Tag: Top News Europe

New Dawn In The Desert Illuminates Record Trade

NEWMARKET, UK–Everyone in this business understands that complacency is prohibited with Thoroughbreds. But it must be said that a year which began with the global economy clinging by its fingertips to the development of vaccines, and this particular industry chilled by the consecutive loss of two of the greatest investors in its history, has entered autumn with heartening buoyancy.

Tuesday's second session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale, complementing the remarkable energy of the international yearling market, was another to bounce right back from tepid trade last year–not only overshadowing its pre-pandemic performance, in 2019, but also setting an outright record for a single day at this auction.

And, while these remain very early days in terms of the overnight flowering of the world's richest race, there was no mistaking the sense of purpose animating fresh investment from the Middle East. For a sport that owed so much to the passion and commensurate resources of Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum and Prince Khalid Abdullah is now registering the impact not only of the Saudi Cup, but of the developing programme and infrastructure clearly intended to volunteer the host nation as a new centre of gravity for the global Turf.

As Saad bin Mishraf remarked, after the Tattersalls arena had been stunned by his 700,000gns bid on behalf of Najd Stud for the dual group winner from Germany, Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 738), he suspected that he had only been forced so high by competition from the same part of the world. (Underbidder Michael Donohoe has been very active for Middle Eastern interests through the first two sessions.)

“With his rating, this horse should definitely be accepted for the Saudi Cup,” bin Mishraf said. “We hoped we might get him for 400,000gns, it was tough competition–I think from people with the same target. Hopefully he will act on the dirt. The Saudi Cup is driving up the market for the right horses, but it's not just the prizemoney for that race, there are many others making Saudi racing very important internationally, very quickly.”

It was wonderful to see bin Mishraf fall gratefully to his knees, in the presumed direction of Mecca, after finally ending a tense duel for the 4-year-old colt–and also to hear how he grasps the abiding mystery of the racehorse.

“With horses, it is always the same: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't,” he said with a smile. “You can spend three million on a yearling and it won't necessarily break its maiden, and that is the same everywhere.”

At least this was an investment in a horse of proven class, indeed with stallion potential already: besides his group wins, Grocer Jack has run second at the highest level for Waldemar Hickst. Homebred by Dr. Christoph Berglar, and an €85,000 RNA as a Baden-Baden yearling, he was consigned by Ronald Rauscher–switching hats after himself being so busy recruiting for Australian Thoroughbreds over the first couple of days.

“That was, by a long margin, more than I expected,” Rauscher admitted. “I thought he might make between 300,000gns and 500,000gns. But obviously we had a situation of two people at loggerheads, and that makes a big difference.

“I bought the mare Good Donna (Ger) (Doyen {Ire}) for Dr. Berglar, in-foal to Solider Hollow (GB). That foal became a stakes winner, and then we followed up with Jack. The mare is by Doyen, but he was underrated, he had a very good average on ratings, especially for his fillies. This horse hasn't put a foot wrong, and I hope that continues for his new connections: he's a very fluent mover, and I think prefers fast ground.”

Indeed, connections had considered setting up a satellite yard to race him in California. “But it wasn't really tenable, and in the end the time was right [to sell],” Rauscher said. “Prizemoney in Germany is fairly low, and you don't get the going we think he needs. Waldemar has done a fabulous job. He has really looked after him, and delivered him here in top condition. The horse is a credit to him and his team.”

This remarkable transaction crowned another session too vibrant to require the usual caveats about historic comparisons in a market somewhat dependent on the variable calibre of a catalogue. As already noted, the indices not only soared dizzily above last year's “fire sale”–turnover up a staggering 71% to 11,262,500gns for 256 sales, up from 6,570,700gns for 241 (clearance rate here no less than 93%, up from 86%); yielding an average up 61% to 43,994gns from 27,264gns; and a median leaping to 20,500gns from 12,000gns–but far outstripped the equivalent session in 2019, when 260 horses had sold for 8,134,300gns, yielding an average 31,286gns and median of 18,000gns.

 

Sangster And Meehan Conquer With Hannibal

Timing is everything. On the face of it, that had worked against Sam Sangster and Brian Meehan last year, when the pandemic prohibited potential purchasers access to Manton to inspect a Zoffany (Ire) colt acquired for €55,000 at the Orby Sale. It looked like they were being left to hold the baby. Sheer bad timing.

