By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin
NEWMARKET, UK–Sales can often start with more of a whimper than a bang, but with only the second horse in the ring at Tattersalls the October Yearling Sale roared into life as the first Dubawi (Ire) yearling to be offered ensured that seven figures were lit across the bid board. That was repeated twice during the day, both times by offspring of Darley's elite sire, with top honours eventually falling to Hazelwood Bloodstock's colt out of Ring The Bell (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was bought by Godolphin at 1.5 million gns.
Though few stallions can match the achievements of Dubawi, at his level he is of course being graced with some of the best mares in Europe, and Ring The Bell, owned by John Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds, is from a family with strength in depth. Though tried only once on the racecourse herself, she is a full-sister to no fewer than three Group 1 winners in the dual Classic heroine Hermosa (Ire), Hydrangea (Ire) and The United States (Ire), while both her dam Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and granddam Zelding (Ire) (Warning {GB}) won group races in France. Furthermore, the cross of Dubawi on Galileo has had noted success via the likes of Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath (Ire) and 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (Ire), both of whom are now standing on the Darley roster.
With Sheikh Mohammed present at Park Paddocks, along with an international who's who of the bloodstock industry, his Godolphin operation flexed its muscles. During the opening session of Book 1, Anthony Stroud signed for eight yearlings, five of which were by Dubawi, for a total of 6,025,000gns. This equated to roughly 20% of the day's turnover and included the day's three most expensive lots.
A sale that had been widely touted to include a particularly fine selection of yearlings certainly got off to a positive start. The clearance rate rose from 78% to 86%, with 135 horses changing hands for 31,993,000gns, which was up by 27% but was accrued from 19 more yearlings sold than in the equivalent session last year. The median was up fractionally to 160,000gns (+5%), while the average rose by 10% to 230,165gns.
well that didn't take long!
. #A filly by Dubawi @DarleyEurope out of Jazzi Top attracts the attention of Godolphin. She was consigned by @meonvalleystud pic.twitter.com/kvhuiNsVrN
— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2022
Sheikh Mohammed Returns to Top Meon Valley Family
A family which has already produced five seven-figure lots at Tattersalls in the past was responsible for the first to breach that barrier at this year's Book 1 when the second yearling into the ring, Meon Valley Stud's daughter of Dubawi (Ire) and G2 Prix de la Nonette winner Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), brought the hammer down at 1.3 million gns.
The first of eight purchases by Anthony Stroud on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed on the day, the descendant of Meon Valley's influential foundation mare Reprocolor (GB) (Jimmy Reppin {GB}) was offered as lot 3.
“It's been a very good family,” said breeder Mark Weinfeld. “We've been very lucky with it. She had been very popular, but you never quite know until you get up there how many people will be there. We're absolutely delighted.”
The family, which includes the filly's G1 Prix de l'Opera-winning granddam Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic) and another of her daughters, the dual Group 1 winner Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), has been nurtured by the Weinfeld family over more than four decades. It is one with which Sheikh Mohammed has already enjoyed significant success, having raced the Sadler's Wells Group 1-winning brothers Opera House (GB) and Kayf Tara (GB), who are grandsons of Reprocolor.
Asked how it felt when the hammer fell, Weinfeld answered, “Heart-stopping. Particularly when it stuck around the six hundred mark, and you think, 'oh, perhaps this is as far as it's going to go.' Then it goes on and on.
“We didn't actually want to sell her but we had so many fillies this year. We kept a sister to [Oaks winner] Anapurna (GB), kept Anapurna's first yearling filly, and we've got an Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly out of Izzi Top so something had to go.
“We just thought that we'd sell one of the nice fillies to help pay for the ones we have in training.”
well that didn't take long!
. #A filly by Dubawi @DarleyEurope out of Jazzi Top attracts the attention of Godolphin. She was consigned by @meonvalleystud pic.twitter.com/kvhuiNsVrN
— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2022
Easily Persuaded for Dubawi Colt
Alex Elliott made a determined effort for Cheveley Park Stud's colt by Dubawi out of the Group 1 winner Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) but eventually had to settle for second best when Anthony Stroud made the final bid for lot 127 at a million gns on behalf of Godolphin.
Cheveley Park Stud had bought the colt's dam as a yearling from her breeder John Tuthill for €180,000 and she has proved to be an inspired purchase. Not only did she win the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and G3 Atalanta S. but since she was acquired, her page has been boosted by the exploits of her younger siblings, which include Godolphin's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the listed winner Tisbutadream (Ire) (Dream Ahead).
“It's nice to come to a top-class sale and have a horse of that sort of quality,” said Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson. “He was a gem from the moment he was born and we were obviously delighted that he has gone down so well.
“It's a family that keeps evolving and we're very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for buying him. He knows the family well, with Creative Force having won the Champion Sprint S..”
Richardson advised that Persuasive, who is a daughter of the stakes-winning Choisir (Aus) mare Choose Me (Ire), has a Dubawi filly foal and is now in foal to Kingman (GB). Her first foal, the 3-year-old Persist (GB) (Frankel {GB}), has won twice for William Haggas.
