Tattersalls February Sale | Horse Racing Free Tips

TBA’s Flat Stallion Parade Returns

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat Stallion Parade will return after a two-year hiatus at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Feb. 3. Free to attend, the event will feature 12 stallions embarking on their first and second seasons at stud in Great Britain and will begin at 11 a.m. prior to the start of the Tattersalls February Sale.

Hosted by racing broadcaster Gina Bryce and Tattersalls' Shirley Anderson-Jolag, the parade's dozen stallions are: A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), who stands at Newsells Park Stud; Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), a resident of Chapel Stud; LM Stallions' Diplomat (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}), Legends of War (Scat Daddy), Mr Scaramanga (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}), Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Southern Hills (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and Tip Two Win (GB) (Dark Angel (Ire); new The National Stud recruit Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), Whitsbury Manor Stud's Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy), Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who resides at Mickley Stud and Newsells Park's Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Breeders, owners, trainers and spectators are invited to view the stallions and speak with stud representatives after the event in the Left and Right Yards and light refreshments will be served in the Left Yard. The TBA team will be available to answer any enquiries.

TBA Flat Committee Chairman Philip Newton said, “We are delighted to see the Flat Stallion Parade return this year giving breeders and bloodstock enthusiasts the chance to see the latest recruits to the stallion ranks in one convenient location at the Tattersalls February Sale. The TBA team look forward to catching up with members at the event and we welcome enquiries from anyone interested in getting involved in thoroughbred breeding and bloodstock.”

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Global Appeal Remains As Tattersalls Goes Virtual

The format may have changed, from in person to online, but the global reach of Tattersalls remained strong through the second session of the February Sale, with the leading lots being bought for owners in America, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

If the pandemic has taught us anything it is how much we are all able to adapt to new ways of working, and bloodstock sales have been no different. For this virtual version of the February Sale, 250 different bidders were engaged online, casting 1520 bids for the 205 lots sold in that manner, while many more conducted their business over the telephone to members of the Tattersalls team.

All of this activity brought about an encouraging conclusion to the two days of trade, with overall turnover settling at 2,564,000gns, which represented a reduction of 21% but from 45 fewer horses sold than last year. A high number of withdrawals from the published catalogue after the sale was switched online led to 292 horses being offered for sale, with 219 selling at a clearance rate of 75%. This was lifted by a stronger session of trade on Friday, at which the clearance rate was 81% for 101 of 125 lots sold. The single-day average was actually up by 16% at 13,869gns, while for the sale as a whole the average contracted by 5% to 11,710gns. The median was down by 8% at 6,000gns.

Reflecting on the opening two days of Tattersalls' business for 2021, chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Not for the first time in recent months the most important message to convey is one of sincere thanks and gratitude to vendors and purchasers alike for responding so positively to changes and disruptions to the traditional Tattersalls sales format. The collective support we have received throughout the pandemic continues to be an inspiration and cannot be underestimated.”

He continued, “This is the first time we have had to utilise the 'live virtual' format for a sale at Park Paddocks and, apart from fervently hoping it will be the last time, overall the process has worked very well. Feedback from vendors and purchasers has been overwhelmingly positive with the vast majority of buyers using the live internet bidding platform which served us so well last year. Crucially, the quality of the videos and photographs supplied by the vendors has been of a high standard and additional information also available on the Tattersalls website has facilitated the buying process and given the necessary confidence for people to participate from throughout the world.

Demand for horses in training

The 3-year-old colt Fayathaan (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has won twice so far in 2021 for David Loughnane and Kulbir Sohi, and he will continue his racing career in Milan under the guidance of Raffaelle Biondi after topping Friday's session.

Bloodstock agent Marco Bozzi, who placed the successful bid of 85,000gns for lot 414, said, “He is for owner Mrs Roveda. This is a nice horse, we vetted him and he ticked all the boxes. He is a good performer, a sharp horse and should suit seven furlongs or a mile in Italy.”

A winner last season for Richard Fahey, Fayathaan then changed hands in October for 40,000gns and has subsequently won twice and placed twice for Loughnane to increase his rating to 86. Co-bred by GHS Bloodstock and Tally-Ho Stud, he is a grandson of the G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Raymi Coya (Van Nistelrooy) and from the family of The Queen's 2020 G2 July S. winner Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}).

A late offering from the dispersal of Lady Rothschild's Waddesdon Stud was the Sixties Icon (GB) 3-year-old Clay (GB), who has been runner-up on both his starts this year for Richard Hannon, having also run twice and been placed at two. The colt (lot 455), who raced for Lady Rothschild's son Nat, will remain with Hannon after the trainer went to 71,000gns to buy him for John Davies, whose successful previous purchases from the trainer include G1 Stayers' Hurdle runner-up Lil Rockerfella (Hard Spun), who went on to be trained by Neil King, and Group 3 winner Danehill Kodiac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

“Richard has been very good to us, and Clay will be staying with Richard,” said the owner. “If Clay continues to progress, and becomes the horse that Richard thinks he will, he should make up into a Saturday horse.”

