beech Stables, with the lion's share of those being prepared for the breeze-ups and the remainder for point-to-points. There are just a handful of horses to run on the track, but that is not to say the trainer would be against adding more numbers for that sphere in time.

He explained, “It's working well and, as I said, last year was my first operating under CF Bloodstock so hopefully we can build on it in 2024. Douglas is involved in many of our horses but we have lots of other investors, too. 

“We have a mixture of point-to-point and breeze-up horses here and, while we do run a few on the track, invariably they would be horses that either missed a sale or failed to sell for whatever reason. 

“I like to trade horses, predominantly, and, while we'd be open to taking more horses to train for the track, we're always looking at those who have some upside and might be traded on at some point. You have to do that in Ireland in order to survive.”

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The jockey follows a similar path Richard Hughes enjoyed in riding a Classic winner for the decorated local trainer, who lays claim to the remarkable achievement of winning both the Indian 1000 and 2000 Guineas in 2009 and then claiming both the Indian Oaks and Derby a year later.

“It was great to come out here,” said Murphy. “I actually rode for the same connections as Richard Hughes was successful for with Jacqueline a couple of years ago when she won all the Classics.

He added: “Both my rides won and I really enjoyed the experience in Mumbai. The track here is excellent and the people have been incredibly hospitable and made me really welcome.”

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Figures on the up

The team at Goffs UK could hardly have wished for a better start to the Premier Yearling Sale. The day one figures were off the charts. Of the 218 lots offered on Tuesday, 199 were sold, representing a clearance rate of 91%. 

The aggregate was up 28% to £8,954,500, the average rose 15% to £44,997 and the median climbed 27% to £38,000.

There were noticeably less people around the sales complex at Doncaster on day two. While the figures failed to match what took place on Tuesday, there were some impressive numbers recorded on Wednesday, with an 87% clearance rate on a day where the aggregate climbed 11% to £7,003,000. 

The average on Wednesday went up 0.5% while the median fell by 4% to £32,000. That came despite the fact that there was some late drama in the ring with three of the last seven lots making six figures. 

All told, the sale went well. Of the 406 yearlings catalogued, 363 were sold, translating to a clearance rate of 89%. The aggregate was up 20% to £15,987,500 while the average was up 8% and the median rose by 9%.

Big Results From Small Numbers For Fitzgerald

Alice Fitzgerald knows what she is doing. It was at the Premier Yearling Sale in 2021 when Fitzgerald sold her homebred Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}} out of 10,000gns purchase Under Offer (Bated Breath (GB) to MV Magnier for £160,000.

Fast forward 12 months and Fitzgerald, who never brings more than one or two to the sales, bagged another big pay-day by selling her Kodiac (GB) colt out of Night Queen (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) to Manor House Farm for £160,000. 

What's even more impressive about Fitzgerald? This isn't even her day job. 

John and Jess Dance Stock Up

Given John and Jess Dance bought six-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at this sale in 2016, it's only natural that the owners would have an affinity towards Doncaster, which was evident in the results. 

Under Manor House Stables, they signed for nine different yearlings at a total of £837,000, which was only bettered by the £1,162,000 that Peter and Ross Doyle spent across the two days on a whopping 17 different horses. 

However, of the top 10 spenders at the Premier Yearling Sale, nobody boasted a better average than John and Jess Dance. 

The couple spent an average of £93,000 on their nine lots, illustrating that they are seeking quality over quantity more so than ever before. 

High Praise From Doyle

Ross Doyle is renowned for being one of the best judges in the game. Along with his father Peter, he has sourced Mehmas, Barney Roy, Limato, Japan, Fairyland, Magna Grecia, Olympic Glory and much more. 

Therefore, when he praised Goffs for attracting the best bunch of yearlings that he has seen for some time, it reflected well on the quality of the sale.

Doyle signed for two of the top lots in the sale, a colt by New Bay (GB) [211] for £200,000 on day one, and a lovely Dark Angel (Ire) colt [251] the following day for the same figure. 

Grangemore signed for the Dark Angel colt at last year's Tattersalls December Foal Sales for 40,000gns and the sale to the Doyles, who didn't reveal where the horse would be trained, secured a tidy pinhooking profit. The New Bay colt will be trained by Richard Hannon. 