“We're hoping that John Gosden can work some magic with her 2-year-old by Frankel,” he added.
, , #
This colt is by Dubawi @DarleyEurope and is out of G1 winner Persuasive. He was consigned by @CPStudOfficial and bought by Godolphin. pic.twitter.com/GAtpxSdfJr
— TDN (@theTDN) October 4, 2022
Shadwell Return To The British Market
Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) have all contributed to a memorable season for Shadwell on the track and on Tuesday the hugely successful operation returned to the sale scene in Britain for the first time in nearly two years.
Shadwell confirmed its intention to remain a global player at Keeneland last month with the purchasing of four blue-blooded fillies and Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum, daughter of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, made a first trip to Tattersalls to add another well-bred filly to the team, lot 24.
Consigned by Watership Down Stud, the Siyouni (Fr) filly out of the four-time Group 1 winner Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was knocked down to Angus Gold for 880,000 gns, with the Shadwell racing manager revealing that Sheikha Hissa thoroughly enjoyed her first trip to the sale.
He said, “People have been very kind around the sale grounds and gave her a big welcome. It's lovely to have been able to walk around with her.”
Gold added, “She is very excited to have bought a filly with a pedigree like that. The first three dams are all group winners and the family has been well-nurtured by everyone at Watership Down Stud over the years.
“Obviously, we're hoping to buy some pedigrees for the future and she had one of the strongest pedigrees in the catalogue.”
Rau Secures 'Queen of the Sale'
A No Nay Never [lot 77] filly consigned by Camas Park Stud was described by Tina Rau as “the queen of the sale” after the popular Chantilly-based bloodstock agent signed the docket at 780,000gns on behalf of Gestut Schlenderhan.
This season has represented something of a crowning glory for No Nay Never, responsible for two of the leading juveniles in Ballydoyle residents Little Big Bear (Ire) and Blackbeard (Ire), and Rau, in company with Schlenderhan manager Merle Schmidt, admitted her surprise at being able to secure what she deemed was one of the best offerings in Book 1.
“She's going to go back to Germany,” Rau said. “Philip von Ullmann was here and we all loved her. She was the queen of the day and we're very happy to have her.”
One of nine No Nay Nevers to walk through the ring on Tuesday, Rau's purchase is out of a sister to Remote (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and from the family of Kingman (GB) and the extended family of Oasis Dream (GB).
That top price secured on the day for No Nay Never played a significant role in the red-hot sire securing an average of 248,571 gns for seven lots sold in the opening session.
Rau said, “You can't really argue with the pedigree, for one, and she's just a queen. She walks for fun and is beautifully well-balanced. She's got so much quality.”
Klassique start for Carisbrooke
Six years ago, Klassique (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) graduated from Book 1 with a 300,000gns price tag, bought by Cathy Grassick for Yvonne Jacques as she set about establishing a broodmare band at her Carisbrooke Stud.
With the G3 Pinnacle S. under her belt along with several other group placings, the 7-year-old mare is already earning her keep at the Berkshire farm following the sale of her first foal, a colt by Siyouni (Fr), for 525,000gns on Tuesday. Offered as lot 14, the January-born grandson of Group 1 winner Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) is bred on a cross that has already produced the Classic winners Sottsass (Fr) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr), and he will race in the blue of Godolphin.
“Klassique is the most beautiful mare, such a fabulous mother and stunning-looking. She has a gorgeous Lope De Vega (Ire) colt foal and is in foal to Kingman (GB),” said Jacques, who has around 20 broodmares at Carisbrooke. “My staff have turned them out so well, we're all really proud.”
She added, “We're now in our sixth year at the farm and we've put a lot into it. Klassique was one of the first to come back there and she is producing the most amazing stock. It's very exciting.”
Strong Start for New England
New England Stud offered a pair of Galileo (Ire) fillies early in the day (lots 1 and 29), with the first through the ring, a full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line Of Duty (Ire), sold to Ted Voute on behalf of Prince Faisal's Nawarra Stud for 500,000gns.
The second was a daughter of G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Laugh Out Loud (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), who has already produced a useful performer in America in the GII San Marcos S. winner Platinum Warrior (Ire), who is a full-brother to the filly. Knocked down at 675,000gns, she was bought by BBA Ireland.
New England also later sold a Starspangledbanner (Aus) colt (lot 76) for breeder Emma Banks for 350,000gns to Richard Knight.
The second foal of listed winner Mrs Gallagher (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is from a family which has received plenty of updates in recent seasons courtesy of sprinting star Harry Angel (Ire) and G1 Middle Park S. winner Supremacy (Ire) who share their third dam Great Joy (Ire) with the February-foaled yearling.
Knight has been on a prolific spending spree this yearling sale season for an undisclosed client, and he signed for another four yearlings for a total of 1,750,000gns on Tuesday. The list included lot 132, a Sea The Stars (Ire) granddaughter of Puce (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who was bought for 600,000gns from Newsells Park Stud. The family includes the high-flying fillies Chicquita (Ire), Alexandrova (Ire) and Magic Wand (Ire).
