“She Looked Like A Moose At The Sales” – Group 1 Plans For 5k Purchase

Bloodstock agent Stephen Hillen has recalled how Sunday's G2 Dahlia S. winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) would not have won any beauty pageants as a yearling but revealed a certain amount of thinking-outside-of-the-box has led to him dreaming of big-race riches with the George Boughey-trained mare. 

Via Sistina couldn't have been more impressive at Newmarket on Sunday. She travelled into the race like a dream under Jamie Spencer, a good friend of Hillen's, and won going away by six lengths without having to be asked too many questions in the saddle. 

It was a performance that screamed quality and Hillen, who is better known for finding top-notch prospects for clients in his role as a bloodstock agent, is being rewarded for playing the long game with the horse he picked up for just 5,000gns at the December Yearling Sales in 2019. 

“She was a giant as a yearling,” Hillen recalled. “She is probably close to 17 hh at present. But she looked like a moose at the sales–big and backward. 

“Those Fastnet Rocks can be an acquired taste sometimes but she has grown into herself and you wouldn't call her an unattractive mare now.”

He added, “I often buy a filly one year and flip it the next and we've raced good fillies like Haggle (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) before. 

“There have been several fillies we have done the job with, in that we bought them without black-type and, once we got it, sold them on the following year. 

“Listen, I like to race them and, if I spot something I like and have no order to fill, I'll just buy it within reason.”

Via Sistina races in the colours of Hillen's wife Becky. Those purple and pink silks were also carried by Haggle, Four White Socks (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Banzari (GB) (Motivator {GB}), while Hillen has been involved with classy fillies Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and La  Dragontea (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) as well. 

Hillen is in little doubt that there is more to come from his latest runner and confirmed that Via Sistina will not be sold on until the end of this campaign at least. The G1 Pretty Polly S. awaits.

He said,  “Jamie was very positive about her but he's always loved that filly ever since he got on her. She'd been threatening to do something like that but you just don't expect it. Jamie even went to Toulouse to ride her last year. 

“Ordinarily, he wouldn't go all the way there for a Group 3, but I was just fearful if something went wrong and I really wanted to win a Group race with her. It was at the end of the year, too, which is why she may not have been as impressive as she can be that day, and she was also a bit keen on a tight track.”

Hillen added, “That was only her ninth start on Sunday-some horses run nine times in a year. We'll probably race her until the end of the year at least and then make a plan. We're going to try and have a bit of fun with her. If the ground is on the slow side, she'll probably go to the Pretty Polly. She's a Group 2 winner now so the natural step is to go and try and win a Group 1. It's exciting. It would be a dream to win a Group 1 with her.”

 

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Boughey’s Via Sistina Sluices Up In The Dahlia Stakes At Newmarket

Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) produced a career-best performance to win the G2 Howden Dahlia S. at Newmarket in a style that suggested there could be even bigger things to come from the gigantic five-year-old mare. 

Trainer George Boughey revealed prior to the race that he does not have a bigger horse in his yard and that he had been praying for rain in the build-up to the Group 2 contest.

Those prayers were answered, with Via Sistina sluicing through the soft ground under a statuesque Jamie Spencer, who, when crouching a little lower in the saddle just over a furlong from the finish, received a generous response from the 5-2 favourite. 

In the end, Via Sistina pulled six lengths clear of Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with Astral Beau (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) back in third. Last year's G1 Falmouth S. winner Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) finished a disappointing fifth on her comeback. 

“She's very effective on that ground,” Spencer said afterwards. “I was hoping that it would rain enough that it was almost bottomless. She just floats on it and I got into the race very easily at the half-mile pole. I probably got there a mile too soon but, back a furlong, I thought we'd get going early.”

Spencer added, “Sheikh [Stephen] Hillen wanted me to be on the pace. Stephen [bloodstock agent and owner] has been busy and is doing well. She was a cheap purchase so she is worth a little bit more than what he paid for her now. 

“We discussed it and Stephen said that, even if he [Boughey] runs her five times this year, just run her when the conditions are to suit and she will repay the patience. But she's a Group 3 and a Group 2 winner now and she's getting there. Especially against her own sex, if she gets soft ground, she's one to look forward to for the summer.”

Hillen bought Via Sistina for just 5,000gns at the December Sale at Tattersalls in 2019 as a yearling. She races in his wife Becky's purple and pink colours.

Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is the leading performer for the unraced Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself kin to the G1 Golden Jubilee S. and G1 Nunthorpe S. hero Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil) and to the Listed Jazzy S. runner-up Vanishing Grey (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), in turn the dam of the Listed Prix Millkom victor and G2 Zabeel Mile runner-up First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 

Her third dam La Pellegrina (Ire) (Be My Guest) is a half-sister to the G1 One Thousand Guineas heroine Las Meninas (Ire) (Glenstal) as well as to the then Listed Pokallob victor Spanish Run (Commanche Run {GB}) and the mare Schlefalora (GB) (Mas Media {GB}), herself the second dam of the G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Prix Robert Papin victrix Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}). 

Nigh also has a 3-y-o filly by Bated Breath (GB) named Fougere (GB), an as  yet unnamed 2-y-o colt by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and a yearling full-sister to Via Sistina.

Sunday, Newmarket, Britain
HOWDEN DAHLIA S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 5-7, 4yo/up, f, 9fT, 1:51.49, sf.
1–VIA SISTINA (IRE), 128, m, 5, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Nigh (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Native Force (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: La Pellegrina (Ire), by Be My Guest
(5,000gns Ylg '19 TADEYG). O-Mrs R G Hillen; B-Laundry Cottage Stud Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey; J-Jamie Spencer. £70,888. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 9-4-1-1, $196,542. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Al Husn (Ire), 128, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Hadaatha (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £26,875.
3–Astral Beau (GB), 128, f, 4, Brazen Beau (Aus)–Asteroidea (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Family Sly; B-M H Sly & Mrs P M Sly (GB); T-Pam Sly. £13,450.
Margins: 6, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 8.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: Life In Motion (Ire), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), With The Moonlight (Ire), Random Harvest (Ire), Hidden Dimples (Ire), Shaara (GB).

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Gun Runner Colt Tops ‘Vibrant’ Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — A colt from the third crop of boom American stallion Gun Runner (lot 18) was hammered down to Stephen Hillen, agent for prominent owner Dr Jim Hay, for €543,210 to top Tuesday's second renewal of the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale, held in the parade ring at Meydan Racecourse. On behalf of the Scotsman, Hillen also acquired the second-dearest offering of the evening, a Justify half-brother to GISW Fog of War (War Front) (lot 2), for the equivalent of €518,519.

Following the withdrawal of 10 horses, 63 juveniles were presented to an enthusiastic group of bidders from a variety of jurisdictions and attended by Sheikh Mohammed and his advisors. Some 42 horses were reported as sold for AED25,814,178, a decrease of 18.2% from last year's AED31,580,000. The average of AED614,624 represented a 1% gain over the inaugural event, while the median of AED537,000 jumped by a whopping 37%. The clearance rate of 67% declined from 80% in 2022.

“The second renewal of the Dubai Breeze-Up in association with Goffs was another sale of vibrant sales ring action,” said Goffs' Henry Beeby. “Whilst the clearance rate was slightly down on last year, the average and particularly the median has grown considerably which demonstrated that the quality was selling extremely well.

“The old adage at these types of sales is 'breeze well, sell well', and those that caught the eye at the breeze were the most active in the sales ring. We built very solid foundations in years one and two and look forward to working with the Dubai Racing

Club to develop this sale into a truly world-class event, and the racetrack success of the first year certainly means that it has a bright future.

“Once again, I would like to extend thanks from all the team at Goffs to the Dubai Racing Club for the trust they have placed in us, and we salute the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in adding the sale to this huge week of international racing at the Dubai World Cup.”

Hay Is For Horses

It was a busy evening for Stephen Hillen and Dr Jim Hay, who ended up securing not only the sale's top two sellers, but four of the top seven overall.

Lot 2 was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt and was consigned to the sale by Willie Browne's Mocklershill on behalf of the breeder. Lead auctioneer Henry Beeby accepted an opening bid of a robust AED500,000 and bidding was steady up to and through the 2-million dirham level before Hay landed his first winning blow of the evening.

“We supported the sale last year,” said Hay, whose two purchases last year included a Gun Runner colt and a filly by Into Mischief. “We didn't do well with the purchases, but nevertheless, there are high-class pedigrees, the catalogue this year looks better. Stephen has had a good look at everything.”

Added Hillen: “He is by a top sire, Willie Browne thoroughly recommended him. I saw him at Willie's place about three weeks ago, big stride and by a good stallion. He'll probably stay here in Dubai to be trained by Bhupat Seemar.”

Hay has racing interests in all corners of the globe, but is encouraged about the trajectory of the local programme.

“The plan is to build up the stable in Dubai, this is where the prize money is and we need to race here,” he said.

“Very pleased with that,” said the consignor. “He was a beautiful horse by a stallion who is going places.”

