Tag: Tattersalls February Sale

Clearpoint to Stay in UK After Heading Final Day at Tattersalls 

NEWMARKET, UK — The 91-rated Clearpoint (GB) (Ardad {GB}) bucked the trend of a number of the more expensive lots sold on Friday at Tattersalls and is to remain in the UK to continue his racing career.

The four-year-old will switch stables from Charlie Fellowes to Simon Hodgson, who bid 75,000gns on behalf of PCF Racing for the four-time winner. The sprinter (lot 338) is entered for Sunday's Listed Kachy S. at Lingfield. 

Hodgson said, “He has been bought for John Whelan of PCF Racing. I don't know if we will run on Sunday, we will need to chat about it. John is a big supporter of his trainers and he has lost some good sprint handicappers so has been looking to replace them. This was the only horse we had on the list today that we felt was worth having a look at. John is in his 80s and he loves going racing.”

If Hodgson does decide to send his new charge to Lingfield on Sunday, Clearpoint would be a fitting winner of the race named in memory of Kachy (GB), who, like Clearpoint himself, was bred by Fiona Denniff, who was seen chatting with the Hampshire-based Hodgson after he had signed for the horse.

It was a relatively quiet final day of the February Sale. The promising wildcard Billy Webster (Ire) didn't meet his reserve, and a handful of horses behind Clearpoint exceeded the 50,000gns mark, with several of them off to race in the Middle East. Of those, First Encore (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), offered as lot 280 from Ed Walker's stable, was bought by agent JD Moore for 62,000gns.

“He is for trainer Hamad Al Jehani in Qatar,” said Moore of the 81-rated three-year-old. “He has the recent Qatar Derby winner Jeff Koons in his stable and he has been very lucky at Tattersalls. [The horse's] form is rock solid, he looks progressive with a lovely profile and he has been very well produced by Ed Walker and his team.”

The biggest change in this sale from last year's edition was the fall in clearance rate. In recent years the trade for horses in training even at the lower end of the market had picked up notably but this trend did not continue over the last two days. The second-day clearance rate of 77% was an improvement on the opening session, and overall it settled at 73%, down from 84% in 2023. The average and median were both up slightly on last year, at 14,315gns (+3%) and 7,250gns (+4%) respectively.

From a smaller catalogue, there were 98 fewer lots sold than in 2023 which naturally led to a downturn in the aggregate, which was 2,863,000gns (-31%). 

“The sale-topping 200,000 guineas Shadwell broodmare Taqaareed and the 125,000 guineas Juddmonte colt Retort were the obvious highlights of the 2024 Tattersalls February Sale. Taqaareed is the second-highest price at this fixture since 2018 and Retort is the third-highest-priced colt in training ever sold at the Tattersalls February Sale, with both of them demonstrating the sustained domestic and international demand for quality breeding stock and horses in training,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony at the close of trade.

“As ever the overseas contribution has been notable. Buyers from throughout Europe and the Gulf region have been out in force, the 125,000 guineas colt Retort is heading to Australia and North African buyers have again been conspicuous. Domestic British and Irish buyers, both Flat and National Hunt, have been the mainstay of the sale, but the smallest February catalogue since 2014 has unsurprisingly produced turnover some way short of last year's impressive figure and the clearance rate, while eminently respectable, has not matched the customary market-leading levels that we would aspire to at sales of this nature.  Nevertheless, the average and median have both held up well with small increases in both categories, and the National Hunt fraternity has a rare and immediate opportunity to look forward to, with the outstanding Andy and Gemma Brown Dispersal taking place this coming Monday, 5th February at Tattersalls Ireland.”

 

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Taqaareed Heads Tattersalls February Sale at 200,000gns

NEWMARKET, UK — It was two years ago that Park Paddocks played host to arguably one of the strongest-ever editions of the Tattersalls February Sale, with a new record median (10,000gns) and the second-highest turnover (5,849,100gns) and average (17,833gns) featuring among the headline statistics.

Those lofty figures owed much to a significant Shadwell draft which included the top two lots during the opening session, just a few months on from the announcement that the operation was to be downsized.

Much has happened in the intervening period and any fears that Shadwell might be heading for a full-scale exit from the sport have since been well and truly allayed. In fact, the operation has arguably been more successful than ever in the last couple of years, certainly on the racecourse where the likes of Baaeed (GB) and Mostahdaf (Ire)—both now firmly ensconced at Shadwell's new stallion base at Beech House Stud in Newmarket—have achieved notable success.

