Tag: Tattersalls

Angel Shines At Inaugural Tattersalls Sceptre Session

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry

NEWMARKET, UK — With the participants at Tattersalls braced for an even livelier Sceptre Session on the traditionally strong Tuesday evening of the December Mares Sale, the first of the two elite sessions eventually sprang into action once darkness had descended on Monday evening.

A packed ring witnessed the sale of 22 of the 25 Sceptre mares and fillies for a combined 8, 270,000gns on a day when the figures overall showed a significant uplift on last year's prices.

This is of course a trend that has been evident throughout the major sales at Park Paddocks throughout the year, and follows on from a record-breaking foal sale, and a new high for annual turnover already recorded even before the tills have stopped ringing from four days of mare trade.

The overall aggregate, bolstered by that bumper first Sceptre Session, rose 45% to 22,090,500gns and the average rising a further 52% to 99,957gns. The median was up 38% to 55,000gns while the clearance rate was 82%.

Angel On High

Archangel Gabriel (Arch), the dam of G3 Pride S. winner Ville De Grace (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), took the top spot for the day as Stephen Smith's Hunscote Stud bought out partner Chris Humber at 800,000gns.

The 9-year-old mare, consigned on their behalf by Norris Bloodstock, is in foal to the Coolmore newcomer St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and already has two winners to her name plus two youngsters by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) yet to race for her.

Unraced herself, she is a sister to the Grade I winner Prince Arch and a half-sister to G1 National S winner Kingsfort (War Chant). Her daughter Ville De Grace, who also won the Listed John Musker S., was narrowly beaten by subsequent Group 1 winner Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) when second in the G2 Dahlia S. She sells on Tuesday as lot 1893.

Hunscote Stud manager Andy Lloyd said of Archangel Gabriel, “Every one of her foals has made six figures plus. They've been correct and she is a delight to deal with. These outcross mares come along very rarely and we are very happy to take her home. So she'll come back to Hunscote and then we'll see. I didn't think it was right that we made any mating plans until we knew, and sadly we can't go back to Le Havre.”

Archangel Gabriel's 3-year-old son King of York (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) made 350,000gns as a Tattersalls October yearling in 2020, while the 2-year-old filly Foederati (Ire) fetched 280,000gns at the 2020 foal sale before changing hands for 325,000gns last October.

He added, “Ville De Grace is a sensational horse in her own right. We also own her with Chris and we look forward to her going round tomorrow.”

 

 

 

Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Remembered

The breeding empire of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, who died earlier this month, played a poignantly significant role in the first Sceptre Session, when three members of the same family from the partial dispersal of the stock of Southcourt Stud sold for a collective 1,655,000gns.

In quick succession a  daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter of Crystal Cavern (Be My Guest) passed through the ring, all representing the family which has become synonymous with the late owner-breeder and includes the former joint top-rated horse in the world, Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Leading the way on price was the 10-year-old Dubawi (Ire) mare Crystal Zvezda (GB), a half-sister to Crystal Ocean and out of the Listed Radley S winner Crystal Star (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}). Already proving her worth as the dam of promising 3-year-old Crystal Caprice (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), she was bought by Eugene Daly of Longview Stud for 775,000gns. Crystal Zvezda's Sea The Moon (Ger) colt foal sold for 210,000gns last week, while Crystal Caprice is set to sell on Tuesday.

Immediately prior to the sale of Crystal Zvezda, her dam's half-sister Waila (GB) was knocked down for 550,000gns to Adrian Nicoll. The 12-year-old mare by Sir Evelyn's homebred stallion Notnowcato (GB) won the Listed Aphrodite S at Newmarket and was sold in foal to Pinatubo (Ire).

 

 

 

Nicoll said, “I think I bought her cheaply in this market. She is a lovely mare and is definitely one of the picks of the day.

“Her Sea The Stars foal made 400,000gns last week, the 2-year-old Infinite Cosmos (GB) is supposed to be very good, she's a lovely-looking mare, and she's a stakes winner.”

He added, “She is going to Ireland and has been bought for a partnership. She is a lovely mare and a great reflection of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's breeding programme.”

Completing the trio was the listed-placed winner Crystal Hope (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), whose dam Crystal Etoile (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is another half-sister to Crystal Ocean. Sold in foal to Sea The Stars, the 7-year-old was bought by Luke Lillingston for 330,000gns.