Two Top-Notch Pinhooks

There were a number of good pinhooks over the course of the sale but two stood out. The first was that of lot 21, a gorgeous Ten Sovereigns (Ire) filly that Jamie Railton bought for €26,000 off Ballybin Stud at the November Foal Sales at Goffs last year before selling to Richard Hughes for a cool £110,000 on Tuesday.

The second was an even greater piece of inspiration as Violet Hesketh and Mimi Wadham, who run WH Bloodstock, and transformed lot 171 from a €38,000 purchase back in February to a £120,000 yearling just six months later. 

A colt by Kuroshio (Aus), lot 171 was tipped to do well after a number of shrewd judges got him vetted and, in the end, he was knocked down to Mark McStay and it's understood the colt will be sent to Fozzy Stack to be trained. 

Kuroshio Holding His Own

Kuroshio has been around the world and back but this year represented the classy Australian's first crop of runners since he took up residency at Starfield Stud in 2020. After a slow start to the season, Dontspoilasale (Ire) has come along and won for the stallion in Ireland, and looks potentially progressive, while Jessica Harrington's Panic Alarm (Ire) should be winning races for the stallion when he gets softer ground conditions. 

All told, anyone who has backed Kuroshio will be a lot happier now than ever before as last week's figures were respectable. Away from the headline-maker, lot 171, the Baroda Stud-drafted filly [lot 258] also secured a solid sale for the stallion, and changed hands to join John and Jess Dance for £48,000. All four yearlings by the stallion were sold. 

Force Behind Highclere Stallion

Some will argue that Land Force (Ire) is riding the crest of a No Nay Never wave, and that may have been an entirely plausible summation of the situation had his yearlings not been so impressive in the flesh. 

Top judges Clive Cox-who went to £85,000 to secure lot 71-and Oliver St Lawrence bought progeny by the stallion. Some of the best in the breeze-up business, Katie Walsh, Longways Stables and Con Marnane, also rowed in behind Land Force this week. 

Jake Warren even tipped the Highclere-based stallion for first-season sire honours and, while there is a lot of water to pass under that particular bridge, the early signs are promising for anyone with a Land Force in their stable. 

Of the 17 offered this week, 14 were sold at an aggregate of £510,000, which averaged out at £36,429.

Noteworthy Buyers

A number of top agents, trainers and breeze-up buyers relayed how footfall had increased at the sale and, as a result, it was going to be even harder to smoke out a bargain. 

Well, buyers also had to contend with major competition from afar as Wesley Ward also got in on the action, signing for lot 200, a Lynn Lodge-consigned £82,000 daughter of US Navy Flag. 

Ward is clearly a fan of the stallion and why wouldn't he be? The Patrick Grogan-bred Love Reigns (Ire), whose only defeat in three starts for the American-based trainer, came when she finished fourth in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot. Time will tell if Ward has bagged himself another Royal Ascot filly. 

It should be said that, for all that Eddie O'Leary has a host of international clients, he still made time for his neighbour at Goffs. At one point in the afternoon on Wednesday, Nick Nugent on the rostrum announced, 'from one corner of Mullingar to the other,' when Roger O'Callaghan of Tall-Ho purchased a Mehmas colt [lot 349] for £45,000 off his fellow Westmeath native. 

O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud ended proceedings with 11 yearlings sold for £677,000 at an average of £61,545, making the operation the fifth most successful across the two days. 

Tally-Ho Dominate

It was an excellent sale for Tally-Ho. Not only was the stud responsible for the top lot, the Blandford Bloodstock-bought Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly [lot 278] out of five-time winner and listed-placed Thiswaycadeaux (Thewayyouare), but they also ended proceedings as the leading consignors with 24 yearlings making £1,544,000 in total.

That was needed, according to Roger O'Callaghan, who revealed that there were 60 more yearlings standing in the field at home in Westmeath, with 40 needing to be broken in and prepared for the breeze-ups.

Away from the excellent results posted by their own stock, Tally-Ho will have been delighted by how all the progeny of their resident stallions were received with yearlings by Kodiac, Cotai Glory, Kessaar, Galileo Gold, Mehmas and young sire Inns Of Court doing well. 

Night Of Thunder Stars

But the star of the show, without question, was Darley's Night Of Thunder. Along with Tally-Ho's sales-topping filly, the Mountarmstrong Stud-drafted Night Of Thunder [170] colt out of Pious Alexander, which ended day one on top at £230,000, ensured it was a memorable sale for the sire.

