Coolmore Snaps Up Frankel Colt for 2 Million Gns

at 7:58 am | Back to: Europe, Shared News Europe

Updated: October 4, 2023 at 3:46 pm

Hascombe & Valiant Stud's Frankel colt led the way | Tattersalls

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin

NEWMARKET, UK–From a muted opening, Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale picked up the pace on Wednesday with a further four seven-figure lots gracing the ring. These sparked some solid bidding wars between established superpowers such as Coolmore, Godolphin and Juddmonte, with a decent representation of newer players from Bahrain and other Gulf nations, and strong participation from American-based Mike Ryan and Chad Brown.

The ripples of Frankel (GB) combined with Hascombe & Valiant Stud were felt on the turf of Longchamp on Sunday when Ace Impact (Ire), a son of the Oppenheimers' Frankel-sired star Cracksman (GB) waltzed off with the Arc. This year, with Anthony Oppenheimer selling a large draft of colts at Tattersalls, his stud was represented by a star turn of a different kind with the Frankel colt out of Bizzaria (GB) (Lemon Drop Kid) heading Book 1 when sold for 2 million gns to Coolmore.

The dam of lot 266 hails from a different Hascombe & Valiant family to Cracksman but it is one which has nevertheless provided the stud with much success. Her full-brothers Cannock Chase and Pisco Sour are Grade I and Group 2 winners respectively, and they are both former winners of the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot. Their half-sister Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was better still, with her hat-trick of Group 1 victories including the Irish Oaks.

With five of his seven-strong Book 1 draft having been sold already for a total of 2.9 million gns, Oppenheimer was naturally pleased with the week's business.

“So far we have done quite well,” he said. “I know [the Frankel colt] is a very nice horse. He's refuelled the stud's finances and it can't do any harm.”

Oppenheimer's biggest success in recent years came with the 2015 Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), and he is also the breeder of this year's Gold Cup winner, Courage Mon Ami (GB), who is yet another son of Frankel and was sold to Wathnan Racing just prior to Royal Ascot.

Over at Navan, another Frankel colt bought by Coolmore at Book 1 last year for 1.9 million gns, Euphoric (GB), broke his maiden on debut and, through various partnerships, the team, headed by MV Magnier, played a more prominent role at Tattersalls on Wednesday while stocking up on next year's juvenile crop.

After having the final say over Godolphin and Juddmonte for the session-topper, Magnier said, “They [Hascombe & Valiant Stud] are very good breeders and have bred some very nice horses in the past. Frankel is flying at the moment. He'll go to Ballydoyle and let's hope he's good.”

 

Late in the session, lot 352 drew a crowd back into the gangway as Magnier batted away a strong challenge from outside the ring and finally prevailed at 1.25 million gns. From Clara Stud and bred by CN Farm, the Wootton Bassett (GB) colt is a half-brother to G1 Commonwealth Cup winner and Sumbe stallion Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) as well as the Listed winners Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Further back, the strong black-type dynasty of champion filly Serena's Song (Rahy) adds fortification to the page.

His dam, Entreat (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), is one of 15 mares owned by Kilkenny native James Cloney in partnership with his father-in-law. Cloney, a pharmacist by trade, admitted to be living out a long-held dream by exceeding seven figures with a horse he'd bred.

“It's once in a lifetime to have such a beautiful article,” he said. “Entreat is a special mare and she really produces top-quality stock. I had a dream about this. Thank God it came true for the family.”

Cloney acquired Entreat, a Cheveley Park Stud-bred mare, at the July Sale here in 2016 through BBA Ireland for just 14,000gns. Her son Golden Horde (Ire) put the pedigree in lights with a G1 Commonwealth Cup victory and Cloney revealed that he has wisely retained another filly from the family.

He explained, “She has a beautiful Dark Angel filly foal at home but is barren at the moment. We're lucky enough to have another daughter at home, called Dutch Treaty (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who has turned out to be a stakes producer herself. I'm lucky to have a nice daughter already.

“It's a family-run operation. My father-in-law is Michael Nolan and Paddy Kelly, who led the horse around tonight, helps us as well. I am a pharmacist by trade but am from a farming background. The horses are what keep me right, looking out at them in the evening time.”