But then Hannibal Barca (Ire), carrying Sangster's silks, made a promising debut when third at Ascot last month, and they put him in this catalogue. He added one auspicious update when winning at Salisbury three weeks later, and then rolled the dice in no less a race than the G1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster last Saturday. He ran a stormer, beaten a couple of lengths in fourth behind Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a neon advertisement just four days before his appearance here as lot 577. Great timing.

And Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland was duly forced to 500,000gns to land the colt for an unnamed client with horses spread between Britain, Ireland and France. “He may stay in training here, we're not sure, the first thing was to get him bought and we can make the plan after,” the agent said. “He could obviously be a horse for the Classics next year, he could have the speed for a mile but I think in time he could stay a mile and a half.

“I thought it was a superb run in that ground at the weekend. I don't think he may have handled it all that well, but he was gutsy and it was his determination that got him through it. He's still quite green, and a lovely, big, scopey horse, 16.1hh, we think he's very progressive. We're very happy to get him, he's very clean, he has a lovely attitude and temperament, and didn't turn a hair the couple of times we saw him or in the pre-parade ring. You never know, by next May or June today's price could look good value.”

For the time being, however, it stands as a mighty coup for his vendors.

“Still buzzing,” declared Sangster with a grin, reflecting on the drama a few minutes afterwards. “It was quite emotional, really. Brian and I buy a lot of horses together on spec, and we put them in the shop window. He was one of them, we loved him as a yearling, but in the year of Covid we struggled to get people to the yard and he was one of the horses we couldn't get sold. But we have a lot of confidence in the horses we buy, and full credit to Brian who believed in the horse enough to target the Doncaster race. We're obviously gutted to see him go, he has such a bright future, but it was good business. Michael rang this morning and I told him I couldn't recommend this horse more, he has such a lovely temperament, a lovely stride. I think he's going to be a serious horse for next year.”

Of his discovery at the Orby Sale, Sangster recalled: “As a yearling, he was exactly what you saw in the ring there today: a gorgeous, free-moving horse, on a beautiful, proven cross. At the time I thought we'd bought him very well. But did I believe he'd go and make half a million at Tattersalls? No.

“I'm delighted for Brian, and everyone in the yard. Brian has done it many times before, and it just shows you have to back your trainer. We've been working together for seven years, and it shows the confidence we have in the horses–that we buy to race them. We've bought 17 yearlings this time round, and attended a few more sales, so hopefully people can come down and see them, and we'll have a bit of marketing material on the back of this.”

Hannibal Barca's late sire has produced an Oaks runner-up out of a Fasliyev mare, and his first three dams are by Galileo (Ire), The Minstrel and Le Fabuleux (Fr), so he's perfectly entitled to test the water for more than one Classic. There's plenty of quality along the bottom line, too, his dam being a dual listed winner (at seven and 10 furlongs) bought from Juddmonte by his late breeder Peter Magnier, from the family of Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}).

 

Respect For 'Respectful' Training

One of the themes of the day was the value some trainers can provide patrons in getting the best out of their horses on the racetrack, while still retaining residual value on leaving their care. Take a bow, among others, Roger Charlton.

“Roger really respects his horses,” stressed Stuart Boman, regarding the latter, after giving 340,000gns for the Beckhampton graduate Makram (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) (lot 721) on behalf of undisclosed Australian clients. “And that's really important.”

This was a model project of its type. A €90,000 Goffs Orby purchase by Hugo Merry, Makram has been carefully brought along initially to break his maiden at three, then a first handicap off 76, and two more as a maturing 4-year-old off 90 and 97.

“He's been beautifully handled by Roger and his team,” said the Blandford Bloodstock agent. “We've paid a lot for him, but from an Australian perspective he has just the right profile: he's done everything, all distance ranges, all goings, and he's a beautiful, muscular horse to look at, too. He looked like he could step into group company in England, next year, he's up to 108 [Timeform] and looks like he could be better than that.

“Obviously to be talking about Melbourne Cups would be making a big statement at this point. But it's a pretty obvious thing by this point, the Australians have been breeding for speed for generations, Chris Waller made coming here very popular, and the results keep on coming.”

Precisely that impetus in the market has made this a very difficult sale for the National Hunt investor in recent years, but Tom Malone managed to stretch to 175,000gns moments later on behalf of Paul Nicholls to secure the 3-year-old Pleasant Man (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 724), who won his third race at York last month off 93.

