Ryan, who has sourced well over 50 Group/Grade 1 winners in his long and distinguished career, including Book 1 graduates Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}), admitted to finding trade “a little easier” in 2023 compared to previous visits to Park Paddocks. 

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Newspaperofrecord featured in Ryan's debut haul at Book 1 back in 2017. She was knocked down to the agent, signing on behalf of Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and Brown, for 200,000gns. 

Ryan has returned to Tattersalls every year since and signed for a whopping 16 yearlings in 2022 and the same number last year, the majority of which were purchased on behalf of the hugely successful owner and trainer. 

Recapping last year's activity, where Ryan spent 3,860,000gns, the agent said, “We got blown out of the water several times, for sure. But we did feel that we got a lot of quality for the money that we spent. Seth Klarman is an amazing owner. He is incredibly patient and loves the game. It's great he has enjoyed the amount of success that he has because he is a huge supporter and is an incredible investor. He loves buying these European grass horses and he's done incredibly well with them. It might have been a little easier to buy them last year. I sense that the market was probably a little bit patchy, as it is here in America, because we have more inventory than we have buyers. That's a problem here as well.”

It may only be February but Ryan has seen enough from this year's bunch of juveniles to suggest the team are in good shape for the year ahead.

He commented, “It's early days but we've been around enough good horses down through the years to know when you do see that cream rising to the top. You can base your observations on previous horses that you have had through the programme and you know pretty quickly with young horses whether you've got a decent group or an average group. We're quite pleased with the bunch of two-year-olds we have for this year. We usually buy two or three Lope De Vegas every year and we have a colt by him out of Sea of Faith (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who we like quite a bit. He's been impressing us.”

Ryan added, “We've got a Blue Point (Ire) colt out of a mare called Blind Faith (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who we bought from the McCartans of Ballyphilip Stud and he's a lovely horse. He'll go two turns as well because he's got plenty of scope and stretch. He's got a lot of class and has a great mind. He does things very easily. 

“We got a very strong Kingman (GB) out of Queen's Code (Ire) (Shamardal) and he's impressive. There's a magnificent turf track at Stonestreet and a bunch of them worked on it the other day. He was one of the colts who showed up nicely. The Wootton Bassett (GB) colt out of The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) could be pretty special. He's a big horse and we won't be rushing him but he moves beautifully and covers a lot of ground. He'll be a nice mile-and-a-quarter horse and gives us a lot of confidence. 

“I haven't seen the Study Of Man (Ire) colt out of Almiranta (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) training but the reports are good. We really liked him as a yearling; he'd a great frame with great angles. I'm very curious to see what he looks like on the racetrack. I'd expect him to make a two-year-old and, you know what, it wouldn't shock me if he ran on the dirt.”

All told, Ryan signed for nine fillies and seven colts at Book 1 last year. The distribution between fillies and colts was the same for a similar spend of 3,745,000gns in 2022. 

On what he looks for when searching for European-bred grass horses to run in America, Ryan explained, “We typically try to buy horses who will get a mile and beyond. We don't focus on sprinters because we don't have the opportunities on grass that you do in Europe for sprinters.

“We like horses who give us the feeling that they have a turn of foot. Horses who look like they can accelerate quickly. Our turns are tight and usually the serious running starts at the top of the stretch to the wire so you need well-balanced horses who can corner exceptionally well as well.”

He added, “We've been very lucky at Book 1 and, the first year we went over there, we bought Newspaperofrecord. She was by Lope De Vega and we've been very lucky with that stallion as well. Program Trading (GB), who won two Grade Is last year, is another example of that. We've been very lucky with Kingman (GB)–Domestic Spending and Technical Analysis (Ire)–and we've been very lucky with Dubawi (Ire)–who wouldn't be?–but we're always looking for the new horse.

“We've only bought a couple by Frankel (GB), one of which is McKulick (GB), and he is just an incredible stallion but we have found that they might not be as speedy and sharp as what we require for turf races over here. Whereas the Kingmans, they do have that natural speed and are naturally forward horses.

“We like Night Of Thunder (Ire) and Too Darn Hot (GB) is a horse we like a lot as well. We have a Too Darn Hot filly called Oversubscribed, who actually dead-heated last time at Tampa and was unlucky not to win, and she is very, very good. We thought she was Breeders' Cup class last year but she came up with a small setback and just needed some time off. We think she could be anything.”

While Ryan loves nothing more than to return to a tried and trusted source of success, he is also open-minded enough to snap up the progeny of some of the lesser-exposed stallions. Along with bagging that Study Of Man colt from Staffordstown Stud for 220,000gns, Ryan added two fillies by first-season sire Pinatubo (Ire) for a combined sum of 480,000gns and said both recruits are really impressing in their work. 

