Connections of Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) have described it as “a no-brainer” to offer the 1,000 Guineas heroine for sale at the Sceptre Sessions as part of the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls given how strong trade was at the corresponding sale 12 months ago.
Not only did Cachet provide Highclere Racing and trainer George Boughey with a breakthrough domestic Classic success when storming to 1,000 Guineas glory at Newmarket last year, but she also followed up on that effort by running out a gutsy second to Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the French edition.
Cachet was famously bought by Jake Warren on behalf of Highclere for just 60,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. Warren's uncle Harry Herbert, who manages the successful ownership vehicle, recalled, “It all began at the breeze-up sales. Jake was absolutely mad about Cachet–she was the one he absolutely wanted to buy.
“When the hammer came down at 60,000gns, we were over the moon. We heard afterwards that George Boughey was the underbidder so we went to George and said, 'why don't you train her?'”
He added, “It was early days for George and I wanted to have a horse or two with him. This gorgeous filly turned out to be Highclere's first domestic Classic winner. It's been an incredible story because she's such a brave, courageous filly who really wants to do it.”
It was John Bourke of Hyde Park Stud who bred Cachet. In fact, Bourke sniffed out one of the bargains of the century by snapping up Cachet's dam Poyle Sophie (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) for just 3,000gns at the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls in 2018.
Little did he know then that Poyle Sophie was carrying what would turn out to be the 2022 1,000 Guineas winner and Herbert remembers what that day meant to the Highclere team.
He said, “My god it was a long last furlong–it was agony! All of the family were there and they were screaming her home. What a day. It was wonderful for George to train his first Classic winner and for Jake, who has inherited his father's [John] brilliant eye to buy a filly that could win a Classic for 60,000gns is absolutely remarkable. A wonderful day.”
Herbert's sentiments were echoed by Warren, who said, “It was wonderful. In my uncle's silks, having found a filly for him to win a Classic was absolutely incredible. My children were there, my parents were there, it was just a very special day. She did us so proud and is an amazing filly.”
Thoughts now turn to offering Cachet at the Sceptre Sessions, where she is sure to command plenty of attention from some of the top breeders around the world. According to Herbert, there was no better place to sell the Classic winner than at Tattersalls in December, given all of the top buyers around the world make that sale a must visit each year.
Herbert said, “It was a no-brainer, really. We saw Classic winners and Group 1 winners make significant sums of money here last year and we've always sold our top fillies at this sale. The world comes to this sale. It is the most significant European sale of mares. A Classic winner heading to the sales is a rarity so hopefully she'll stand out from the crowd.”
Warren went on to explain how he felt Cachet, being a daughter of Aclaim and granddaughter of Acclamation (GB), represented a perfect outcross to visit all of the top stallions around the world before outlining his hopes that the major breeders were as enamored with the filly as he was when he first clapped eyes on her.
He said, “The most important aspect of her pedigree is that she's an outcross for all the top stallions in the world. You can't find a stallion that she can't visit being a granddaughter of Acclamation.
“Her physical attributes are exactly what you'd like to see in a broodmare prospect. She stands over a lot of ground and has a great important frame with beautiful looks about her. She really is outstanding and is something, I hope, that breeders around the world will look at with great envy and be hoping to acquire for their broodmare bands.”
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