Malone was also full of praise for the Beckhampton grounding. “I've bought plenty of good horses from them,” he said. “And you get a very honest appraisal. I loved the horse, and while some people won't have Galileo for jumping, we had Celestial Halo (Ire) who was obviously very good.”

Typical Bargain Rewarded For Typical Industry

Boman was back late in the session to give 380,000gns for Dancing King (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) (lot 778) to go “abroad for an established client.” This 3-year-old gelding has been thriving on the dynamic campaigning of Mark Johnston: after running up a four-timer in the spring, starting off a mark of 73, he raised the bar with a first group success at Goodwood last time and arrived with a mark of 103.

The most prolific stable in Britain has developed its own way of doing things and this was a wonderful dividend on Johnston's trademark discovery of a yearling reject, picking him out of Book 2 for a Kingsley Park syndicate at just 18,000gns.

“I have to congratulate Mark for finding a horse of this quality as cheaply as he did,” Boman said. “His name is Dancing King and he really has danced every dance; he showed up every time and always puts it in. And Mark has presented him in immaculate condition. He hasn't run for over five weeks, you can see that they've prepared him for this sale and they've brought him here in fantastic condition.”

All Part Of The Service

William Haggas is another who reliably strikes that elusive balance between getting the best yield on the racetrack for his patrons while maintaining a sound enough base for continued progress. His draft duly included three consecutive lots that figured among the highest of the day.

First came Titian (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 622), who had won for the second time in a light career only four days before the sale and made 155,000gns from Tom Malone to join David Pipe as a juvenile hurdler.

“William Frewen, who owned [high-class staying hurdler] Lough Derg (Fr) (Apple Tree {Fr}) with David, came on the blower wanting to get involved and this horse came highly recommended by William,” the agent explained. “The beauty is that he's been gelded already. In my experience, that process can go very right or very wrong, but someone else has been through the torture of finding out. We also bought Kolisi (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) a couple of lots back [659, for 55,000gns], he finished second to this one at Doncaster, they both look ideal for the job.”

Next up was another 3-year-old gelding, Wink Of An Eye (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 663), a homebred from the royal stable who will now be heading to the desert after Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland, having a very busy couple of days, signed a 230,000gns docket. This lad had been placed with typical dexterity by Haggas to run up a four-timer in handicaps this summer, in the process advancing his rating from 70 to 91.

“He just fits the profile we're looking for, for the Middle East,” Donhoe explained. “For some reason the Dubawis do very well out there, they seem to improve a few pounds out in those sunny climes for some reason. He's a very good-looking horse who'll go on any surface.”

The Somerville Lodge draft was crowned, however, by the juvenile Maglev (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) (lot 664), a £210,000 Doncaster breezer this spring who has meanwhile reached a rating of 102 by a creditable fifth in the G2 Mill Reef S. That rather showed his hand, but he will have more options in California after a 300,000gns transfer to Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal, whose Tim Cohen found subsequent Grade I winner River Boyne (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) at this sale in 2017 for 70,000gns.

“Towards the end of the year there are a couple of stakes races in California, but it's the 3-year-old that we are looking forward to,” Cohen said. “His form is excellent, he vetted well, and we thought him one of the better 2-year-olds in this sale. I would think he'll be the first Galileo Gold to go to the States, and definitely the most expensive! But we've had good success with the horses we've taken back from here; horses who can handle firm ground, that's what we're keen on.”

The Haggas draft was preceded by graduates of Pegasus Stables, who benefit so hugely from the patience with which James Fanshawe develops talent–and, once again, there was corresponding confidence in the export market. Two consecutive lots heading to Australia were Bonneval (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 640), who brought 170,000gns from Trent Busuttin Racing, and Turn On The Charm (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) (lot 641), who realised 135,000gns from Australian Bloodstock/Ronald Rauscher. (The latter, incidentally, also gave 150,000gns minutes later for Kettle Hill (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), as lot 655 in the Haggas draft.)

The next draft, from Fanshawe's mentor Sir Michael Stoute, was crowned by a horse that condensed the mysteries of our business, My Frankel (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 680).