Out of the unraced Tamso (Seeking The Gold), Clay is a half-brother to the listed Warrnambool Cup winner High Church (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). His dam's half-siblings include the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victrix Matiara (Bering) and G2 Richmond S winner Pyrus (Mr Prospector).

At Ease (GB), a winning 4-year-old filly by Oasis Dream (GB) was the pick of the Juddmonte draft and, with a pedigree to make her an enticing broodmare prospect in the future, for now she will carry on with her racing career in the United States. Offered as lot 385, she fetched 70,000gns to a bid from BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe.

He said, “There are no plans regarding trainer as yet. She is lightly raced, she has a U.S. pedigree and her siblings went on from three to four. She looks a good physical, too.”

A winner over a mile last season for Charlie Hills, At Ease is a daughter of Jostle (Brocco), whose six graded stakes victories include the GI American Oaks and GI Alabama S.

Donohoe added: “Her videos and photos were very good, and Juddmonte, as always, has been very forthcoming with information. You'd always rather see the horse yourself, but we all have to do what we can in current times.”

Oasis Dream is also the sire of Rovaniemi (Ire) (lot 417), who has changed hands but will not be changing trainer. The 4-year-old, bred by Epona Bloodstock and initially raced by Sun Bloodstock, is a winner and multiple place-getter with a rating of 82. He will remain in the Newmarket stable of David Simcock having been bought by Reda Al-Khalaf , who is based in Saudi Arabia.

The horse's new owner said via telephone, “Hopefully, he will be lucky for us, he is the first horse we have in training in the U.K. We will keep him with David Simcock, he knows the horse already. He looks a fast horse and has a good pedigree.”

Rovaniemi is a half-brother to listed winner Cameron Highland (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and to G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Field Of Miracles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Their winning dam Landmark (Arch) is a full-sister to the GI Del Mar Oaks and GI EP Taylor S. winner Arravale.

Agent Colm Sharkey signed for six horses during the sale, including 3-year-old colt Stiletto (GB) (lot 453), for 67,000gns. The well-bred son of Frankel (GB) and G3 St Simon S. winner High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) has had four runs for John Gosden and co-breeders Jame Wigan and George Strawbridge, finishing runner-up in December over 10 furlongs.

The Andrew Balding-trained Lope De Vega (Ire) 4-year-old Arctic Vega (Ire) (lot 365) will race on on Bahrain for Sheikh Sultan's Almohamediya Racing, who bought the gelding for 60,000gns through bloodstock agent Peter Harper.

“He is a nice, big strong type and should suit racing in Bahrain,” Harper said. “We had him vetted; Andrew Balding's yard was very helpful.”

The grey, who won on debut last February, returned to the winner's enclosure on Jan. 15 after scoring over a mile at Newcastle and is rated 81. A son of the listed Prix Rose de Mai winner Childa (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), his half-brother Chilean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) was also a stakes winner in France, landing the G3 Prix La Force for Martyn Meade.

Concluding his assessment of the sale, Edmond Mahony added, “The February Sale has again demonstrated how readily the Tattersalls worldwide client base has embraced our online services and we will be continuing to develop and invest in the Tattersalls online platforms which have served the industry so well in recent times.

“In recognition of the difficulties which we all continue to face under the current lockdown conditions, we will be staging an additional mixed March fixture taking place March 31 and April 1 here at Park Paddocks, for which entries are now being taken. At this stage the intention is for the Tattersalls March Sale to take place conventionally, in compliance as ever with any prevailing Covid-related protocols, and timely announcements will be made if it becomes necessary to make any changes to these plans.”

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Shamardal Fillies Lead Tattersalls February Sale

With the wildcard bumper winner Noble Yeats (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) failing to make his 300,000gns reserve, the first session of the Tattersalls February Sale had a more regular top lot in the breeding prospect Beautiful Illusion (Ire) (Shamardal), who was the sole horse to break the six-figure barrier during the first day at 120,000gns.

Sold by her breeder Godolphin as lot 194, the well-bred 4-year-old was initially trained by Charlie Appleby to win at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford last year. The daughter of G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Long Lashes (Rock Hard Ten), herself a half-sister to GI Santa Anita H. winner Combatant (Scat Daddy), was bought by Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock on behalf of an undisclosed client.

