Siyouni | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘A Similar Hind End To Baaeed’ – Sea The Stars Colt Leads Way At Book 2

Many hands make light work. Or in this case, it was many feet and steps that allowed Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock to find and then secure the Sea The Stars (Ire) colt who topped the final session of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Wednesday at 425,000gns.

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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Sensational August Sale Closes With €2.2m Siyouni Colt to Coolmore

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry

DEAUVILLE, France–It was the bloodstock sales equivalent of a mic drop: two lots, five minutes, €3 million. Boom.

Coomore has long nurtured its partnerships, and with Peter Brant, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Georg von Opel's Westerberg, the Magnier-led operation has enjoyed plentiful success. Most notably this season that has come with Paddington (GB), a multiple Group 1-winning son of Siyouni (Fr) bred by Dayton Investments at Ecurie des Monceaux, and it was to that nursery that the team turned again, signing for the day's top lot [244], also by Siyouni, for €2.2 million.

The names of MV Magnier and Brant's White Birch Farm were on the ticket, just as they were for the previous colt [243], a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) whose yearlings on offer this season are from the first crop conceived in Ireland since the stallion's purchase by Coolmore.

Those two sires, Siyouni and Wootton Bassett, have formed the cornerstone of the French stallion ranks in recent years, backed up by the late Le Havre (Ire) and Kendargent (Fr), and even with Wootton Bassett no longer in the country, his stock is still high in Deauville. A batch of 24 of his yearlings went through the ring over the last three days for an average of €349,375, led by the €800,000 colt from Monceaux out of the American Pharoah mare Holy Roman Empress (Ire), herself a winning daughter of the G1 Phoenix S. winner Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur).

The Siyouni colt, meanwhile, is out of Hourglass (Ire), a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to Shamardal. Both colts were bred by China Horse Club from mares bred by Coolmore and associates.

“They're two very nice horses and, interestingly enough, we actually sold the two dams a couple of years ago,” said Magnier. “We've come back and bought the progeny because China Horse Club are very good breeders and Monceaux are an incredible farm. They do a very good job raising horses and we're lucky to get the two of them. They'll both go to Ballydoyle.”

Ecurie des Monceaux has held the title of leading consignor at the August Sale since 2012 and it was once again on top, with 35 yearlings sold for a total of €15,180,000.

Monceaux's Henri Bozo said, “It's been a very good sale. As it has got going it has gone from strength to strength and to have sold those two big horses to Coolmore is a great proof of trust from them to us. The Siyouni colt is a lovely horse with the magic cross, he's magnificent, a good mover, and there is plenty to come physically.”

He continued, “I think that we saw from the beginning of the showing days that there were more and more people. A lot of principals were looking at the horses and enjoying the sale and everybody was confident.”

Bozo and some of his partners were also involved in one of the Group 1 contests on the racecourse at Deauville earlier in the day when their Ramatuelle (Justify) was collared close home to finish second by a head in the G1 Sumbe Prix Morny.

“I got too excited too early and I thought she was going to win,” he said. “She's so tough, she's amazing.”

Ramatuelle will be a valued addition to the Monceaux broodmare band in due course, but first we may see her travel to Newmarket for the G1 Cheveley Park S.

