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The Castlebridge Consignment Returns to Arqana

Fresh off yet another productive Tattersalls December Mare Sale, where they have led consignors there for the past eight years, The Castlebridge Consignment embarked on somewhat of a less familiar journey to Deauville to hang up their well-known banner for Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale.

The Castlebridge Consignment, which has bases in Newmarket and at Castlebridge Stud in County Meath, Ireland, has been absent from the Arqana sales grounds since 2017, but this week they returned with a group of nine fillies in training, broodmare prospects and mares in foal that will sell in Saturday's select session.

Castlebridge co-director Andrew Mead was on-site early Thursday morning to oversee setup in cour C.

“We've tended to focus on the Tattersalls and Goffs sales in Ireland,” Mead said. “Those have been going very well for us, but we reached a point where we thought it was time to come back to Deauville in December. The sales have been steadily improving and we had enough horses this year to go to Goffs, Tattersalls and Arqana.”

Mead said that as buyers descend upon the sales grounds, he expects to see a mix of both familiar faces and new ones.

“You'll see some of the same faces arriving in Deauville to try to buy the horses that they didn't manage to buy at the previous sales, but there also is very much an element that you'll see different faces here that didn't attend Tattersalls in Newmarket or Goffs in Ireland,” he explained. “To some degree, we're putting our horses in front of a different audience, but at the same time, there are many of the same faces attending all the sales. So you're perhaps getting the best of both worlds at Arqana.”

The Castlebridge consignment includes several promising fillies that could go on to further their racing success next year.

“Of the fillies in training, we've got two from Germany that are very attractive,” Mead said. “We have a filly called Libre (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) (lot 118), who is a lovely black-type filly, and we have a filly called Goldana (Galileo Gold {GB}) (lot 141) who won a stakes race in her last start. We also have a lovely filly from Italy who is a wildcard, Romagna Mia (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 190). She won her last [black-type] start in Italy. She looks to have plenty of racing still in her and she'll make a lovely broodmare as well.”

The consignment's group of broodmare prospects includes lot 93, Vouchsafe (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a three-quarter sister to four-time Group 1 winner Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}); lot 151, Loch Lundie (Ire) (Shamardal), a stakes-placed filly from the immediate family of G1 Fillies Mile winner Lyric Of Light (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}); and lot 179, Thunder Beauty (Ire), a 5-year-old listed stakes-winning daughter of Night of Thunder (Ire) who ran second in this year's G2 Duke Of Cambridge S.

Lot 56, Sweet Mademoiselle (Fr) (Free Eagle {Ire}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in foal to Almanzor (Fr), and lot 171, Boyne River (GB), a winning daughter of Kingman (GB) in foal to Night of Thunder (Ire), both represent the consignment as in-foal mares.

A perennial leading vendor, The Castlebridge Consignment was the leading seller at the Goffs November Foal Sale and a top three consignor at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale. They celebrated a successful Tattersalls December Mares Sale as they led the auction with 28 sold for a gross of over 5.4 million gns, headlined by the sale of Group 3 scorer Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for 2.7 million gns.

“We've been very lucky over the years and we seem to keep rolling along in terms of having good sales at Castlebridge,” Mead said. “I think what's behind it all is the staff at the sales, who are amazing, but also we've got a marvelous backroom team who work extraordinarily hard leading up to the sales for about four months and through the weeks of the sales. We owe all our success to the people who work for us because without them, it just wouldn't happen.”

Mead shared his thoughts on the market ahead of the final breeding stock sale of the season.

“We arrived here in Deauville straight from a very strong sale in Newmarket,” he said. “I think anybody from the horse industry following sale results would say it was a remarkable sale. We had horses selling in both the Sceptre Sessions and the non-Sceptre sessions, and we found that the market was equally strong across the board for whatever part of the sale we were selling in. Prior to that, we had come straight from a very strong Goffs sale where we had a lot of foals and they sold extremely well. I think all sale companies at the moment are riding something of a crest of the wave. They're all doing well, they're all having great sales and let's hope Arqana equally finishes the season in the same style.”

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Mahony Admits To Being Bowled Over After Tattersalls Sales Bonanza

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony has admitted to being blown away by the strength of the market at Park Paddocks, not only at this week's December Mares Sale where the introduction of the Sceptre Sessions played a huge role in the sky-rocketing trade, but throughout the year.

Mahony has described 2022 as the year where every expectation was exceeded and, speaking at the end of the December Mares Sale where over 80 million gns went through the Tattersalls tills, headlined by 5.4 million gns purchase Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), he paid tribute to all key stakeholders for playing a part in the roaring trade.