“She is the daughter of a very good racemare, whom I remember from my time at Godolphin, and she is by a world-class sire in Shamardal. She had ability herself and achieved a good rating of 89,” said McStay.

“I saw her ten days ago at Moulton Paddocks, Godolphin kindly facilitated a visit. She is a good-walking filly, and she was a stand-out today on paper and physically.”

Ninety withdrawals for the first day of the sale, which was held online owing to the continued lockdown in Britain, meant that 167 lots came under the hammer, albeit from afar. A respectable halfway aggregate of 1,163,500gns was accrued from the 118 sold for a clearance rate of 71%. The average dropped by 22% to 9,861gns but the median improved by 15% to 5,750gns.

The Godolphin draft accounted for five of the top ten lots of the day, with the second highest-priced filly of the sale, also by Shamardal, about to head to Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland after being bought by Tony O'Callaghan for 65,000gns.

Symbol Of Love (lot 185) is a 4-year-old half-sister to listed winner Firebird Song (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and she will be covered for the first time by Kodiac (GB), emulating the cross represented by dual Group 1-winning sprinter Hello Youmzain (Fr).

O'Callaghan said, “Bidding was easy online, but that was the only bid we had. She is for Kodiac; she is by Shamardal and they go well together. She has a good page and looks a nice filly.”

Symbol Of Love shares her Group 3-winning grandam Magna Graecia (Ire) (Warning {GB}) with Darley stallion Territories (Ire) and is inbred 3×4 to Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}), the dam of Street Cry (Ire) and grandam of Shamardal.

Three lots later, O'Callaghan added a daughter of Territories to the day's purchases when going to 35,000gns for French Braid (GB) (lot 188), also from Godolphin. The unraced 3-year-old is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Breathtaking Look (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who sold for 400,000gns to Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm at the most recent Tattersalls December sale.

Leading the in-foal mares was lot 153, the Lordship Stud-bred Swiss Kiss (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was sold carrying to Acclamation (GB), by whom she has already produced the winner Continental (GB), for 48,000gns.

The 10-year-old mare, who was covered on May 22, was bought by Canice Farrell of Knockatrina Stud. She said: “I'm chuffed. It's a good pedigree, she is a good-walking mare, she has a commercial cover and the only negative is that she is a bit late. I hope to send her to either Invincible Spirit or Kodiac.”

Peter Swann's Cool Silk Partnership bought three mares to visit his former Group-winning representatives Sands Of Mali (Fr) and Prince Of Lir (Ire) at Ballyhane Stud.

They included the 6-year-old Jumeirah Street (Street Cry {Ire}), who has a Brazen Beau (Aus) yearling filly and was sold in foal to Harry Angel (Ire) for 28,000gns.

“The bidding has been easy—it's trying to keep the children entertained that is difficult,” said agent Matt Coleman on the telephone from his home after buying lot 71 on the owner's behalf. “Peter Swann has some breeding rights in the stallions so these mares have been bought for them.”

Also among the leading purchasers of the day was Julie Wood, a long-time successful owner with Richard Hannon who bought three yearlings under her Woodstock banner. All three were consigned by Hazelwood Bloodstock and the trio was comprised of a colt and a filly from the first crop of Cracksman (GB) as well as a filly by Golden Horn (GB). The latter (lot 122), bought for 25,000gns, is a daughter of the listed winner Lady Heidi (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who has already produced a treble winner by another son of Cape Cross (Ire) in Sea The Stars (Ire).

The Cracksman colt (lot 99) is out of the Australian Group 2 winner Tamaanee (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}), whose dam is a half-sister to leading sire I Am Invincible (Aus). He was bought for 20,000gns and the filly, the second foal of listed winner Mademoiselle Marie (Fr) (Evasive {GB}) (lot 123), for 26,000gns.

“I have been thinking about this all week and it was strange this morning sitting at home getting nervous before bidding,” said Wood. “But you look into the screen and it feels just like you are in the ring. It is exciting now I have bought them, we can make plans.”

She continued, “They have all been bought to race and will go to Charlock Stud now and then into training with Richard Hannon.”

The second and final session of the February Sale gets underway on Friday at 10am.

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Virtual Reality For Tattersalls 2021 Opener

When the curtain came down on the 2020 December Sale, all participants could have been forgiven for hoping that it would be the last we would see of Covid-restricted sales. Regrettably, the situation in Britain has subsequently worsened, meaning that Tattersalls, which managed to stage all of its scheduled sales last year, along with a few extras and a few delays, has been forced to conduct its first auction of 2021 entirely online.

