Book 1

Wine and racehorses. What, as they say, is not to like? It worked for Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta, whose delicious drop of Tuscan red, Sassicaia, is revered the world over, and who found fame in the Thoroughbred world as the co-owner and breeder, with Federico Tesio, of the great Ribot (Ity) among others.  Now Graham Smith-Bernal, who bought Newsells Park Stud from the Jacobs family in 2021, is aiming for a similar sideline in excellence.  In the name of proper and thorough journalistic research, a crack team of wine...

LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which has settled into a standard format over the last four years, opens its 12-day run Monday with the first of two boutique Book 1 sections beginning at 1 p.m. Bidders returning to the Lexington venue will be welcomed to a redesigned pavilion with a more wide open view of the rostrum from the entrance, as well as wider hallways, increased lighting, and a grouping of tables and sitting area behind the rows of seats in the pavilion. "It's something we've been...

A galaxy of well-bred potential stars featured in the release of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 catalogue on Wednesday, headed by the Frankel (GB) sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB), which had already been announced last week. The Book 1 catalogue boats 21 yearlings by Dubawi (Ire), 25 Frankels, 26 by Kingman (GB), 29 by Lope De Vega (Ire) while fellow top-notchers Sea The Stars (Ire) [22], Siyouni (Fr) [10] and Wootton Bassett (GB) [23] are similarly well-represented. The catalogue features own or half-brothers...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a half-brother to Group 1 winner Barney Roy. 17.30 Wolverhampton, Mdn, £9,950, 2yo, 8f 142y (AWT) Godolphin's hitherto unraced ARABIAN TRIBE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 half-brother to four-time Group 1 winner Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) and he encounters nine...

Hanshen Tham has become one of the most recognisable faces on the bloodstock circuit in Britain and Ireland but that's not to say that many people know a lot about the owner-breeder and pinhooker. Instead, Tham prefers to go about his business quietly.  This year was a big one for the 34-year-old. His family enjoyed its greatest success on a racecourse when homebred Thornbrook landed a listed contest in France for Joseph O'Brien. Not long afterwards, the Tham family enjoyed its biggest day in the ring when a Night Of...

A Golden Horde (Ire) colt topped Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale at 35,000gns bringing the two-week selling bonanza to a close on Saturday.  The top lot was sourced by Middleham Park and was described as "a standout" on the day by the operation's Tom Palin.  "We loved him, we thought he was a standout," said Palin of lot 1919. "He walked around there with a bit of presence. He goes to Eve Johnson Houghton, he's our first horse with her and he's a strong, racy, two-year-old sort and...

Lodge Park Stud produced one of the most unlikely of turnarounds to top Monday's Book 2 session at Tattersalls with their Dubawi (Ire) filly selling to Godolphin for 725,000gns.  Not because the price wasn't expected as the quality of their offering was never in doubt. But when the filly gave herself a nasty cut en route to Book 1 and was forced to miss that engagement, plans B, C and D whirled through the head of her breeder Damien Burns. To the delight of Burns, his Dubawi filly out of...

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...

Lot 492, a chestnut daughter of Frankel (GB) consigned by Watership Down Stud, was knocked down for 1.6 million gns on the bid of Shadwell during the third and final session of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Thursday. Out of G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the yearling is from the same family as multiple group winner and G1 Windsor Park Plate third Gino Severini (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).   👸Shadwell Stud give 1.6 million gns for a daughter of Frankel at #TattsOctober...

A son of Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 260), a full-brother to G2 Champagne S. hero Iberian (Ire), became the latest seven-figure lot during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when selling to Sumbe for 1.1 million gns. Consigned by Ballylinch Stud where his sire stands, the colt is out of Bella Estrella (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who won the Listed Cairn Rouge S. and is a full-sister to G3 St Simon S. victress High Heeled (Ire), who ran third in both the G1 Oaks and the G1...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Insights features Book 1 millionaire Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Navan.   15.55 Navan, Mdn, €12,000, 2yo, 8fT Ballydoyle representative EUPHORIC (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is out of a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Fillies' Mile and GI Just A Game S. placegetter Fantasia (GB)...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry NEWMARKET, UK--Irish owner-breeder Trevor Stewart was once again basking in the glow of his golden goose Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) as the great mare's grandson by Ghaiyyath (Ire) led the way at 1.05 million gns on the opening day of Book 1 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. It was Godolphin, the leading buyer on the day, who landed the colt from the first crop of Ghaiyyath, consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud, to provide Stewart with yet another memorable result with the family...