O'Brien, Brummitt's triple strike at Tattersalls

Brummitt and O'Brien get busy

Jeremy Brummitt and Danny O'Brien have regularly featured on the buyers' list at Tattersalls October Sale since 2018 when they picked out a Camelot (GB) colt from Camas Park Stud for 110,000 gns (AU$214,000).

The colt developed into multiple Group 1 winner Russian Camelot (Ire), who is embarking on a breeding career at Widden Victoria, and looking to repeat the dose, agent and trainer executed a triple strike on Tuesday in Newmarket.

The most significant purchase from Brummitt's perspective was Lot 874 from the consignment of Stauffenberg Bloodstock, a colt by Free Eagle (Ire) which was secured for 150,000 gns (AU$292,000).

The colt is a half-brother to French Listed winner Flaming Princess (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) out of Marju (Ire) mare Qatar Princess (Ire), who is the half-sister to multiple Group 2 winners Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and Royal Dornoch (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Brummitt had picked out the colt by Free Eagle, a son of High Chaparral (Ire) who stood in Australia at Cornerstone Stud for three seasons, as his best of the Sale and was rapt to have secured him.

"It’s very rare that you can buy the individual you like best. I guess Free Eagle is not a sexy sire. People who looked at the pedigree didn't go into the ring and people who looked at the horse did go into the ring," Brummitt said.

"He's justlovely horse and I've just come back from watching him lunge. We will have to find out if he is fast but he could go all day I know that much, because he's a very well-balanced horse."

O'Brien told TDN AusNZ that Brummitt had pushed the Free Eagle colt very strongly and he was happy to take his recommendation.

"He was really keen on him, liked him as an individual and thought he was the best individual in the Sale. He was really pleased we didn't get beaten on that one," he said.

Ribchester colt, Nathaniel filly snapped up

The pair also paid 100,000 gns (AU$194,000) for Lot 779, a colt by Ribchester (Ire) from Ballyphilip Stud. He is out of Mypreciousblue (GB) (Peintre Celebre {USA}), who has produced two winners already and is from the extended family of Australian Group 1 winner Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock).

The third purchase was a filly by Nathaniel (Ire), Lot 846, who was offered by Oakgrove Stud and is out of Pointer (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who is turn out of Group 2 winner Daring Miss (GB) (Sadler's Wells {USA}). She cost 75,000 gns (AU$146,000).

In Book 1, O'Brien and Brummitt had secured Lot 258, a Frankel (GB) colt out of Group 3 winner Sea Of Grace (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) from The Castlebridge Consignment for 160,000 gns (AU$311,000).

Gallery: Danny O'Brien's purchases at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale

O'Brien said the purchasing strategy is largely left to Brummitt, a structure that has worked well over the past couple of years.

"The last three or four years we have been leaving it to Jeremy to find the sort of horses that he likes up there. The first one he bought was Russian Camelot and we bought six or eight of them last year," he said.

"We’ve found it a bit tougher this year, the market is a bit stronger but we are happy with the ones we bought.

"He does the list for me and then we can go through and look a videos and photos online to get a grasp of it. But I've got plenty of faith with what he comes up with, he's a very good judge."

Waller, Roulston enter market

Australia's Champion trainer Chris Waller came together with James Ferguson to pay 150,000 gns (AU$292,000) for Lot 1014, a filly by Fastnet Rock out of Stars At Night (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) offered by Marlhill House Stud.

Stars At Night, a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Blue Bunting (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}) and a sister to Australian stakes performer Exemplar (Ire) has already produced a winner by Fastnet Rock in the American winner Star Devine (Ire).

Australian bloodstock agent Robert Roulston was also on the buyers' sheet, paying 140,000 gns (AU$272,000) for Lot 888, a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly out of Real Smart (USA) (Smart Strike {USA}).

Offered by Watership Down Stud, her American-bred dam was a Grade 3 winner and hails from a family which has produced Group 1 winners Make Believe (GB) and Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

A perfect blend

The blend of the bloodlines of Kingman (GB) and the Galileo (Ire) mare Reem has worked well in the past to the extent of providing the Book 2 Sale topper of 2018 at 750,000 gns (AU$1.46 million).

That youngster went on to become the dual winner and 103-rated King Leonidas (GB), and his trainer John Gosden took on Simon Mockridge in order to attempt to secure the brother, bred by Essafinaat UK. The Juddmonte manager had the final say, however, for the Hazelwood Bloodstock-consigned colt (Lot 895), paying 525,000 gns (AU$1.02 million).

Reem was bred in Australia by Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, and was a stakes winner in Dubai.

Gallery: Lot 895 - Kingman (GB) x Reem (colt)

“The mare has a patchy breeding record as she isn't the easiest to get in foal, but when it works it works very well,” said consignor Adrian O'Brien of the 14-year-old Reem.

“This is a cross that clearly works. King Leonidas has had a few setbacks but is back on track now and is clearly a very talented horse.”

He added, “I'm very flattered that Juddmonte have bought a such a nice horse from our farm. It's great for the breeder and I wish them all the best with him.”

Mockridge was full of praise for the team at Hazelwood Bloodstock and said of the colt, “He had size, scope, a very big hip, (and is) a very good walker. It was obviously very clever–he could have been a Book 1 horse but they brought him to Book 2 and he stood out here.

“We liked his brother very much when he was sold a few years ago. He was favourite for the Jersey and got beaten there but he's run back recently after some time off and I know John Gosden likes him very much. And of course John Gosden was the underbidder which I suppose bears that out. It's very solid trade and it's heartening to see a lot of people here.”

Prosperous transaction

The scopey and elegant Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) looked all over an Oaks filly in the making at Newmarket on Friday when posting an eye-catching performance to run second to Inspiral (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile, no doubt giving an extra boost to her yearling half-brother by No Nay Never (USA).

Brought to the sale as Lot 944 by co-breeder Camas Park Stud, the late April colt, who is also a half-brother to the Listed Warrnambool Cup runner-up Romanesque (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), raised a final bid of 450,000 gns (AU$874,000) from Ross Doyle.

Zoustar colt headed to United States

Buying on behalf of Peter Brant's White Birch Firm, Demi O'Byrne selected Lot 918, a colt from the first European crop of Zoustar at 310,000 gns (AU$602,000). Bred by Plantation Stud, the son of the Exceed And Excel mare Rue Cambon (Ire) was a good pinhook for Yeomanstown Stud, having been bought as a foal for 110,000 gns (AU$214,000).

The colt hails from a family which has had notable success on the global stage. His dam is a half sister to the G1 Beverly D S. winner Gorella (Fr) (Grape Tree Road {GB}), while her full sister Royal Intervention (Ire) won the G2 Goldene Peitsche in Germany.

There were seven Zoustar yearlings sold in all on Tuesday, with a Lot 930, a colt from Barton Stud out of Galileo (Ire) mare Saniyaat (GB) selling for 150,000 gns (AU$291,000).

Rosemont Stud resident Starspangledbanner had another good result when Lot 860, a colt out of Danehill (USA) mare Princess Desire (Ire) was sold by Marlhill House Stud to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 200,000 gns (AU$389,000). There were six by the stallion sell across the day for an average of 89,667 gns (AU$174,000).

Coolmore's Churchill (Ire) had a colt, Lot 781, sell for 160,000 gns (AU$311,000) and Darley's Harry Angel (Ire) a colt for 150,000 gns (AU$292,000) in other highlight results for stallions currently in Australia.