Frankel On Top Again as Book 1 Figures Take a Dip

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin

NEWMARKET, UK–A Frankel (GB) filly out of the brilliant G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) provided a sprinkling of stardust on the final day of the Tattersalls Book 1 October Yearling Sale when selling to Shadwell for 1.6 million gns.

Sheikha Hissa has been a notable presence on the sales ground all week and, according to Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold, it was her determination that helped see off the attention of underbidder Kieran Lalor for the first foal out of the former Jessica Harrington-trained star. 

That result brought Shadwell's haul of fillies to seven and pushed the operation's total spend to 3.66 million gns this week. 

Gold said of lot 492 bred by Stonethorn Stud Farm, “Sheikha Hissa absolutely loved her when she saw her. I said she's probably going to make a lot of money and she said, 'well, we need fillies for the stud.' 

“A first foal out of the Cheveley Park winner by one of the world's great stallions, it's sort of self-explanatory. She seemed very athletic and had a very good mind for a Frankel. A very well-balanced filly.”

He added, “I thought she'd make a million and two, probably a million and three. We were determined to buy her and there is obviously a period of rebuilding. It's a long-term project for Sheikha Hissa. It's exciting times for the stud but obviously you need to keep regenerating.”

Shadwell did not add any colts to the team this week but that's not to say that the major owner-breeders would be against the idea with Gold going on to reveal that there is a possibility that Shadwell will be active at next week's Book 2 sessions.

He said, “Obviously we'll be looking. The concentration has been fillies but we will see what Sheikha Hissa wants to do.”

The day-three topper was consigned by Watership Down Stud, who also sold a Dubawi (Ire) filly to Shadwell earlier this week for 450,000gns. 

Watership Down's Simon Marsh said, “This is a real reward for the breeder who has been with us for about 15 years. The filly was born and raised on our farm in Ireland at Kiltinan Castle Stud and it was a great result all round.

“It's wonderful for Sheikh Hissa and it's great to see the success of Shadwell since the very sad passing of Sheikh Hamdan. It's a great testament to him to see what's been happening on the racecourse. and it's wonderful to see her wanting to buy lovely fillies to put into the broodmare band in the future.”

The filly was the sole millionaire offering of the final session, with the trade lagging some way behind the record figures of 2022. The deficit was acknowledged by Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony in his closing statement.

He said, “Book 1 of last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale produced some outlandish figures which will most likely remain in the record books for many years to come, and it is no surprise that this year's renewal has not matched the extraordinary 2022 returns which saw a year on year rise in turnover of almost 40 million guineas.

“Nevertheless, Europe's premier yearling sale has enjoyed plenty of memorable moments, very much reflecting the quality of the yearlings which have been on show throughout the past three days.”

Cumani: 'We Owe That Family a Hell of a Lot'

The last Frankel (GB) colt in the sale, lot 493, from the Cumani family's terrific Souk (Ire) dynasty, lifted the spirits as the afternoon drew to a close when joining the list of Coolmore's purchases this week at 950,000gns.

Last year the Cumanis' Fittocks Stud sold Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1.9 million gns, and he timed his run rather well to score on debut at Navan on Wednesday. So it was back to a trusted source, and in fact as association that stretches back at least 24 years to when the Coolmore team bought a Sadler's Wells colt for 650,000gns at the Houghton Sale for 650,000gns and named him Milan (GB) after the birthplace of his breeder Luca Cumani. As a St Leger winner and a leading National Hunt sire for Coolmore, he served his owners well.

In the case of the team's latest purchase, a decent update could be in the offing, because John and Thady Gosden think enough of the Frankel colt's three-year-old half-sister Naaey (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to be planning entering her in the G2 Pride S. in the coming weeks. The dam Materialistic (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) won twice and was Listed-placed for Cumani in his training days. Now 10, she is a great-grand-daughter of the Fittocks foundation mare Souk, who was herself by Ahonoora (GB).

“From the moment he was born he was strong,” said Cumani of the yearling. “Obviously yesterday's result helped, and we have to thank the Juddmonte team, as they were underbidders and without them we wouldn't have got this far.”

His wife Sara added, “It'll be great for all the guys at the farm as it's not been the easiest sale. [The market has been] up and down. We sold one for more than we expected, four for less than we expected and two we took home. Anything that is bred to look like a mile-and-a-half horse they didn't seem to be excited about. But this was a great result and we are grateful to the people who support us and grateful to the people who work with us.”

Materialistic is now back in foal to Frankel, having lost an earlier colt by him as a weanling, and she has a colt foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Luca Cumani added, “We'd like to thank Coolmore very much. They have been great supporters of ours, especially this year and last year.

“I bought Souk as a yearling in Goffs for Ir£100,000, which was a lot of money in those days, and I got home and got quite a bollocking. I'm glad it has worked out okay. [Her grand-daughter] Platonic, who struggled to win, and finally won as a four-year-old in the French provinces, we sold for 100,000gns, and look what she has produced. It is a great family. We owe that family a hell of a lot.”