 

Talking Points

  • Sheikh Mohammed continued his spending spree, with Godolphin having now accounted for 15% of the turnover through the two days, with 17 yearlings bought for a total of 10,105,000gns

  • Mike Ryan and Chad Brown have also been busy and have recruited 12 European yearlings to take back to America for a total of 2,740,000gns

  • While trade certainly had a more buoyant feel to it than on the opening day, the median of 195,000gns was actually lower than Tuesday's 205,000gns, while the average, at 265,664gns, was up, thanks to a higher number of seven-figure lots. In comparison to last year's second session, the figures were all down, but on that day, eight of the sale's 16 seven-figure lots were sold. There have been six million-plus yearlings so far across the two days, and there had been 11 by this stage in 2022.

  • Wednesday's aggregate settled at 35,599,000gns (-28%), and the clearance rate was 84%, representing 134 horses sold from 160 offered.

  • George Boughey cut his teeth as a trainer with small-money buys–Missed The Cut (Quality Road) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) cost 100,000gns put together–but this week represented a breakout sale for the trainer. Boughey signed for three yearlings in his own name for a total of 865,000gns.

  • Ghaiyyath (Ire) played a leading role here on Tuesday when a colt by the first-season sire sold to Godolphin for 1.05 million gns. But how did the market react to Ghaiyyath and the rest of the newbies on the whole? The answer is pretty positively. Ghaiyyath leads the way for the first-season sires with seven selling for an average of 309,571gns and an aggregate of 2,167,000gns. Along with Godolphin, buyers included Peter and Ross Doyle, Najd Stud and Highclere. Fellow Darley stallion Pinatubo (Ire) was next best for the young guns. Six of his yearlings sold at an average of 237,500gns and aggregate of 1,425,000gns. Earthlight (Ire) also fared well with four selling for an average of 212,500gns, including a 240,000gns colt [lot 237] to Ben McElroy to Stonestreet Stables.

McCartan Lauds 1.5M Blue Point Showstopper 

Renowned breeder Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud heaped praise on his Blue Point (Ire) half-brother to multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by describing him as the best horse he has ever had anything to do with.

That is saying something as, along with Battaash, McCartan has had Xtension (Ire), Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) and Harry Angel (Ire) through his hands. But he clearly wasn't alone in his appraisal of lot 240, who drew a collected hush at a jam-packed auditorium during Book 1 with Godolphin seeing off Najd Stud at 1.5 million gns.

“Look, I haven't said it to too many people, but I think he's the nicest horse I have ever had anything to do with,” a delighted McCartan said moments after the sale. “I really think that. I have always put Battaash number one but, just when he [the Blue Point colt] got here and did everything right and everything came together–he's an absolute belter.”

A belter is probably the best way of putting it. The Blue Point colt commanded the attention of some of the top judges in the game and even Joe Foley labelled him “the best horse in the sale” before bowing out at 800,000gns.

Mark McStay and Simon Mockridge of Juddmonte got a little closer to the magic 1.5-million mark but, in the end, it was Najd Stud, to the left of auctioneer Simon Kerins, and Anthony Stroud, bidding outside the sale ring on behalf of Godolphin, who draw away from the rest.

Godolphin weren't for beating and once again threw their might behind a colt by one of their own bright young stallions. On Monday, it was a Ghaiyyath (Ire) half-brother to Breeders' Cup hero Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who piqued interest from Sheikh Mohammed's powerful operation.

Just 24 hours later, it was the colt by Blue Point, who has made the most terrific start to his stallion career with Big Evs (Ire) and Rosallion (Ire) the most notable performers, who led the way.

McCartan continued, “I'm delighted that Godolphin have got him and I'm delighted that Charlie Appleby will be training him. Because, to me, he's the image of his father and his grandfather. I think Charlie loved him as well, and Charlie could see that.”

Asked why he decided to send outstanding producer Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) to Blue Point, McCartan said, “It was probably an act of lunacy to take such a risk with a mare who is so important to us. I probably should have taken a more conservative approach and gone with a proven horse but I was at Ascot the day Blue Point beat Battaash in the King's Stand. I remember Blue Point coming into the parade ring and I took one look at him and one look at Charlie Appleby and I knew we weren't going to be winning.”