A Justify colt also topped Monday's opening session of the OBS March Sale in Ocala, Florida, on a bid of $1.2 million.

A short time later, Hay and Hillen bought consecutive lots off Tom Whitehead's Powerstown Stud. Lot 17, a War Front own brother to the stakes-placed Stony Point, was acquired by Chad Schumer for $130,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and fetched €320,928 Tuesday, while Hay went back to the Gun Runner well once more when paying the sales-topping price.

“He was already a big horse when we got him, but he got broader and wider since,” Whitehead said of the Gun Runner son of Brazilian Group 1 winner Baby Go Far (Brz) (Elusive Quality), who was purchased for $160,000 at Keeneland last fall.

He, too, will be trained by Seemar, who said the colt reminded him a lot of his G1 Dubai World Cup hopeful Bendoog (Gun Runner), who was most recently runner-up in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3.

Hay's fourth purchase was a colt from the first crop of Mitole–Warm Breeze (Street Sense) (lot 14) for €246,914. The May 3 foal was consigned by Bushypark Stables, who bought him for $60,000 at Keeneland.

 

 

 

Schumer Happy, Surprised By Results

American agent Chad Schumer does plenty of business in the Gulf region and is responsible for having sold last-out Listed Al Bastakiya S. winner Go Soldier Go (Tapiture) at last year's Dubai Sale. He was more than satisfied with the sale of the War Front colt through Powerstown, but was generally perplexed at the end results

“It's a very good pedigree and we expected that colt to do well,” he said, taking time out from his work down at the OBS sale. “He was a beautiful yearling and vetted well. You never know until you get there so we are delighted.”

He continued, “Tom generally just tries to buy the right kind of horse. This horse was well below what we were willing to spend, so it was a nice surprise we were able to pick him up for that.”

Given the success of last year's event, he was a bit taken aback at the level of engagement this time around.

“It was a real surprise to me,” he said. “Last year it felt a bit spotty to me. If you didn't have the right type, there was no money at all and Goffs did an exceptional job in pushing to get those horses sold. This year, based on the fact that so many of the horses had won and there was the Group 1-placed horse in Japan, I would have thought there would have been voracious demand, but there wasn't. Maybe OBS going on at the same time causes a pull from this sale, I don't know.”

 

 

 

Mitole A Hot Commodity in Dubai As Well

The first-crop offerings by Mitole (Eskendereya) proved popular Monday at OBS, with three lots fetching six-figure prices, and those that went through Tuesday in Dubai made a favourable impression as well. In addition to Hay's aforementioned purchase early in the session, Oliver St Lawrence and trainer Fawzi Nass went to €222,222 for a half-brother to the multiple Canadian stakes winners Dene Court (City Zip) and Jacally (Bold Executive). Lot 66 was purchased by Roderic Kavanagh's Glending Stables for $60,000 at Keeneland in September.

“I liked this colt very much and it seems like the sire is making some good horses,” St Lawrence said. “They have good substance and are good doers.”

The Name's Stroud

Buyers at Tuesday's sale were identifiable by paddles bearing a three-digit number, and lot 42, a colt by Darley America's Street Sense was knocked down to agent Anthony Stroud–holding paddle 007–for €370,370, the joint-fourth highest price of the sale.

Bred in Kentucky by Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding, the bay colt is out of Gold Serenade (Medaglia d'Oro), whose superstar 11-times Grade I-winning dam Serena's Song (Rahy) was responsible for G1 Coronation S. heroine Sophisticat (Storm Cat) and graded-stakes winners Grand Reward (Storm Cat) and Harlington (Unbridled). This is also the family of US champion Honor Code (A.P. Indy).

 

 

 

No Nay Never Colt Leads Euro-Breds

Of the 18 2-year-olds offered during Tuesday's session by European-based stallions, lot 71 proved the most coveted, selling to the burgeoning Najd Stud for €209,877.

A son of 2012 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Princess Sinead (Ire) (Jeremy), the May-foaled bay was led out unsold on a bid of 40,000gns during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sale last fall.

“We are delighted with that,” said Colm Kennedy, whose Drumphea Stables consigned the colt as the property of a partnership. “We were very pleased with the way the horse presented and his breeze [Monday] was very nice. Certainly the sire helped him, but that was a very good result.”

Najd Stud, the operation of Saudi Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz, bought four lots Tuesday topped by a Constitution colt (lot 25) out of a half-sister to multiple graded winner and Grade I-placed Independence Hall (Constitution) for just over €395,000 off Brendan Holland's Grove Stud.

Click here for the full results.