Mark McStay landed the day one leader, after which, the leading agent labelled Night Of Thunder, the sire of last week's spellbinding G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Highfield Princess (Fr), as a solid source of top-class talent. 

Classy Siblings On Show

Some pedigrees leapt off the page. The Galileo Gold half-brother [280] to Nunthorpe runner-up The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) made £170,000 to join Richard Spencer, the Ulysses (Ire)  half-brother [213] to Coventry S. winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) was knocked down to Dance Thoroughbreds for £150,000 and Whitsbury Manor's Havana Grey (GB) half-sister to Sandy Lane S. scorer El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) was all the rage at £230,000 with Jack Warren of Highclere doing the buying. 

Havana Grey Shines

Of the 22 horses offered by Havana Grey, all bar one were sold for a total of £1,089,000, averaging at £51,857. Whitsbury's Ed Harper revealed that his performance is exceeding the wildest dreams but, with nine individual black-type horses in his first crop, perhaps buyers were cottoning on to the fact that they have been witnessing something special.

Soldier's Answers The Call

This game is all about looking towards the future and the early signs are that Joe Foley has another real one at Ballyhane Stud in Soldier's Call (GB). 

The man knows how to launch a stallion and must have taken great credit about how Soldier's Call cleared £563,000 from 13 yearlings sold at an average of £43,308. 

What's more, Foley was prepared to put his money where his mouth is, and bought the top lot [212] by the sire for £105,000 off Tinnakill House Stud for Steve Parkin. 

The post The Major Talking Points From The Premier Yearling Sale At Doncaster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Mark McStay went to £230,000 to secure a colt by the stallion [170] on Tuesday but it was Tally-Ho's first foal out of the five-time winner and listed-placed Thiswaycadeaux (Ire) (Theywayyouare) that topped proceedings. 

Finishing the sale as the leading consignors, the Mullingar-based stud played a significant role in the excellent figures posted over the two days at Doncaster. 

Of the 406 horses offered at the sale, 363 were sold, representing a clearance rate of 89%. The aggregate was up by a whopping 20% to £15,987,500 while the average was up 8% at £44,043 and the median rose 9% to £35,000.

Another day @GoffsUK another Night of Thunder @DarleyEurope rolling, well, like thunder! Lot 278, a filly consigned by @HoStud, sells to @BlandfordBldstk for £240,000 making her the current top lot at the Premier Sale. pic.twitter.com/CxIjoBOti5

— TDN (@theTDN) August 24, 2022

Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said, “The last few days have been absolutely outstanding and, on behalf of the team, we must thank everyone that has made this sale such an incredible success. We were confident we had a good catalogue coming into this week but you can only hope that others agree and whilst one noted industry professional said that we 'were not missing anyone', another noted that there were 'better horses here this year'. 

“These comments are great to hear in the build up to any sale, but the level of the market can only really be measured in the sales ring and those comments certainly came to fruition with an outstanding trade from start to finish and a wonderful atmosphere throughout the sales complex. “This helped to deliver 23 horses that sold for a six-figure sum whilst seven made £200,000 or more. This was matched by an impressive 89% clearance rate and a top price of £240,000.”

He added, “Our focus for this sale was quality, precocity and athleticism and the feedback from buyers is that we achieved exactly that. We had a complex full of the traditional 'Donny rockets' which is very much true to the mantra on which this sale was founded and has thrived. To our vendors, we want to extend a huge thanks for their support. They got the brief, delivered the goods and we are delighted to have been able to produce a strong sale which has generated some sizable gains in the key figures.

“To our buyers, it was a huge turnout from everyone involved, it made for a brilliant atmosphere. We have had countless positive comments on the quality of the catalogue and the type of horse here, and that the sale is back where it belongs, praise that means a lot to the Goffs team. We extend our sincere thanks and we look forward to seeing our athletes tearing up the tracks as 2-year-olds next year.”

Tally-Ho Steal The Show

The top lot was bought by Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Jurgen Sartori and that sale ensured Tally-Ho finished up as the leading consignor. 

Sartori is perhaps best known for owning horses in Germany, including Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who he bought out of Jean-Claude Rouget's yard at the Arqana Arc Sale last October for €1.2 million.

