Night of Thunder (Ire)

NEWMARKET, UK--Like a cyclist who has been struggling into a bitter headwind, only to find himself suddenly towed along by the slipstream of a juggernaut, Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale opened with all the startling momentum achieved, against every temperate expectation, in Book 2. Once again, the masks around the ring concealed gapes of incredulity as a brisk trade maintained all indices almost precisely in step with the returns last year, when the wider world was so very different a place. Aggregate turnover of 5,092,700gns, through the...

DONCASTER, UK--Having put on a brave enough face on the opening day, the first auction of an improvised European yearling sales calendar hastened to its conclusion on Wednesday as though downing a necessary but deeply unpleasant medicine. Horses were ushered through the ring at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale with a briskness that spoke of a pragmatic willingness, among vendors, to clarify the extent of the damage. The clearance rate for the session was duly maintained at 84% across the two days. Albeit trading a marginally smaller catalogue, it...

The catalogue for the Goffs Orby Sale, which includes a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to a trio of Group 1 winners out of Theatrical (Ire) mare Green Room (lot 176), is now online. Numerous blue-blooded pedigrees make up the two-day sale, with 474 yearlings set to go under the hammer on Sept. 29-30. Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is a €175,000 graduate of the Orby Sale. Ballylinch Stud will offer the 12th foal of the unraced Green Room, whose 2018 Galileo...

A foursome of wild cards have been added to the Tattersalls August Online Sale. Bidding opens on Aug. 12 at midday BST and ends on Aug. 14 at midday BST. Ger Lyons's Glenburnie Stables offers Curragh maiden winner and 90-rated Coill Avon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who is out of the G3 Lodge Park Express S. winner Czabo (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}). Donnacho O'Brien sends Limerick maiden winner Great House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won on his second start going 1 1/2 miles on June 29. Completing the wild cards are...

Completing a notable double on the York card for Mark Johnston and Franny Norton, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) outstayed the Niarchos Family's TDN Rising Star Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to land Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. Unbeaten at two and possibly in need of his comeback when runner-up in Newmarket's Listed Fairway S., the 13-2 shot tracked Ballydoyle's Cormorant (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) throughout the early stages but looked booked for second as Oisin Murphy sent Highest Ground to the front with...