Sir Evelyn's longtime friend Peter Stanley of New England Stud, who consigned the foals and breeding stock for Southcourt Stud, said, “They are lovely mares from Southcourt. I am so sad that these lovely ladies leave us, they are gorgeous mares, each one is a queen. It is not often that you see such a beautiful group of mares together, each one athletic, every one with depth and substance and bone, just gorgeous.

“I think the testament was the four foals who sold so well last week, they showed the type of horses that they are breeding. You can't complain at the prices, but it is terribly sad that it is not to be any longer.

He added, “Evelyn and [his late sister] Renee loved it, they talked about it. They would be both very proud of what has happened. They will look down and smile. The children are not racing fanatics, but they do have a sense of the history for their father and I think they have been very moved by the whole thing.”

Not part of the dispersal but from the same family is Crystal Starlet (GB), the 4-year-old daughter of Frankel and Crystal Zvezda who was offered by New England on behalf of the Natalma syndicate, who bought her last year for 150,000gns. Switched from Sir Michael Stoute to James Ferguson, she won at Wolverhampton in April and was covered by Palace Pier (GB) in his first season at Dalham Hall Stud. Reoffered with that Mar. 29 cover she returned to the ring to make 425,000gns and was signed for by Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock.

Ottoman Fleet's Dam to Newsells

Innevera (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), the dam of this season's dual listed winner Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), will join the Newsells Park Stud broodmare band after being bought for 750,000gns by Jill Lamb on behalf of the stud's owner Graham Smith-Bernal.

The 8-year-old mare's first three foals have all sold for six-figure sums, with Ottoman Fleet, who has also been group-placed, leading the way when bought by Godolphin for 425,000gns at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale.

Innevera, herself a dual winner in France and a half-sister to the Group 1-winning miler Keltos (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) and offered in foal to the Aga Khan Studs resident Zarak (Fr), was sold by Fittocks Stud.

Lamb said, “We're really pleased to get her as we were targeting her,” said Lamb after signing the docket. “She ticks every box; she's a lovely individual, she's bred a stakes winner with her first foal, who's very highly rated, and I loved her Le Havre (Ire) yearling [filly, bought by David Redvers for 350,000gns at Book 1], she's a beauty and I think she's going to Ralph Beckett so she's in safe hands.

She added, “I like the cover, too, as we have a mare in foal to Zarak. We don't have a mating plan in mind at the moment but that's the nice thing about her, she's a nice outcross so you can go almost anywhere. We're delighted.”

 

 

 

Seisai Set For Stateside Move

Seisai (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), one of the smartest runners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have been associated with in their short but successful ownership venture on the level, has danced her last dance in Europe after being snapped up Charlie Gordon Watson and Lane's End Farm in America.

Seisai was bought for just £78,000 by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of Munir and Souede at the Orby Sale when it was held at Doncaster in 2020.

She has proved herself a rock-solid filly for Joseph O'Brien, highlighted by her listed success at Tipperary as a juvenile and a narrow runner-up effort in a Group 2 at the Curragh as a 3-year-old this term.

The sale represents another big payday for the high-profile owners, best known for owning top-notch National Hunt horses, who also sold Hamaki (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) for 260,000gns to Wathnan Racing at the horses-in-training sale here in October.

Bromley said, “She has been a grand filly for the owners and I am pleased that Mr Farish has bought her to go breeding, although there is the option for her to continue on racing in America. She is going to go to one of his good stallions at Lane's End which is very exciting.”

He added, “We bought her at the Goffs Orby Sale when it was held at Doncaster. She has made 300,000gns profit on that price so it's a great result. We're thrilled.”

Bromley went on to reveal that Munir and Souede doubled down on the forays on the Flat by buying more yearlings than ever before this autumn but insisted that the men who have the Willie Mullins-trained Impulsive Dancer (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), Blue Lord (Fr) (Blue Bresil {Fr}) and Bronn (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}) to look forward to over jumps this season remain committed to National Hunt racing over the Flat.

He explained, “We bought 11 yearlings, which is more than we have ever bought for them, and is actually double the amount that we bought last year. Things like selling this filly today–and we sold Hamaki for 260,000gns at the horses-in-training sale here in October–advertises that there is a good second-hand market for horses, which you don't get over the jumps. We are exploring racing on the Flat more and more but the jumps is still obviously a big part of our operation.”