Mahony said, “Every so often we experience sales at Tattersalls which defy all expectations, but in 2022 it is probably fair to say that each successive sale here at Park Paddocks has achieved levels of trade which even the most optimistic observers would have deemed unlikely, culminating in a Tattersalls December Mares Sale which at times has been truly astonishing.”

The 80,831,200gns traded at Tattersalls this week represents a 30% rise on last year's figure. The average rose by 48% to 117,147gns, the median jumped 23% to 32,000gns and the clearance rate stayed the same at 82%.

But the major success story to emerge from the sale was the strength of the inaugural Sceptre Sessions which accounted for over half of the turnover with 71 lots selling for a combined total of 45,907,000gns.

Mahony commented, “There can be no doubt that the eagerly anticipated inaugural Sceptre Sessions have added a new dimension to what was already Europe's premier sale of breeding stock. When we launched the Sceptre Sessions back in the summer our goal was to create a format which would allow us to showcase elite fillies and mares to the global audience which defines the Tattersalls December Sale. The response from breeders and consignors to the new initiative was overwhelmingly positive, and this was widely recognised as an exceptional catalogue, but we could not have predicted the extraordinary atmosphere which enveloped Park Paddocks throughout a sale which has seen the record books completely rewritten.”

A staggering 11 fillies and mares sold for seven figures at Tattersalls in a week where BBA Ireland dominated by snapping up 39 lots for 14,567,000gns. Featuring among the haul was the overall top lot Alcohol Free while BBA Ireland also paid 1,000,000gns for Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

Mahony reflected, “Turnover, average and median have all soared past the previous record levels and to see the packed sale ring as the succession of outstanding fillies and mares took to the stage will live long in the memories of all those present. The huge number of overseas buyers here at Park Paddocks for the duration of the December Sale reflects the incredible support we have received from the vendors who entrusted us with such an illustrious cast of race fillies and broodmares. Every one of the 11 fillies and mares who sold for one million guineas or more was special and the 5.4 million gns sale of the gorgeous Alcohol Free was not only the highest auction price in the world this year for a filly in training, but also a wonderful reward for her owner Jeff Smith, her trainer Andrew Balding and all associated with one of the great race fillies of recent years. We all look forward to seeing Alcohol Free race on in Australia and to dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach, who sold for 3.6 million guineas, who looks set to target the $20-million [G1] Saudi Cup in February.”

He added, “While the individual highlights will leave lasting memories, we must express our deep gratitude to all who have made 2022 such an extraordinary year at Tattersalls. Sale after sale has attracted buyers from all over the world in overwhelming numbers, and we are enormously grateful for the support we receive from purchasers and vendors alike, all of whom have contributed to a year which has seen our annual turnover exceed 400 million gns, comfortably exceeding the previous high of 331 million guineas set in 2017. These remarkable figures are a massive tribute to the professionalism and commitment of all involved in the bloodstock industry in Britain, Ireland, France and further afield. It is their consistent support which makes Newmarket such a focal point of the global bloodstock industry and makes the uniquely international Tattersalls December Sale the pre-eminent sale of its type in Europe.”

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ARC Awards Joint Winners Of The Horse Of The Month Prize

Bobby Joe Leg (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) and Queen Of Ipanema (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) will share the Horse Of The Month prize for October and November. Part of the new ARC £1-million All-Weather Bonus initiative, each horse will receive £15,000 for finishing tied at the top of the leader board having won their first three starts between the start of the competition and the end of November. The bonus runs from Oct. 18 to Good Friday, Apr. 7. Trained by Ruth Carr, Bobby Joe Leg scored his wins at Wolverhampton and Newcastle. Queen Of Ipanema, who races for trainer George Boughey, has three consecutive wins in handicaps at ARC racecourses. Third-place horse Cloch Nua (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has 14 points and his connections will receive £5,000.

Four more Horses Of The Month prizes will be awarded–December, January, February, and March and April. For more information on the contest, please visit the ARC website.

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Form Is Key To A Well-Credentialed Rauscher Draft

DEAUVILLE, France–As we have seen over the the last few weeks in Ireland and England, there remains a voracious appetite for breeding stock, and globally the Thoroughbred breeding industry continues to hold German bloodlines in the highest regard.

With this in mind, there will undoubtedly be plenty of visitors from all over the world turning up to peruse the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale draft of Ronald Rauscher, which contains a number of well-bred fillies and mares with proper racing form. German-born and now based in Ireland, Rauscher is a consignor, advisor and breeder of international repute himself with close ties to the Australian scene through his association with Australian Bloodstock's G1 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), who was bred by his long-term client Dr. Christoph Berglar.

