Triple Group 2 winner Spanish Whisper smashed the record for a thoroughbred sold through an Australian online auction after being purchased for NZ$1,202,500 on Gavelhouse Plus by Daniel Nakhle and Darren Brady, who managed to ward off strong international competition to buy out shareholders in the mare.

“We’ve bred and raced her, fallen in love with her and I have a big grin on my face from having been able to secure her tonight,” Nakhle said.

“We looked around the international market for mares with similar credentials and at the price I think we’ve got great value.

“Darren and I have invested heavily in the family with an outstanding half-sister by Savabeel on the ground and her dam is going back to Savabeel, we now just need to do some homework and choose a stallion in Australia for her to visit before she comes home to New Zealand.”

Originally raced in New Zealand by Nakhle with co-breeders Elias Nakhle and Brady, Spanish Whisper won the G2 Matamata Breeders' S. and placed in the G1 Diamond S.

She then transitioned to the Lindsay Park Racing team where Darren Thomas’ Seymour Bloodstock joined in the ownership and the syndicate enjoyed big stage success at Flemington with wins in the G2 Kewney S. and G2 Let’s Elope S., reaping from her Australian deeds over $380,000.

“We have really enjoyed racing her with Darren and the Lindsay Park team and now share in the ownership of others with them so we can still look forward to cheering on runners in the Seymour Bloodstock colours,” Nakhle said.

“I know it’s a lot of money but I honestly think she is better bought than sold at that, I hope the boys consider my favourite Danehill-line horse Merchant Navy as a potential mate,” said Thomas.

“I reckon Pilko (Mark Pilkington) and I would be stitched on buyers of the resultant progeny if offered in the 2023 Karaka Sale.”

G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) held the previous price record, having sold for NZ$670,000 earlier this year to the China Horse Club.

“The feedback on her as a type was very bullish and she was easy to recommend so it was no surprise to have clients bidding from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Europe as well as New Zealand,” gavelhouse.com General Manager Haylie Martin said.

“This was certainly the fairest approach in terms of transitioning the ownership from the racing into the breeding phase of her career and obviously the safest with her being able to stay in the paddock at Newhaven Park.”

The 6-year-old son of Nicconi already has a resume the envy of most racehorses, having recently added the title of Australian Racehorse of the Year to his on track successes in the G1 The Galaxy, Moir S., VRC Sprint Classic and TJ Smith S. over the past 18 months.

Having been through four previous trainers before landing with Chris Waller at the start of last year, he is a horse that has presented his fair set of challenges. No-one is more aware of that than Lyons, but he still has complete and utter faith in the ability of Nature Strip.

"It’s a bit of the Australian way, people wanting to knock the tall poppy, but he's only finished further back than fourth twice in his 25 starts. He's won 14 races and four Group 1s and he's a very honest and consistent horse," Lyons told TDN AusNZ.

"He doesn't win all the time, because he is not Winx or Black Caviar. He's a very, very good horse with chinks in his armour and when everything falls into place, he's a very hard horse to beat."

Nature Strip's reputation as a racetrack enigma is mainly due to his racing manners. He has tended to overdo it in his races and it has taken a considerable effort for Waller and his team to get the horse to race more tractably in order to help him realise his potential.

"He's got his quirks and that's always in the back of everyone's minds, including the owners as well. He does have to have things go his own way. He can tend to be a bit one dimensional in that regard and you pretty much know the fate pretty early in the race with him," Lyons said.

"The extra time Chris has spent with him has made a big difference. Chris was able to do the work with him, as well as his team, including Stuey, who rides him all the time. They were able to get him to settle that first 200 metres out of the barrier.

"Chris has said time and time again, horses can only run flat out for 400 metres and when you are running 10 second furlongs, they can't just keep going. He's got to harness that. He has to cruise in that high 10 or early 11 second furlong space because if he starts running those early 10 second furlongs, he will run out of petrol tickets."

It seemed Waller had indeed worked his magic on Nature Strip, when, after placing a creditable fourth in last year's edition of The Everest, he came out to post dominant wins in the G1 VRC Sprint Classic later in the spring and then the G1 TJ Smith S. in the autumn.

He was clearly the best sprinter in the country and having been snapped up to represent TAB in its slot in this year's The Everest, he was posted as a short-priced favourite for the race. There were even odds posted on Nature Strip progressing through his spring campaign unbeaten.

A mixed campaign to date

However, never renowned as a horse who peaks first-up from a spell, he was defeated as a $1.45 favourite first-up by Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick in early September.

His build up to The Everest got that even more complicated when he dumped James McDonald at the start of a trial at Randwick, requiring a second trial ahead of the G2 Premiere S. to satisfy stewards.

He was posted a $2.20 favourite in the Premiere, but was one of the first horses beaten, fading to finish fourth, some 4l adrift of the winner Libertini (I Am Invincible), who he meets again on Saturday.