The mixed February Sale is perhaps the one through the year which could withstand some disruption best but it is nevertheless a very useful sale and one which has produced its fair share of success in its 20-year existence. Indeed, Venetias Dream (Ire) (Librettist) is an example of the value that can be found in February. Sold for just 1,000gns in 2013, she was subsequently bought back from Turkey when Charm Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a son of her half-sister L'Enjoleuse (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), burst onto the scene, and Venetias Dream has since found fame in her own right as the dam of last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Dream And Do (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Results such as this keep optimistic breeders returning to these midwinter sales, and this one in particular usually offers a chance to see some new sires at the TBA Stallion Parade. This year, potential buyers will have to be content with sitting in front of their computer screens, scrolling through form and videos, rather than patrolling Park Paddocks.

The brave new world of online sales may be suboptimal in this regard but it has nevertheless been embraced by buyers and vendors, particularly as the alternative while lockdown continues is to have no sale at all.

Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock is based within hollering distance of Tattersalls in Newmarket and in lieu of being on the sales ground this year he has put in plenty of work ahead of the sale, both on the computer and at racing yards and studs.

He said, “The better quality videos and photographs, and the more information online, such as veterinary certificates and heights and weights for horses in training, has been great. There needs to be, and I have found that there has been, an increased transparency and disclosure from the vendor when you ring up to ask about a horse.”

McStay continued, “In certain instances where possible I have been able to do socially-distanced and Covid-safe visits to stud farms and training yards to inspect animals of interest, so I think that all of those things make it workable. It's not ideal—we'd all rather be inspecting horses thoroughly and maybe reinspecting a second time, but that isn't practical. In the situation that we're in Tattersalls and their competitors have made an incredible effort and they are to be commended for still being able to hold a sale. The fact that they've been sensible and are going to hold a second sale in six weeks' time, which hopefully people will be able to attend, is also a big benefit.”

McStay avers that demand for horses in the UK remains high, with an increasing number of overseas buyers involved in public auctions and private purchases.

“Whether it be a broodmare or a horse in training, the market for a good horse is stronger than ever,” he adds. “However, it is very selective in the middle tier and the bottom end of the market has had a huge drop, and it will continue to drop until the prize-money issue is resolved.

“Thankfully, people love our game, they love racing, and people want to win the top races around the world so the demand for a good horse is still high. Our product in the UK is becoming more and more export-orientated. A lot of the horses I would buy, and the same for a lot of other agents, will continue their careers in Australia, America, Hong Kong or Dubai. That unfortunately is a reflection on our prize-money.”

So what potential gems can be found in this year's February catalogue, which started out with 497 horses but had been depleted by the withdrawal of around 200? One which won't be found in the book but is a wildcard entry online is the last horse to sell on Thursday, Noble Yeats (Ire) (lot 256A).

The 6-year-old son of Yeats (Ire) is an unusual entry for this sale and would be more likely found in a Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale in a normal year. The gelding recently won a Thurles bumper by 19 lengths for trainer Emmet Mullins and is entered in Saturday's G2 Goffs Future Stars Bumper at Leopardstown. Noble Yeats was also runner-up on his sole point-to-point start and was third on his bumper debut in late December.

Coloratura Soprano (ITY), a Golden Horn (GB) half-sister to last season's G2 Oaks d'Italia winner Auyantepui (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is among the horses offered by the Castlebridge Consignment. The 3-year-old (lot 162) has been trained in her first three starts by John Gosden.

Oakshott Bloodstock consigns the sole mare in foal to Showcasing (GB) in the catalogue in 8-year-old Little Voice (lot 39), a dual-winning daughter of Scat Daddy who has a yearling filly on the ground also by the Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion.

Part of the continuing Broughton Bloodstock dispersal is lot 63, Carter's Grove (Ire), a Lilbourne Lad (Ire) half-sister to the useful stallion Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and to listed winner Nice Applause (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}). The 8-year-old mare is sold with an early May cover to young stallion Le Brivido (Fr). Her yearling filly by Charm Spirit (Ire) features later in the sale as lot 96.

Among the horses in training in the opening session is the Daniel and Claire Kubler-trained Chitra (GB) (lot 146). The hardy 5-year-old is a rare sprinter by Sea The Moon (Ger) who has won seven of her 34 races over five and six furlongs.

On behalf of breeder Lordship Stud, New England Stud consigns lot 153, Swiss Kiss (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The winning 10-year-old mare is in foal to Acclamation (GB) on a May 22 cover and is a daughter of Lordship's successful broodmare Swiss Lake (Indian Ridge {GB}), whose 12 winning offspring include the Group 3 winners Swiss Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Swiss Diva (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

The sale is conducted online on Thursday and Friday from 10am. Potential buyers, once registered, can place bids via the Tattersalls internet bidding platform or on the telephone to a member of staff.

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