“We've a very nice Pinatubo (Ire) filly out of Sparkle Roll (Fr) (Kingman {GB}),” he said. “We bought her off Highclere Stud. We actually bought two Pinatubos. The other is out of a mare called Dreamlike (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and we got her from Fittocks Stud for 260,000gns. “She is a three-quarters sister to Program Trading. We were very impressed by the Pinatubos and we underbid a couple of others. I actually bred to him myself and I have two yearlings by him, I've got a mare in foal to him and I'm sending two mares back to him. He's a beautifully-bred horse; a son of Shamardal and was just a superior racehorse. They just have a lot of quality and are easy to like.”

He added, “I've always been a huge fan of Shamardal. He reminds me of Into Mischief. His progeny are so determined, courageous and have a great desire to compete. They are just tough, good and dependable racehorses. Shamardal was that way himself and he seems to have passed it on. He's a great, great influence in my mind.”

As well as pedigrees and sires, there are basic fundamentals that Ryan hones in on when trying to find the next Newspaperofrecord. Given speed and, more importantly, a change of gear plays a massive role in the winning and losing of many big races on grass in America, a well-balanced, lighter and somewhat sleeker type of thoroughbred is what Ryan tends to go searching for. 

He explained, “Grass horses are different to American dirt horses. The American dirt horse is very powerfully made. They have very strong quarters and are very powerful over their backs with a deep girth and chest. I don't like heavy horses. I prefer horses with a clean neck and shoulder. We look for horses with good mechanics. Horses who move well and do it within themselves. Obviously you look for a horse with a good temperament as well. But, we're quite flexible. We will forgive some conformational flaws and I put a lot of emphasis on a horse's demeanour; the feel or the vibe you get from a horse. That's very important to me.”

He added, “We're lucky in Tattersalls that we get plenty of time to look at horses, which we do. The sale is spread out nicely and it gives trainers in particular time to look at the horses. It's such a high concentration of good horses at Book 1 and we do work it thoroughly and have really enjoyed going over there. Thankfully we have come out of there with a lot of good horses. But if you don't find them at Book 1, where else are you going to find them? Seriously. You've got 40 Kingmans, Frankels, Wootton Bassetts, Night Of Thunders, No Nay Nevers and about 25 Dubawis. You know, it's just an incredibly strong bunch of sires to choose from.”

The common denominator in this success story is Brown. The agent says that a strong mutual respect underpins their relationship and points to Brown's apprenticeship with legendary trainer Bobby Frankel as being the cornerstone to him becoming one of the most successful trainers in America. 

“He's super, super smart,” said Ryan of the trainer. “Chad is just incredibly intelligent and extremely organised. He has an incredible recall. I think he was incredibly fortunate, and I keep telling him this, to have worked for one of the greatest American trainers in Bobby Frankel. That would be the equivalent to working for Aidan O'Brien, Vincent O'Brien or Andre Fabre. That was the best university that he could have gone to and he'd often say to me, 'this is what Bobby would have done,' when it comes to a horse. 

“He's incredibly patient and he gives his horses time. That's why his horses have real longevity. He's more focussed on developing a horse to have a career and not just a season. We've a great mutual respect. I have learned a lot from him and he has learned a lot from me. We trust each other. That goes a long way.”

With that in mind, it's not just the youngsters that Ryan suggested would be worth following throughout 2024 and said that big things were expected of previous Book 1 purchases Equitize (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Dynamic Pricing (Ire) along with Oversubscribed. 

He concluded, “There's a four-year-old called Equitize and he is very, very good. I think people are going to be reading a lot about him this summer and he could go for races like the Man O'War and the Manhattan. Dynamic Pricing is a lovely three-year-old filly by Night Of Thunder. We bought her at Book 1 a couple of years ago from Croom House Stud. She was third in the Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream on her last start but got in a lot of trouble. I'd put those two older horses forward with Oversubscribed as being our horses to follow on the grass this year.”

The post Agent Mike Ryan Gives Lowdown On Chad Brown’s Juveniles And More appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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1,250,000 million gns for Golden Horde's half-brother at #TattsOctober

This colt by Wootton Bassett has been bought by M V Magnier & White Birch Farm. He was consigned by @ClaraStud pic.twitter.com/fXGUqJYqyG

— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2023

The post Wootton Bassett Colt Another Millionaire For Magnier At 1.25m As Tattersalls Session Ends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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NEWMARKET, UK–From a muted opening, Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale picked up the pace on Wednesday with a further four seven-figure lots gracing the ring. These sparked some solid bidding wars between established superpowers such as Coolmore, Godolphin and Juddmonte, with a decent representation of newer players from Bahrain and other Gulf nations, and strong participation from American-based Mike Ryan and Chad Brown.