Pennine Hills (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who began her career with O'Brien before scoring at listed level and placing in a Group 3 under the care of Jerome Reynier, also played a big part of the Sceptre Session when selling to Alex Elliott for 375,000gns.

Elliott said, “She has been bought to join Jack Sisterson in Gulfstream. Jack is a long-time friend and old ally of mine so it was nice to be able to buy one for him. He is doing really well in America and has actually just moved to Florida having been based in Kentucky. She looks likely to be a good filly to join his squad given she is a listed winner. Hopefully she can add some graded stakes races to her resume in America. Jack picked her out and I am delighted to get her.”

Mendoza Makes It Pay

Teresa Mendoza (Ire), one of the highest-rated daughters of Territories (Ire), commanded 280,000gns to the bid of Badgers Bloodstock.

The Ken Condon-trained sprinter deservedly broke her duck at listed level this season when landing the Dubai Duty Free Dash S. at the Curragh  after multiple placed efforts in Group races.

All told, Teresa Mendoza, who carried the colours of Ecurie Ama Zingteam, won twice and placed eight times from 20 starts, amassing over €120,000 in prize-money en route to reaching a rating of 105. She was consigned by Baroda Stud.

The similarly likeable Roman Mist (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a five-time winner who reached a mark of 102 in her pomp for Tom Ward and the Hot To Trot Racing Syndicate, was sold to David Redvers for 360,000gns.

The best horse Ward has trained, Roman Mist recorded a career highlight when landing the Snowdrop Fillies' S. at Kempton in April.

BBA Ireland Team Support Lucky Again

There was plenty of action from Yuesheng Zhang and Michael Donohoe at the Goffs November Sale and the Yulong Investments team returned to the fray on Monday, again in support of their Irish National Stud-based stallion Lucky Vega (Ire).

The regally bred Violante (Kingmambo), a half-sister to Classic winner Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa) and dam of the G3 Prix Messidor winner Impulsif (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), was added to the list at 330,000gns from the draft of Godolphin.

Ulster Blackwater (Ire), the young, winning daughter of Camelot (GB) in foal for the first time to Siyouni (Fr), was later added to the team during the Sceptre Session, with Donohoe paying 470,000gns for the Joseph O'Brien-trained filly.

Speaking about Violante, Donohoe said, “It is a great family and there are not many young Kingmambo mares left.”

He added on the daughter of Urban Sea's half-sister Allez Les Trois (Riverman), whose own branch of the illustrious family includes Group 1 winners Tamayuz (GB), Santiago (Ire) and Eshaada (GB), “I believe the Kingman [yearling colt] and the Frankel [colt foal] out of her are nice and she should physically suit Lucky Vega–we think the nick of Mr Prospector will work on Lucky Vega.”

Bidding online, Donohoe went on to secure Divine Herald (GB), an unraced daughter of Frankel (GB) and G3 Dahlia S winner Heaven Sent (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in foal to No Nay Never, for 380,000gns from the draft of John Troy. He also successfully recruited Juddmonte's well-bred Star Snap (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) for 300,000gns. Also unraced, she is out of Hot Snap (GB), a Pivotal (GB) half-sister to the outstanding Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from the packed black-type family of Oaks winner Reams Of Verse and dual Group 1 winner Elmaamul. The four-year-old mare is in foal to Bated Breath (GB).

Godolphin also offered dual Classic winner Blue Bunting (Dynaformer), in foal to Derby winner Masar (Ire), with the Guineas and Irish Oaks heroine selling to Bill Gredley for 70,000gns.

Blue Bunting also bagged the G1 Yorkshire Oaks in a glittering career on the track, however, she has been a rather disappointing broodmare, with just three of her six runners managing to win a race

 Ballylinch's Royal Approval

The first batch of mares to be offered by The Royal Studs attracted plenty of interest with John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud signing for the 170,000gns Fiery Sunset (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who has already produced a black-type performer in Evening Sun (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

The page could shine brighter this time next year as her 2-year-old winner Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) is reported to be held in good regard by Sir Michael Stoute and holds a Derby entry.

Ballylinch also paid 190,000gns for Royal Applause (GB) mare Royal Ffanci (GB), who has produced two black-type horses by Cityscape (GB), Dan's Dream (GB) and Caernarfon (GB), from Furnace Mill Stud.