Roger O'Callaghan is not in the business of counting chickens but he knows what a good horse looks like and, perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the stud's performance over the two days was the fact that a wide range of their own stallions produced the goods. 

Notably, the newest of them all, Inns Of Court (Ire), whose yearlings were purchased by a host of top breeze-up consignors-Star Bloodstock, Longways Stables and Kilminfoyle House Stud–with the most expensive of them all going to Robson Aguiar. 

“A lot of the breeze-up people have bought yearlings by him, and rightly so. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come,” O'Callaghan said.

Aguiar went to £125,000 to secure lot 77 by Inns Of Court on behalf of Amo Racing on day one. However, O'Callaghan predicted the best was yet to come for the stallion. 

“He's not the only nice horse by him. The lads who look after him in the yard every day bought one, Gary Halpin and Sean Davis bought another off our farrier Matty Smith, so hopefully they get rewarded.”

Halpin and Davis are not exactly new faces on the breeze-up circuit, given the jockeys have ridden breezers at the sales for many of the top consignors in recent years, but the pair are hoping to grow their own operation this year. 

After selling a Galileo Gold (GB) filly last season, Halpin and Davis now plan on putting together a string of breezers to go with the Inns Of Court colt [127] bought from Baroda Stud for £55,000.

Halpin explained, “We underbid a few and the Inns Of Court was the only one we got in the end. He's a nice colt with a good page so he should get into any of those classy sales next year. Myself and Sean have been riding breezers for a few years now and we sold a Galileo Gold filly last year for a few quid. Hopefully we can grow the operation.”

Of the 17 yearlings offered by Inns Of Court, all of them found new homes for a total spend of £623,000. That averages out at a respectable £36,647 per yearling sold.

It was not just the first-season sire Inns Of Court who punched in respectable results for Tally-Ho. Their resident stallions Kessaar (Ire), Cotai Glory (GB), Kodiac (GB) and Galileo Gold (GB) did well in the ring, launching what O'Callaghan revealed would be a busy couple of months. 

“Kessaar is going well because he's short on numbers, they want a bit further than most people expected, but yea, he's holding his own. They're taking a bit of time but sure that's nearly a good thing. They're more valuable if they go further unless they're very good.”

He added, “The sale has been very good. I can't imagine anyone will be complaining. Everything we brought, we sold-but that's nearly always the case. But hey, we've about 60 yearlings out in the field at home. We've 40 to breeze and then there's about 15 more for the next yearling sales.”

Tally-Ho sold 24 horses at Doncaster over the two days. They cleared £1,544,000 and averaged £64,333. 

Only Baroda Stud, who sold 14 yearlings at the sale, came close to those figures with David Cox's operation netting £793,000 at an average of £56,643, highlighted by the New Bay (GB) colt [lot 211] that was knocked down to Peter and Ross Doyle for £200,000 on day one. 

Havana Grey Lights Up Sale

The sun hasn't stopped shining down on Whitsbury Manor Stud ever since the progeny of their first-season sire sensation Havana Grey (GB) hit the track this season. 

The knock-on effect of the brilliant season that the young stallion is enjoying with his first runners was felt in the sales ring, not more so than when the stud sold lot 234, a Havana Grey filly to Jake Warren for £230,000. 

A daughter of the Showcasing (GB) mare Showstoppa (GB), who has already produced four winners, including Group 2 Sandy Lane S. Winner El Caballo (GB), is set to join Clive Cox.

Happy vendor & happy purchaser @JakeJWarren secures Ed Harper's (@WhitsburyManor) well-bred Havana Grey filly (Lot 234) for £230,000 pic.twitter.com/sNqPLTui9M

— Goffs UK (@GoffsUK) August 24, 2022

However, Whitsbury's Ed Harper revealed that, away from lot 234, he derived a huge sense of satisfaction at seeing all of the yearlings by the stallion netting respectable sales for their owners and breeders. 

That included lot 295, a Havana Grey colt who is also heading to Cox, after selling from Jenny Norris for £85,000.

Harper said, “The satisfaction we have experienced extends beyond the headline filly. We have got a huge amount of pleasure out of seeing loyal breeders who have supported our stallions down through the years doing well out of Havana Grey. 

“For example, Jenny Norris has been a big supporter of ours, and she got £85,000 today for lot 295, a lovely colt by Havana Grey. Jenny is based just down the road from us so that was fantastic to see. When our stallions are doing well, our breeders are, too.”