It is appropriate, then, that the draft includes Protectionist's best runner to date, the smart and statuesque Amazing Grace (Ger), who was also bred by Berglar and in his colours has won the G2 Diana Trial at three and this season's G2 T von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden before finishing third in the G1 Preis von Europa behind Godolphin's subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 4-year-old chestnut filly, who sells as lot 204 on Saturday evening, is from one of the most renowned German families, which stretches back to the influential Anna Paola (Ger) and includes last year's Derby and King George winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Making a consignor's job that much easier, this is a filly that Rauscher can vouch for through every stage of her life.

“She was born at Schlenderhan and I saw her on day two and she was just beautiful then,” says Rauscher, who bought Amazing Grace's listed-winning dam Amabelle (Ger) (Danehill Dancer {Ire} as a yearling for Berglar. “She has just always had it. What she had, and what I thought was very interesting as a young foal, is that most foals at that age, they stay with very close to their mother. This was a small paddock close to the barn, and I went through the gate and she just left her mother.

“She was curious and confident, and you could touch her. That went right through her life really. She was raised then as a yearling in Bernried and she always had a great temperament and the physique to go with it.”

He adds, “She's a 4-year-old now turning five, and she's coming with a full set of X-rays and a scope. She's still a racing prospect.

“That she's coming to the sale, it's just because, as [Dr. Berglar] said, 'Look, I am the age I am. It just would take a good few years really to make sure that I'm going to see everything out of her'.”

A little earlier in the draft comes another 4-year-old, Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), a former champion juvenile filly in Germany before running third in the G1 Preis der Diana. She also won this season's Listed Baden-Baden Cup.

“Noble Heidi is one of those names where you think about Japan a little bit,” Rauscher says. “I'm selling two Intello fillies this week and he's such an interesting horse, really. I remember when he ran his last race in the Arc and he finished third, and he was probably not the most commercial horse but he's such a well-bred horse, going back to that taproot mare, Fall Aspen.”

“Noble Heidi was early. We ran against her with Amazing Grace, and on several occasions, they met. As a 2-year-old, Noble Heidi had the upper hand. There was no doubt about that. She's very good physically as well, she's strong.”

Also among the 4-year-old fillies being sold by Rauscher is the well-bred Waldbiene (Fr) (lot 193), another daughter of Intello and a Group 2 winner from the black-type laden family of St Leger winner Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Arc winner Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

Then there's Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), a Group 3 winner in France and runner-up in the G2 Prix de la Nonette who was bought at last year's Arqana Arc Sale for €1.2 million. In the book as lot 186, she hails from a family which includes this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Texas (Fr).

The 3-year-old Good Liza (Fr) is another with plenty on the page to recommend her. Offered as lot 249, she won as a juvenile in Germany and is a Kingman (GB) daughter of the Group 3 winner Good Donna (Ger) (Doyen {GB}), the producer of two black-type winners including the dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 runner-up Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who fetched 700,000gns when sold at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale last year. Further back the family includes G1 1000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo (Ire) and the five-time Group 1 winner Fame And Glory (GB).

Elegie (Ire) should also attract plenty of attention as a 93-rated daughter of the late Adlerflug (Ger) with some back type to her own name and a half-sister to the G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Enjoy Vijay (Ger) (Nathaniel {Ire}) as well as two listed winners.

The 10-strong draft is not solely fillies still in training, however. On Sunday Rauscher will offer the 8-year-old mare Izzy (Ger). Though unraced, she is by Soldier Hollow (GB), who features as broodmare sire of this year's Deutsches Derby winner Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), and she is a half-sister to another Deutsches Derby winner, Isfahan (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}). Bred by his trainer Andreas Wohler, as was Izzy, Isfahan is now standing at Gestut Ohlerweiherhof and was responsible for a Deutsches Derby winner in his first crop in the Guy Pariente-bed Sisfahan (Fr). Izzy (lot 552), who is being sold in foal to Gleneagles (Ire), has a 2-year-old colt by Protectionist who was bought by Brendan Holland of Grove Stud for €100,000 at the BBAG September Yearling Sale.

“Gleneagles is an underrated sire,” Rauscher notes. “It's just the situation that Andreas, who's been terribly successful at breeding Isfahan and training him, says that he wants to cut down on his breeding stock and concentrate on a few horses and training. That's the only reason she's going.”

Two years ago Ronald Rauscher's draft was fourth on the consignors' table at the close of the December Sale behind the much larger drafts offered by the powerhouses of Monceaux, Etreham and the Wertheimers, while last year he pulled off another top-10 finish. With another strong consignment of young racing and/or breeding prospects, we can expect to see more of the same.

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