He added, “It's surreal because it's out of your control but I want to pay particular thanks to the people who work for me. Sure everybody knows that they are one of the best teams around the sales ground. And also to my head man at home, Denis Lawlor, who never comes to the sales and Dinny McCarthy, who led him up. He's a fantastic horseman and did a great job. They all did. It's one of the most enjoyable parts for me, that they can all share it together. We are all great friends.”

Perhaps Anna Law deserves a little more love in this story. Bought by McCartan for just 14,000gns at a horses-in-training sale here in October 2012, she has proved an immensely important part of that Limerick farm in producing Battaash and fellow speedster The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who sold for 750,000gns at this sale in 2021.

Reported to be happily in foal to Frankel (GB) by McCartan, Anna Law could have an even bigger role to play at Ballyphilip Stud in the years to come given she is still relatively young for a broodmare at just 13 years' old.

McCartan, who runs Ballyphilip with his wife Marie, explained, “Anna Law has a filly foal at home by Dark Angel and is in foal to Frankel. It's a bit of a different approach [going to Frankel] but he's probably the best stallion of all time, so why not? We'll give it a roll again.”

He added, “Anna Law has been an incredible mare for us. She started off by being a grumpy old girl but now every time she sees me out in the field she knows I have a fist full of nuts so we are the best of friends now!”

 

Sumbe On The Stallion Hunt

Ballylinch Stud had enjoyed a particularly noteworthy update for lot 260 since the catalogue was published with the G2 Champagne S. victory of the colt's full-brother Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

Nurlan Bizakov of Sumbe already has a select roster of stallions at his Normandy-based Haras de Montfort et Preaux and there will doubtless be high hopes for the 1.1 million gns son of Listed winner Bella Estrella (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire}) to join the throng in due course.

“If he is good enough he is a potential stallion,” said Sumbe's manager Tony Fry. “No-one needs a pat on the back now, that can come in two years' time – if it all works out.”

He added of the struggle to secure stallion prospects, “It's not easy to buy one and they are owned by people not keen to sell. And ideally you like to be involved in them from day one – to have bred them yourself, raced them and then stand them.”

A grandson of the Grade II winner Uncharted Haven (GB) (Turtle Island {Ire}), the colt's family also includes the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}).

Lope De Vega's excellent year extends beyond just his promising young son Iberian. He has also been represented by American Grade I winner Program Trading (GB) and Arapaho (Fr), winner of the G1 Tancred S. in Sydney. His 17 yearlings sold so far through Book 1 have returned an average of 374,118gns.

 

I Got You Babe 

From one of the stars of the show on Tuesday to another early in the second session of the sale, the draft of Newsells Park Stud has continued to feature prominently, which is hardly surprising when one considers the pedigrees of the individuals involved.

Leading the early trade on Wednesday was lot 200, the Kingman (GB) half-brother to the Group 1 winner and young Newsells Park stallion Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was born and raised at the farm on behalf of his breeders John and Tanya Gunther of Kentucky's Glennwood Farm.

With shades of the sale of the last foal of the mighty Shastye (Ire) on Tuesday, this too was tinged with sadness as the colt's dam, Without You Babe (Lemon Drop Kid), who has also produced GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz (Speightstown) and the yearling colt's full-sister, Listed winner She's Got You (GB), died last year.

“It's hard to talk about it,” said an emotional John Gunther after the hammer dropped at 900,000gns for the colt who will now race for Bahraini owners.

“He was the mare's last foal and he was very special to us. It was tough to sell him but he sold very well.

“The mare meant so much to us. Everyone at Newsells did a great job prepping him for the sale and he's gone to some good owners. That's very important.”

Without Parole returned to the stud where he was born to commence his stallion career in 2021. His first yearlings are now at the sales, including three in Book 1 at Tattersalls, where Ross Doyle and Anthony Bromley have signed for a filly and a colt so far.