The ripples of Frankel (GB) combined with Hascombe & Valiant Stud were felt on the turf of Longchamp on Sunday when Ace Impact (Ire), a son of the Oppenheimers' Frankel-sired star Cracksman (GB) waltzed off with the Arc. This year, with Anthony Oppenheimer selling a large draft of colts at Tattersalls, his stud was represented by a star turn of a different kind with the Frankel colt out of Bizzaria (GB) (Lemon Drop Kid) heading Book 1 when sold for 2 million gns to Coolmore.

The dam of lot 266 hails from a different Hascombe & Valiant family to Cracksman but it is one which has nevertheless provided the stud with much success. Her full-brothers Cannock Chase and Pisco Sour are Grade I and Group 2 winners respectively, and they are both former winners of the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot. Their half-sister Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was better still, with her hat-trick of Group 1 victories including the Irish Oaks.

With five of his seven-strong Book 1 draft having been sold already for a total of 2.9 million gns, Oppenheimer was naturally pleased with the week's business.

“So far we have done quite well,” he said. “I know [the Frankel colt] is a very nice horse. He's refuelled the stud's finances and it can't do any harm.”

Oppenheimer's biggest success in recent years came with the 2015 Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), and he is also the breeder of this year's Gold Cup winner, Courage Mon Ami (GB), who is yet another son of Frankel and was sold to Wathnan Racing just prior to Royal Ascot.

Over at Navan, another Frankel colt bought by Coolmore at Book 1 last year for 1.9 million gns, Euphoric (GB), broke his maiden on debut and, through various partnerships, the team, headed by MV Magnier, played a more prominent role at Tattersalls on Wednesday while stocking up on next year's juvenile crop.

After having the final say over Godolphin and Juddmonte for the session-topper, Magnier said, “They [Hascombe & Valiant Stud] are very good breeders and have bred some very nice horses in the past. Frankel is flying at the moment. He'll go to Ballydoyle and let's hope he's good.”

2million gns for lot 266 at #TattsOctober

This colt by Frankel is from the family of G1 winner Star Catcher and was consigned by Hascombe & Valiant Stud. He has been bought by M V Magnier. pic.twitter.com/EHzBuqbpVu

— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2023

Late in the session, lot 352 drew a crowd back into the gangway as Magnier batted away a strong challenge from outside the ring and finally prevailed at 1.25 million gns. From Clara Stud and bred by CN Farm, the Wootton Bassett (GB) colt is a half-brother to G1 Commonwealth Cup winner and Sumbe stallion Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) as well as the Listed winners Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Further back, the strong black-type dynasty of champion filly Serena's Song (Rahy) adds fortification to the page.

His dam, Entreat (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), is one of 15 mares owned by Kilkenny native James Cloney in partnership with his father-in-law. Cloney, a pharmacist by trade, admitted to be living out a long-held dream by exceeding seven figures with a horse he'd bred.

“It's once in a lifetime to have such a beautiful article,” he said. “Entreat is a special mare and she really produces top-quality stock. I had a dream about this. Thank God it came true for the family.”

Cloney acquired Entreat, a Cheveley Park Stud-bred mare, at the July Sale here in 2016 through BBA Ireland for just 14,000gns. Her son Golden Horde (Ire) put the pedigree in lights with a G1 Commonwealth Cup victory and Cloney revealed that he has wisely retained another filly from the family.

He explained, “She has a beautiful Dark Angel filly foal at home but is barren at the moment. We're lucky enough to have another daughter at home, called Dutch Treaty (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who has turned out to be a stakes producer herself. I'm lucky to have a nice daughter already.

“It's a family-run operation. My father-in-law is Michael Nolan and Paddy Kelly, who led the horse around tonight, helps us as well. I am a pharmacist by trade but am from a farming background. The horses are what keep me right, looking out at them in the evening time.”

1,250,000 million gns for Golden Horde's half-brother at #TattsOctober

This colt by Wootton Bassett has been bought by M V Magnier & White Birch Farm. He was consigned by @ClaraStud pic.twitter.com/fXGUqJYqyG

— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2023

Talking Points

• Sheikh Mohammed continued his spending spree, with Godolphin having now accounted for 15% of the turnover through the two days, with 17 yearlings bought for a total of 10,105,000gns

• Mike Ryan and Chad Brown have also been busy and have recruited 12 European yearlings to take back to America for a total of 2,740,000gns

• While trade certainly had a more buoyant feel to it than on the opening day, the median of 195,000gns was actually lower than Tuesday's 205,000gns, while the average, at 265,664gns, was up, thanks to a higher number of seven-figure lots. In comparison to last year's second session, the figures were all down, but on that day, eight of the sale's 16 seven-figure lots were sold. There have been six million-plus yearlings so far across the two days, and there had been 11 by this stage in 2022.