 

 

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Bargain Buys – Byrne, Hillen and Harris in Search of More July Sale Riches

If it's bargains you want, look no further than the Tattersalls July Sale, but you will need to be able to think outside the box to secure them. 

Nobody can accuse Edgar Byrne, Stephen Hillen and Milton Harris for rigid thinking, however, as the three men are responsible for unearthing arguably the best value buys at Newmarket in the past few years. 

Just 3,000gns was all it took for Byrne to buy the Godolphin-bred Kitty Marion (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), who went on to win a group 3 in Germany, while Hillen picked up Zofelle (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who would go on to achieve a group 3 victory and become group 1 placed in America, for a mere 27,000gns.

Trainer Milton Harris recorded his best ever season over jumps last term by sending out 56 winners, highlighted by Knight Salute (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}), a horse he picked up for just 14,000gns at this sale 12 months ago, bagging the G1 Jewson Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree in the spring. 

Put simply, there are bargains to be found at the July Sale this week. However, according to Byrne, not only do you have to spend hours trawling through the catalogue but you also need a heavy helping of luck.

Recalling Kitty Marion at the sales, Byrne said, “She had a lovely pedigree. Her dam is a half-sister to Wootton Bassett (GB) so, even on that basis, I couldn't believe she went through as cheaply as she did.”

He added, “If she never set foot on a racecourse again, she was a winning filly with a nice pedigree and I couldn't believe we got her for 3,000gns. We were prepared to pay a fair bit more for her to be honest. 

“That's the beauty of buying at the July Sale and buying off Godolphin. They have fantastic pedigrees and disperse regularly.”

Despite costing just a shade more than a month's training fees, Kitty Marion belied her basement buy status when landing the G3 Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche in Germany last season, a win that was made extra special by the fact that the filly was trained by Byrne's close friend Guillermo Arizkorreta.

He explained, “She was bought for the champion trainer in Spain, Guillermo Arizkorreta, who is a great friend of mine. We rode together as amateurs a long time ago and I bought a very good miler, Amedeo Modigliani (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), for him as well so we are always looking. 

“We were extremely lucky to find Kitty Marion for 3,000gns and, at the end of the day, you need a bit of luck sometimes. She was just completely missed by everyone and that's what this industry is all about; getting a rub of the green on a given day.”

Hillen echoed the sentiments of Byrne. The well-known bloodstock agent, who was responsible for buying the sale-topping Saxon Warrior filly consigned by Katie Walsh's Greenhills Farm at this year's Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale, explained how recruiting horses for America is not an exact science. 

In the case of Zofelle, who won just once from seven starts for Hugo Palmer before climbing the ranks in America and achieving Group 1 black type, Hillen was clearly thinking on his feet. 

“I find that if a horse does something once, it's always capable of doing it again,” he said, referring to Zofelle's debut win. “Her form had tailed off a little bit after that but, at the price, I thought she was worth taking a chance on,” he added. 

Zofelle is now worth a multitude of the 27,000gns Hillen paid for her in 2019 with the bloodstock agent explaining that, in recruiting horses for America, it's the lowly-rated horses who can sometimes usurp the bigger buys, depending on how they take to the training.

He explained, “Zofelle just looked like she wanted fast ground. I am good friends with Brendan Walsh and it's great when they turn out that good. You don't expect it when they cost what she did.”

Hillen added, “When you've only won one race, you've loads of options in America, and she obviously got confidence as she progressed through the ranks. 

“Sometimes the real naps don't work out in America. You could have one with listed-placed form and they might not take to the training. 

“Then you could get one rated in the 70s or maybe lower and they take to it. It's hard to predict which ones will take to it and it's a numbers game really.”

Hillen and Byrne will be back for more at Newmarket this week and, so too will Harris, who will be bidding to try and find the next Knight Salute. 

Harris knows that he won't be alone in trying to find the next winner of the Triumph Hurdle but expects to pick up a number of new recruits ahead of the jumps season. 

He said, “I commented a few times last year when I was interviewed after Knight Salute was winning that horses like him provide optimism to people who can't go out and spend big money on horses.”

Harris added, “Mark Adams [agent] and I, we spend weeks on this catalogue. We put together a list of 70 or 80 horses and eliminate them as we go after finding out about them and making some phone calls. That list will be down to about 40 by the time the sale starts and we will try and buy five or six.

“I am really pleased for the racing public that they can see that for 14,000 you can buy a good racehorse. I plan to buy five or six this week with the cheapest being about 10,000gns and the most expensive about 70,000. You've got a chance at the July Sale.”

 

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