Lyons is not completely surprised that Nature Strip has been below his best in those first two runs, and said a longer than expected winter spell may have counted against him early in the spring

"It's interesting because if Brisbane had have been on, he would have gone there. He's a big gross horse, and he had nearly five months off and that was a long spell for him," he said.

"It's only my opinion, but being that big horse, he only gets better as he gets into a campaign. Until he actually gets to a race, he doesn't get 100 per cent fit that's why he improves with each run."

Not helping that, according to Lyons, is Nature Strip's pure competitive instinct when put in a race situation.

"You just have to look at the horse in the mounting yard, and when he goes to the start, he is like a kid's pony. But he gets white line fever. As soon as he gets into those barriers, all he wants to do is race everybody and go as fast as he can. Waller and those guys have been getting that out of him and getting him to relax when he needs to," he said.

The Kiwi influence

Owning any good horse can be stressful, but the style of Nature Strip's career has meant he is more of a rollercoaster than most for Lyons. Keeping him grounded has been his fellow owners, including former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and New Zealand businessmen Patrick Harrison and Peter Kean.

"The majority shareholders in the horse are all good mates of mine and we've got three Kiwis in there. They are fantastic blokes. They have taught us a fair bit, that win lose or draw, we all end up the same. We are all still in a happy frame of mind," he said.

"They have probably taken the pressure off us. It seems to be the Kiwi way. We can learn a bit about that as Australians in terms of sportsmanship. You only have to look at the Cricket World Cup result last year. We wouldn't have taken it as well as they did. It’s about competing in the best 1200 metre race in the world and that is a big buzz in itself."

Lyons admits that buzz has been somewhat dulled this year by the fact that only one of the owners will be trackside at Randwick on Saturday, while Lyons himself remains in Melbourne under local lockdown.

"It’s a totally different experience. Last year was our first Everest and the whole gang was there. They do a fabulous job promoting The Everest and it’s a great experience. Peter V'landys has done a terrific job and the way they look after you and the standard of the hospitality, it’s fabulous. The whole week is a great experience," he said.

"Not being there after being there last year is a real downer. We are now locked up and can't even have people around to watch the race. Jack, the one owner who lives in Sydney, he is grabbing all the glory and enjoying himself and good luck to him.

"It's exciting thinking about the race, and being able to watch the race, but it feels hollow not being there."

Regardless of the circumstances, Lyons is hopeful Nature Strip can put his best forward.

"The nerves are jangling a bit, but the horse is, I believe, terrific. He's got over his problems, his coat has improved and the reports from Chris are excellent. He said he worked brilliantly on Tuesday and everybody has got their fingers crossed and are hoping for the best," he said.

Stackhouse rides outsider The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday's $5 million handicap for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, and while the ex-pat Kiwi is still searching for that first Group 1 win after 13 years in the saddle, he is in the best big-race form of his career.

Last Saturday, Stackhouse rode Chapada (Bullet Train {GB}) to victory in the G2 Herbert Power S., in what was the first Group 2 success of his career, and while the Michael Moroney stayer's drop to 50.5kg in the Cup on Saturday means he is unable to take the ride, he has been able to get aboard The Chosen One, who was the last horse to make the field when final acceptances were taken on Wednesday.

That was Stackhouse's fourth stakes win of the season so far, while, in a measure in the rise of opportunities that 2020/21 has presented for the 30-year-old, he also rode in three Group 1 races on the Caulfield card, with a best finish of fourth on Crosshaven (Smart Missile) in the Caulfield Guineas.

"It's great for the confidence, you get the chance to step up to the next level, and you know you belong as a jockey in those races. You are competing against those other top jockeys, and you know you are against the best," Stackhouse told TDN AusNZ.

"It’s important to be able to ride those races week in and week out to get that confidence up."

Saturday will be the ninth Group 1 race which Stackhouse has ridden in this season, already a career-high just three months into the new campaign. He finished third on So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 Makybe Diva S., one of four times he has been placed in his 28 previous Group 1 rides.

The desire for that breakthrough Group 1 success burns brightly within Stackhouse.

"It’s something I definitely want to have on my CV. It’s something I work hard for to try and achieve," he said.

From Canterbury to Caulfield

Stackhouse learned his horsemanship through showjumping before he rode trackwork for Canterbury trainers Sharon and Ricky Donnelly to start out his career. He worked for Mark Walker at Matamata for some time but his weight became an issue and he returned to work with Pam Gerard at Ashburton, primarily as a jumps jockey.

Having got his weight back under control, he then made a considerable splash as an apprentice on the flat in the South Island, outriding his claim. He arrived in Australia in 2011 as a 20-year-old to take up a position with Peter Moody in Victoria.

He made an immediate impression, riding 92 winners in his first full season, 28 of them for Moody, and was then third in his first Australian Group 1 ride aboard the Moody-trained Golden Archer in the G1 Lightning S. and second in the G1 Schweppes Oaks aboard stablemate Grand Daughter (Redoute's Choice).

Stackhouse continued to ride winners consistently, but when Moody suddenly stepped away from training in 2016, the jockey admits the path to success became that little bit more unclear.