A 380,000gns Book I purchase at the October Sale by Charlie Gordon-Watson, My Frankel has won just £26,415 in prizemoney across three seasons, despite winning three times while settling on a rating to 95. On his last start, tried in a tongue-tie, he earned £1,411.05 in finishing third under 10 stone at Lingfield. And yet here, at 310,000gns, he proved one of the most valuable commodities of the sale so far–albeit not quite retrieving his yearling value.

How gratifying for the viability of the British sport, then, to see his form so highly esteemed by his purchasers, Najd Stud (co-signed, like the top lot, by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock).

“This horse is by Frankel, so that is very good; and we like the dirt breeding on his dam side,” said Saad bin Mishraf, referring to the first two dams by Harlan's Holiday and Deputy Minister. “Hopefully he will suit our racing in Saudi Arabia very well, and might be one for the King's Cup.”

Shadwell Juveniles Chance Of A Lifetime

The distribution of the Shadwell cull at intervals through this catalogue is maintaining the quality much as streetlamps are posted to merge one pool of light with the next. Buyers are particularly animated by the chance to buy its younger horses, as was the case when Rupert Pritchard-Gordon gave 220,000gns for Ikhtiraaq (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as lot 624–and not demurring, when it was suggested that his client might be identified by his baseball cap, promoting Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who raced for Robert Ng and has just started out at Haras de Bouquetot.

“As I said to Mr. Ng, in 40 years it has never happened, no-one has been able to buy a decent winning 2-year-old of Sheikh Hamdan's,” the agent said. “So we're having a go. Mr. Ng was very interested in the dispersal. I was at my last bid, the market's strong, but it's just so rare: how many times in the past could you buy a winning 2-year-old of Sheikh Hamdan's? There are lot of people for whom this is what it is all about: dreaming that one of these horses, whether this fellow or another one, will develop into a smart 3-year-old. You always have a chance when you are buying from these farms.”

Second on his first two starts for Owen Burrows, Ikhtiraaq had broken his maiden at Leicester a fortnight previously. And he represents Shadwell family silver, his second dam being a full sister to Bahhare (Woodman) and half-sister to the top-class Bahri (Riverman), their dam Wasnah (Nijinsky) having been acquired as a foundation mare from Nelson Bunker Hunt in 1986.

“He'll stay in Europe,” confirmed Pritchard-Gordon. “We just liked his profile, he's still learning and beat a couple of nice horses the other day. With a bit of luck there'll be more from him next year: he looks like he is going to grow a far bit more, he's still quite up behind, hopefully with another winter on his back he will grow into a nice 3-year-old. There's always a chance with one with a pedigree like that, and he's a really nice mover.”

Pritchard-Gordon returned late in the session to give precisely the same sum for another Shadwell youngster, Qitaal (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 754). He broke his maiden for Mark Johnston at the third attempt at Nottingham a couple of weeks ago, and certainly brings some of the Shadwell family silver in his genes: this is the family of Mehthaaf (Nureyev) and Elnadim (Danzig), and also of his sire's star Ribchester (GB).

De Foy Another Digging For Shadwell Gold

A fertile first year with a licence for Kevin Philippart de Foy, clocking 30 winners at 18%, has not gone unnoticed, and he was rewarded with the backing to secure both six-figure transactions of a quiet pre-lunch session, in each case also from the Shadwell cull.

First came the homebred juvenile Elsals (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), who had made a highly promising debut for Richard Hannon since the publication of the catalogue, beaten half a length for third in a York novice. That prompted Alex Elliott to go to 140,000gns for lot 444 on behalf of a new client, who will transfer the colt to the care of de Foy.

“My man is very strong on his stats, and Kevin's have come out pretty good,” reasoned the agent. “It's good to see support for young trainers who are doing well. And the only way is up for this horse, the sky really is the limit, so it's quite exciting. He'll be put away now for this year, hopefully he can come out, win his maiden and go on from there.

“These Shadwell horse are coming at a premium, we actually valued him at a little less but they're tough to buy. But we've been up against some very sharp fellows, so you know you are on the right horses. I think you are better off paying a little more for a horse you really want.”

Alrehb (War Front) was a different kettle of fish, as a castrated 4-year-old who only made his debut for Charlie Hills last month. But this half-brother to the stable's champion sprinter Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) looks competent to make up for lost time, having built on a debut second at Newcastle with success over a mile at Lingfield, and de Foy was duly forced to 120,000gns to secure him as lot 527.

“He won very well, and is from a family who improve with age,” said de Foy. “He's an exciting prospect, we'll give him some time and work out a programme for him.”