Eight of the 18 horses The Royal Studs are due to sell at Tattersalls this week went through the ring on Monday for 780,000gns at an average of 97,500gns.

Speedy Mares Bought To Support State Of Rest

Two speedy mares were purchased in support of Rathbarry Stud and Newgate Stud's new stallion, the four-time Group 1 winner State Of Rest (Ire), whose fee has been set at €25,000 for his debut season at stud in Ireland.

Howson & Houldsworth Bloodstock signed for both mares, headlined by the classy juvenile Maria Branwell (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire) for 180,00gns from The Castlebridge Consignment.

Maria Barnwell won twice for David O'Meara this season, including at listed level at Sandown, before placing third in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot in June.

She, along with the speedy Country Carnival (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), will visit State Of Rest in the new year.

American Buyer Reid Makes A Splash

There was a real international feel to Tattersalls on Monday and American buyer David Reid got some business done early when securing Magical Fire (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}) and Nazuna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) to visit No Nay Never.

Speaking after buying Magical fire for 200,000gns under PE Equine Management from Baroda Stud, Reid said, “We're over here looking for mares to cross with No Nay Never. We're trying to find something under the marketplace because we think it's going to get hotter before it gets colder, for sure.”

Asked if Magical Fire being in foal to Sea The Moon (Ger) was a draw, he replied, “More so that she fit the profile to go to No Nay Never. But it didn't hurt to be in foal to that sire.”

He added, “There is everyone here from all around the globe and I think the marketplace is going to be very healthy from what I can see. Hopefully we can land a few more but it's going to be a challenging week. There are a lot of beautiful horses so we will see what happens. I anticipate that the sale will be very good and I like what they did with the mares' section [Sceptre Sessions].”

Just as Reid predicted, things did heat up in the ring later in the day, and he was forced to go to 280,000gns to secure the Group 2-placed Nazuna from Elite Sales in the Sceptre Session.

BUY OF THE DAY

Lot 1455: ON HER WAY (GB) (Medicean {GB}) 

Consignor: Barton Sales

Buyer: Mickley Stud, 18,000gns

At 15, On Her Way is getting to the age that puts off some buyers but the dam of Headway (GB), who was beaten a head in the G2 Coventry S., is now back in foal to that smart juvenile's sire Havana Gold (Ire) and has produced three other multiple winners to bolster her record. She will have a colt from the first crop of Blue Point (Ire) to run for her next year, who is already cantering away on Newmarket Heath for trainer Tom Clover. 

For Richard Kent of Mickley Stud, this is a low-risk purchase: he has the land, a range of stallions for future matings and, as the breeder of Havana Gold's best horse Havana Grey (GB), he's fully entitled to have a soft spot for the Tweenhills stallion, whose fee this year was two-thirds of the cost of the mare.

 

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Gunther Invites Breeders To Unlock Free Nomination To Without Parole

Owner-breeder Tanya Gunther has invited people to unlock a free nomination to Without Parole (GB), the St James's Palace S. winner whose first foals sold well at Tattersalls this week, by offering a limited number of keys to those interested in breeding to the Newsells Park Stud-based stallion. 

Just one of those keys will unlock the free nomination that is hidden in one of three boxes at the Newsells Park consignment at Tattersalls for the December Mares Sale.

The majority of the keys have been sent out to breeders who have already supported the stallion, whose 15 foals sold for an average of 28,100gns at last week's December Foal Sale, including colts for 58,000 and 52,000 respectively.

However, there are still a limited number of keys available, with Gunther urging those interested to make their way down to the Highflyer Paddocks this week. 

Gunther explained, “We devised a promo that we thought would be a little bit of fun. We are inviting breeders to unlock a free nomination from behind bars during the December Mares Sale this week at Tattersalls. The people who have supported Without Parole have already received an email and a key but, basically, we have three boxes down at the Newsells consignment at Tattersalls and behind one box is a nomination to Without Parole and in the other two have champagne in them.

“None of the boxes have been opened yet and, while there is a limited supply, we invite breeders who may be interested in using Without Parole to come and visit the hospitality suite at Newsells and get their key before they are all gone. It's a pretty fun way to get talking to the breeders about the stallion and we'd love to talk to people who may be interested in using him in the future.”