"I was pretty new and pretty raw when I first came over from the South Island of New Zealand. It's not big racing over there and I just wanted to do as well as I could. I was lucky enough to come and ride for Peter Moody, but I did get a bit lost when Peter stopped training. It took me a while to find my feet again," he said.

The winners kept coming, but the opportunities to ride in the big races dried up. Stackhouse had a stint in Mauritius in 2018, and won a locally classified Group 1 race, but that desire to get back on the big stage was always there.

Have saddle, will travel

At the start of the 2019/20 season, he took a decision to prove himself again to local trainers through sheer hard work, hitting the road to ride wherever he could in order to prove himself worthy of being considered among the best jockeys in Victoria.

"It’s a very tough and competitive environment in Victoria. You see at these Saturday meetings in the country, there are five or six Group 1 jockeys riding," he said.

"I set out last season to really make a big go of being consistent and ride as much as I could to try and get myself to the level I am now. Having done that, I can now focus on these big occasions and better rides, and hopefully more opportunities will come from there."

Stackhouse rode in an Australian high 1134 races in 2019/20 and his 138 winners were enough to place him fourth in the Australian premiership and second in the all-Victorian premiership, behind Jye McNeil.

Just over 18.4 per cent of Stackhouse's rides last season were on metropolitan tracks, but as a measure of the opportunities he has created, that mark has lifted to 33 per cent so far in 2020/21.

Chosen path for Cup

While he would have loved to be on the in-form Chapada, he is happy to have secured the ride on The Chosen One, who while well beaten in the Herbert Power S. last week, did win that race with some authority last year before finishing ninth in the 2019 Caulfield Cup.

"My manager has been talking with them over the past couple of weeks. They made a call between myself and Luke Nolen," he said.

"It’s a bit of work to get down to the 53.5kg. But I have been working on my weight for the past couple of months, so I can take these opportunities. It’s only an extra half a kilo from last week, so it’s not too bad."

While the market has The Chosen One marked as one of the outsiders in the race, Stackhouse feels the 5-year-old can make an impression, especially after drawing well in barrier three.

"Murray Baker does a fantastic job of getting these horses ready for these big occasions. He's drawn a good barrier for once, which will help him. I won't have to drag him all the way back from a bad barrier. He's got the blinkers back on, which might spark him back up a bit," he said.

"He's won at the track and distance which is a big plus. He won the Herbert Power last year really well and ran well in the Caulfield Cup as well. He just had a bad gate and had to go back and go around them.

"I spoke to Murray this morning. I went to Flemington and gave the horse a gallop. He gave me a really good feel. Murray talked me through a few things and agrees that from that gate we'll look to get him in the first eight, without being too close and look to hold a position."

If Stackhouse is looking for inspiration, he needn't look any further back than three years ago, when a fellow journeyman Kiwi, Cory Parish, caused a huge upset on the Lindsay Park-trained Boom Time (Flying Spur) in the 2017 Caulfield Cup.

No. 1 - Nature Strip (Nicconi x Strikeline (Desert Sun {GB}))

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: James McDonald

Barrier: 5

Bred by Golden Grove Stud Farm, Nature Strip is out of Strikeline, whose six wins included the G3 Ian McEwen Trophy, W.W. Cockram S. and How Now S. She also placed in the G2 Norman Carlyon S. and Caulfield Sprint.

Strikeline is out of the Listed winner Strike High (Pre Emptive Strike {Can}) and is a half-sister to the G3 Eclipse S. winner Bashful Girl (Perugino {USA}). Another half-sibling is the champion jumper Bashboy (Perugino {USA}).

Strikeline’s six foals to race include three winners, two of them at stakes level. The Barrister (Star Witness), two years older than Nature Strip, won the Listed Fernhill H. as a 2-year-old and went on to perform well in Hong Kong.

Since producing Nature Strip in 2014, Strikeline has produced the unraced Miss Strikepower (Nicconi) and a 4-year-old colt by Shamus Award. She was served by Addictive Nature last year.

No. 2 - Trekking (Street Cry (Ire) x Outdoor (Redoute’s Choice))

Trainer: James Cummings

Jockey: Josh Parr

Barrier: 4

Bred by Godolphin, Trekking is out of Redoute’s Choice mare Outdoor, who is a daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner and former champion filly Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}).

It is an international family that includes the two-time G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II winner Viva Pataca (GB) (Marju {Ire}), the dual G2 Santa Anita Gabriel H. winner Brave Act (GB) (Persian Bold {Ire}) and the G3 Leopardstown Ballycorus S. winner Leitir Mor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

Outdoor is also responsible for Listed Macau Derby winner Winnie Star (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), while she has a yearling filly by Ribchester (Ire) and is currently in foal to Street Boss (USA).

No. 3 - Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt x Pinocchio (Encosta De Lago))

Trainer: Les Bridge

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

Barrier: 6

Bred by Wallings Bloodstock, Classique Legend was purchased at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Carmel Size for $400,000 from the draft of Tyreel Stud.