Pinhookers' Paradise
Michael Fitzpatrick's Kilminfoyle House Stud enjoyed one of best pinhooks results of the session with the sale of lot 106 for 525,000gns to Sebastian Desmontils of Chauvigny Global Equine.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder (Ire) was bred by Simon Sweeting's Overbury Stallions and fetched 130,000gns at the December Foal Sale. Her dam, the unraced Pacifica Highway (Pulpit), has produced two winners to date including the Grade III-placed Ayacara (GB) (Violence), and is a half-sister to the Grade II winners Doswell (Giant's Causeway) and Secretary At War (War Front).
Yeomanstown Stud also enjoyed a decent return on a foal purchase when selling a Starspangledbanner (Aus) three-parts-brother (lot 52) to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}). Bought at Arqana for €170,000, the colt, whose five winning siblings include the stakes-placed Lady Sidney (Fr) (Mr Sidney), brought a bid of 550,000gns from Badgers Bloodstock.
Poetic Flare's Brother to John Dance
Magna Grecia featured prominently among the freshman sires during the opening session, principally through lot 53, the half-brother to Classic winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who was sold for 300,000gns to John Dance's Manor House Farm.
Bred and consigned by Clare Castle Stud, he is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) mare Maria Lee (Ire) who was bought from her breeder Jim Bolger in the year that Poetic Flare was born. The 15-year-old mare has also produced Listed Zetland S. winner Glamorous Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).
Crystal Ocean (GB) may be standing under the National Hunt banner at the Beeches Stud but his handful of foals that were entered in Flat sales last year were generally met with favour, including the colt out of the Shamardal mare Nateeja (Ire). Bought last December by Guy O'Callaghan of Grangemore Stud for 30,000gns, he returned to the ring as lot 86 on Tuesday to be resold to Charlie Gordon-Watson and Crispin Estates for 115,000gns. His dual-winning dam is a half-sister to G3 Cumberland Lodge S. winner Hawaafez (GB) (Nayef), whose own profile has received a boost this year thanks to her daughter Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial.
Crystal Ocean, the joint-top-rated racehorse in the world in 2019, is represented by one more yearling in Book 1, a chestnut colt catalogued as lot 512 on Thursday from Aughamore Stud.
Northern Lights
Consecutive lots went the way of Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, who picked up lot 50, a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly, for 200,000gns followed by a daughter of Ballyhane Stud's first-crop sire Soldier's Call (GB) for 100,000gns.
Breeder Kildaragh Stud consigned Night Of Thunder's daughter of Malaspina whose half-siblings Daban (Ire) (Acclamation GB}) and Thikriyaat (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) are both Group 3 winners. The Gerry Oldham-bred Malaspina is herself out of the listed winner Mahalia (Ire) (Danehill) and thus a half-sister to French group winners Johnny Barnes (Ire) and Albisola (Ire).
The Soldier's Call filly meanwhile represented a terrific pinhooking result for Sherbourne Lodge Stud, who bought the daughter of Maralika (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) from breeders Tim and Miranda Johnson and Mickley Stud for 12,000gns at the December Foal Sale.
Cooney Plays It Cool After Final Twist From Plying
Had Martin Cooney not carved out a niche in the breeding game, chances are he'd have made a pretty good poker player as, moments after selling the highest-priced progeny of Gleneagles (Ire) at public auction for 650,000 gns to MV Magnier, the man behind Jossestown Farm could easily have been mistaken for a casual bystander at the sale.
But this was not Cooney's first rodeo. The young breeder has been taken on a storied journey with Plying, the mare he purchased for €21,000 in 2018 and sold last November to BBA Ireland and Yulong Investments for an eye-watering €825,000.
That sky-rocket in share price can be attributed to the emergence of Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), now a four-time Group 1 winner, in the pedigree.
Tuesday marked the end of that dream run with the family of Plying, with the Gleneagles half-sister to Alcohol Free (lot 136) joining Cooney's fellow Tipperary men at Coolmore, leaving the young breeder facing the daunting task of replacing the mare.
He said casually of lot 136, “Good day's work. It's great–she's a lovely filly, acts like a racehorse so hopefully she is one. She's gone to a good home so hopefully she turns out to be half as good as Alcohol Free. Now I have to try and find another one.”
Cooney added, “All she [Plying] has ever done is do us proud. Those horses are like family to us. I know we sell them but you get very attached to them and it's not like I have 20 waiting to be sold.
“It's a huge result. I come from a small farm in Fethard so it gives you a good leg-up and start to business.”
Half-Sister to Cachet Hits the Heights
Poyle Sophie {GB}) (Teofilo {Ire}) is the gift that keeps on giving. Snapped up by John Bourke of Hyde Park Stud at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018 for just 3,000gns, she belied that modest price tag by producing a this year's 1000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}).
Bourke's bargain buy delivered once again when a Cotai Glory (GB) half-sister (lot 141) to the Classic winner was sold for 350,000 gns to Blandford Bloodstock, much to the delight of the enthusiastic breeder and renowned breeze-up handler.
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