Bred by Gunther's father John, Without Parole won four times for John Gosden before joining Chad Brown, for whom he placed third in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita. 

He joined the Newsells roster in 2021 at a fee of £10,000 and is set to stand for just £7,000 in 2023. Gunther described herself to be delighted with the feedback from breeders at Tattersalls and said that she thinks Without Parole represents good value. 

She said, “I wasn't sure what to expect going around looking at the Without Parole foals last week because, before this sale, all I had really seen from him were my own foals. I have to say that I was very happy with what I saw in his offspring and he seems to be throwing some very good stock and is putting quality into his offspring so you can't really ask for much more than that. 

“Of course, it is only the first step but we are really pleased with how things are going with him so far and we're all quite happy about it. We hope that breeders are as happy as we are and, to hear comments like 'he is throwing horses with a touch of class' or that 'there is a resemblance of Frankel,' I mean you couldn't ask for much more than that.  It's lovely to hear that Without Parole resembles Frankel who we all know had such an amazing season and is riding the crest of a wave.”

She added, “We are very happy with the results. We hope that the buyers will make some money on their Without Parole pinhooks and feel that people didn't go too crazy at every level so hopefully they have a really great chance to do well. It's comparable to going around and looking at a bunch of your children when viewing the foals of Without Parole and it's just very rewarding to see that they have been well received. He looks as though he represents good value.”

 

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So Just Who Was Sceptre?

Tattersalls could not have chosen a better name than 'Sceptre' for the elite sessions of the mares' section of the December Sale, the first of which takes place today. The word 'Sceptre' is redolent of majesty but Sceptre the horse was even more special. Furthermore, hers was a story in which Tattersalls plays a prominent part.

Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster, was one of the most successful owners of the Victorian era. He raced some magnificent homebreds including the mighty Ormonde, whom John Porter trained to win the Triple Crown in 1886.  Sadly, the Duke died in December 1899 and the terms of his will meant that the estate had to put his horses up for sale. Tattersalls' July Sale at Park Paddocks in 1900 was the chosen auction.  The young 2nd Duke of Westminster, grandson and heir of the 1st Duke, wished to retain the cream of the stud but could not be there as he was overseas (on active service in the Boer War) so he deputed his agent Cecil Parker to accompany John Porter to Park Paddocks, with instructions that they should buy whichever Porter regarded as the best prospects.

Also bound for Newmarket in July Week 1900 was the redoubtable Robert Standish Sievier, one of the great racing characters of that (or any other) age.  As a huge punter, he was often completely broke, but by chance he happened recently to have had a good run on the horses. In those days in which the old-school aristocratic owner/breeders reigned supreme, the best-bred young horses almost never came up for sale.  ievier had scented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy some top-class prospects and was determined to have the cream of the Eaton Stud consignment, whatever the price.

With Sievier nothing was straightforward. On this occasion, his little prank was to deposit funds (£20,000 in £500 bills) with Somerville Tattersall in advance, but only after the banks had closed the previous evening, thus ensuring that Mr Tattersall spent a nervous and sleepless night locked in his room in the White Hart Hotel, conscious that his cash-stuffed pockets made him an obvious target for villains!

It was widely agreed that the cream of the Eaton draft included a filly from the first crop of Persimmon out of Ormonde's full-sister Ornament.  She was not the only perceived diamond in the mine, however, and two lots before her came a magnificent colt by the Ormonde horse Orme out of Kissing Cup.  John Porter advised Parker that this colt should be bought, but Sievier wanted him too.  The bidding quickly sped past the existing record price for a yearling (6,000 guineas) until, Sievier having bid 9,000 guineas, Porter raised it by another 100 guineas.  Sievier admitted defeat.  

The Orme colt's price stunned the audience, but it didn't remain a record for long.  Two lots later, the Persimmon filly out of Ornament entered the ring.

Sievier opened at 5,000 guineas before the bidding followed the same pattern as the auction for the Orme colt. However, this time, when Porter bid 9,100 guineas, Sievier immediately bid 10,000. The problem for Porter and Parker was that the young Duke had not specified any sums. Porter had already steered Parker into spending 18,000 guineas of the Duke's money, and things now seemed to be getting out of hand. The two men reluctantly decided that enough was enough.  Sceptre was now Bob Sievier's horse, at 10,000 guineas, a record which stood for 19 years.