He added, “Havana Grey got off to an excellent start at stud but, if we are being honest, we didn't expect the good results to be so consistent. It's been every week with him. Be it winning stakes races or big sales races, it's been great. He has had nine individual black-type horses which really is exceptional. That compares well with not only the first-season sires but some of the best stallions around.”

When Nick Bradley opened the bidding at £100,000 for lot 234, the secret was out that something special was walking around the ring, and Harper says any sadness in parting with the filly dissipated in seeing her join one of the best trainers in the country. 

He said, “It was very tempting to keep her but we try and offer as much of our good stock as is possible in order to give everyone a chance. 

“Any slight sadness experienced in letting her go is heavily mitigated in seeing her join Clive Cox. He's an excellent trainer and has done very well with the family before so we're really excited to see how she gets on with him. I'm sure she will do very well.”

He added, “The dam has a Sergei Prokofiev (Can) filly foal at foot. It's a bit of a cliché to say that the foal is very nice but she is so nice that we decided to send the mare back to Sergei Prokofiev.”

Of the 22 horses offered by Havana Grey, all bar one were sold for a total of £1,089,000, averaging at £51,857.

Hughes Sticks His Neck Out 

One of the most fascinating subplots that developed over the two days was Richard Hughes strengthening his string with the addition of a broad selection of yearlings. 

From a £200,000 Frankel (GB) colt consigned by Highclere Stud [lot 269] to a more affordable filly like the one by Kodiac that he picked up from Tally-Ho [lot 216], Hughes landed something for every type of an owner at Doncaster. 

Frankel fever! @RHughesracing spends £200,000 on Highclere Stud's Frankel colt (Lot 269) at the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale pic.twitter.com/Upx5cM0FDC

— Goffs UK (@GoffsUK) August 24, 2022

The trainer bought 11 yearlings for a total of £744,000, which averaged out at £62,000, all without the help of an agent. 

Hughes said, “I find that myself and Fanny [Hannon, sister in law] are buying the right type of horses that suits me. It's working really well.”

Hughes is operating at a 25% strike-rate with his 2-year-old this term but the former top-class jockey admitted that it took time to get a feel for training juveniles at his Lambourn base.

He explained, “When I was working in Richard Hannon's, they had their own gallops, then you go to a totally different training centre and it takes a bit of time to get used to it. I have a great team at home but I do think myself and Fanny are scouring these sales and buying the ones that we really like.”

Hughes added, “In other years, I'd come here and underbid a few of the ones I really liked and then go and buy something else. This time I have been putting my neck on the line a bit more and buying the ones that I love. When you are buying on spec and bringing the ones home you like, you will sell them a lot easier, because you believe in them. But if you buy a horse because you couldn't buy the one you really wanted, it's very hard to have the heart to go and sell that to a client, you know?”

Nobody bought more horses on spec than his old boss Richard Hannon Senior did when he was in his pomp. The yearlings would all have been sold by Christmas and the Hannons would have an army of 2-year-olds to go to war with every spring. Hughes is not exactly adopting the same modus operandi but he is definitely being braver with his approach. 

“Most of the sales that I go to, I buy a lot of horses on spec. I bought 10 horses here two years ago and got them all sold by Christmas. We bought a horse here last year for £125,000 on spec. I got him sold in November. They are sleepless nights, I can guarantee you that. “Owner-breeders aren't sending me 10 or 12 horses every season. Other people have that luxury. Now, maybe I will some day, but I don't at the moment. Every horse I have in my yard, I have to go and get them myself and, if I didn't, I'd have nothing to train.”

By that token, Hughes is different to most trainers. He doesn't employ an agent and is therefore willing to die on his own sword. 

He said, “They [agents] are there when the horses are winning but it's a lonely old place when they are no good. Normally, when I bring them home, it's me who has to sell them to these owners anyway. We've done really well in the past couple of years with the horses I've bought myself so we're sticking to that. 

“I was up here on Sunday and Monday, which isn't great because you miss out on being in the yard, but it's all about building towards the future and my owners understand that.”

Hughes added, “I bring the yearlings home and we have an owners' day in November. We have a bit of a party and people get together and come in on horses together. A lot of my owners know each other so it's a good way of doing things.”

