NEWMARKET, UK–A pair of colts by the young Darley and Shadwell stallions Masar (Ire) and Mohaather (GB) shared the top spot on the final day of foal trade at Park Paddocks which brought the curtain down, not just on a record week for weanlings but also a record year for Tattersalls–and that's before the Mares Sale even begins.
The average and median for the fourth session were both up on last year, with a total of 2,267,750gns added to the overall tally from the sale of 150 foals. For the sale as a whole, the aggregate of 35,255,050gns represented an increase of 13% on last year's trade, with the average up by 11% at 47,386gns and the median by 4% to 26,000gns. From a larger catalogue of 1,173 foals, of which 983 were offered and 744 sold, the only figure to drop was the clearance rate, which was down to 76% from 81%.
Commenting on a week led by a million-guinea Kingman (GB) foal from Whitsbury Manor Stud, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Strong yearling sales will always drive demand for foals and the extraordinary strength of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales has been followed by a Tattersalls December Foal Sale which has achieved significant increases in average and median as well as a record turnover in excess of 35 million guineas. The cream of the British and Irish foal crop has been assembled here at Park Paddocks and buyers at every level of the market and from throughout the world have all contributed to yet another record-breaking sale in a year of extraordinary sales at Tattersalls.”
Sweeting's Surprise
On the day that Overbury Stud announced that it would be standing G2 Flying Childers S. winner Caturra (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) next year, the farm's draft took co-top billing when selling a Masar (Ire) half-brother to this season's Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for 110,000gns to Yeomanstown Stud.
The colt was born three months after his dam, the G3 Cumberland Lodge S. winner Hawaafez (GB) (Nayef), was sold by her breeder Shadwell for 14,000gns to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, who, unbeknown to Overbury's Simon Sweeting, bought the 14-year-old mare on his behalf. Three days after she safely foaled her Masar colt, his 3-year-old sister Rogue Millennium stormed to her listed victory. Enhancing the pedigree further was the victory earlier this month of 2-year-old Naomi Lapaglia (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}), who won on debut at Kempton for Richard Spencer.
“I wasn't around and [Richard] did it himself,” said Sweeting. “It looked like a chancey buy to start with but the mare was an exceptional racehorse and Rogue Millennium has come along, and everything else has landed into place. The 2-year-old is now one for one and her Kingman yearling has gone to trainer George Boughey.”
He added, “It is definitely a progressive family. That sale did take me by surprise, but it is a lovely surprise to have. He was a late foal, but he has been very straightforward and everything has worked out well.”
Shadwell Restock With Classy Foals
While the Masar colt was one that escaped the Shadwell clutches, some new recruits have been added to the future racing string for Sheikha Hissa, with Angus Gold signing for seven foals this week, including the day's other 110,000gns colt, by first-season sire Mohaather.
“Obviously, we are a bit biased,” Gold confessed. “Mohaather was a very special horse for us. We thought he was slightly underrated if anything. For me, what he did at Goodwood that day in the Sussex S. was out of the ordinary. I haven't seen a horse quicken like that since Kingman in the same race.”
He continued, “So we are big fans and I have liked the stock I have seen. What I particularly liked is that, leading into this week, lots of people have told me that they have a really nice Mohaather foal, which is great to hear. We bought one two days ago, and the vendor told me they had an even better one at home. There are some really good vibes about him.”
Gold indicated that Shadwell will have around 75 to 80 horses in training in 2023 and, having sold a number of mares last year, the stud has a foal crop of only around 35.
“I spoke with Sheikha Hissa and she was keen to get some foals to supplement the racing team, if we could buy at relatively sensible money,” he added.
Tom Blain, more usually seen at the head of his expanding Barton Stud consignment, was one of the breeders of the Mohaather colt under the name of Ickworth Stud. The colt is the first foal of the Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Time Of Change (Ire), a sister to the G2 Gimcrack S. runner-up Taajub (Ire).
“Time For Change is owned in partnership, it is a great thrill and I am delighted for all involved,” Blain said. “It was a bit weird to watch one of our own sell. We bought the mare for 9,000gns and I know the family as we used to board her dam Purple Tiger. There is a lot happening under the second dam.
He added of the colt, “I think he should make up into a serious racehorse and I just want to thank Angus for his support. It is great that Shadwell and Sheikha Hissa are backing their own stallion; we used him a number of times in the first year so we are really happy.”
Mohaather's name featured three times in the top 10 list on Saturday, with Tally-Ho Stud buying another from the Barton Stud draft, a filly out of Muaamara (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), for 68,000gns, while Cathy Grassick went to 50,000gns for a filly from Whatcote Farm Stud who is a three-parts-sister to recent juvenile winner American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}).
Freshman Action
As our accompanying vox pop shows, one of the talking points for the bloodstock industry at this time of the year is always which young stallions are taking the eye–and which are not.
Of course, what really matters is what their offspring end up doing on the track, and there will be plenty of disappointments and surprises to come next summer and beyond, but the foal sales always provide a first litmus test of a stallion's progeny.
Ghaiyyath (Ire), as a top-class performer himself, and with two Classic winners as parents, should have what it takes for a decent stud career, and plenty of buyers have backed him at Goffs and Tattersalls. This week his 10 weanlings sold returned an average of 130,700gns, and the only other first-season sire to set a six-figure average was Ghaiyyath's fellow Darley sire Pinatubo (Ire). He only had a handful of foals for sale this week but the quintet changed hands for an average of 126,400gns.
Earthlight (Ire), like Pinatubo a son of Shamardal, also proved popular with 12 sold at and average of 56,500gns, while Mohaather, referenced above, had 21 weanlings sold this week at an average of 41,881gns.
The Key Players
With a million-guinea filly in its draft, it was no surprise to see Whitsbury Manor Stud at the top of the consignors' table with 19 foals sold for 2,201,500gns. Norelands Stud posted a decent average for the sale of 123,667gns for nine sold, with Langton Stud's boutique draft had three sold for an average of 248,333gns.
Juddmonte's outlay of 2,425,000gns on Friday put them at the top of the buyers' list but noted pinhookers Tally-Ho Stud, JC Bloodstock and Yeomanstown Stud were all as busy as ever, with 15, 14, and 13 foals bought, respectively.
Concluding his appraisal of the week's trade, Edmond Mahony continued, “To see so many British and Irish breeders rewarded so handsomely this week reflects the quality of the stock which they have brought to the market and we should thank the consignors for their confidence in the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. In addition to Whitsbury Manor Stud's outstanding one million guineas sale-topping Kingman filly, the sale has produced the four highest-priced foals in Europe and a record-equalling 27 foals sold for 200,000 guineas or more.”
He added, “While the December Foal Sale is always dominated by the tireless and loyal British and Irish pinhookers, their European counterparts have also made their presence felt, as have a significant number of the world's leading owners who recognise the December Foal Sale as a consistent source of Classic and Group 1 performers. It is no coincidence that the connections of the Group 1-winning 2-year-olds Blackbeard (Ire) and Chaldean (GB), both bought at the 2020 December Foal Sale, have again targeted this sale, and international buyers from America, China, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Spain, Switzerland and from throughout the Gulf region have also made significant contributions, particularly at the top of the market.
“The international influence will without doubt be even stronger as we move on to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale which starts on Monday and features the inaugural Sceptre Sessions for elite fillies and broodmares. We have an exceptional catalogue which includes some of the best race fillies and mares to be offered at public auction for many a year and we look forward to ending the Tattersalls year on a high note.”
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