All told, Sievier spent 22,500 guineas at that sale, the bulk of it on Sceptre and a colt by Orme out of Gantlet for whom he paid 5,600 guineas and whom he, rather cheekily, named Duke Of Westminster. His final purchase was not one of the Westminster horses but a massive colt by the 1894 Derby winner Ladas called Lavengro, bred by Lord Rosebery, for whom he gave 700 guineas.

Sievier put Sceptre, Duke Of Westminster, Lavengro and the others into training with Charles Morton at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage. The string enjoyed a very successful summer in 1901, not least because both Lavengro and Duke Of Westminster won at Ascot. Morton had to race Sceptre sparingly because she jarred up on the firm ground, but she won the Woodcote S. at Epsom and the July S. at Newmarket. All should have been rosy in Sievier's world, but it wasn't.

By the end of the year, Sievier was in trouble, as usual his punting having proved his undoing. Furthermore, it wasn't just that he had no money; he had no trainer either. Morton had received an offer to become private trainer for Jack Joel, an offer too good to turn down. Joel and Sievier were deadly enemies, not least because Sievier had developed the habit of goading Joel in his newspaper The Winning Post, and it was generally felt that Joel's principal motivation in hiring Morton was to disrupt Sievier's racing operations.

Even though he urgently needed money, Sievier rejected out of hand an offer of £60,000 for the three star juveniles. However, he had to sell something as his creditors were circling, and he finally accepted a bid of £25,000 from John Porter (on behalf of Mr George Faber) for Duke Of Westminster.

Temporarily, Sievier had some cash, but he still had no trainer.  Undaunted, he did what he generally did, ie he took the unconventional option, which in this case meant deciding to train Sceptre himself.  Fortunately, he was able to rent (from John Porter) a suitable property: Elston House at Shrewton in Wiltshire.

Sceptre's first run of the year was in the Lincolnshire H., a bizarre choice as a Classic trial but a big betting race which provided Sievier with the opportunity to have a serious 'tilt at the ring'. She ran really well, but not quite as well as Sievier needed: she finished second, beaten a head. Undaunted, he pressed on to Newmarket. First came the 2,000 Guineas, in which she and Duke Of Westminster started joint-favourites. During the race she never saw her former stable-companion as she made all the running to win in race-record time. Two days later she backed up in the 1,000 Guineas and again made all to set a new race-record.

At Epsom, everything went wrong for Sceptre in the Derby, including missing the start and then making up the lost ground far too quickly. She finished fourth behind Ard Patrick, leaving the impression that she would have won easily with a better jockey on board. It can only have been partial consolation for Sievier that Sceptre cantered home in the Oaks two days later.

Ascot was on the horizon, but that couldn't come soon enough for Sievier. In the interim he sent her to Longchamp for France's premier Classic, the Grand Prix de Paris. Again Herbert Randall (a former amateur whom Sievier used for no reason other than that he distrusted all the established riders) rode badly.  Even so, she still finished within two lengths of the winner Kizil Kourgan, who herself was regarded in France as a true champion.

Back in England in time to go to Ascot, Sceptre was beaten in the Coronation S. under another shocker from Randall. Sievier finally decided that enough was enough, and engaged Hardy, the apprentice who had ridden her in the Lincoln, to ride her the following afternoon in the St. James's Palace S. She won in a canter, beating Rising Glass who had finished second in the Derby.

Sievier ran Sceptre twice at Goodwood too. She was beaten in the Sussex S. but blew very hard afterwards. Sievier's response was to give her three more gallops before the Nassau S., which was only two days later. These unconventional methods clearly worked as she hacked up in her second assignment.

At Doncaster she won the St Leger hard-held by three lengths. Sievier, of course, couldn't resist the temptation to run back her up two days later in the Park Hill S.  Starting at 1/5, she raced like what she was, a tired horse, but finished second even so. Even Sievier accepted that Sceptre had had enough for the year, and scratched her from the Cambridgeshire. With his creditors closing in, he reluctantly entered her in the December Sale, but rumours that she had broken down meant that she did not reach her 24,000-guinea reserve.

Sievier had ended the 1902 season as champion owner with stakes of £23,686 and as the only owner/trainer ever to be Britain's champion trainer, a distinction which he is likely to hold forever. However, his disastrous punting meant that he began 1903 virtually penniless. The only way to keep his creditors at bay was to sell his pride and joy, which he did in the spring, for £25,000 to William Bass, who sent her to Manton to be trained by Alec Taylor Jr.