He is a half-brother to the G2 HKJC Sprint winner Aethero (Sebring) with their dam Pinocchio a sister to the former champion 3-year-old and five-time Group 1 winner Racing To Win and the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner and sire Purrealist.

The G2 Magic Night S. winner Mardi’s Magic (Kenny’s Best Paul) and the stakes winner Our Crown Mistress (Star Witness) are also members of this family.

Pinocchio has a 2-year-old colt by So You Think (NZ) who is named Fairy Legend was purchased by Legend Racing for $1.1 million at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while she foaled a filly by I Am Invincible this season.

No. 4 - Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega (Ire) x Fast Fleet (Fastnet Rock))

Trainer: Anthony and Sam Freedman

Jockey: Sam Clipperton

Barrier: 8

Santa Ana Lane was bred by Patinack Farm and was sold by Rosemont Stud for $80,000 at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Flemington Bloodstock. He is the first foal to race out of Fastnet Rock mare Fast Fleet, who was successful twice up to 1500 metres.

She is a half-sister to the G3 Waikato Guineas winner Blimey O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and the dam of the South African Group winners Doublemint (SAF) (Twice Over {GB}) and Petala (SAF) (Captain Al {SAF}).

Fast Fleet has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Darley shuttler Frosted (USA) who is named Inclement and was sold to Spendthrift Australia for $650,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Widden Stud's draft.

Fast Fleet also has a yearling filly by Zoustar and foaled a colt by I Am Invincible this season.

No. 5 - Behemoth (All Too Hard x Penny Banger (Zedrich))

Trainer: David Jolly

Jockey: Nash Rawiller

Barrier: 2

Behemoth was bred by Wallings Bloodstock and was originally sold by Tyreel Stud at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale to Heritage Bloodstock for $120,000, before being purchased by Grand Syndicates for $6000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from the draft of Riversdale Stud.

He is one of two winners from five to race out of Schweppervescence Sprint H. winner Penny Banger. Out of Miss Firecracker (Twig Ruler), Penny Banger is a half-sister to stakes winner Master Mix (Surtee) and a sister to Zedfire, who is responsible for the stakes-placed Zetorio (Oratorio).

Penny Banger has had one foal since Behemoth in 3-year-old filly Danny’s Sparkle (Scissor Kick).

No. 6 - Bivouac (Exceed And Excel x Dazzler (More Than Ready {USA}))

Trainer: James Cummings

Jockey: Glen Boss

Barrier: 10

Bred by Godolphin, Bivouac is out of Dazzler, making him a brother to dual stakes winner Coruscate.

Dazzler is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel), who is the dam of Group 2 winner, Group 1-placed and Eureka Stud sire Encryption, while she is also a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and White Robe Lodge sire Ghibellines.

Dazzler is out of Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}), who won the G1 Sires’ Produce S. Her dam is Camarena (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), who won the G1 Queensland Derby and is a half-sister to the dam of four-time Group 1 winner and sire Sepoy.

Dazzler has a 2-year-old filly named Glittery (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and a yearling colt by Lonhro while she foaled a filly by Exceed And Excel this year.

No. 7 - Gytrash (Lope De Vega (Ire) x Miss Barley (Fastnet Rock))

Trainer: Gordon Richards

Jockey: Jason Collett

Barrier: 7

Bred by Packaging Investments, Haltrow and Glastonbury Farms, Gytrash was originally purchased for $70,000 at the 2016 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale by J Corcoran before being sold by Maluka Thoroughbreds to Gordon Richards for $40,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is out of the unraced Miss Barley, whose only other foal to race is the multiple winner Kiss Chasey (Husson {Arg}).

The dam is a half-sister to the Listed Keith Mackay S. winner Strawberry Storm (Thunder Gulch {USA}) and she is the grandam of G1 Thousand Guineas winner Odeum (Written Tycoon) and Listed Brian Crowley S. winner Goodfella (Snitzel).

The family also includes the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. winner and sire Danske (NZ), the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup winner Strawberry Boy (Redoute’s Choice) and the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Tippitaka (Red Ransom {USA}).

No. 8 - Eduardo (Host (Chi) x Blushing (Fantastic Light {USA}))

Trainer: Joseph Pride

Jockey: Rachel King

Barrier: 9

Eduardo was bred by Jane Kaufmann in Victoria, who retains a share of the ownership.

He is one of three winners from three foals to race for the Fantastic Light (USA) mare Blushing. Her other two winners are My Angus (Domesday) and Watch Me Blush (Keffelstein).

Eduardo’s grandam is Peggy Ann (NZ) (Bletchingly), who won seven races including the G3 QTC Lightning H. She is a daughter of Avon Angel (NZ) (Avon Valley {GB}), who won the G1 Rosemount Wines Classic and placed in the G1 George Ryder S.

No. 9 - Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral (Ire) x Pretty Penny (Encosta De Lago))

Trainer: Tony and Calvin McEvoy

Jockey: Tim Clark

Barrier: 1

Bred by Shadow Glen Stud, Dollar For Dollar is a daughter of Pretty Penny, the winner of six races and runner-up in the G3 Cockram S.

