Guineas Sale Maintains Upbeat Tempo

NEWMARKET, UK–So which way would the breeze blow this time? Just like the spring, teetering between the frost that coated the sales grounds on Friday morning and the imminent return of the swifts, the Tattersalls Guineas Sale caught the juvenile market at a pivot of the weathervane.

After a traumatic experience last year, the sector had opened a new cycle with a solid start at the Craven Sale here, followed by a quite astounding rally at Doncaster where records tumbled across the board.

This catalogue, which doesn't always benefit from quite so clear an identity as those two auctions, could conceivably have lurched in any direction. All in all, then, its performance must be welcomed as a legitimate consolidation–most notably through a rock-solid median, arguably the critical barometer of both previous sales as well. For while it is difficult to make valid comparisons with last year's auction, eventually salvaged in July, a median of 24,500gns actually exceeded the 24,000gns registered in both 2018 and 2019, towards the end of a sustained bull run for the whole sector.

Needless to say, different vendors experienced differing fortunes. But a historically competitive median in three sales out of three really does suggest that the middle market, so often porous, is in vigorous shape as the Turf prepares to embrace the world after lockdown.

The average was also robust, at 29,948gns actually beating the 28,839gns registered in 2019; and measuring up respectably against the three previous years at 32,848gns, 35,729gns and 32,090gns.

In offering a typical mixed bag, perhaps the most encouraging and instructive motif of this catalogue was enthusiasm for the model, regardless of the make. Commercial breeders might deceive themselves that only sprinters sire precocious horses, but breeze-up consignors know that they must produce a sustainable project. Their wares are assessed, first and foremost, on functionality–and several of the best yields of the day rewarded imaginative pinhooks that broke the “fast and early” shackles so often applied by the market.

“A median bettered only once this decade, combined with an average and turnover which both compare favourably with the 2019 and 2020 renewals, are all positives to take from today's sale,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “As has been the consistent domestic demand at all levels of the market. Similarly, while not quite matching the unprecedented levels at the recent Craven Breeze-Up Sale, the clearance rate has also held up well, especially considering a significantly larger catalogue than usual and the disruption to overseas participation owing to the current widespread travel restrictions.

“We can also reflect on a Guineas Breeze-Up Sale which has produced numerous impressive pinhooking triumphs, as ever reflecting the expertise of the consignors; and another sale which has underlined the importance of the Tattersalls live internet bidding platform, which has yet again proved to be invaluable, particularly for overseas buyers unable to attend the sale.

“COVID continues to test us all, but once more we have experienced trade of remarkable resilience and a collective determination from all involved to explore every avenue to provide as vibrant a market as possible in the face of considerable obstacles.”

Postponed Sets Off Without Delay

Perhaps the standout achievement of the day was that of the rookie stallion Postponed (Ire)–top-class on the track, of course, but a relatively slow burn over middle distances and not necessarily the most obvious sire for the breeze-ups. The Dalham Hall rookie's two representatives both achieved a spectacular yield, for the No. 1 and No. 5 prices of the sale.

Lot 113 might have been viewed as a long-term project when acquired here as a foal by Peter & Ross Doyle, for 20,000gns at the December Sale, but his breeze for Glending Stables secured a bumper 135,000gns from Blandford Bloodstock. In fairness, the colt is out of a Malibu Moon half-sister to the dam of no less commercially resonant an animal than No Nay Never.

“He's for my resale syndicate Never Say Die, and will be trained by David Simcock,” said Richard Brown on signing the docket. “A client of mine bred Postponed so I have followed him all the way through, and I am giving him a big chance.

“No Nay Never is sitting there under the second dam, I really liked that. But I don't see this horse running until August or September; he's one for the future. David is on his way to Goodwood, so has no idea that we have bought him–or how much we gave–so I might be in for a bollocking. I just thought him a smashing horse. He did a cracking breeze. He showed a great action, it wasn't a speedy breeze but it was the style he did it in, he has a good attitude.”

This is the syndicate that sold on French Classic winner Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}), a €105,000 Arqana Breeze-Up graduate, and has a couple of irons heating up in the fire this time round. Both Man Of Riddles (Temple City) and Onesmoothoperator (Dialed In), respectively acquired for £195,000 and £140,000 at the transferred Arqana and Goresbridge sales last summer, won their debuts in March.