• Wednesday's aggregate settled at 35,599,000gns (-28%), and the clearance rate was 84%, representing 134 horses sold from 160 offered.

• George Boughey cut his teeth as a trainer with small-money buys–Missed The Cut (Quality Road) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) cost 100,000gns put together–but this week represented a breakout sale for the trainer. Boughey signed for three yearlings in his own name for a total of 865,000gns.

• Ghaiyyath (Ire) played a leading role here on Tuesday when a colt by the first-season sire sold to Godolphin for 1.05 million gns. But how did the market react to Ghaiyyath and the rest of the newbies on the whole? The answer is pretty positively. Ghaiyyath leads the way for the first-season sires with seven selling for an average of 309,571gns and an aggregate of 2,167,000gns. Along with Godolphin, buyers included Peter and Ross Doyle, Najd Stud and Highclere. Fellow Darley stallion Pinatubo (Ire) was next best for the young guns. Six of his yearlings sold at an average of 237,500gns and aggregate of 1,425,000gns. Earthlight (Ire) also fared well with four selling for an average of 212,500gns, including a 240,000gns colt [lot 237] to Ben McElroy to Stonestreet Stables.

McCartan Lauds 1.5M Blue Point Showstopper 

Renowned breeder Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud heaped praise on his Blue Point (Ire) half-brother to multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by describing him as the best horse he has ever had anything to do with.

That is saying something as, along with Battaash, McCartan has had Xtension (Ire), Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) and Harry Angel (Ire) through his hands. But he clearly wasn't alone in his appraisal of lot 240, who drew a collected hush at a jam-packed auditorium during Book 1 with Godolphin seeing off Najd Stud at 1.5 million gns.

“Look, I haven't said it to too many people, but I think he's the nicest horse I have ever had anything to do with,” a delighted McCartan said moments after the sale. “I really think that. I have always put Battaash number one but, just when he [the Blue Point colt] got here and did everything right and everything came together–he's an absolute belter.”

A belter is probably the best way of putting it. The Blue Point colt commanded the attention of some of the top judges in the game and even Joe Foley labelled him “the best horse in the sale” before bowing out at 800,000gns.

Mark McStay and Simon Mockridge of Juddmonte got a little closer to the magic 1.5-million mark but, in the end, it was Najd Stud, to the left of auctioneer Simon Kerins, and Anthony Stroud, bidding outside the sale ring on behalf of Godolphin, who draw away from the rest.

Godolphin weren't for beating and once again threw their might behind a colt by one of their own bright young stallions. On Monday, it was a Ghaiyyath (Ire) half-brother to Breeders' Cup hero Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who piqued interest from Sheikh Mohammed's powerful operation.

Just 24 hours later, it was the colt by Blue Point, who has made the most terrific start to his stallion career with Big Evs (Ire) and Rosallion (Ire) the most notable performers, who led the way.

McCartan continued, “I'm delighted that Godolphin have got him and I'm delighted that Charlie Appleby will be training him. Because, to me, he's the image of his father and his grandfather. I think Charlie loved him as well, and Charlie could see that.”

Asked why he decided to send outstanding producer Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) to Blue Point, McCartan said, “It was probably an act of lunacy to take such a risk with a mare who is so important to us. I probably should have taken a more conservative approach and gone with a proven horse but I was at Ascot the day Blue Point beat Battaash in the King's Stand. I remember Blue Point coming into the parade ring and I took one look at him and one look at Charlie Appleby and I knew we weren't going to be winning.”

He added, “It's surreal because it's out of your control but I want to pay particular thanks to the people who work for me. Sure everybody knows that they are one of the best teams around the sales ground. And also to my head man at home, Denis Lawlor, who never comes to the sales and Dinny McCarthy, who led him up. He's a fantastic horseman and did a great job. They all did. It's one of the most enjoyable parts for me, that they can all share it together. We are all great friends.”

Perhaps Anna Law deserves a little more love in this story. Bought by McCartan for just 14,000gns at a horses-in-training sale here in October 2012, she has proved an immensely important part of that Limerick farm in producing Battaash and fellow speedster The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who sold for 750,000gns at this sale in 2021.

Reported to be happily in foal to Frankel (GB) by McCartan, Anna Law could have an even bigger role to play at Ballyphilip Stud in the years to come given she is still relatively young for a broodmare at just 13 years' old.

McCartan, who runs Ballyphilip with his wife Marie, explained, “Anna Law has a filly foal at home by Dark Angel and is in foal to Frankel. It's a bit of a different approach [going to Frankel] but he's probably the best stallion of all time, so why not? We'll give it a roll again.”