Still, there remains the odd nugget to be mined for those looking on enviously from the outside, as Thursday's opening session at the February Sale again showed with the 11-year-old mare Taqaareed (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), one of a seven-strong Shadwell draft in 2024, taking top billing when selling to Jill Lamb on behalf of Childwickbury Stud for 200,000gns.

Successful in a Kempton maiden on the second of her three runs for John Gosden, Taqaareed has made a promising start to life as a broodmare with two winners from two runners, but it was her pedigree, as a full-sister to G1 Oaks and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Taghrooda (Ire), which really sold her to Lamb. Furthermore, she is carrying to champion two-year-old Pinatubo (Ire).

“She stood out really,” Lamb explained of lot 107. “She's a full-sister to a champion, she's a lovely model and she's in foal to a champion whose yearlings were very well received. We tried very hard to buy a foal by him last year and we could not get one.

“This foal is closely related to Tafreej (Ire) (Shamardal) who was 90-rated—it is all quite encouraging. It was a bit more than we were planning to spend and that was definitely our last bid!”

 

The significant sums that changed hands at the 2022 February Sale, when the opening session alone featured no fewer than five six-figure lots, are unlikely to be matched this year if the early evidence is anything to go by, but there was at least one more notable purchase from one of the sport's powerhouses as the Juddmonte-consigned Retort (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 129) sold to SackvilleDonald for 125,000gns.

A dual winner in France when trained by Francois Henri-Devin, latterly winning a Conditions race at Chantilly on his first start as a three-year-old, Retort is from one of Juddmonte's most decorated families as a grandson of the blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), as well as being a full-brother to the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Obligate.

“We have had a bit of luck for Highclere—we bought the subsequent Group 1 winner Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) for the team,” said Alastair Donald when revealing whose colours the colt will be carrying when he continues his career in Australia.

“This is a neat, bonny horse who goes on all ground and he is by Frankel. He is a proper horse, rated 90 and on the up. You need a versatile horse for Australia and I think he will stay a little bit further. Most of the family are milers but looking at his racing style he might get ten furlongs and there is good money at every distance in Australia. He will be going to Annabel Neasham and I think Harry [Herbert] will have no problem selling the shares quite quickly.”

Four-year-old filly Lady Bullet (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}) (lot 111) was twice Listed-placed when trained by Alice Haynes. That was enough to catch the attention of James O'Mahony who, operating under the banner of Springwell Stud, went to 62,000gns to secure the half-sister to Listed winner Ever Given (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) as part of a new venture for the family.

“We will get her home and make plans, but she has her black type now and she will be retired to stud,” said O'Mahony. “We are usually trying to make fillies with black type but sometimes you have to buy them! We will send her to a proven stallion, but it is undecided who yet.

“She has been bought for Knocktoran [the farm the O'Mahony family bought last autumn]. We have not done much with the farm yet. We are going to foal the mares at home and then move them over—the plan is to run Springwell as the farm and the new farm as the stud.

“A lot of good racehorses have been produced around there and it is 250 acres. Places like that just don't come up very often—you could be a lifetime waiting for that sort of opportunity.”

From a smaller catalogue than in 2023 the clearance rate dropped by 10% to 70%, with 100 lots being sold for a total of 1,407,000gns (-38%) at an average of 14,070gns (-12%) and a median of 7,000gns (+8%).

Trade focuses solely on horses in training through the second and final session at Tattersalls, which begins at 10am on Friday.

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Tattersalls February Sale Ready For Kick Off In Newmarket

NEWMARKET, UK–In many ways the Tattersalls February Sale is to Flat racing what the January transfer window is to football, the chance to add a squad member or two–and perhaps get rid of a few more–potentially bringing rich rewards for those who traded cleverly when the season reaches action stations a few months from now.

Owner/breeders including Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell feature among the high-profile teams set to ring the changes with significant departures, so too leading trainers such as John and Thady Gosden, William Haggas and Roger Varian, leaving the odd bargain to be had for those perhaps more accustomed to operating in the lower leagues.

Missed The Cut (Quality Road), for example, won four races for George Boughey–including the Golden Gates H. at Royal Ascot–after being bought for 40,000gns at the February Sale in 2022 when offered as part of the Shadwell consignment through Barton Sales. More recently, Missed The Cut won the GIII Tokyo City Cup S. at Santa Anita last October having joined John Sadler earlier in the year.

A horse like Missed The Cut doesn't come along at the February Sale every year, of course, but the one constant is a catalogue as diverse as any you're likely to find, with horses in training, broodmares and just-turned yearlings all featuring among the 378 lots on offer at the two-day sale beginning on Thursday.

