Images courtesy of Tattersalls
The colt was one of three lots sold for seven figures on the day, with all three by Dubawi (Ire) as Day 1 ended relatively on par with the same session last year. The clearance rate dipped slightly to 83 per cent (it was 85 per cent on this day last year). The average was down 2 per cent to 260,353gns (AU$497,000), while the median climbed six per cent to 180,000gns (AU$344,000).
Sun Bloodstock, who have significant interests in Australia through Sun Stud, were the breeder of the top-priced colt out of Alina (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was purchased for 65,000gns (AU$124,000) back in 2013. She has already produced G1 St James’s Palace S. winner Barney Roy (GB) and continues to deliver the goods, as Hazelwood Bloodstock's Adrian and Philippa O’Brien secured a terrific price for her latest colt.
At first, Alastair Donald took on the might of Godolphin in the bidding war for the colt and then the Coolmore team joined the fray. But Sheikh Mohammed had Lot 148 picked out as his best for the day and wasn't going home without him according to Godolphin's agent Anthony Stroud.
“He’s really athletic and a really good mover. Sheikh Mohammed picked him out and it was his favourite of today."
“He’s really athletic and a really good mover. Sheikh Mohammed picked him out and it was his favourite of today." - Anthony Stroud
“Night of Thunder, being a son of Dubawi, is doing really well at stud and we have Too Darn Hot now and he’s a very exciting stallion to have. It all goes back to Dubai Millennium, a fantastic racehorse who Sheikh Mohammed feels particularly proud of and attached to, and quite rightly.
He added, “Coolmore are wonderful judges and fantastic at what they do, so to be honest being in their company is an honour.”
David O’Callaghan, representing Sun Bloodstock, said it was a great result for the breeder, who have retained Alina's 2-year-old colt named Thames River (GB) (Free Eagle {Ire}) and also has her listed-placed daughter Wisdom Mind (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in training in Ireland with Joseph O’Brien.
"He was very popular and once you get to a million you don’t really know what’s going to happen. But all the right players were there and all the noises were there but you don’t like to think that can happen. It’s great for the guys, they spend a lot of money, so it’s great to see them get a return," he said.
“He was born that way and every day he’s got better and better. Adrian (O'Brien - Hazelwood Bloodstock) has always said he’s a star, but you don’t believe that until you get here and everything comes together, the x-rays and scopes. It’s an unreal situation.”
Lot 148 - Dubawi (Ire) x Alina (Ire) (colt)
Alina, who lost a Dubawi colt this year and was given the year off to recover from colic surgery, is one of 12 mares Sun Bloodstock have in Europe.
Sun Bloodstock also made three purchases during the opening session, signing for a Galileo half-brother to top-class sprinter Art Connoisseur (Ire) (Lucky Story) (Lot 123) at 200,000gns (AU$382,000) and a Kingman (GB) daughter of Adonesque (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) (Lot 138) for 120,000gns (AU$229,000). In partnership with Qatar Racing, the operation also purchased a colt by Showcasing (GB) (Lot 106) for 120,000gns (AU$229,000).
Sheikh Mohammed had Lot 148 picked out as his best for the day and wasn't going home without him
Redvers, Ryan secure Dubawi colts
David Redvers Bloodstock, representing Qatar Racing, had a busy day, securing three yearlings, including the equal second top lot, the third Dubawi foal out of four-time Group 1 winner The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}), for an even 1 million gns (AU$1.91 million).
The Fugue has produced the unraced 3-year-old filly Fughetta (GB) and the 2-year-old filly Counterpoint (GB), but Redvers said this colt, Lot 77, was different to his two elder siblings.
Lot 77 - Dubawi (Ire) x The Fugue (GB) (colt)
"He’s very much like daddy. He vetted very well, he has good, clean knees, which for a Dubawi is pretty key.
''If he’s half as good as mummy and daddy he’s going to be a very exciting horse."
''If he’s half as good as mummy and daddy he’s going to be a very exciting horse'' - David Redvers
The colt, offered by Watership Down Stud, will follow his dam into the stable of John Gosden.
"It would be silly to send him anywhere else,” Redvers said. “We’re excited to add him to the team.”
Redvers also purchased a New Approach (Ire) colt out of the unraced mare but excellent producer Scribonia (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) for 140,000gns (AU$268,000) and a Galileo (Ire) filly out of the Listed Bosra Sham S. winner Terror (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for 550,000gns (AU$1.05 million).
Kevin Ryan purchased Lot 124 on behalf of the man who raced Dubawi, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
The other seven-figure Dubawi colt went to trainer Kevin Ryan on behalf of the man who raced Dubawi, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, again for 1 million gns (AU$1.91 million).
Lot 124, consigned by Newsells Park Stud, is a half-brother to G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) as well as G1 St James’s Palace S., winner Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
“Sheikh Mohammed Obaid loved the horse and he knows more about the sire than anyone,” Ryan said. “He had a lot of similarities to the sire when he was walking around there and we’re delighted to buy him. He has the pedigree, by a great sire and it’s wonderful to buy a horse like that. He’s the most gorgeous horse and a lovely individual.”
Lot 124, one of seven Dubawi's to sell for 1 million gns (AU$1.91 million)
Aquis, Spicer busy on Day 1
In terms of Australian connections at the sale, Aquis Farm was involved in two purchases on the day. It secured Lot 121, a Galileo (Ire) half-brother to G1 Florida Derby winner Materiality (USA) (Afleet Alex {USA}), for 325,000gns (AU$621,000) with Gunther, and also a Fastnet Rock filly, Lot 112, with American Todd Pletcher for 110,000gns (AU$210,000), one of three by the Coolmore shuttle stallion to sell for the session.
Spicer Thoroughbreds was also active in picking up Lot 27, a Camelot (GB) colt out of She's Mine (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) consigned by New England Stud for 140,000gns (AU$268,000).
"He's a really nice staying colt. He's a lovely big moving rangy horse that is probably going to take a bit of time, but we are after those staying types in Australia," Brad Spicer said. "We’ve got some really good prizemoney for the Cups back home, so hopefully in two or three years' time, we are talking about him towards a Melbourne or Caulfield Cup.
"It gives you a bit of confidence when you buy these breeds and they can handle the hard Australian tracks."
"It gives you a bit of confidence when you buy these breeds and they can handle the hard Australian tracks." - Brad Spicer
Spicer will be heading home to Australia now but indicated he was keen on a couple more colts later in the sale.
John Camilleri, the breeder of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), was the underbidder on the highest-priced filly of the day, Lot 105 by Frankel (GB) of Wadyhatta (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), and thus bred on very similar lines to G1 Epsom Derby winner Australia (GB). She went for 850,000gns (AU$1.62 million) to Laurent Benoit on behalf of Georg von Opel and Coolmore.
Lot 105 was the highest priced filly of the day selling for 850,000gns (AU$1.62 million)
The much-anticipated filly by Galileo (Ire) out of Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) was withdrawn on the day of the sale.
In terms of other Australasian-based sires, Coolmore's No Nay Never (Ire) had four lots sell for an average of 285,000gns (AU$544,000), there were three by Darley's Territories (Ire) which sold for an average of 65,000gns (AU$124,000) and two by Rich Hill's Vadamos (Fr), for an average 87,500gns (AU$167,000). Darley's Exceed And Excel sold one lot for 180,000gns (AU$344,000, Arrowfield's Shalaa (Ire) had one lot sell for 350,000gns (AU$669,000) and Rosemont Stud's Starspangledbanner had one sell for 140,000gns (AU$268,000).