At stud, she has produced the G2 Zipping Classic winner Sertorius (Galileo {Ire}) and the Group 3 winner Clifton Red (Sebring), while she is also the dam of talented mare Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau).

Further back, this is also the family of the former crack 2-year-old and G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Tontonan (Showdown {GB}) as well as Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. winner Mihalic (Hard Spun {USA}).

Pretty Penny has a 2-year-old and a yearling filly by Coolmore shuttler American Pharoah (USA) and missed to Justify (USA) last season.

No. 10 - Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park (NZ) x Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}))

Trainer: Mike Moroney

Jockey: Tommy Berry

Barrier: 11

Tofane was bred by Gordon Cunningham, the founder and owner of respected New Zealand nursery Curraghmore, and was bought privately by Ballymore Stables.

She is the first foal to race out of Baggy Green. A winner herself, Baggy Green is a three-quarter sister to Group 1-winning mare Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and a half-sister to G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}).

The second dam is User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}), who won eight races including the G1 Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, St Leger and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

She produced eight winners from 10 foals to race including Group 3 winner Downtown (Ire) (Danehill {USA}).

Since Tofane was born in 2015, Baggy Green has produced No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) in 2016 and Bradman (NZ) (Pins) in 2017. She had another colt by Pins in 2017 and a colt by Reliable Man (GB) in 2018.

No. 11 - Libertini (I Am Invincible x Aloha (Encosta De Lago))

Trainer: Anthony Cummings

Jockey: Regan Bayliss

Barrier: 12

A Gerry Harvey homebred, and raced in partnership with John Singleton, Libertini is a half-sister to two winners with their dam the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Aloha.

The dam is out of the stakes winner Tennessee Midnight (Danehill {USA}), who is a three-quarter sister to the dual Group 1 winner Malaguerra (Magnus).

It is also the family of the G1 Champagne S. winner Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) and the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic winner My Emotion (NZ) (Savabeel).

Aloha has a 2-year-old sister and a yearling brother to Libertini, while she foaled another brother to Libertini this season who sadly died.

No. 12 - Haut Brion Her (Zoustar x One In A Million (Redoute’s Choice))

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Brenton Avdulla

Barrier: 3

Retained to race by her breeders' Three Bridges Thoroughbreds and Gary Johnston, Haut Brion Her is one of four winners from five to race out of Light Finger S. runner-up One In A Million, who is also responsible for multiple stakes winner Karacatis (Hussonet {USA}) and Listed scorer Shamillion (Shamardal {USA}).

Her second dam is Listed victor Happen (Zeditave), who herself is a sister to Eskimo Prince H. winner Major and a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 scorer Lightinthenite (Galileo {Ire}).

Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls

At A Glance

>> Anthony Stroud went to 360,000 gns for the Starspangledbanner colt, who was catalogued as Lot 1323 .

>> Australian buyer Spicer Thoroughbreds was also active, purchasing a colt by Sir Percy (GB) in partnership with agent Alex Elliott for 115,000 gns (AU$219,795) .

>> The overall tally for the Sale stood at 48,362,500 gns, (AU$92.42 million) just 136,500 gns (AU$260,851) adrift of last year.

>> The clearance rate remained high at 85 per cent, with 637 horses marked as sold (17 more than in 2019) from 747 offered.

>> The average was down just three per cent at 75,922 gns (AU$145,087) and the median dropped 10 per cent to 50,000 gns (AU$95,550).

>> The final session was almost a carbon copy of its counterpart 12 months ago, with 15,138,500 gns (AU$28.93 million) being spent on 208 horses at a slightly improved clearance rate of 87 per cent.

Incredible Book 2

The prevailing mood at Park Paddocks this week has been a mixture of relief and amazement at the level of trade which, across each of three Book 2 sessions, has come close to matching the record sale of 2019.

Whether there is enough depth to the buying bench ultimately is questionable but there has certainly been variety and a decent amount of international participation which, in this year particularly, is remarkable.

Ever since the start of the breeze-up season, the general approach from vendors has been one of pragmatism, with realistic reserves generally being set to allow horses to be bought and sold in order to move on to the next sector of yearlings.

Many consignors, when questioned on the state of the market prior to Book 2, expressed satisfaction that horses were being traded, even at a reduced rate, with most sales until now being down by between 20-40 per cent on last year. But during this week, trade bounced back to the strength that has been seen at Book 2 over the previous three years, when turnover has been consistently above the 48 million-guinea mark following a big leap from 2016.

“Book 2 has without a doubt benefitted from the momentum established at Book 1 and similar to last week, the buyers have consistently remarked on the quality of the stock being offered,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony at the conclusion of the Sale.

“As ever the consignors from Britain, Ireland, France and Germany have presented us with a catalogue of genuine quality and the buyers have demonstrated that, even in these challenging times, there is a global appetite for quality bloodstock in the sport of horseracing. Participation from throughout the Gulf region continues to be hugely influential and the sustained involvement from American, Australian and Hong Kong interests has also been notable alongside determined domestic involvement.”