The post New Dawn In The Desert Illuminates Record Trade appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Stradivarius To Stay In Training

Champion stayer and seven-time Group 1 winner Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will race on next year at eight with a three-race campaign in mind.

Bjorn Nielsen's popular chestnut homebred won the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Those first two wins were part of a 10-race win streak that also encompassed two of his four victories in the G1 Goodwood Cup. Stradivarius has also won the 2018 G2 Long Distance Cup in British Champions Day, three editions of the G2 Lonsdale Cup and two runnings of the G2 Yorkshire Cup. He finished second in the Oct. 2 G1 Prix du Cadran for John and Thady Gosden, and was last seen finishing third in the latest edition of the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Oct. 16.

“He still loves his training and racing, and it's exciting for everyone to have him for another year,” said Thady Gosden.

The post Stradivarius To Stay In Training appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In Training Sale Off To A Strong Start

NEWMARKET, UK–Well, if the astounding yearling market is to make any kind of sense, then this one needs to prove every bit as strong. And the early signs, after the opening session of the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale, are that those who invested so heavily in new stock at the October Sale can pin their hopes on other dividends beyond the notorious limits to domestic prizemoney.

Year-on-year comparisons at an auction like this must carry a caveat, granted the random element in the calibre and distribution of the best stock. But in the context of the overall market, which has absorbed the shock of the pandemic with such buoyancy, it seems reasonable to accept at face value a return the levels achieved in the first session in 2019. For while this sector did suffer more than most in 2020–when the surprising resilience of the yearling market was perhaps complemented by a “fire sale” mentality with horses that had shown their hand–the recovery in values appears to form a fairly perfect 'V'.

So even if we set aside a giddy elevation in Monday's trade compared with last year–condensed by leaps of 72% in turnover (7,126,000gns for 263 sales from 4,138,500gns for 244); 60% in average (27,095gns from 16,961gns); and 78% in median (16,000 from 9,000gns)–then the session performed pretty well in step with the equivalent one in 2019, where turnover of 7,696,700gns for 265 sales yielded an average of 29,044gns and median of 13,500gns. The median, key to that critical middle market, performed exceptionally well and the clearance rate also attested to demand, up to 88% from 84%.

Who can say how long racetrack competition in this country can sustain international credibility when prizemoney so clearly does not? It's a precarious and paradoxical foundation for viability, but once again conspicuous overseas investment–notably from the Middle East–testified to enduring faith, for now, that the priceless heritage of British racing guarantees the quality that purse money cannot.

Horoscope Retains Bright Future

Another conundrum, and one unique to this market, is that the best stables sometimes pay a price for their own excellence, purchasers being sceptical of their own ability to eke out further improvement. But the way Horoscope (Ire) (No Nay Never) has continued to thrive on a busy campaign for the peerless Aidan O'Brien prompted hectic demand as soon as he entered the ring as lot 302. Indeed, someone tried to hit the ball out of the park with an opening bid of 100,000gns, but that bold flourish was soon placed in perspective and it ultimately took a single intervention from BBA Ireland, at 325,000gns, to land the colt for undisclosed Middle Eastern clients.

Horoscope admittedly disappointed in the G2 Challenge S. on his latest start, but had been progressing markedly before that, with a listed success at Killarney setting up a storming finish for a close third (and an official rating of 110) in Group 2 company at Leopardstown. He has a pedigree to support his improvement, too, with none other than Sonic Lady (Nureyev) as third dam and a plethora of black-type performers and producers under her unraced daughter Lady Icarus (GB) (Rainbow Quest).

“He's a good-looking horse with the pedigree to be a stallion down the road,” said Michael Donohoe after signing the docket. “With that rating he can run in all those top races in the Emirates, he goes on quick ground, and he's versatile.”

Investment from the Gulf drove much of the day's trade and the very next lot in the draft, Lough Derg (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 307), was another case in point. Having been just run out of a group prize at Dundalk last month, he brought 120,000gns from Peter Doyle and Najd Stud.

On the face of it, two other sons of Galileo (Ire) offered by Coolmore earlier in proceedings had achieved pretty much what they were bred to do, having respectively finished third in the Derby and St Leger.

Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (lot 237) made the podium at 66-1 behind stablemate Serpentine (Ire) at Epsom last year, in one of the more mystifying races in Derby history. This summer he confirmed sufficient ability to romp away with the G2 Curragh Cup, but he has since been beaten an aggregate 71 lengths in three starts and CUB Bloodstock, bidding online, was able to land him for 78,000gns.

The Mediterranean (Ire) (lot 238), in contrast, was third in the oldest Classic only last month, and runner-up in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. before that. He may not have absorbed his Doncaster effort when stepped up to two miles in a couple of subsequent outings, and it will be interesting to monitor his future endeavours for Domeland, whose 100,000gns bid was also made remotely.

Magic Still Casting A Spell

Donohoe had earlier ensured that I Am Magic (Ire) (Magician {Ire}) remains well named, sealing a second lucrative pinhook cycle.

Found as a yearling by Aguiar Bloodstock for just 14,000gns at the Ascot Yearling Sale, he breezed at the Craven Sale here with sufficient dash to advance his value to 95,000gns. That has in turn proved to be a good investment for Michael O'Callaghan, whose stable has developed an astute niche as a trading nursery. A maiden winner at the Galway Festival, he had appeared to struggle with a rise in grade on his next two starts and was duly sent off at 66-1 for the G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown just nine days before the sale. But he really put himself in the shop window there, worn down only in the closing stages to be beaten a length in third, in the process hoisting his rating to 101.

That persuaded Donohoe to go to 200,000gns for lot 257, again on behalf of an unnamed client in the Middle East. “The immediate plan would be the Saudi Derby,” the agent explained. “He should get into the race with the rating he has, and should get the trip well. I've been following his career all the way through, I saw him breeze and was at Leopardstown last week when he ran so well. He has plenty of size and scope, and looks the type that will keep getting better as a 3-year-old.”

Blueberry's Fruitful Investment

Touch of the day was completed when Atalis Bay (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) entered the ring as lot 358. Picked up as a short yearling by Scuderia Blueberry SRL for just 800gns at the February Sale here in 2019, he has since won five races in 12 starts for Marco Botti, including a listed sprint at Sandown–and here advanced his value to 130,000gns from Tom Morley and Middleham Park to join Robert Cowell.

“We're setting up a little syndicate between Middleham and Tom,” said Cowell. “They had a nice 2-year-old this year [Dynamic Force (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})], so we're trying to stay lucky. He looks like something we can do well with.”

“He's a very fast horse, he was second to Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) at York and that's pretty decent form,” reasoned Tim Palin of Middleham Park. “He's still a colt, so the dream is very much alive that he could be a superstar. The way he won at Sandown was brilliant, and I can see him winning heritage handicaps or maybe even better.”

In the meantime, all credit to his previous owners for a terrific investment–and to Botti for his skilled contribution to a real rags-to-riches tale.

Opportunity In Shadwell Draft

The Shadwell cull that dominates this catalogue has created an unusual opportunity in the release of many horses that remain “work in progress.” A group of juveniles in this session, for instance, included Majalh (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 191). Earlier this month, fitted in a tongue-tie for his third start, he had won a Brighton maiden by four lengths for William Haggas. With a granddam so closely related to Fame And Glory (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), further progress seems likely and that drove Jassim Mohamed Al Ghazali, bidding remotely online, to 155,000gns.

The Qatari trainer, usually such a reliable presence at this sale, was regretfully unable to travel this time owing to ongoing Covid restrictions. But Will Douglass, who assists his shopping here, said: “This horse was very well presented and produced by Shadwell, and ticks all the boxes: by Siyouni out of a Sea The Stars (Ire) mare, he's just a 2-year-old and it looks as though there's more to come from him.”

While Majalh will be continuing his career in the desert, the previous lot into the ring was a case of cutting to the chase for Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud, who will retire Falaj (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 190) unraced. In giving 100,000gns for this half-sister to group-placed sprinter Fashion Queen (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}), after all, McCartan was only matching what she had cost Shadwell in the same ring as a foal. Besides throwing two years' keep into the package, Falaj has meanwhile been distinguished by her half-sister's son Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), winner of the G2 Richmond S. and placed in the G1 Prix Morny this summer for Alan King.

Ballyphilip famously gave us Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and more of the same seems possible from a family replete with stakes sprinters including G2 Flying Childers and G3 Molecomb winner Wunders Dream (Ire) (Averti {Ire}), a half-sister to Falaj's dam. The dam of Battaash, remember, was bought at this auction nine years ago for just 14,000gns.