The priciest yearling Hughes picked up was lot 269, a Frankel colt for £200,000, that was consigned by Highclere Stud. He also picked up some well-bred fillies, including the highly-sought after Ten Sovereigns [lot 21] filly consigned by Jamie Railton on day one. 

He said, “I thought that she [21] was a very good buy for her ovaries alone. Like, her pedigree was super. She was a gorgeous filly. The Cotai Glory [lot 253 for £40,000] was a gorgeous horse. He'll be more of a 3-year-old. I think I have someone for him. Jaber Abdullah came in for some of the very well-bred fillies. Two of the fillies are out of a Shamardal mare so, if they win a race, they can go breeding.”

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16.00 Chelmsford City, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 10f (AWT)
Jaber Abdullah's BENY NAHAR ROAD (IRE) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a Richard Hughes trainee, is a half-brother to G1 Hong Kong Cup hero and G1 Irish Derby fourth Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The April-foaled bay encounters one dozen rivals in this low-key debut.

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The sale, introduced to meet residual demand after the February Sale had been severely constricted by Covid regulations, welcomed back horses and horsemen to Park Paddocks within the kind of protocols that had permitted far more important business to proceed here in 2020. If an 89% clearance rate was the familiar double-edged sword of the pandemic market–yes, there is wholesome demand; but very possibly reserves are unambitious–then it was certainly a worthwhile exercise. If nothing else, the sale could be viewed as an encouraging pilot for the forthcoming breeze-up circuit, and perhaps also as a symbol of the broader hope accompanying the vaccination rollout in Britain.

The top price for the Tattersalls March Sale-with the Tattersalls Cheltenham March Sale that immediately followed it producing seven six-figure lots from 25 sales–was achieved by Bugle Major (Mizzen Mast), a product of the Juddmonte programme whose founder, Prince Khalid Abdullah, died in January. Lot 140 was certainly an unusual proposition, his proven stakes calibre being balanced by his age as a 6-year-old gelding, but Richard Hughes made a very cogent case for persevering to 90,000gns.

“He's for existing owners who have put together a syndicate and wanted a Saturday horse,” the trainer explained. “We were thinking about coming to the breeze-ups, but then we found this horse. To buy a [top] horse at the breeze-ups will cost a lot of money, with no guarantees. This is a Saturday horse ready for the lads to have some fun with. There's a lot of horses just lately winning Group 1s as 8- or 9-year-olds. There's no stopping them; remember jump horses only come on when they are seven.”

Hughes is a big supporter of the breeze-ups and will assuredly be back for those sales, too, but in a way this horse was an extreme extension of the same logic, as a ready-made starter. Mizzen Mast is known for versatile stock that continue to thrive, and Bugle Major already has excellent form in France with proven group horses. Indeed, on the grey's last start for Pascal Bary he had chased home subsequent G1 Dubai World Cup third Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) at Chantilly.

“I could have done without that happening,” said Hughes with a grin. “We had this horse marked out some time ago, and I'd say that last Saturday added 20,000gns onto his price.”

Hughes had a spell as retained jockey to the Prince during his riding days, and while professing that he never really got beyond the self-effacing reserve of his late patron, he retains fond memories of the whole Juddmonte organisation.

“It's brilliant, what he did,” he said. “And just look at the horses they bring to these sales: they always bring money, because they all have those pedigrees behind them. His people are always very transparent, too; you always know what you're getting. I got a good history of this horse, he's had his issues but he has been minded and their hard work has paid off.”

If not from the most prolific Juddmonte family, Bugle Major's dam was Group 1-placed and the line does go back to two of the most important mares in the modern breed. Bugle Major's fourth dam is none other than Razyana (His Majesty), who gave us Danehill and was of course a grand-daughter of the great Natalma (Native Dancer).

Another Empire, Another Great Legacy

It is only a few days since another great bloodstock empire, Shadwell, lost its founder and it was duly poignant to see even some of its lesser animals recycled here. The most attractive proved to be Huraiz (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), a 4-year-old gelding who disappointed at Wolverhampton last month but had previously advanced his rating to 95 for Mark Johnston. Presented as lot 134, he realized 60,000gns from local trainer Stuart Williams, who had come with a very similar brief to Hughes.

“He has been bought for Opulence Thoroughbreds, a syndicate that has four horses with me,” he explained. “They wanted a horse to have a bit of fun with on Saturdays and the bigger meetings, and he fitted the profile. He's a nice horse, who's been running well without getting his head in front, and maybe a change of scenery might perk him up a bit.”

Williams spoke for many when he expressed his gratitude for the provision of this additional sale.

“It's a big help, after losing the February Sale to online,” he said. “I had two or three owners who didn't want to lose the benefit of actually being able to see the horse. Tattersalls did a brilliant job, facilitating videos and so on, but it's not the same as seeing them.”

Offered the suggestion that this is an especially valuable opportunity with horses in training, in order to see “any bits that may have fallen off,” Williams joked, “Yes–and to see the bits that need to come off.”

As it happens, Huraiz does not represent a long-term Shadwell project, his unraced dam having been bought as a yearling half-sister to the prolific sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil). But the third dam is a half-sister to Classic winner Las Meninas (Ire) (Glenstal) and it will be interesting to see what the shrewd Williams might yet draw out.

In the same vein as Hughes, with Juddmonte, Williams thanked Shadwell for their reliably honest briefings. And he added his own tribute to Sheikh Hamdan. “I never worked for him, but everyone I know who did only had good things to say about him,” he said. “He was obviously a very loyal man and has been a hugely important supporter of the sport, and of Arab racing too.”

What A Difference A Month Makes

Nobody can have been better pleased by the introduction of this auction than the clients of Joseph Tuite who bought back their 4-year-old gelding Attracted (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) for just 5,000 gns at the February Sale. A fortnight later he won by 12 lengths at Lingfield, and he has meanwhile followed up in a handicap at Wolverhampton. Returned here as lot 179, he catapulted his value to 82,000gns.

He was acquired remotely by Reda Al-Khalaf in Saudi Arabia. “He has been bought for our stable by Mr. Al-Turaif,” Al-Khalaf explained. “He will be aimed at bigger races in Saudi. Mr. Al-Turaif liked the fact that the horse is by New Approach and is lightly raced so there should be more to come.”

If this was the ultimate vindication for the sale, no fewer than 109 of 123 lots into the ring found a new home for an aggregate 1,273,300gns. That equated to an average of 11,682gns and a median of 8,000gns. Needless to say, there can be no year-on-year comparisons.

“The Tattersalls March Sale was added to our 2021 calendar in response to the COVID-related disruption to the February Sale,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “And it has generated solid international trade, with a good crowd in attendance as well as the now customary prolific amount of live internet bidding.

“It has been great to have been able to host a live sale again at Park Paddocks and we are looking forward to welcoming registered participants to both the Tattersalls Craven and Guineas Breeze-Up Sales in the coming weeks, both of which will be conducted with similar COVID protocols in place.”

Unsurprisingly, there was rather more buoyant trade during a boutique catalogue of elite National Hunt prospects, transferred from Cheltenham and staged immediately after this sale. The top two dockets featured a couple of signatures that generated many headlines, for very different reasons, before and after the recent Cheltenham Festival: one for 220,000gns was signed by Bective Stud/Gordon Elliott; and one for 195,000gns, by Henry de Bromhead. The former, the top price of the day, was the 4-year-old gelding Au Fleuron (Fr) (Crillon {Fr}) (lot 219), the winner of a National Hunt flat race on debut at Tipperary on Mar. 24. The latter, the 5-year-old Ballybough Native (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}) (lot 227), likewise won on debut on the same card by 13 lengths.

Sun Power To Charge Holland's New Dawn

At a time when so many people are eager for a fresh start, one of the most intriguing stories of the new season will be Darryll Holland's debut as a trainer from Harraton Court Stables at nearby Exning, with a still more accomplished ex-jockey as assistant in Kieren Fallon.

Holland gave 45,000gns to recruit Sun Power (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) from Jane Chapple-Hyam Racing as lot 138. Fourth in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot in his younger days, Sun Power left Richard Hannon for 10,000gns in this ring at the Horses-in-Training Sale in October and, after winning at Wolverhampton in December, was recently beaten only a head round the same circuit.

“Hopefully we will be able to send him to Dubai,” Holland said. “I will have a word with Jane and get a run-down, he has obviously been well looked after and has good recent form.

“All's going well at the moment, we are really pleased. The plans is to be back up here in a couple of weeks, as we have orders for the breeze-up sales.”

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