Gunther continued, “We look forward to Without Parole's two-year-olds and it all carries forward. We're keeping quite a few of them to race ourselves. We want to make sure they go to the right trainers to give the horse his best chance. We will be racing at least half a dozen of them ourselves.”

In the year in which Without Parole won the G1 St James's Palace S. to give the Gunthers a memorable homebred Royal Ascot winner, another graduate of their breeding programme, Justify (Scat Daddy), remained unbeaten to win America's Triple Crown. Subsequently sold to stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Justify has made an eye-catching start to his stud career, with his best progeny on this side of the Atlantic including Sunday's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer, G1 Prix Morny runner-up and G2 Prix Robert Pain victrix Ramatuelle, and the G2 Superlative S. winner City Of Troy, who is currently favourite for the G1 Dewhurst S. He has also sired two Grade I winners in America, Arabian Lion and Aspen Grove (Ire).

“Justify looks like a supersire,” Gunther added. “He's got the best two-year-old filly in the country and the best two-year-old colt, and it looks like he has some very good dirt runners in the US as well. We're very excited about how Justify is coming along.”

Oliver St Lawrence, who signed for the yearling, said, “I loved the Kingman colt the first time I saw him. He's a half-brother to two Grade I winners and hopefully he will take us to the Guineas and we can have a bit of fun. I was desperately keen to get him.”

St Lawrence had also signed for the preceding lot [199], a son of Dubawi (Ire) out of Wisdom Mind (Ire), a Dark Angel (Ire) half-sister to Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}). Bought at 500,000gns, the colt was bred by Sun Bloodstock and consigned by Adrian and Philippa O'Brien's Hazelwood Bloodstock.

“They are both for Fawzi [Nass] and team,” St Lawrence said. “I knew we'd have to go strong on the Kingman. The only downside was that I had to be hugged by Julian Dollar afterwards. That took the shine off it a little bit.”

 

Well-Related Colts for Blandford

Another colt with obvious sire power should he prevail on the racecourse is Norelands Stud's son of Kingman (GB) and Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Offered as lot 278, the half-brother to Classic winners St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was bought by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for an unnamed client at 600,000gns.

“I didn't expect to be able to buy him,” Brown said. “[His dam] must be one of the better broodmares on Planet Earth. The colt himself was physically a little but immature. He needs to strengthen up a little bit, and I think he will. There was a lot of Kingman about him and he put up a very classy show outside. With a pedigree like that I'm delighted to get him. It's very rare to be able to buy that type of pedigree.”

Brown later signed for lot 336, a Cracksman (GB) half-brother to Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), whose win in the G3 Marble Hill S. in May helped to turn this 48,000gns foal purchase by Tally-Ho Stud into a highly profitable 410,000gns yearling.

Among Godolphin's purchases for the day was lot 243, a 250,000gns December Foal Sale purchase by Philipp Stauffenberg, who was resold for 600,000gns.

The Havana Grey (GB) colt is a half-brother to the Group 1-placed Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), who has recently been announced as joining the roster at Whitsbury Manor Stud, where he was bred.

Buy of the Day

Hughie Morrison may well have landed himself the value pick of day two in the shape of lot 328, a filly by first-season sire Mohaather (GB).

Consigned by Llety Farms, the Mohaather filly is out of an unraced Refuse To Bend (Ire) mare, who has produced two black-type performers by Kodiac (GB) and Stimulation (Ire).

At just 55,000gns, Morrison's purchase comes in well below the sale average and time might prove her to have been very well-bought here. She appears to be a sweet filly who will be worth keeping an eye on for next year. Her pedigree suggests that she will be early enough to debut in the first half of the season.

Elsewhere, Ben McElroy added an interesting filly on behalf of Stonestreet Stables to his haul in lot 297.

At first glance, this Oasis Dream (GB) filly wasn't a snip at 335,000gns from Pier House Stud, but she ticks plenty of the right boxes for America.

Out of a black-type producing mare, she hails from a strong family and could do well on the turf in the States where the prize-money is significantly stronger than in Britain and Ireland.

The McElroy-Stonestreet axis has had significant success with European purchases in recent years.

She's another interesting one to keep note of for next season.

 

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