Talking Points

• Edmond Mahony highlighted a “selectivity to the market”, and that is reflected in the figures for Book 1. The final day's trade dipped by 35% year-on-year to 29,158,000gns, with the median being the lowest of the week at 155,000gns (-35%) and the average at 219,233gns (-32%). Across the three days, the aggregate was  down to 95,395,000gns (-25%), which was still up on the 'Covid years' of 2020 and 2021 and just beneath the preceding three years when the turnover passed 100 million gns. From 470 yearlings offered, 391 were marked as sold, to give a clearance rate of 83% (-5%) The median price for the three days was 180,000gns (-10%) and the average was 243,997gns (-18%).
• The trade at last year's Book 1 reached record levels, but it is worth reflecting that more than 10 million gns of that was attributed to yearlings 'bought' by Saleh Al Homaizi which ultimately had to be reoffered after payment wasn't forthcoming. Another 2.7 million gns was spent by John Dance of Manor House Farm, who has not been active in the yearling market this season since Dance's business affairs came under investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority earlier this year. On the other hand, Richard Knight, who last year signed for the yearlings on Al Homaizi's list, is now acting on behalf of a new name on the buyers' sheet, the Saudi Arabia-based Al Salhia Stud, which is owned by Mohammed Saleh Bin Laden. Al Salhia Stud, which has previously been involved in Arab racing, is now branching out into Thoroughbreds and was active at Arqana in August. Through Book 1, the operation bought 10 yearlings for a total of 2,555,000gns.
• Though Godolphin was still a significant presence as the leading buyer, with 20 horses bought for just north of 12 million gns, even this expenditure pales next to last year's outlay of 25.3 million gns for 35 Book 1 yearlings. Rabbah Bloodstock, too, spent 1.5 million gns at last year's sale but was absent from the buyers' list this week. 
• Tom Goff and Richard Brown buy for a range of clients, and their Blandford Bloodstock was the second-leading buyer at Book 1, with 25 yearlings signed for at a total outlay of 8.1 million gns. Brown has been the main buyer of horses in training for Wathnan Racing, owned by the Emir of Qatar, and a new name in the owner ranks in recent seasons. Though no confirmation was given of any yearling purchases for the operation, it is fair to assume that some of those bought under the Blandford banner may be seen racing in the Wathnan colours in the future.
• For the sixth year in a row, Graham Smith-Bernal's Newsells Park Stud topped the Book 1 consignors' list with 25 sold for a total of 10,565,000gns. There were also noteworthy results from the select drafts of Anthony Oppenheimer's Hascombe & Valiant Stud, which sold six yearlings at an average of 554,167gns, including the overall top lot, and for Paul and Marie McCartan's Ballyphilip Stud, which averaged 504,000gns for five sold.
• Frankel was responsible for the most expensive colt and filly in the sale, and two of the seven yearlings to have sold for a million or more. That number of seven-figure lots was down from 16 last year.
• Twelve late withdrawals on the day from the final session tells its own tale of how some vendors viewed the dip in trade on Thursday.

Another Gem for Grangemore

Grangemore Stud's full-sister to the Group 2 winners Charyn (Ire) and Wings Of War (Ire), both by Dark Angel (Ire), will join her brother Charyn in the ownership of Nurlan Bizakov, who, under his Sumbe banner, when to 850,000gns for the daughter of the 10-year-old mare Futoon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Grangemore owner Guy O'Callaghan bought Futoon in partnership with his brother David for 100,000gns, and she has more that repaid that outlay, with her repeat matings with Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel having produced those two black-type winners from as many foals of racing age.

O'Callaghan said of the yearling filly [lot 376], “She's always been a spectacular filly at home. I'm thrilled with the price she made and the home she's going to. We had to come over to the sales a day early with the storm last week, so she's been here nine days and she's not put a foot wrong. It's a lot for a yearling to take and she's been a class act. They're all so great out of the mare but she was probably the best of them.”

Futoon, who was placed multiple times at Listed level, is from the family of the G2 Mill Reef S. winner Galeota (Ire) and of the Group 3-winning siblings Burnt Sugar (Ire) and Brown Sugar (Ire).

O'Callaghan added, “My brother David and I bought the mare here as a four-year-old from Steven Hillen and Kevin Ryan. We were following her as a racehorse and she's been very lucky for us ever since. It's a real fast, tough family. There was a good Dark Angel in the family already, and she just made so much sense.”

Along with Nurlan Bizakov, major owner-breeder operations Cheveley Park Stud, Shadwell and Al Shira'aa Farms were also among those to have selected well-bred fillies on the final day of Book 1.

On Shadwell's behalf, Angus Gold went to 575,000gns for lot 427, Meon Valley Stud's daughter of Sea The Moon (Ger) and Group 2 winner Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), whose second and third dams, Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic) and Colorspin (Fr) (High Top {GB}) are both Group 1 winners.