Talking Points

All credit to Arqana, this year's August Sale didn't miss a beat. The aggregate was up 15.41% to €56,949,000 while the average climbed 10.7% to 232,445. Along with that, the clearance rate was a healthy 86%, up 4% on last year. In short, it was an excellent, record-breaking sale.
Plenty of attendees at the sale remarked upon the importance of the presence of some of the heads of major global racing and breeding operations in Deauville, and it may well have been a contributing factor to an incredibly buoyant market at Arqana. Godolphin, Coolmore, and a rejuvenated Al Shaqab filled the top three buyers' slots.
For the twelfth year in a row, Ecurie des Monceaux was the leading August vendor, selling 45 yearlings at and average of €451, 714, but it was also a terrific sale for Nicolas de Chambure and his team, who sold the top lot, the Dubawi half-sister to Bucanero Fuerte (Fr), for €2.4 million along with 14 other yearlings for a total average price of €340,895.
Siyouni has long been the stallion king of France and, with Mqse De Sevigne (Fr) winning her second Group 1 in three weeks across the road just before the start of the final session, and the scintillating prospect of Paddington (GB) running in Tuesday's G1 Juddmonte International, the stock of the Aga Khan Studs' star resident really couldn't be higher. At Arqana over the last three days, 15 of his yearlings sold for a total of €6,950,000, putting him behind only Dubawi (Ire) and Frankel (GB) on the sale's sires' table.
Freshman sires featured prominently, with Ghaiyyath's €455,000 average for three sold giving him bragging rights, but it was also a notable debut for Haras d'Etreham's Hello Youmzain, whose stock drew many favourable comments and who ended the sale with 19 sold at and average of €128,789. His initial stud fee was €25,000.

Coulonces Back in Spotlight With Another Japanese Buyer

On Saturday Anna Sundstrom sold a homebred Sottsass (Fr) colt to Mitsu Nakauchida for 525,000gns, and a day later another Japanese trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, also found favour with Sundstrom's Coulonces Sales draft. He selected a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt out of the G3 Prix Miesque winner Magic America (High Yield) for €1,000,000.

“I was interested in buying a yearling by Wootton Bassett, as I think he has the ability to succeed in Japan as a sire,” said the trainer who has launched successful international raids on the Breeders' Cup and Saudi Cup. “I have been here all three days, and my impression is that this is a very strong market. I was on my final bid for this colt.”

Last year, Yahagi was responsible for buying the sale's top lot, a €2.1 million brother to the Arc winner Sottsass (Fr). This time he signed for two yearlings, including a first-crop son of the 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko for €140,000.

The Tweenhills stallion has made a rock-solid start, but far more interesting than the fact the Kameko posted an impressive €177,500 average for four yearlings sold were the buyers of his sons and daughters. The Hong Kong Jockey Club snapped up a colt by Kameko on Friday for €310,000 and, along with Yahagi, French trainer Yann Barberot also featured on the list of buyers.

Speaking about the strong start from the £15,000 sire, David Redvers of Tweenhills said, “Delighted. It's been a great start. There is a mixture of happiness and sadness because, when a horse is sold abroad, it lessens the exposure for the stallion at home. But, wherever he does well, it will be a good thing. I think we have some really exciting yearlings to come. The ones I have seen tend to be really sharp-looking. If they are out of a fast mare, he seems to be putting that strength into them. With the Roaring Lions, I rarely saw one that didn't look as though it would need at least 10 furlongs at three.”

He added, “With the Kamekos, we certainly have one going to Book 1 and he is out of a very fast mare and looks very sharp. He could be his first two-year-old runner. Sheikh Fahad wants to expose Kameko to the market so he is selling some of his nice ones.”

A Siyouni for Restrepo and JR Ranch

“We've waited three days for this filly,” said Ramiro Restrepo after signing for lot 279, a Monceaux-bred Siyouni daughter of the unraced Lucerne (GB), a Frankel (GB) half-sister to the treble Group 1-winning miler Charm Spirit (Ire).

At €700,000, she was another significant purchase in Europe by the American-based JR Ranch, who gave £250,000 for Ocean Vision (Ire) (US Navy Flag) at the Goffs London Sale in June.

Restrepo, who acts as Marquee Bloodstock, continued, “She is going to be a cornerstone, hopefully a foundation mare down the line for us. We bought Ocean Vision for the same partner, JR Ranch. He has a lot of passion for Thoroughbred racing and this filly has it all: temperament, class, physique, beautiful pedigree. She's out of a Frankel mare who is a half to Charm Spirit, a major Group 1 winner, and Dream And Do is in the family, who is one of Siyouni's Group 1 winners.”