Maktoum support

The top lot of the day came near the end of the session when Anthony Stroud went to 360,000 gns (AU$687,960) for Lot 1323, a colt by Starspangledbanner consigned from James Hanly’s Ballyhimikin Stud. The half-brother to stakes-placed Kodiak West (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is out of the winning Cadeaux Genereux (GB) mare Violet’s Gift (Ire).

Hanly, who also bred the colt, said, “We felt he was a very special horse all the way along and we love Starspangledbanner. I just want to thank Helen and Frisk [Jones] who do the daily hard work, and for minding this horse so well.”

He continued, “This is a family we have had forever. We bred every single horse on the page. They are all very fast horses so hopefully this one will continue and will add to the family. It’s lovely to be able to show horses such as this, it’s a pleasure to be around them.”

Stroud and his business partner Matt Coleman have been busy for a range of clients this week with a number of their 32 purchases being made on behalf of Godolphin. Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell operation bought 36 yearlings and Rabbah Bloodstock bought 17, leading to a conservative estimate that the Maktoum family and associates accounted for almost a quarter of the Book 2 turnover, following on from almost 20 million gns (AU$38.22 million) being spent by Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan during Book 1.

“We’re lucky to have the Sale going on and there has been a great vibe from lots of different buyers,” said Stroud. “I think we are all grateful to the Maktoum family for everything they’ve done for the industry and it just shows their true mettle—to support the Sale and to support people’s livelihoods—in times like this it gives one hope. All these breeders have to breed their mares next year.”

He added, “We can’t underestimate how much Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan have done. It’s quite humbling.”

Spicer jumps in

There have been an array of Australian buyers in action and Spicer Thoroughbreds stepped in on the final day of Book 2, securing a son of Lanwades Stud's Sir Percy for 115,000 gns (AU$219,795) from the draft of Lynn Lodge Stud.

The colt is out of Willow Beck (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), who is a half-sister to stakes winners Franklins Gardens (GB) (Halling {USA}), Polar Ben (GB) (Polar Falcon {USA}) and stakes placegetter Wood Chorus (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).

The extended family includes Group 1 winner Madam Gay (GB) (Star Appeal {Ire}).

Top fillies for Coolmore

The father-and-son training team of Simon and Ed Crisford recruited the top filly of the final session in partnership with MV Magnier. Lot 1111, a daughter of Coolmore’s first-season sire Churchill (Ire), was signed for at 340,000 gns (AU$649,740) and will join her half-brother, the five-time winner Roulston Scar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), in the Crisford stable.

“She is very racy and athletic, and she showed herself off well. MV Magnier really loved her and she will be for a Coolmore partnership,” said Simon Crisford.

Bred by Denis Brosnan’s Epona Bloodstock and offered through his Croom House Stud, the filly is a daughter of G3 Miesque S. runner-up Pussycat Lips (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who has produced two black-type performers from her three runners to date.

Churchill, who has shuttled to Australia the past three seasons, and whose first Southern Hemisphere yearlings will be at the sales in 2021, was the leading freshman sire at Book 2 with 16 sold for 1,468,000 gns (AU$2.805 million) and an average of 91,750 gns (AU$175,334) and, while he has it all to prove, his tried-and-tested stud mate Mastercraftsman (Ire) appeared on the leaderboard alongside the day’s second-most expensive filly (Lot 1215).

The sister to treble winner and Listed-placed Simannka (Ire) is another who will be joining the Coolmore ranks, having been bought by Cormac McCormack on their behalf from breeder Denis McDonnell for 325,000 gns (AU$621.075).

“I bought [dam] Simkana from the Aga Khan after she had foaled Simannka and this is a nicer filly than Simannka,” said McDonnell, who added that the mare’s Kalanisi (Ire) half-sister to Sinndar (Ire), has a Ribchester (Ire) filly foal and is in foal to Zoffany (Ire).

Breath held in high regard

Juddmonte makes the occasional foray into the yearling market and backed up last week’s purchase of a Frankel (GB) colt with another by Oasis Dream (GB).

Lot 1108 was brought to Book 2 by Newsells Park Stud on behalf of breeder Robert Barnett and the colt represents a family intrinsically linked with the Barnett family’s former breeding base of Fair Winter Farm. His grandam Pure Grain (GB) (Polish Precedent {USA}) won both the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks in the Barnett colours during her champion 3-year-old season. The colt, who sold for 310,000 gns (AU$592,410), is a full brother to the Richard Hannon-trained juvenile Pure Dreamer (GB), who has placed three times this season and was beaten a short-head at Windsor on Monday.

The team at Juddmonte will doubtless have enjoyed the week of sales results for homebred stallion Bated Breath (GB), whose excellent year on the track has been reflected in the ring. After having a yearling sell for a new high for 260,000 gns (AU$496,480) on Tuesday, that was surpassed twice during the final session of Book 2.

