Written by Paul Vettise
Images courtesy of Tattersalls
Aquis Farm landed a knockout blow during the third day of the Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale to secure the session-topper out of Juddmonte Farms’ consignment with Demi O’Byrne bidding on behalf of the Australian operation.
Following a bidding duel with Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown and eventual under-bidder Timmy Hyde, O’Byrne had the final say on the Frankel (GB) filly Time Saver (GB) at 750,000 gns (AU$1,425,000), during a session in which Australian agent Damon Gabbedy and Widden Stud also got involved.
"She is for Aquis. She is a very good-looking filly and breeding plans have not been decided, but she might well be bred in Europe," O’Byrne said.
The Juddmonte Farms consignment is normally the highlight of the third day of the Tattersalls December Mares' Sale and the draft of fillies from Prince Khalid’s leading families were again to the fore, realising 2,809,000 gns (AU$5,337,100) for the 24 lots sold.
Time Saver is a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar {USA}) and Passage Of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}), herself the dam of Group 2 winner and Little Avondale Stud shuttle stallion sire Time Test (GB).
Time Saver is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Passage Of Time (GB), the dam of Group 2 winner and Little Avondale Stud shuttle stallion sire Time Test (GB) (pictured)
She is also a half-sibling to the Group 2 winner Father Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and to his Listed winning brother Continuum (GB). The family also includes the four-time Group 1 winner Twice Over (GB) (Observatory {USA}).
Owned by the Hong Kong-based Fung family, Aquis has come a long way since its establishment in 2015 initially at Canungra in Queensland and at Seymour in Victoria. Aquis took over the management of Emirates Park in New South Wales in 2019.
Blandford’s double strike
Having persevered to his limit for the top lot of the day, Richard Brown wasted no time securing consolation, promptly buying the next two into the ring for an aggregate 560,000 gns (AU$1,064,000).
With regard to the 260,000 gns (AU$494,000) he outlaid for Time Tunnel (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), he was quickly asking himself whether consolation was too inadequate a word.
For he had been required to give just about a third as much for essentially the same page he had missed out on for the session topper, who is a half-sister to Time Tunnel’s dam Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar {USA}).
Time Tunnel has proved frustrating on the track for Dermot Weld this year, finishing second four times in seven maidens.
“I went as far as I could for the first one but actually this is exactly the same pedigree so with hindsight I’d have to be absolutely delighted,” Brown said. “Obviously you’re buying into a young part of the family and there’s a lot to come.
“I went as far as I could for the first one but actually this is exactly the same pedigree so with hindsight I’d have to be absolutely delighted." - Richard Brown
“Look, buying into these Juddmonte families makes obvious sense because they’re as good a breeders as there are.”
He then went to 300,000 gns (AU$570,000) for Wild Rye (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a maiden winner for Pascal Bary at Le Touquet this summer.
The 3-year-old is out of Imbabala (GB) (Zafonic {USA}), whose seven other success stories include G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Zambezi Sun (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Group 2 winner Kalabar (GB) (Kahyasi {GB}).
“Again, there’s a huge amount happening in the page,” Brown said. “The first dam nearly fills the whole page as it is and I don’t think it takes a huge leap of faith to think that she will do so in the next five years or so.”
Wild Rye’s pedigree received a timely recent update with her half-sister Shared Account (GB) (Dansili {GB}) now the dam of G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Pocket Square (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
Australia bound
Damon Gabbedy went to 130,000 gns (AU$247,000) for the Juddmonte-offered Racine (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who will be heading to Australia.
“She’s to go to one of Victoria’s leading studs, Burnewang North, for Cathy Hains,” he said.
“This is Cathy’s first buy here, but she was keen to tap into one of these good Juddmonte pedigrees. We did some research into the mare, apparently she had quite a lot of ability.
“This is Cathy’s first buy here, but she was keen to tap into one of these good Juddmonte pedigrees." - Damon Gabbedy
“She’ll be a great outcross, by an up-and-coming, budding champion sire. And of course she’s a daughter of a Group 1 winner, so that’s a major upgrade.”
Her dam Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) won the Prix Marcel Boussac in the care of Criquette Head and has produced Listed winner Variable (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) among her previous foals.
Widden partners with Tweenhills
Not for the first time was the unofficial Anglo-Australian partnership of Tweenhills and Widden Stud seen in action this week as David Redvers kept the momentum going after the final Juddmonte filly left the ring to sign for Orlaith (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) at 185,000 gns (AU$351,500).
The two studs already share the shuttle stallion Zoustar and it is for him that the 2-year-old was selected as a future mate, whether next year or 2021.
Scottish-based trainer Iain Jardine has already proved himself to be an adept handler of Thoroughbreds and he has guided Orlaith, who was bred by Grange Stud and originally registered in the ownership of Susan Magnier, to two victories this season, including the Listed St Hugh’s S.
“We will explore the option of racing on,” Redvers said. “Then we could either cover her later in the spring or next year. She’s a fast, precocious daughter of Fastnet Rock and it’s the perfect cross for Zoustar.”
The Juddmonte consignment put the session back on its feet, contributing to overall turnover of 5,991,300 gns (AU$11,383,470), up 14 per cent, at an average price of 30,568 gns (AU$58,079), an increase of 19 per cent and the median rose 40 per cent to 14,000 gns (AU$26,600).