He added, “Anna Law has been an incredible mare for us. She started off by being a grumpy old girl but now every time she sees me out in the field she knows I have a fist full of nuts so we are the best of friends now!”

“He's the image of his sire and grandsire,” – Paul McCartan of @BallyphilipStud

The Blue Point colt half-brother to G1 winner Battaash has sold for 1.5million gns at #TattsOctober to Godolphin. pic.twitter.com/iDuqqNbkuR

— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2023

Sumbe On The Stallion Hunt

Ballylinch Stud had enjoyed a particularly noteworthy update for lot 260 since the catalogue was published with the G2 Champagne S. victory of the colt's full-brother Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

Nurlan Bizakov of Sumbe already has a select roster of stallions at his Normandy-based Haras de Montfort et Preaux and there will doubtless be high hopes for the 1.1 million gns son of Listed winner Bella Estrella (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire}) to join the throng in due course.

“If he is good enough he is a potential stallion,” said Sumbe's manager Tony Fry. “No-one needs a pat on the back now, that can come in two years' time – if it all works out.”

He added of the struggle to secure stallion prospects, “It's not easy to buy one and they are owned by people not keen to sell. And ideally you like to be involved in them from day one – to have bred them yourself, raced them and then stand them.”

A grandson of the Grade II winner Uncharted Haven (GB) (Turtle Island {Ire}), the colt's family also includes the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}).

Lope De Vega's excellent year extends beyond just his promising young son Iberian. He has also been represented by American Grade I winner Program Trading (GB) and Arapaho (Fr), winner of the G1 Tancred S. in Sydney. His 17 yearlings sold so far through Book 1 have returned an average of 374,118gns.

1.1 million gns for lot 260 at #TattsOctober Book 1

This colt by Lope de Vega had a timely update thanks to half-brother Iberian. He has been bought by @sumbe_fr and was consigned by @BallylinchStud. pic.twitter.com/qxYiTvhsQE

— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2023

I Got You Babe 

From one of the stars of the show on Tuesday to another early in the second session of the sale, the draft of Newsells Park Stud has continued to feature prominently, which is hardly surprising when one considers the pedigrees of the individuals involved.

Leading the early trade on Wednesday was lot 200, the Kingman (GB) half-brother to the Group 1 winner and young Newsells Park stallion Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was born and raised at the farm on behalf of his breeders John and Tanya Gunther of Kentucky's Glennwood Farm.

With shades of the sale of the last foal of the mighty Shastye (Ire) on Tuesday, this too was tinged with sadness as the colt's dam, Without You Babe (Lemon Drop Kid), who has also produced GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz (Speightstown) and the yearling colt's full-sister, Listed winner She's Got You (GB), died last year.

“It's hard to talk about it,” said an emotional John Gunther after the hammer dropped at 900,000gns for the colt who will now race for Bahraini owners.

“He was the mare's last foal and he was very special to us. It was tough to sell him but he sold very well.

“The mare meant so much to us. Everyone at Newsells did a great job prepping him for the sale and he's gone to some good owners. That's very important.”

Without Parole returned to the stud where he was born to commence his stallion career in 2021. His first yearlings are now at the sales, including three in Book 1 at Tattersalls, where Ross Doyle and Anthony Bromley have signed for a filly and a colt so far.

Gunther continued, “We look forward to Without Parole's two-year-olds and it all carries forward. We're keeping quite a few of them to race ourselves. We want to make sure they go to the right trainers to give the horse his best chance. We will be racing at least half a dozen of them ourselves.”

In the year in which Without Parole won the G1 St James's Palace S. to give the Gunthers a memorable homebred Royal Ascot winner, another graduate of their breeding programme, Justify (Scat Daddy), remained unbeaten to win America's Triple Crown. Subsequently sold to stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Justify has made an eye-catching start to his stud career, with his best progeny on this side of the Atlantic including Sunday's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer, G1 Prix Morny runner-up and G2 Prix Robert Pain victrix Ramatuelle, and the G2 Superlative S. winner City Of Troy, who is currently favourite for the G1 Dewhurst S. He has also sired two Grade I winners in America, Arabian Lion and Aspen Grove (Ire).

“Justify looks like a supersire,” Gunther added. “He's got the best two-year-old filly in the country and the best two-year-old colt, and it looks like he has some very good dirt runners in the US as well. We're very excited about how Justify is coming along.”

Oliver St Lawrence, who signed for the yearling, said, “I loved the Kingman colt the first time I saw him. He's a half-brother to two Grade I winners and hopefully he will take us to the Guineas and we can have a bit of fun. I was desperately keen to get him.”