“This sale has been lucky for us,” McCartan said. “And we loved her pedigree: Asymmetric is a good horse and his half-brother was stabled next to us this year, a Gleneagles (Ire) colt from Redpender, and he's a beautiful-looking horse. We have a breeding right in Showcasing (GB) so she may go to him.”

There was the customary interest in older Shadwell stock, too. Montather (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), for instance, brought 140,000gns as lot 280 from Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Ciaron Maher Racing. The 4-year-old has needed patience, mustering just three starts across his first two seasons, but has settled on a mark of 94 and the agent said he considers him tailormade for Australia.

“Roger has handled the horse beautifully,” Boman said. “We've had a bit of luck at this sale over the years, and I think this is a very talented horse who will appreciate the faster pace in Australia, because he can get a little bit keen, and he loves firm ground too.”

Hoping For Another Mishriff

Seeing is believing, and while few would have viewed Make Believe (GB) as an obvious dirt influence before his son Mishriff (Ire) took to the surface with such lucrative effect in the Saudi Cup, then compatriots of his owner Prince A.A. Faisal were clearly inspired in giving 135,000gns for the homebred 3-year-old Third Kingdom (GB) (lot 201).

Assumptions about the versatility of bloodlines do tend to be self-fulfilling, being so rarely tested. Regardless, this colt responded to blinkers in spectacular fashion for John and Thady Gosden at York last month, winning a handicap by eight and a half lengths. That performance belatedly renewed the promise he had shown with a similarly emphatic maiden success last year, and secured a new rating of 103.

In fairness, unlike Mishriff, Third Kingdom's maternal family contains a number of blatant clues that dirt might prove congenial, notably a second dam whose half-brother Tejano Run (Tejano) ran second in the GI Kentucky Derby. (Dam Spring In The Air {Spring At Last} did win the GI Alcibiades S. but that was during Keeneland's synthetic experiment.)

So it'll be interesting to see how he fares for Najd Stud, who were represented here by Peter Doyle and Saad Bin Mashraf, who confirmed: “We like the breeding for the dirt, especially on the dam's side, we think he will improve on that surface.”

Descent Taking Off

Increasing competition from Australian and Saudi Arabian investors has made this sale much tougher going for jumps trainers than was the case a few years ago, but Anthony Bromley secured a nice staying prospect for Warren Greatrex in Line Of Descent (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who made 135,000gns as lot 269.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum's homebred gelding, unraced at two, has been brought along to a rating in the mid-80s in the expert care of Simon and Ed Crisford, while remaining unexposed and with obvious scope for his new career.

“He's been bought for my new landlords, Jim and Claire Bryce,” said Greatrex. “We've bought a few nice horses for them recently and they wanted a juvenile, and this horse fitted the bill. We know the Nathaniels jump, and they improve with age. Time will tell but he looks the part so fingers crossed.”

Greatrex has sent out three winners from his new base in Lambourn, Rhonehurst, and hopes that this horse can emulate one of his first flagbearers, Barwell Bridge (GB) (Red Ransom), bought at this auction for 80,000gns before running fifth in the Triumph Hurdle. “But it's a hard sale,” he admitted. “You need a good budget to buy a good one here.”

If At First You Don't Succeed…

Perseverance paid off for breeders Hunscote Stud with Cairn Gorm (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who failed to reach his reserve here as a foal, at just 19,000gns, and again at Doncaster as a yearling, at £35,000. Retained to race in partnership, he won his first three for Mick Channon as a juvenile, including a group race in France, before stabilising on a mark in the mid-90s with a solid handicap campaign this time round. That qualified him to meet the brief of James Couldwell of Value Racing Club, operating on behalf of a shareholder who could now afford to raise his sights to 105,000gns for lot 252.

“Richard Sanderson has been a member with the racing club for some time, but recently sold his business and wanted a horse of his own who could run at the top weekend meetings,” Couldwell said. “The budget was 100,000gns, but we weren't to lose out for an extra bid. That's how it worked out, but we couldn't have gone again. We're usually spending around 30,000gns, so it was a bit nerve-wracking.

“He'll be going to Mick Appleby, who has done so well for us, and hopefully he can target the Wokingham. He did brilliantly as a very forward 2-year-old, but then the others maybe caught up with him a bit at three: he's been running under big weights and not beaten far, so we're hoping that Mick has done the work for us and got him handicapped.”