Restrepo added that the filly will be the first to race in France for JR Ranch and that she will be trained in Chantilly by Tim Donworth, who previously trained Ocean Vision.

He said, “I have known Tim since he was on the Flying Start course. We bought Ocean Vision, who was one of the nicest horses in his yard. He brought the horse over to America for the Grade II and our partner was super-impressed with how he handled himself and the love that he showed for the horse, so it was only right to replace one in his barn.”

Stroud: 'It Has Been Great To Get The Principals Here'

Just a few hours after his Craven Breeze-Up purchase Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) confirmed himself one of the best two-year-olds in Europe when storming to G1 Prix Morny glory for KHK Racing Ltd, Anthony Stroud rounded off a weekend to remember by signing for a Camelot (GB) colt with “a stallion's pedigree” on behalf of Godolphin for €850,000.

Purchased from Gestüt Ammerland, the Camelot colt brought Godolphin's total spend at Arqana over the past few days to €5,350,000 across 10 yearlings, which made the operation the leading buyers at this year's sale.

“Very nice horse from Gestüt Ammerland,” Stroud said of lot 267. “We bought the half-brother [a Shamardal colt for €1.6m] here last year and we like him. This colt obviously has a stallion's pedigree and the team thought he was one of the picks of the sale. He's a nice staying horse.”

Stroud added, “I think it has been a good sale. The main thing is that it has been great to get the principals here like John Magner, Sheikh Mohammed, Al Shaqab, Amo Racing and now Wathnan Racing. There are many more and you couldn't come to a nicer place than Deauville for a sale, could you?”

Not only was this year's August Sale a hugely successful one for Godolphin with a view towards the number of high-class yearlings added to the system, but the performance of the Darley stallion roster was something that gave the team a lot of satisfaction.

Dubawi was out on his own as the leading stallion at the sale with seven yearlings selling for €5,690,000 but his sons Night Of Thunder (Ire) and freshman Ghaiyyath (Ire) enjoyed some time in the limelight, with Godolphin snapping up all three offerings by the latter to the tune of €1,365,000.

Stroud commented, “We all have great faith in Ghaiyyath, including the boss, and the three that were here were a really good representation of the stallion. We've great faith in him so we will see what happens. We're very happy going forward.”

'We're Back': Al Shaqab Make A Statement With €3.5m Spend

The smile on Benoit Jeffroy's face said it all after Al Shaqab signed for the ninth yearling purchased at this year's August Sale, a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Haras du Mont dit Mont for €575,000, which helped bring the total spend for the operation made famous by Treve (Fr) to €4,135,000.

“It's great to be back,” Jeffroy beamed, as Al Shaqab set the foundations of a rebuilding process at Arqana over the past three days that saw the operation sign for yearlings by some of the most sought after stallions in the world, including Siyouni, Kingman and No Nay Never.

Jeffroy said, “Listen, it has been good to be investing in these yearlings and nice to get some yearlings that we liked and into fillies and new families. We have really enjoyed going around selecting them with Sheikh Joaan, who has been really involved throughout the past week and was here. He said, 'Let's go and find some nice horses for next year,'. Hopefully we have found some good ones.”

Elaborating on the reasoning behind the strongest spend at a yearling auction for many years by the operation, he said, “We spoke in May about trying to regroup and select more with a view towards the broodmare band. It's very tough to breed the [good] horses. We have 60 mares now compared to the big operations that have a lot more mares and access to all of the big stallions. “We just thought that we would stay a little more selective on the breeding side of things and to try and buy some more nice horses at the sales. That's the plan.”

That's not to say that it was all plain sailing. The strength of the market in Deauville meant that even the reinvigorated Al Shaqab operation struggled to land every punch but emerged from the 12 rounds at Arqana in better shape than it began.