St Lawrence had also signed for the preceding lot [199], a son of Dubawi (Ire) out of Wisdom Mind (Ire), a Dark Angel (Ire) half-sister to Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}). Bought at 500,000gns, the colt was bred by Sun Bloodstock and consigned by Adrian and Philippa O'Brien's Hazelwood Bloodstock.

“They are both for Fawzi [Nass] and team,” St Lawrence said. “I knew we'd have to go strong on the Kingman. The only downside was that I had to be hugged by Julian Dollar afterwards. That took the shine off it a little bit.”

@tanyagun says goodbye to the last foal of Without You Babe

The colt by Kingman @JuddmonteFarms has been sold to @OStLawrence for 900,000gns at #TattsOctober Book 1. He is a half-brother to Without Parole and was consigned by @newsellspark pic.twitter.com/lFZjPubX9z

— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2023

Well-Related Colts for Blandford

Another colt with obvious sire power should he prevail on the racecourse is Norelands Stud's son of Kingman (GB) and Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Offered as lot 278, the half-brother to Classic winners St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was bought by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for an unnamed client at 600,000gns.

“I didn't expect to be able to buy him,” Brown said. “[His dam] must be one of the better broodmares on Planet Earth. The colt himself was physically a little but immature. He needs to strengthen up a little bit, and I think he will. There was a lot of Kingman about him and he put up a very classy show outside. With a pedigree like that I'm delighted to get him. It's very rare to be able to buy that type of pedigree.”

Brown later signed for lot 336, a Cracksman (GB) half-brother to Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), whose win in the G3 Marble Hill S. in May helped to turn this 48,000gns foal purchase by Tally-Ho Stud into a highly profitable 410,000gns yearling.

Among Godolphin's purchases for the day was lot 243, a 250,000gns December Foal Sale purchase by Philipp Stauffenberg, who was resold for 600,000gns.

The Havana Grey (GB) colt is a half-brother to the Group 1-placed Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), who has recently been announced as joining the roster at Whitsbury Manor Stud, where he was bred.

Buy of the Day

Hughie Morrison may well have landed himself the value pick of day two in the shape of lot 328, a filly by first-season sire Mohaather (GB).

Consigned by Llety Farms, the Mohaather filly is out of an unraced Refuse To Bend (Ire) mare, who has produced two black-type performers by Kodiac (GB) and Stimulation (Ire).

At just 55,000gns, Morrison's purchase comes in well below the sale average and time might prove her to have been very well-bought here. She appears to be a sweet filly who will be worth keeping an eye on for next year. Her pedigree suggests that she will be early enough to debut in the first half of the season.

Elsewhere, Ben McElroy added an interesting filly on behalf of Stonestreet Stables to his haul in lot 297.

At first glance, this Oasis Dream (GB) filly wasn't a snip at 335,000gns from Pier House Stud, but she ticks plenty of the right boxes for America.

Out of a black-type producing mare, she hails from a strong family and could do well on the turf in the States where the prize-money is significantly stronger than in Britain and Ireland.

The McElroy-Stonestreet axis has had significant success with European purchases in recent years.

She's another interesting one to keep note of for next season.

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the last foal of wonder mare Shastye sells for 1million gns at the #tattsoctober Book 1!

This colt is by Dubawi and is a half-brother to G1 winners Japan & Mogul. He has been bought by Godolphin and was consigned by @newsellspark. pic.twitter.com/I6caDzHHLs

— TDN (@theTDN) October 3, 2023

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18.20 Newmarket, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, 8fT
KINGDOM OF TIME (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who cost Godolphin 800,000gns at the Tatts Book 1 Sale, is out of a full-sister to the seven-times group 1 and grade I-winning international heavyweight Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the G1 Ladbrokes S. winner Cape Of Good Hope (Ire) and the triple group winner and dual Derby-placed Idaho (Ire). Charlie Appleby introduces the March-foaled bay in the race which saw Frankel (GB) beat Nathaniel (Ire) 13 years ago and which has also played host to Motivator (GB), Roaring Lion and the stable's ill-fated Coroebus (Ire) also by Dubawi.

How They Fared
17.18 Deauville, Debutantes, €200,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT
National Interest (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the €800,000 Arqana August graduate from the family of Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar) and Almanzor (Fr), was a touch flat-footed when it counted before staying on to be second in this Arqana Series Des Poulains.

14.00 Beverley, Nov, £7,500, 2yo, f, 5fT
Bond Thoroughbred's Go Big Or Go Home (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a half-sister to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who was the 1.8-million guineas top-priced filly at the October Book 1 sale last year, chased the leaders in fifth after a slow exit and made modest late headway to finish fourth on debut.

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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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Not for the sheer expanse of the operation, or the might of the stallions the world-renowned County Tipperary stud could offer potential breeders, but for how Coolmore marks its successes.