Still being an entire, moreover, Cairn Gorm gives his new connections the option of rendering him, in the traditional formula, “two stone lighter.”

Fresh Start For Dirtyoldtown

After a breakout season, with 44 winners at a 21% strike-rate, Grant Tuer will face the challenge of consolidation with a promising new recruit in Dirtyoldtown (Ire) (No Nay Never), a runaway maiden winner at Chepstow for George Boughey before failing to cope with a rise in class in the G3 Autumn S. Offered as lot 324, he was knocked down to Alex Elliott at 100,000gns.

“I think he was probably just a bit free the other day, but I know George well and he's very sorry to see the horse go,” the agent remarked. “We've been waiting on him all day, didn't bid for two or three others because this was the one we wanted, but the way the market has heated up we were a bit worried whether we'd get him. So Grant is over the moon. He's had a wonderful season and this one is for a new client of the stable.”

It was Elliott, incidentally, who found Raadobarg (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at Doncaster as a yearling for £200,000, and he was handsomely vindicated when that colt ran up a hat-trick in the spring for Roger Varian in the silks of Amo Racing, culminating in a Class 2 Handicap at Haydock. It feels like a depressing commentary on the curious economics of our business that the colt's earnings nonetheless remain short of £40,000; and nor, even as one of the top lots of the day, could he quite retrieve his original value. Offered as lot 344 through Aguiar Bloodstock, he made 150,000gns from Hamish Macauley Bloodstock and will now transfer to the yard of Johnny Murtagh.

“I'm delighted to get such a high-class horse,” Murtagh said. “His form looks solid and hopefully he can improve from three to four.”

Of course, it's hard to put a price on the sheer pleasure of owning a decent racehorse and there is surely plenty more of that to come for those partners in Ace Rothstein (More Than Ready) who bought out those who sent him into the ring as wildcard lot 364C. He was late resurfacing this season but has looked highly progressive in winning two of three starts since, and returns to Fitzroy House after Nick Bell signed a 125,000gns docket on behalf of his father Michael. He'll be looking to Dubai or Bahrain this winter.

Annandale Following Glen Trail

One stayer who eluded both the export and jumping markets was Annandale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who topped the quieter morning trade in fetching 82,000gns as lot 88. Mind you, he will be crossing what remains (for now) an internal frontier, as befits one named after a region of the glorious Scottish Borders.

Winner of four races in the care of Mark Johnston for Ayrshire owner-breeder William Johnstone, Annandale will now join Jim Goldie outside Glasgow–at stables already housing Johnstone's evergreen Euchen Glen (GB) (Authorized), better than ever this year at the age of eight. Goldie hopes that he, too, can progress out of handicap grade as he matures.

“He's obviously from a breeder I know well,” Goldie said. “I'm hoping he will turn into a Cup horse. He's a nice horse, a typical Mark Johnston horse, and I think he'll progress. He might have a break, but he has won at Newcastle and with the All-Weather Finals moving there we might have a think about that.”

Johnstone is a believer in close inbreeding. Euchen Glen's dam Jabbara (Ire), picked up for just €25,000, was out of a Nureyev mare–just like her sire Kingmambo. And Johnstone mated her with a grandson of Nureyev's three-parts brother Sadler's Wells. Annandale, for his part, is out of a mare by Sadler's Wells–who is also his great-grandsire.

The post Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In Training Sale Off To A Strong Start appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

You’resothrilling’s Story Continues At The Curragh

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features the latest progeny out of one of Coolmore's bluest-blooded mares.

12.40 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 7fT
TOY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the eighth foal out of the remarkable G2 Cherry Hinton S. winner You'resothrilling (Storm Cat), which makes her a full-sister to the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas hero Gleneagles (Ire), the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Marvellous (Ire), the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the G1 Moyglare Stud S. scorer Happily (Ire) and this year's G1 Prix de Diane winner Joan of Arc (Ire), as well as the smart Taj Mahal (Ire), Coolmore (Ire) and Vatican City (Ire). Among the opponents of the Ballydoyle blueblood are the CBR Partnership's Ha Ha Ha (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a £400,000 Goffs Orby graduate and Jessie Harrington-trained half-sister to the G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Jack Naylor (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}).

The post You’resothrilling’s Story Continues At The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights