Thunder Makes Noise At Tattersalls Ireland

FAIRYHOUSE, Ireland–The first frost of the year chilled the air at Tattersalls Ireland over the weekend, but consignors and hopeful buyers kept warm over a chilly few days by viewing a catalogue which had received the most subscriptions in the September Yearling Sale's history.

As the sale's graduates hit higher notes, so too do the turnover and the pedigrees of the individuals catalogued, which was demonstrated early on Tuesday. Lot 11 from the Castlebridge Consignment attracted plenty of attention on pedigree, being a three-parts brother to G1 Dubai World Cup hero Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and the first-crop son of Night of Thunder (Ire) clearly matched on physical, as he drew a winning bid of €180,000 from Anthony Stroud. It is a family Stroud and his client, Godolphin, know well, having raced the colt's dual Group 1-winning sire, and having bred and raced his champion grandsire Dubawi (Ire). Stroud said, “He is a nice example of the sire; a well-balanced, easy-moving horse.”

Despite the larger catalogue, trade on day one was tepid. Though 23% more horses were offered than last year, the opening day's turnover dropped by 8% to €5,171,000, with decreases in average of 13% (€25,224) and median of 17% (€20,000). Larger catalogues rarely maintain the same strength and depth, and this was likely a factor in the dropping figures, while the often-cited selective market was mentioned several times, as was the lighter pockets of breeze-up consignors.

The Italians are often aggressive shoppers at this sale, but their activity on day one was noticeably light. In 2017, Italian buyers signed for 15 lots in the opening session, while on Tuesday, they accounted for just eight lots sold. Alduino Botti is a regular buyer at Tattersalls Ireland and spent €127,000 on one day last year, compared to just €30,000 on Tuesday.

American investment and ownership continue to grow in Ireland, however, and Eamon Reilly of BBA Ireland bought two lots on Tuesday for Bobs Edwards's e5 Racing. Reilly was the underbidder of the day's top lot, and he was somewhat consoled when successful in buying lot 193, a popular son of Kodiac (GB) for €100,000. Pinhooked by consignors Lynn Lodge Stud as a €60,000 foal, the March-born colt is out of a half-sister to G1 Metropolitan H. winner Opinion (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), from the extended family of G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Priory Belle (Ire) (Priolo) and champion 2-year-old filly Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). Reilly said, “He looks a nice, sharp 2-year-old type and comes from a good Ballylinch family. His trainer, and that of the filly, is yet undecided.”

Reilly had struck early for lot 3, a half-sister to Lady Prancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), had who achieved a stakes placing on her first U.S. start since the catalogue was printed. Bred and sold by Tally-Ho Stud for €48,000, the yearling daughter of the ill-fated Society Rock (Ire) may eventually be destined for a career Stateside, given that she comes from the family of Grade I winner Almanaar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and U.S. champion 2-year-old filly Brave Raj (Rajab).

The rise of Showcasing (GB) is not unlike that of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, his one-time fee of £4,500 rising to £35,000 this season. His Ballyphilip Stud-bred son, Venture (Ire), topped the 2017 edition of this sale and this week, Whitsbury Stud were rewarded for sending their homebred filly (lot 188) out of Vitta's Touch (Touch Gold). Offered by Castledillon Stud, the half-sister to two Italian stakes performers was knocked down to Dermot Farrington at €85,000 and the agent afterwards confirmed that the bay filly was destined for the Manton base of his father-in-law, Martyn Meade.

Tuesday saw pinhookers experience mixed fortunes, but one consignor who had cause for celebration was Castlehyde Stud, whose War Command colt (lot 216) improved from a €38,000 foal to an €80,000 yearling. Bought by Stroud Coleman and Jonjo O'Neill, he is one of just three consigned this week by Coolmore's dual-purpose stallion farm in Fermoy, County Cork, which welcomed a new manager at the end of last year in John Kennedy. Earlier known for his work with Yeomanstown Stud, Kennedy was part of the Castlehyde team who began a new pinhooking venture for the farm last winter and he explained,

“We began a new pinhooking initiative last year to support our young stallions and it was great to see this colt return a strong sales price for his promising sire.”

One of the most exciting first-season sires of 2019 is Golden Horn (GB), who had just one filly catalogued this week (lot 115). Tom Dascombe bought her on spec, with bloodstock agent Ed Sackville keen to express that the €78,000 filly was for sale.

“She is a lovely filly with size and scope, by an exciting young stallion and outstanding racehorse. She comes from a top female family which was kept current last weekend with Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy)'s Group 1 win.”

The filly's family is, indeed, a model of consistency, her dam Simonetta (Ire) (Lil's Boy) placed at listed level, while the second dam won both the G3 Athasi S. and G3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial. Other notable names to feature on the black-type heavy page include G1 Dewhurst S. victor Intense Focus; champion 3-year-old Soldier Of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Gran Criterium winner Sholokhov (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

Curragh trainer Michael O'Callaghan attracted attention for his high-profile breeze-up buys earlier in the year, and the former 2-year-old consignor signed for six yearlings on the opening day costing a total €244,000. His purchases ranged from a €5,000 colt (lot 105) from the first crop of sprint shuttler Brazen Beau (Aus), to a €78,000 colt from Croom House Stud (lot 184). The latter's sire, Power (GB), never returned to Ireland from his shuttle to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, where his dam's half-brother, Steinbeck (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), won the G1 Windsor Park Horlicks Plate. G1 Adelaide Cup victor Water Boatman (Ire) (Main Reef {GB}) features further down the page, along with top-class filly Nannina (GB) (Medicean {GB}).

Many were curious to see if burnt fingers of breeze-up consignors would stay lowered this sale season, but John Cullinan of Horse Park Stud, who buys and sells with Roger Marley of Church Farm, seemed to be keeping the faith as he spent €110,000 within the first 20 lots of the sale. His first significant purchase was lot 17, one of just two yearlings by Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) offered this week, bred by China Horse Club out of G2 Queen Mary S. second Once Chance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The bay colt cost Cullinan €70,000 and on the subject of his spend, he said, “We are being more discerning in what we buy this year and though we will probably buy fewer numbers, we will maintain the quality we've always bought. This colt's dam was very fast and though he's on the small side, he's by the most promising first-season sire. I hope he's as fast as he looks.”

Quality certainly runs in the colt's family, the third dam having produced multiple Group/Grade 1 winner Spinning World (Nureyev), as well as the dam of Irish champion 2-year-old colt Pathfork.

Cullinan and Marley have offered many talented performers at the breeze-up sales, including this year's Group 3 winner Comedy (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), whom they bought for €21,000 as a yearling. Trained by Karl Burke, she raced for a partnership of Barbara Keller, Alastair Donald and David Redvers and the latter is hoping his luck with her sire continues, after the Qatar Racing manager parted with €78,000 for lot 251 from Deerpark Stud. The late April foal is a half-sister to two winners, out of the listed-placed mare Aunt Nicola (GB) (Reel Buddy), herself a half-sister to stakes winner Electric Feel (GB) (Firebreak {GB}).

The second session of the September Yearling Sale begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.