“Man Of Riddles will have an entry in the Cocked Hat S. and we are dreaming a bit with him,” Brown said. “There are great people involved and I think they will be really excited with this horse.”

Brown's colleague Tom Goff later ensured that Blandford were the toast of Glending when giving 80,000gns for lot 240, a Ribchester (Ire) filly from the family of St Leger winner Millenary (GB) (Rainbow Quest). This was another fine pinhook, picked up as a Sportsman's £15,000 private sale. “I'm delighted, it's a great return for a lovely filly,” said consignor Roderick Kavanagh. “She was fourth-quickest, we had lots of punters on her and she is a stand-out physical.”

Goff's endorsement of Ribchester ensured that Postponed will have competition for bragging rights among the Darley new boys. “I was underbidder on three or four last year,” he said. “There's a big word among trainers, every stable I go to they have one or two they really like. I thought this a beautiful filly, she ticked all the boxes: a 2-year-old type, but she will go on at three.”

Goff also gave 75,000gns for an Almanzor (Fr) colt out of the Italian Group 1 winner Waikika (Fr) (Whipper) presented by Kilminfoyle House as lot 208.

“He's a lovely staying horse by an exciting young sire,” the agent said. “He'll need a bit of time, but he has a great page and I'd hope he will turn into a really nice seven-furlong type and go on from there.”

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

Touch of the day was the son of Mehmas (Ire) consigned by Nanallac Stud as lot 262. Fortunately his owners stuck to their guns when retaining him at £9,000 here last September, having picked him up for even less as a foal when he had likewise failed to meet his reserve at Goffs November. Their patience paid off when David Redvers gave 105,000gns for this colt out of a half-sister to the dam of G3 Cornwallis S. winner Good Vibes (GB).

He was the one and only horse breezed this year by jockey Ian McCarthy, who runs a breaking and pre-training yard at Grangecorr Farm and partnered in this colt with two pals.

“He had a great preparation and we've had plenty of interest the last couple of days,” McCarthy said. “He's really turned a corner over the last eight weeks, he did a lovely breeze under Micky Cleere, and he's by the right sire, isn't he? Gerry McCormack pinhooked him as a foal for €3,000, but it's lucky enough now that he wasn't sold as a yearling.”

McCarthy, who learned the ropes under the late Dessie Hughes and has ridden around 95 winners over jumps, has had a great run with his point-to-pointers too: of four runners this spring, three have won–including the winner of a Tipperary bumper, sold here in March for 195,000gns.

Redvers, acting on behalf of Sheikh Fahad, noted that Good Vibes is nowadays in his patron's broodmare band and is in foal to Night Of Thunder (Ire). As for this colt, all he could say at this stage is that he will be trained somewhere in Newmarket.

Action Not Words For O'Callaghan

Besides the top lot, the other feather in the cap of Postponed was lot 207, a May 21 filly found in Book III by Robson Aguiar for just 4,000gns. Here she made 82,000gns from Michael O'Callaghan, who saluted her as “a lovely filly by a sire I've been keeping an eye on, and who handled the whole occasion very well.”

She should have a residual value, being out of a Shamardal mare with a second dam half-sister to a series of classy producers headed by Sueboog (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). In principle, however, it is the trade-off between page and performance that has made O'Callaghan one of the most purposeful prospectors in this market.

“You can't train a piece of paper,” said the Curragh trainer succinctly after giving 95,000gns for another colt by a middle-distance performer, a son of Magician (Ire) likewise presented by Aguiar Bloodstock [121]. “The physical is everything, when it comes to training,” O'Callaghan confirmed. “Ours is quite a commercial operation, in terms of trading on, and I can't remember the last time people asked to see the pedigree when you had a nice horse to sell, that market is so strong. If the pedigree matches the kind of physique I like, they can get very expensive. But Now Or Later (Ire), for instance, was by Bushranger (Ire).

“This was a lovely physical and, though he's bred to be a miler, showed plenty of pace. He did a very, very good breeze, very professional, the whole lot: he came highly recommended and vetted well.”

This was another good touch for the vendor, who pinhooked the colt for just 14,000gns at the Tattersalls Ascot Sale. As for the Postponed filly, Aguiar thanked Sophie Buckley of Culworth Grounds Stud for urging her claims as part of the Shutford Stud dispersal.

“She was late in Book 3,” explained Aguiar. “She caught my eye in the ring and I spoke to her consignor, and she recommended her. The filly has grown a lot, she's a late foal with a lot of improvement in her. She'll be a late season 2-year-old and I think a class filly at three. Postponed might not be an obvious breeze-up sire but he is by Dubawi and had speed and class.”

O'Callaghan ended the day with another eight recruits for an aggregate 409,000gns. One that did offer a particularly commercial pedigree was lot 162, a Showcasing (GB) colt out of a half-sister to Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) from Kilbrew Stables, and O'Callaghan was pleasantly surprised to be asked for no more than 52,000gns. Then there was a 75,000gns Dark Angel (Ire) colt [lot 108] consigned by his namesakes at Tally-Ho.

“I think the Showcasing was well bought,” O'Callaghan said. “And the Dark Angel was not a real breeze-up type but will be a lovely horse in August or September. To me he did a very nice breeze, visually: he mightn't have clocked for some people but I loved the way he dropped his head and made such use of himself, very professional and straightforward. For the type of horse he is, I thought his time was good enough and, again, he came from a great hotel that we've been very lucky with.”

Moon Makes The Page Half Full

The theme of grass, not paper, perhaps found its ultimate exemplar in lot 70–a colt whose page, candidly, was largely vacant. But he did have a helpful sire brand, through Sea The Moon (Ger), and his physique required an outlay of €40,000 at Baden-Baden last year; while his breeze for Church Farm & Horse Park Stud advanced his value to 82,000gns from Ross Doyle.

“Roger Marley bought him, we split up the chores last autumn,” said John Cullinan of Horse Park. “We were very keen on the sire, as everyone is now. And while the page left plenty of room for notes, a nice horse is a nice horse. He'll be a mile maiden type in a few months' time, and good people bought him.”

Doyle returned the compliment. “He's come from a great home,” the agent said. “We've bought a lot of good horses from them over the years, including Mehmas (Ire) [for 170,000gns at the Craven Sale of 2016], and trainers love them, they get a wonderful education. We're huge fans of the sire, too, like most people. This is a lovely individual and he'll be joining Jim Boyle.”

Trueshan Team On A Mission

Anthony Bromley of Highflyer and Alan King have found this to be fertile territory over the years, and were busy in their quest for a new Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), the G2 Qipco British Champions' Long Distance Cup winner whose 31,000gns graduation from the 2018 auction earned him a portrait on the back of the catalogue.

Their 75,000gns punt on a Noble Mission (GB) colt completed a nice touch for Powerstown Stud, who found him for just $9,000 at Fasig-Tipton last year. As a May 19 foal, he will serve the long-term agenda of a team that can draw out the best from a horse in any environment.

“This sale has been a happy hunting ground for us, so we were aiming to buy a few here,” confirmed Bromley. “This is a very, very handsome horse, moved like a dream, he just kept selling himself to us. We don't normally go after American-breds, but Noble Mission's obviously a full brother to Frankel and Frankels often like a bit of softer ground. He just looked like a late season 2-year-old who will make a 3-year-old.”

Bromley and King stretched to a similar level in trying to land lot 233, a Fast Company (Ire) colt consigned by Meadowview Stables, but had to yield to Walter Buick on behalf of a Swedish patron at 80,000gns. This was another smart pinhook, as an £8,000 Sportsman's yearling;

Declaration Of Intent

Much the highest bid of the day was the one of 370,000gns for the star turn of the brief horses-in-training session that preceded the breeze-up session. But it turned out that lot 37, Declaring Love (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), had not reached her reserve and will evidently be given the chance to increase her value still further. The recent winner of a listed sprint at Bath, she had been found in the Godolphin draft here at the December Sale for just 39,000gns by Megan Evans, but evidently connections hope for better yet for John Butler.

One that was allowed to go for a multiple yield was Nortonthorpe Boy (GB) (Swiss Spirit {GB}) (lot 27), who was picked out by Phil McEntee at the Horses-in-Training Sale and has meanwhile elevated his rating from 63 to 88 in winning no fewer than half a dozen of 14 starts. He is off to Saudi Arabia after Ted Durcan signed a docket for 55,000gns, describing him as “a tough, hardy and sound horse, ideal for out there.”