Alec Taylor Sr had been renowned for working his horses hard but his son took the opposite approach. Sceptre thus found herself enjoying a lifestyle very different from what she had previously known. Her first run of the summer came at Ascot (where she must have been surprised to discover that it was possible to go to a major meeting and run only once!) where she won the Hardwicke S. However, she was unimpressive and blew hard afterwards, forcing Taylor to concede that Sievier's old-school regime might actually have suited her.

Next came 'the race of the century', a legendary Eclipse S. fought out by the winners of eight British Classics, ie Sceptre, Ard Patrick (who had beaten her in the Derby) and Rock Sand, who ended that season as winner of the Triple Crown. Taylor was working Sceptre harder by this time, but even so had come to realise that she still wasn't fully fit. Despite not yet being at her peak, she failed by only a neck to beat Ard Patrick at the end of a battle royal up the Sandown straight, with Rock Sand wilting in the final furlong to finish third.

Sceptre went through the rest of the season unbeaten. At the end of the year, the observation was made to Taylor that, had he trained Sceptre from the outset, she would have gone through her career undefeated. Taylor's typically modest answer, itself something of a compliment to Sievier, was thought-provoking: “Very possibly.  But if I had trained her throughout, she wouldn't have won four Classics.”

The story of Sceptre, who stayed in training as a five-year-old but was past her best by then, was far from over. She paid two more visits to Park Paddocks (for the July Sales of 1911 and '17).  On the first of these, Somerville Tattersall, realising that she was about to be bought for export, knocked her down to himself (for 7,000 guineas) before subsequently selling her to John Musker.  On the latter occasion she was bought, aged 18 and with what turned out to be her final foal at foot, for 2,500 guineas by Lord Glanely, at whose stud in Exning she died in February 1926, aged 27.

It goes without saying that Sceptre did not breed anything nearly as good as she herself had been. How could she have done? Even so, she still produced a 1,000 Guineas runner-up (Maid Of Corinth, by Cyllene). Maid Of Corinth's sister Maid Of The Mist was very smart too, and then did even better at stud, where she bred two Classic winners: Sunny Jane, winner of the Oaks in 1917, and Crag An Eran who in 1921 won the 2,000 Guineas and then finished second in the Derby to Joel's Morton-trained Humorist. Sceptre's descendants have continued to breed good horses, including the 1963 Derby winner Relko (Fr) and the 2000 Preakness S. winner Red Bullet.

The chapters on Sceptre are nowadays a long way back in racing's history books.  However, she will never be forgotten, and Tattersalls are to be applauded for this extremely appropriate way of keeping the legend alive.

The post So Just Who Was Sceptre? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Clare Manning: ‘Gan Teorainn The Most Exciting Horse I’ve Had To Sell’

NEWMARKET, UK-Classic contender Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) has been described by Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud as the most exciting horse the 29-year-old has ever had the chance to consign ahead of the eagerly-anticipated Sceptre Session at Tattersalls on Tuesday.

Trained by her grandad Jim Bolger, Gan Teorainn advertised her Classic credentials when second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp in October and can be backed at odds of 25-1 for next year's Oaks. 

The Ennistown Stud-owned filly also boasts a rock-solid pedigree to match her ability given she is a half-sister to eight winners, three of which are black-type performers, including Puncher Clynch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), who Bolger trained to win the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown in 2010.

Manning said, “She is the highest profile horse I have ever had to sell. I've sold plenty of relations to good horses but this is a two-year-old who is already Group 1-placed and has a Classic campaign ahead of her so she's certainly the most exciting horse I've ever had the chance to sell. It's very exciting.

“Gan Teorainn is by a young and exciting sire who is going places. She has won over a mile and is out of a Rainbow Quest mare [Dance Troupe (GB)] who's had 11 foals, 10 runners and eight winners. There are plenty of black-type horses under the first dam and, as a breeding prospect on a catalogue page, it's all there.”

Gan Teorainn translates from Irish to unlimited or infinite, and Manning says that the filly her father Kevin partnered to all bar one of her seven starts in the final season of a spellbinding career that lasted over 40 years will appeal to just about everyone at Tattersalls.