“When I went to Coolmore a couple of years ago, I can remember looking out at one of the paddocks where the stallions were,” Bennett started. 

“They had plaques outside the barns with the names of every black-type winner that the stallion had produced. When you got to the likes of Sadler's Wells and Galileo (Ire), the plaques were never-ending. 

“Every time we produce a listed winner or better now, I get a plaque made here and it goes up on the wall. My aim is to fill that wall!

“The first one for this year arrived this morning and that was Voodoo Queen (GB) (Frankel {GB}). So there's a pictorial representation of what we are trying to achieve here.”

Voodoo Queen carried the familiar yellow and orange silks of Merry Fox Stud to victory in a listed event at Pontefract last month. The victory was made all the more significant for the fact that she is a homebred out of the brilliant Cursory Glance (Distorted Humour), who gave Bennett, a qualified accountant, one of his greatest days in the sport when landing the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at the Curragh in 2014. 

Fitting that the Curragh, a track Bennett describes as being a lucky place for him down through the years, played host to just about the most exciting debut performance that has been posted either side of the Irish Sea this season when Ylang Ylang justified the hype when scoring for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners on Irish Derby Weekend. 

Craig Bennett | Tattersalls

“She looks very exciting, doesn't she? It's really great to see. We had been hearing that Aidan liked her but I thought she did it very nicely. It's not easy to make all on your debut and, to quicken away the way that she did, she looks very exciting. I'm hoping that she will be the second Moyglare winner that we have bred. 

“I thought Aidan's comment was quite telling after her debut. He said that she had been working with some of their very good colts and that she'd been doing things nicely. You have to be half decent to be able to do that.”

Ylang Ylang was bred in partnership with Newsells Park Stud and is the first foal out of Shambolic (Ire) (Shamardal), who Bennett picked up through his advisor Gary Hadden at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2019 for 800,000gns. 

The sale of Shambolic's first foal Ylang Ylang will go down as a memorable one for the Merry Fox Stud and Newsells Park Stud axis as it kick-started what proved to be an emotional afternoon when selling for 1.5 million gns to MV Magnier and White Birch Farm. 

Bennett said, “We started buying mares with Newsells Park Stud around 2019 and Shambolic was the second mare that we bought in partnership together. We paid 800,000gns for her at the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls but I think Juddmonte were the underbidders. I quite like it when you have such a quality outfit as Juddmonte who also wanted the mare. Shambolic is by Shamardal and I can remember when we were going in to bid on her, it was Matt Coleman who commented that 'they aren't making any more of them!' Therefore, you are not going to get the chance to buy many more Shamardal mares with the pedigree that Shambolic had.

“Ylang Ylang is the first foal and, if I wasn't in partnership with Newsells, I would have been 99 per cent certain to have raced the filly myself. But the modus operandi with Newsells is to sell the first progeny out of every mare. Obviously Graham [Smith-Bernal] has now bought Newsells and I get on great with him and have a great relationship with him and we decided to let Ylang Ylang go through the ring to see what she fetched. If we weren't happy with what she was selling for, the plan was to buy her back, but we didn't have to do that as her price flew up to 1.5 million gns. We still have Shambolic, and she's a very young mare, so hopefully this is just the start.”

He added, “We had an incredible Book 1. We had three in the sale–we kept one, Ylang Ylang made 1.5million gns and then we sold a Dubawi (Ire) half-brother to Acer Alley (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for 1.6 million gns. We'd never sold a horse through the ring for more than a million and then we had two in the one day. I've always said that breeding and selling gives me a thrill for about 24 hours when you do it well but racing them gives you a thrill that keeps you going all year round. 

“Take for example Voodoo Queen winning at Pontefract, it's just so exciting breeding a filly like that. Now, Ylang Ylang might be a bit different because it looks as though she might go on to operate at the very top level. The dam is still very young and it gives us every opportunity to really culture and develop that family now. It's just very exciting and it's great when people at Coolmore want to buy your horses because they are great judges and are great for the game. When they pay that sort of money for one, you'd have to be very disappointed if she wasn't any good.”

Ylang Ylang looked better than just good at the Curragh and is already sitting pretty at the head of the ante-post markets for next year's 1,000 Guineas and Oaks. A lot of water has to pass under the bridge between now and then but one thing is for certain, Bennett has an awful lot to look forward to with Shambolic, who looks set to play a pivotal part of his 25-strong broodmare band in the years to come.

“Shambolic has a Kingman (GB) yearling colt and has a filly foal by Siyouni (Fr) on the ground. She's back in foal to Frankel (GB) so it's exciting stuff. Graham wants to breed to the best, I want to breed to the best, and I think we can help each other. Newsells are a commercial animal and I am an owner-breeder so the mixture between the two can work well.