“First day was good but the second day we got beaten quite a few times. Today, we got beaten twice, but got one we really liked–the Wootton Bassett. It's been a really good market and, to be honest, the guys at Arqana have done a great job. There have been a lot of horses with good physicals and good pedigrees and we are lucky to have bought nine now.”

He added, “Last year we bought six or seven horses at Book 2, including Baheer (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who is quite exciting for Richard Hannon. We also bought some horses here in Deauville but not to this level. That's why I said to Sheikh Joaan, it's good to keep going with higher quality and the horses by the big stallions because, if you want to keep a mare, it's good to have one by a big stallion. Also, if you become a good racehorse and stallion, you want to be by a good sire. We are just trying to upgrade.”

Al Shaqab went on to sign for another Wootton Bassett for €675,000, elevating the spend beyond €4m. Interestingly, Amo Racing bought in to lot 235, the Wootton Bassett who colt €575,000, later on in the day. That represents a new partnership.

As well as recruiting runners for next year and beyond, Al Shaqab offered prospective buyers the first glimpse of progeny by the Haras de Bouquetot-based stallions Wooded (Ire) and Romanised (Ire), and Jeffroy described himself as pleased by the start the freshman sires have made.

He said, “Wooded has been very well received. His first yearling made €140,000. Personally, I find him quite exciting. They have great depth and are nice horses. I think we will see more from him in October and we are also pleased with Romanised.

“We stand him on behalf of Mr Ho and the filly was very well sold here on Saturday. Romanised has some nice yearlings selling at V.2 so we are happy. Yes, they are on the cheaper side, but who knows? They might be the ones.”

Buy of the Day

Lot 255, B, C, Zarak (Fr) – (Just Sherry (Ire) (Intense Focus)
Vendor: Haras du Cadran
Buyer: Godolphin
Price: €175,000

It is almost cheating when selecting a horse who cost €175,000 as the buy of the day but, given that figure was over €50,000 below the average of this year's sale, it is probably fair to include the Zarak (Fr) colt [lot 255] who was snapped up by Godolphin.

Zarak needs no introduction for a start, and this good-walking son of his, consigned by top breeder Haras du Cadran, boasted a lot of likeable attributes. Such a statement is backed up by the fact an operation the size of Godolphin felt they couldn't leave him behind at the money.

He is out of Just Sherry (Ire) (Intense Focus), a dual listed winner in France, who hails from the family of the 2,000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel (Ire).

A nice athletic colt, he looks one who will benefit with a bit of time under his belt and he'll certainly get every opportunity to fulfill his potential.

Away from the Zarak, lot 294, a filly by The Grey Gatsby (Ire), caught the eye in selling to Dan Astbury for €82,000. She is a big girl, but has a walk to match and carries herself.

The Grey Gatsby is an intriguing sire and this filly of Anna Sundstrom's [Coulonces] draft was a nice model and is one to look out for in time.

The post Sensational August Sale Closes With €2.2m Siyouni Colt to Coolmore appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Full Circle: First Yearlings for Arqana-Grad Sottsass Sell at Deauville

In the summer of 2017, Peter Brant was just at the beginning of his remarkable run with Sistercharlie (Ire) (My Boy Charlie {Ire}), who would go on to win seven Group 1 races for him, but he already knew how special she was.

“We were campaigning Sistercharlie at the time, and we knew how good she was because she had run second in the Prix Diane after getting into a lot of trouble. She almost got knocked down, and then looked like she would be absolutely nowhere. And then she came flying and made second. I knew then she just had to be a really good horse. We owned her going into the Prix Diane. And so we were very encouraged and then we brought her back to the United States and she ran in the Belmont Oaks. She lost by a nose. And she had just arrived and really never even had the chance to work or anything.”

Michel Zerolo had recommended Sistercharlie to Brant after her win in a conditions race at Saint-Cloud in April, and bought her for him after her win in the G3 Prix Penelope later than month. It was the first horse he had recommended to him.