Manning explained, “She has shown it on the track and, given she has a 1000 Guineas and Oaks entry for next year, I think that she will be pretty popular. There is real international appeal to Gan Teorainn and she really could go anywhere.

“There are lots of high-class mares in the sale and you can't pick out one filly or mare and say, 'this is the best in the session,' as there are several there. Gan Teorainn is the highest-rated two-year-old in the sale. Some of them will be sold as broodmare prospects while others will have racing careers ahead of them so I suppose our filly is a little unique in the sense that she is sold with a Classic campaign ahead of her as well as having that broodmare career to look forward to further down the line.”

Should Gan Teorainn play a prominent role in the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls, it would crown another excellent year for the burgeoning Boherguy Stud after a sales-topping Autumn Yearling Sale at Goffs with a colt by Dawn Approach (Ire) and a number of other productive sales either side of the Irish Sea. 

Manning said, “It's been another good year. It would be absolutely amazing if we could end it on a positive note. I think she will be well-received so I can't see why we wouldn't.

“It's very hard to top the Orby or even a Book 2 here at Tattersalls. Those sales are just so strong. To top any sale is great and we got a lot of pleasure out of the Autumn Yearling Sale. To do it with a Dawn Approach, who isn't the most commercial sire but gets Group 1 winners, was sweeter because he's down at Granddad's place in Redmondstown. 

“We'd a good mares' sale, a great February Sale, a good Fairyhouse–we didn't go in there and make headlines but horses sold above their asking price and a lot of our clients were very happy. Placing horses in the right sale is one of the most important things in this game. You can have a lovely horse but, if it's in the wrong sale, you can get overlooked.” 

She added, “Granddad and Dad have been very supportive of me. Neither of them pushed me to work with horses or to go into this industry. If anything, they probably tried to steer me in a different direction. But they have been great. The first year, I wanted to get horses and showcase how I could prep them for a sale and Granddad let me do that with some of his better horses. It has helped me get clients in the door and to advertise how we do things at Boherguy. Without that, I wouldn't be where I am now; I'd still be trying to make a name for myself whereas now, Boherguy is beginning to get recognised at the sales in Britain and Ireland.”

It was just last month when Kevin Manning announced his retirement at the age of 55. He rode his first winner back in 1983 and had been stable jockey for Bolger since 1993. Together, Manning and Bolger won eight Classics in Britain and Ireland, with Clare pointing to the particular significance surrounding the first with Margarula (Ire) (Doyoun {GB}) in the Irish Oaks back in 2002.

She said, “A lot of people ask me about how hard Dad worked down through the years and how he looked after his weight. It's a hard question for me to answer because Dad was a jockey before I was even born so I have never known it to be any different. For me, the way he eats, sweats and the work he does, it's just normal to me. He never stops. He's mad into his shooting and has his gun dogs. He's two young pups he's bringing on and he also gives me a hand in the yard. Shooting season goes on for another three months and he's happy to tip away at that for now.” 

Manning added, “But the one day that really sticks out for me was Margarula winning the Irish Oaks in 2002. She was 33-1 on the day and, just as we were about to sit down and watch the race, I said to Granddad that I was going to run down to put a bet on her. He told me not to do it so, when she crossed the line in front, I turned around and looked at him without saying anything. To be fair to him, he handed me 50 quid to make up for it! 

“It was great because Granny owned the mare and she was Dad's first Classic winner. No sooner had the presentation finished, Grandad and I hopped into the car and headed off down to Portlaoise to see Wexford lose to Clare in the quarter final of the All-Ireland hurling championship. I think I was eight at the time so it's a great memory to have. 

“Trading Leather (Ire) was another great day. Grandad promised Granny that he'd train a Derby winner for her one day so for Trading Leather to carry her colours in the Irish Derby meant a lot. Grandad bred, trained and owned him and Dad rode it. Not only that, but we had a lot of family there on the day and for it to be at the Curragh, it was absolutely brilliant. Poetic Flare (Ire) winning the St James's Palace S. was the one that I probably enjoyed the most, though. He had won the 2000 Guineas and confirmed himself a top-class colt at Ascot that day.”

The spotlight turns to Clare at the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls this week. Should Gan Teorainn capture the imagination of buyers, it would represent another day to remember for the family. 

The post Clare Manning: ‘Gan Teorainn The Most Exciting Horse I’ve Had To Sell’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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