First up was Lot 1205, Redpender Stud’s colt out of Shy Audience (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who was sold to Matt Coleman for 280,000 gns (AU$535,080).

The dam is a daughter of Redpender’s star broodmare Danetime Out (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}), who is also the dam of former champion 2-year-old Toormore (Ire) (Arakan {USA}) and dual Group 2 winner Estidhkaar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The 6-year-old mare was bred by stud owner Jimmy Murphy’s sons Brian and Eoghan Murphy.

“I bought the mare from them as a yearling,” he explained. “She has a colt foal by Expert Eye and is now in foal to Dandy Man.”

Shy Audience has already been represented by a winner with her first foal to race this year, Harold Shand (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), and her yearling will eventually be off to Hong Kong to be trained by John Size.

“He is ideal for Hong Kong,” Coleman said. “He has plenty of strength and size and a great attitude. Bated Breath is a proven horse and his stock go on fast ground. He gets fast horses, and we are trying to buy a horse with good physicality, with a good pedigree, by a proven sire that goes on fast ground. That Dansili line works very well out there.”

The Redpender colt didn’t hold the record for long as towards the end of the day, Rory Mahon’s Mountain View Stud presented one of the best pinhooks of the day in Lot 1301.

The Bated Breath colt out of Tremelo Pointe (Ire) (Trempolino {USA}) brought the hammer down at 290,000 gns (AU$554,190), having been bought as a foal for 67,000 gns (AU$128,037) from his breeder Lord Margadale. His full brother Landshark (GB) topped the Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale three years ago at €210,000 (AU$345,670) and was a winner and Group 3-placed for Jessica Harrington.

The colt was one of 36 yearlings bought through Book 2 by Angus Gold for Shadwell.

“I’ve found it harder than normal to buy horses this week,” said Gold when reflecting on the bumper Book 2 trade.

“Sheikh Mohammed making it so strong is fantastic for the industry but it made it harder for us, hence we’ve had to spend a little bit more than we thought we’d have to. But it has been incredible the support the whole business has had considering where we are in the world. It’s pretty incredible that we’ve had a sale at all and, as one vendor said to me, this has given people a bit of a lifeline.”

He added, “Fair play to all the people who have supported the Sale. The whole business is built on wonderful optimism.”

Gold’s one issue of concern over the Sale is the long sessions in Book 2, each of which this week has run for around 11 hours until at least 9pm. He said, “I do think these days are too long, particularly for the staff, who start very early in the morning. I think we need to do something about it, whether it is to have fewer horses or more sessions, because it’s not fair on the staff.”

Gold also noted that Sheikh Hamdan has recovered well from a recent illness. “He sounds in great form and is hopefully back to his best,” he said.

Stallion diversity

If the buying bench was diverse, so too was the list of stallions achieving decent results in Book 2. The top 20 yearlings for the Sale as a whole were by 17 different stallions, including Kingman (GB), who provided Monday’s top lot and was also represented on Wednesday by Lot 1192, the Barton Stud-consigned colt which sold for 260,000 gns (AU$496,480) to Shadwell.

Faisal Mishref Al Qahtani bought Secret Keeper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in foal to Pivotal (GB) for 45,000 gns (AU$89,775) in December 2015. This was the second good result for the breeder with the offspring of Kingman at the October Sale.

Tom Blain of Barton Stud said, “My client has been incredibly loyal to the stud. We sold another Kingman colt for him in Book 1 to Mike Ryan and we love doing well for him, he is great man. The mare boards with us and she is from a great Cheveley Park Stud family. She has produced some lovely stock and this colt is by far and away her best individual.”

Barton Stud ended the sale as third-leading vendor with 18 yearlings sold for 1,834,000 gns (AU$3.504 million).

Just as in Book 1, Newsells Park Stud filled the top spot on the consignors’ list, selling 24 yearlings at an average price of 119,917 gns (AU$229,161), including the sale-topping Lope De Vega (Ire) colt at 675,000 gns (AU$1.29 million).

The continued demand for Ballylinch Stud’s Lope De Vega saw him achieve an average price of 126,938 gns (AU$242,578) from 16 yearlings sold in the last three days. His young stablemate New Bay (GB) also proved extremely popular with an average of 160,143 gns (AU$306,033) from seven yearlings.

Chairman’s gratitude

Plenty of people in attendance at Park Paddocks over the last fortnight have expressed their gratitude towards Tattersalls for being able to stage the Sale in trying circumstances. Edmond Mahony, in his closing statement also issued his thanks to the who have contributed to its success.

He said, “At the conclusion of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last week we expressed our sincere thanks to all those who contributed to a yearling sale which, although conducted amidst a backdrop of global turmoil, performed with remarkable resilience. The message at the conclusion of Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale is very similar. We are enormously grateful to every single participant over the past three days, not only for their individual contributions to a sale which has held up remarkably well under the circumstances, but for working with us every step of the way in our efforts to stage the Sale in as safe an environment as possible. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in all walks of life and to have conducted nine sales here at Park Paddocks since the last week of June is a mighty achievement by all concerned and could not have happened without a huge collective effort.”