Sistercharlie was the first foal out of Starlet's Sister, who has gone on to be a remarkable producer for Henri Bozo's Ecurie des Monceaux. Sistercharlie, the champion turf female in America, was followed by the multiple-group winner and $1 million-plus earner My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), and Sottsass (Fr), driving the prices for her subsequent foals into the stratosphere in the Arqana sales ring.

But that hadn't yet happened when Sottsass came up for sale that summer at Arqana, and Brant asked Zerolo to take a look. “Monceaux was selling him; they have the mare, Starlet's Sister, and so Michel Zerolo went to see him and he said he was really beautiful. He was a really big, strong, beautiful horse.”

Champion Sistercharlie wins the 2018 Breeders' Cup F/M Turf | Breeders' Cup/Eclipse Sportswire

Recalled Zerolo, “The obvious thing was that I was going to look at a brother of Sistercharlie, so it was a fairly easy pick. He was a very good-looking horse. He was very athletic. He was he was a good mover. The pedigree was a happening pedigree at the time. And Siyouni was a sire that I love.”

They purchased him for €340,000. Brant left him in France with trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

Sottsass would go on to wins at two, and three, and four, including three Group 1s. He broke the track record in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at a mile and a quarter, won the Prix Ganay, and then Prix de l'Arc Triomphe at four in his final career start. He won at distances from eight furlongs to a mile and a half.

This week, 11 of his first yearlings are expected to pass through the ring at the Arqana August sale. Six of them will be offered by Zerolo and Eric Puerari's Haras des Capucines.

“I've seen a reasonable number of his first yearlings,” said Zerolo. “I wouldn't say they're all of a type. He does get some bays, he gets some chestnuts. I've seen a few that are on the smaller side, more on the Polar Falcon side. Otherwise, they all seem to have a good disposition, good mind, easy horses to be around, good-looking, scopey, correct. Very correct, the way he was.”

Brant named the horse after his friend, Ettore Sottsass, a well-know Austrian-Italian architect, furniture, glass, and home-products designer, whose bright red Olivetti Valentine Portable Typewriter has earned a spot in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “He was one of the great people in design in the 20th century,” said Brant. “And I knew him very well. I collected his furniture and his glass. I like to try to name my horses after 20th and 21st century culture.”

And though Sottsass the horse remained in Europe for his racing career, Brant was on hand for some of his best moments.

“I was there at the French Derby and it was a very, very impressive race,” he recalled. “Jean-Claude Rouget thought he was going to run very well. There were some great horses in there. Persian King was the favourite and there were a number of really well-bred French horses from the big barns and families in France as well as from England. And he just ran a powerhouse.”

The Arc took place during the first fall of the Covid pandemic in 2020, forcing Brant and his wife, Stefanie Seymour, to miss the race.

“My wife and I watched it in Connecticut and we got all dressed up as if we were there,” he said. “But it was a great thrill. I mean, if there were any neighbors close by, they could hear us yelling, that's for sure.”

Sottsass winning the Arc | Scoop Dyga

Brant-currently in the midst of an epic season with another son of Siyouni, Paddington (GB), who he owns in partnership–has heavily supported his stallion with some top mares, including sending him to his Eclipse Award-winning mare Uni in his third year at stud. His pedigree deserves those mares, he said.

“Very few mares have thrown horses like Sistercharlie, Sottsass, My Sister Nat. My Sister Nat (whom Brant purchased privately in October, 2018) lost the Breeders' Cup by a neck and she lost the Flower Bowl by a nose. She was also very, very good. But I think that Sistercharlie could be the best horse that I ever owned. They were all really good-looking. So I'm very anxious to see his babies run next year. We bred 12 mares to him because we really believe in him.”

His offspring will go to Jean-Claude Rouget, Aidan O'Brien and Chad Brown in the U.S., Brant said.