Kieran Lalor picked up another smart filly for Al Shira'aa in lot 393, a Siyouni (Fr) half-sister to Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the G1 Nassau S. after publication of the catalogue. Shadwell were under-bidders on the filly, having sold her dam Hadaatha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to David Nagle of Barronstown Stud for 400,000gns when she was in foal to Siyouni in 2021.

Bennett's Merry Week

Craig Bennett of Merry Fox Stud signed off on a good week of selling alongside Newsells Park Stud when Godolphin went to 800,000gns to secure his Dubawi (Ire) filly (lot 470) out of Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}).

Along with Newsells Park, Bennett brought four yearlings to the market this week and sold all four, with the owner-breeder describing himself as happy with the business conducted at Tattersalls.

He said, “Great week-I sold four out of four. Going home now! The first mare we bought in partnership with Newsells was Luminate. She is clearly a lovely-walking mare and she passes that walk on. This is the first one we have brought to market and got very well paid to go to a good home. It's a great cross and the Rainbow Quest in the second generation really suits the sire, particularly for fillies, so I think they have got a very good chance of her being a very good racehorse. The mare is in foal to Lope De Vega, carrying a filly, and we are just working out mating plans for next year.”

Market View

There were plenty of positives to take from Book 1, the highest-priced yearling sold in Europe this year being one of them, but there were just seven lots all told to break the million gns throughout the three days. 

Unlike the Orby Sale at Goffs, where well-bred fillies led the way, the majority of the big-ticket horses sold at Tattersalls this week were colts. 

Kieran Lalor, who buys on behalf of major owner-breeder Al Shira'aa Farms, cut the image of a frustrated figure on Thursday when sharing his feeling that the well-bred colts matched up better physically than the fillies this week. 

That played out in the results and Al Shira'aa signed for one filly in what was at times a patchy sale. 

Bloodstock agent Mark McStay shared that while he felt the top end of the market remained strong at Tattersalls this week, the middle tiers were difficult at times. 

In other words, the recession-proof buyers were there, but in reflection of what is going on in the wider world outside racing, the middle market has taken somewhat of a dent. 

He explained, “Like every sale that I have attended for the past number of years, for the very good stock, the trade is highly competitive. Underneath that top level, business is being done but it can be sticky in patches.

“The standard of horses has been high and all of the big players are here. What we have seen play out this week is probably a fair reflection of the worldwide bloodstock market.”

He added, “Some people who have been active here in the past number of years haven't appeared but, then again, some of the bigger players, the likes of Sheikh Mohammed, have participated stronger than ever.”

A much clearer picture will be painted on the middle market, according to McStay, after Books 2, 3 and 4 take place at Tattersalls next week. 

He continued, “I am very happy with how my week went. We bought some nice horses and, while we weren't in the big league, I'm happy and am looking forward to Book 2 and onwards. Next week will be telling and it will be interesting to see what trainers have orders.”

Edmond Mahony concluded his own assessment of the market in a philosophical fashion. He commented, “Year on year the consignors show enormous faith in Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale with the sale showcasing the very best that Europe has to offer, and yet again we have seen so many of the world's leading owners competing for the finest turf-bred yearlings to be found anywhere in the world. 

“Amongst them have been a greater number of yearlings selling for one million guineas or more than all other European yearling sales combined, Europe's highest-priced yearling yet again, and 40 yearlings selling for in excess of 500,000gns which similarly is more than all other European yearlings sales to date this year. As ever Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has attracted buyers from throughout the world, so many of them drawn annually to Park Paddocks by the consistent success of Book 1 horses at the highest level on the global stage. In the course of the past three days buyers from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bahrain, China, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the USA have all made significant contributions at all levels of the market confirming the unparalleled esteem in which the finest European yearlings are held and specifically those found annually at this particular sale. This is a sale that produces stallions and breed-shaping broodmares on an annual basis and it is the sale's unrivalled reputation which annually makes this fixture an unmissable event for so many of the most influential thoroughbred owners in the world.”

He added, “Amongst the success stories and numerous pinhooking triumphs, there has nevertheless been a selectivity to the market which we must recognise. Last year's game-changing October Book 1 was always going to be a challenging target, and so it has proved with the sale turnover some way short of the massive 2022 total, but the median has held up well, second only to last year's record level, the average of almost 250,000gns is an impressive figure, and the clearance rate in excess of 80% is a solid number. We extend our gratitude as ever to the consignors and purchasers alike whose support is what makes Newmarket and Tattersalls a true hub for the European bloodstock industry and we look forward to seeing this year's crop of October Book 1 yearlings competing globally at the highest level as well as earning their owners in Britain and Ireland yet more lucrative £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonuses.”

Buy Of The Day

Mark Flannery has turned water into wine on more than one occasion–the top breeze-up handler famously got €210,000 for €5,000 Book 2 buy Landshark.

Perhaps Flannery found more value at Tattersalls this week in the shape of a 40,000gns Kingman (GB) colt (lot 516) from Blue Diamond Stud. 

Kingman has done well with his breeze-up graduates and this could be another. He's gone to a top outfit and could rock into six figures or more at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale here in the spring. Time will tell.