Buyers hoping for a quick return on their investment in the coming months will be training their eye on the two-year-olds, a select group featuring the progeny of well-established names such as Kingman (GB) and first-season sires including King Of Change (GB). The Kingman colt (lot 96) is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Prefer (Ire), a full-sister to the G1 1000 Guineas third Moth (Ire), while the King Of Change colt (lot 97) is out of the Authorized (Ire) mare Zubeida (GB), already the dam of two winners and a half-sister to the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Teggiano (Ire) (Mujtahid).

Crowned the champion sire in Britain and Ireland for the second time in three years in 2023, Frankel (GB) has earned a sky-high reputation which was reflected at all the major sales, notably at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale where he was responsible for the top two lots.

Don't bet against Frankel picking up where he left off as the 2024 sales season kicks off at Park Paddocks on Thursday. His three-year-old colt Retort (Ire) (lot 129) certainly appeals as one of the more interesting horses in training on offer at the February Sale, a grandson of the blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and a full-brother to the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Obligate (GB). The blue-blooded Retort wouldn't have been out of place at Book 1 had consignors Juddmonte wished to sell him as a yearling, but instead they raced him in France with Henri-Francois Devin for whom he recently won a Conditions race on the all-weather at Chantilly.

Four-year-old gelding Composite (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) (lot 326) is another Juddmonte-bred sure to attract plenty of interest, a half-brother to the G3 Musidora S. winner Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Unraced when selling for just 5,000 guineas at last year's Tattersalls August Sale, Composite has since won twice on the all-weather for the Boughey stable and features in the bumper Castlebridge Consignment–the largest draft in the catalogue–along with the three-year-old gelding Alfred (Fr) (City Light {Fr}) (lot 328), he too a dual winner on the all-weather for Boughey this winter.

Wildcard entry Billy Webster (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) (lot 275A), a three-year-old gelding consigned by George Scott's Eve Lodge Stables, is another unexposed sort who could have more to offer having won three of his four starts, while the catalogue also features a trio of older horses who have already proven themselves capable of mixing it at a higher level. They include the six-year-old mare Moracana (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) (lot 112), who gained valuable black type when winning a Listed race at Cork in 2023, plus four-year-old filly Lady Bullet (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}) (lot 111) and six-year-old gelding Max Mayhem (GB) (New Bay {GB}) (lot 341), both of whom finished placed in similar company.

If the horses in training and two-year-olds provide the opportunity for a quick return, then the broodmares on offer at the February Sale will appeal to those looking to build for the future, hoping to produce homegrown talent to carry the team to success years down the line.

The football metaphors might be wearing thin at this stage, but there is always an appetite for the Shadwell consignment which this year includes the 11-year-old Taqaareed (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 107), a full-sister to Taghrooda (GB) who memorably won the G1 Oaks and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. in 2014. Taqaareed is sold in foal to Pinatubo (Ire) and will be followed into the ring shortly afterwards by the four-year-old Tarjamah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 110), who happens to be out of a full-sister to Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), runner-up to the same owner's Taghrooda at Epsom.

Other siblings to top-level winners to look out for include the Barton Sales-consigned pair of Crimson Rock (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 66) and Angel Terrace (Ghostzapper) (lot 67). Crimson Rock is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and offered in foal to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), while Angel Terrace is a Grade III-winning half-sister to star stayer Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), offered in foal to New Bay (GB).

In 2023, the Classic-placed and multiple Group winner Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), consigned by Tweenhills Farm & Stud, topped the February Sale at 250,000gns to BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe. A total of 298 horses sold (84%) for 4,141,800gns. The average was 13,899gns and the median was 7,000gns.

Thursday's session begins directly after the TBA Flat Stallion Parade that features Stradivarius (Ire) among others at 11am. The sales ring action kicks off a little earlier at 10am on Friday.

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Winning Profitable 3-Year-Old Joins Tattersalls February Sale

Billy Webster (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) (lot 275A), a winner of three of his four starts, has been added to the Tattersalls February Sale, which takes place on Feb. 1-2.

Offered by George Scott's Eve Lodge Stables, the dark bay wildcard is owned by H E Redha Munfaredi and is rated 97 by Timeform off a dominant 1000-metre win at Southwell on Jan. 6. A son of the Nayef mare Some Site (Ire), he is her lone winner. His second dam is GIII Matchmaker S. winner Horatia (Ire) (Machiavellian), who foaled the G3 Pinnacle S. winner Moment In Time (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), who was third in the GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine.

To view the complete Tattersalls February Sale catalogue, please click here.

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