“I'm getting very good reports from the French, English and Irish breeders,” he said. “They look a lot like him. They're scopey, the majority of them are chestnut, as he is. They're very handsome horses with a good head. He stamped that in them. And they look like horses that are going to be Classic kind of horses, seven-furlongs to a mile-and-a-quarter, maybe a mile-and-a-half horses.”

Brant is in Saratoga this week keeping an eye on his U.S. runners, but has an affinity for European racing, and keeps about half his mares in Europe, primarily at Coolmore Ireland.

“I like the racing in Europe very much,” he said, sitting outside Chad Brown's Saratoga barn. “I feel like the facilities where you're training are superb. And I like the way they train those babies going straight and not doing too many turns at the beginning. I believe that horses need to run when they're two years' old and you have less risk of hurting them if there are no turns at the very, very beginning as their bones are getting set. And so I do like it.

“But I come from America and I grew up in Queens, near Aqueduct, and we used to sometimes skip school and go there. I really learned a lot about American horse racing and watched horses like Kelso and Carry Back, the great Dr. Fager, all the great, great horses running against each other. And I really love dirt racing as well. And of course, winning the Kentucky Derby (in partnership) with Claiborne in 1984 with Swale was one of the great thrills of my life. It's hard to top that,” he says, and then laughs a wry laugh. “But the Arc de Triomphe was pretty close.”

And while Sottsass won at two, Zerolo isn't sure that his yearlings are going to be “super-precocious,” he said. “They're going to cater to a type of buyer, people who want Classic horses. But I think they should sell very well. I think they'll make us as proud, and I think they should make Peter and Coolmore proud.”

Additional reporting by Katie Petrunyak

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Outstanding Book 1 Tattersalls October Sale Catalogue Released

An array of outstanding yearlings have been cataloged for Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The sale takes place from October 3 to October 5 and features yearlings by some of the world's best stallions, including Dubawi (Ire), Frankel (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire), Kingman (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire), Siyouni (Fr) and Wootton Bassett (GB).

The sale numbers 532 lots, all of which are eligible for the lucrative Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus scheme, which is set to increase in value from £20,000 to £25,000 in 2024 and has paid out over £7,500,000 in bonus prize money to 329 individual winners to date.

The final yearling by the late Galileo (Ire) also features in the line-up in the shape of lot 310, the Glenvale Stud-drafted half-sister to Rose Bowl S. winner Method (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Commenting on the catalogue, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale annually showcases so many of the finest yearlings to be found anywhere in the world and this year's catalogue has all the quality that buyers have come to expect from Europe's premier yearling sale.

“Europe's leading yearling consignors consistently send their elite yearlings to Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale confident that so many of the world's leading owners hold the sale in the highest esteem and the 532 yearlings catalogued for this year's sale are the cream of the European crop.”

He added, “Not only does the sale feature an extraordinary number of yearlings by all of the very best stallions currently standing in Europe, it also continues to reward owners with the hugely popular Book 1 Bonuses which have been increased to £25,000 this year.

“More than £7.5 million in Book 1 Bonus prize money has already been paid directly to owners and our commitment to the scheme ensures that the best European yearlings continue to earn the best prize money.”

Among the “cream of the crop” are 59 siblings to Classic and Group 1 winners, including Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Blue Point (Ire), Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}), Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Mishriff (Ire), Persian King (Ire), Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Sea The Moon (Ger), Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}), The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Uni (GB) (More Than Ready).

Beautifully-bred fillies who have had significant recent pedigree updates include the Siyouni half-sister to the Group 1 Nassau S. winner Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Pinatubo (Ire) half-sister to the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby winner Program Trading (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

Others to catch the eye include the Camelot (GB) own-sister to Group 1 Irish Champion S. winner Luxembourg (Ire) and the Lope De Vega half-sister to four time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), who sold for 5,400,000 gns at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

Catalogues are online now at www.tattersalls.com and will be available from Tattersalls and Tattersalls representatives from Monday, August 14.

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