“We started in 2006 with a very clear plan which was to buy quality broodmares. I came at it with the angle that a quality broodmare would retain value and if you could get it to win a stakes race you could increase their value. We are still breeding from the families that we started with and have some very good broodmares, there's no question about that. I think it's important to ask the right questions when you are doing the matings, and that's what Gary [Hadden] and I do, because then you will get the right answers more often than not.”

Bennett added, “You need two things to succeed in this game. You've got to have time and you need deep pockets. I got into a nice position in that I sold a business that I had a share of back in 2006 and I have been able to take it from there. I am absolutely delighted to have bred four Group 1 winners which, for a small stud, is a wonderful achievement. Hopefully Ylang Ylang will make that five.

“I don't have a farm. The stud is completely virtual. We send the mares to wherever the stallions are based around October or November every year and we use Ballylinch Stud in Ireland, Fittocks Stud in England and Haras du Buff in France. That's the model. I'm not a horseman, I'm an accountant by trade and I can analyse pedigrees and love doing that. But the one thing I have learned in life is, don't pretend you are good at something if you know you are not. You can kid yourself that you know about conformation but, when I sit down and talk to Bill [Dwan] and Gary, it's bloody obvious that I don't know what I am talking about so you need to surround yourself with good people. If you don't, you will soon part with your money.”

Bennett's philosophy is a simple one; breed top-notch racehorses. In a relatively short space of time and with the help of his close-knit team, Merry Fox Stud has become synonymous on and off the track for its association with classy blue bloods and the best may yet be to come. 

“Last year was incredible, we had four stakes-winning homebred fillies. If we could do that every year it would be fantastic. Voodoo Queen has hit the board already this season so we are up and running with one. Hopefully there will be more to come and, with a bit of luck, Ylang Ylang will be the next.”

If things continue apace, Bennett may need to find some more wall space. 

The post ‘My Aim Is To Fill That Wall!’ – Ylang Ylang’s Breeder Hails Picture-Perfect Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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17.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
YLANG YLANG (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who debuts for Ballydoyle in the maiden won in the last two years by the subsequent Group 1 performers Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), was one of the six Frankel millionaire lots at the most recent Book 1 Sale. The second-highest-priced filly at that auction, the March-foaled bay is the first foal out of the G1 Fillies' Mile fourth Shambolic (Ire) (Shamardal), a half to the accomplished pair Viva Pataca (GB) (Marju {Ire}) and Laughing (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Ryan Moore rides her in preference to the stable's Opera Singer (Justify), a half-sister to War Front's top-level winners Hit It A Bomb and Brave Anna, while there is another regally-bred individual in the line-up in Michael Ryan's Finsceal Luas (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) , the 11th foal out of his champion Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) starting out for Jim Bolger.

14.45 Doncaster, Novice, £9,950, 2yo, 7f 6yT
ARABIC LEGEND (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}), the second foal out of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's GI E.P.Taylor S. heroine Sheikha Reika (Fr) (Shamardal), is poised to make his debut for the Andrew Balding stable. Also starting out is Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's Al Mootamarid (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a Marco Botti-trained half-brother to none other than Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who despite that cost a mere 200,000gns at the Tatts Craven Breeze-Up; and Godolphin's Stormy Waves (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Charlie Appleby-trained grandson of the prolific producer Pieds De Plume (Fr) (Seattle Slew) who was a 525,000gns Book 1 purchase.

17.00 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 6fT
BENNU (IRE) (Magna Grecia {Ire}) is a big-deal representative of Coolmore's first-crop sire, being the 11th foal out of the Niarchos Family's excellent producer Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy). Trained for the operation by Willie Browne, the May-foaled half-brother to the heavyweight pair Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the former's group 1-winning full-sister Discoveries (Ire) is up against some big-yard runners including Ballydoyle's second-string and fellow newcomer House Of Aviz (Uncle Mo), a full-brother to the GIII Santa Ysabel S. winner and GI Starlet S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Donna Veloce.

20.25 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 3yo/up, 10fT
SATURN (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) carries on the theme set earlier on the card by his relative Bennu (Ire) (Magna Grecia {Ire}), with this Jessie Harrington-trained newcomer the landmark first foal out of the brilliant Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Grey like his dam, the Niarchos colour-bearer has a wide draw to contend with on his racecourse bow.

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lot 321 loved having his photo taken after selling for 1,100,000gns at the #TattsOctober Book 1 Sale. This colt by Kingman (@JuddmonteFarms) is out of G2 winner Turret Rocks and was consigned by Corduff Stud (@henmichael). M V Magnier was the purchaser. pic.twitter.com/48NDhuQeZI

— TDN (@theTDN) October 6, 2021

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The post Mike Ryan Strikes for Galileo Filly at 1.4-million gns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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