He added, “Newmarket is very much the hub of the European racing and breeding industries and the last few weeks have demonstrated that, despite all the obstacles, business has been able to continue, albeit at lower levels than in recent years. Newmarket has an extraordinary and unique infrastructure and never more has this been apparent than at Books 1 and 2 of the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sales. Tomorrow we move on to Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale which is another Tattersalls yearling sale that consistently attracts buyers at all levels of the market and we will conclude the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Saturday with Book 4.”

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Connolly spent five years as Assistant Manager at Segenhoe Stud before he realised the dream of running his own farm with Valiant Stud continuing to grow in stature in the Hunter Valley.

The 200-acre boutique operation is nestled between Darley and Newgate and offers a full range of services - yearling agistment and preparation, sales preparation and consignment, broodmare agistment, walk outs, racehorse spelling, weaning and weanling preparations.

“I established Valiant in May, 2018 and prior to that had been at Segenhoe working under the tutelage of Royston Murphy and Peter O’Brien for the Maloney family and I was very grateful to them,” Connolly said.

"I had been waiting for the right opportunity and when this property became available it was just the perfect fit. I thought there was a niche in the market for a sale consignment and sale preparation farm, which specialised in a full hands-on approach and attention to detail.

“I thought it would be a good time, especially in Australia where there is such a lucrative sales market and huge prizemoney on offer.

“I have diversified over two properties now with the property on the Upper Dartbrook dedicated to the mares and foals. It makes sense when we have yearling colts on the Rouchel Rd farm to keep the mares separate.

“I do miss the camaraderie with past co-workers, but I’ve had never any regrets about going out on my own and every day throws up a new challenge and we have great staff here at Valiant.

“It’s just brilliant working for yourself and the pride you see in owners when their horses are presented is a joy. I just love seeing happy owners.”

Connolly sold his first Inglis Ready2Race draft in 2018 and the results from that initial consignment have been satisfying.

“I offered a nice bunch of colts, including Halcyon House who is a multiple winner in the Upper Hunter area for Cody Morgan,” he said.

“We had a graduate from that sale go to Hong Kong and he’s now called G Unit, who’s now a well-performed son of Danerich and then we had a lovely Spirit Of Boom.

“He’s known as Boom Shakalaka in Singapore with Shane Baertschiger so it was a great start and I couldn’t have asked for any better and the owners were super happy, as are the people that bought the horses.”

Quality draft

Connolly is equally happy with the draft he will present at this month’s sale at Riverside Stables.

“They are a lovely bunch of colts and a lot of them look like they could go early. If they hold a nomination for any of the early 2-year-old races they could nearly get in,” Connolly said.

“We have juveniles by good sires as well – Star Turn, Odyssey Moon, Better Than Ready, Sooboog and a Written Tycoon coming off the back of a very good Group-winning 2-year-old in Enthaar. I am very happy with what we have.”

The son of Written Tycoon, Lot 79, is out of a half-sister to the champion South African sprinter and multiple Group 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}).

“He’s quite laid back and takes his time and thinks about things and then gets on and does a great job with his work,” Connolly said.

Lot 128 is a Better Than Ready colt out of a three-quarter sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Alinghi (Encosta De Lago).

“The Better Than Ready is a forward colt and came from Mark Mason and he was super well-educated and breezed up effortlessly,” Connolly said.

“He looked very comfortable in his work and has got a good mind, he’ll make a good racehorse.”

Precocious colt

The Sooboog colt, Lot 121, is a grandson of the stakes winner and multiple Group placegetter Princess Marizza (Scenic {Ire}) and she’s a half-sister to the G2 Royal S. winner Buckle My Shoe (Rory’s Jester).

“I think he will go super early and I like him a lot, he’s a ball of muscle and loves to get on with his work,” Connolly said.

“I’ve been very happy as well with the Star Turn colt out of In The Moment and he’s a powerful fellow, very strong and forward and breezed up accordingly.”

He is Lot 23 and his dam was successful on three occasions and is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Autumn Jeuney (Jeune {GB}).

“The Star Turn out of Private Kiss seems like a horse that’s ready to go to the races. He’s enjoyed his prep and easy to deal with and loves to get on with his work,” Connolly said.

“He’s a super professional racehorse and enjoys his work and getting back to his stable for a feed.”

The colt is Lot 87 and his dam is a sister to the two-time stakes winner Paprika (General Nediym) with the G3 DC McKay S. winner Streetcar Magic (Blevic) and the Listed Creswick Series Final winner Lord Von Costa (Von Costa De Hero) on his pedigree page.

Completing the consignment is a son of Odyssey Moon, Lot 193, and he is a half-brother to a brace of winners, including the G2 Queensland Guineas runner-up Volpino (Foxwedge).

“The Odyssey Moon colt is another very good type and he’s been a pleasure to deal with. He breezed up really well and I am expecting him to go on with it.”