Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
At A Glance
A total of 124 lots were sold on Day 1, with gross sales of 30,638,000gns (AU$61,641,000). On the same day last year, 135 horses changed hands, with the aggregate finishing on 31,993,000gns (AU$65 million).
The clearance rate dropped to 81 per cent, though this was boosted through the day as some private transactions were agreed. On Day 1 in 2022, it was 86 per cent.
The Day 1 average of 247,081gns (AUS497,000) is an improvement on last year’s corresponding figure (230,165gns/AU$462,800).
The Day 1 median improved from 160,000gns (AU$321,600) in 2022 to 205,000gns (AU$412,000).
The top-seller on Day 1 was Lot 151 - a Ghaiyyath colt from Tickled Pink, which fetched 1,050,000gns (AU$2.11 million). Consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud in Ireland, the colt was bought by Godolphin.
Godolphin signed for 11 yearlings on Day 1 for a total of 6,665,000gns (AU$13,369,000), which accounted for 22 per cent of the session’s aggregate.
With nine yearlings sold on the day at an average price of 441,111gns (AU$886,700) Newsells Park Stud was once again at the top of the Book 1 vendors’ leaderboard.
‘He was coming back with us, by hook or by crook’
Prominent Australian owner Brad Spicer landed a blow on Day 1, parting with 260,000gns (AU$522,500) for a colt by the Group 1-producing sire Sea The Moon (Ger). Consigned by Newsells Park Stud as Lot 147, he was knocked down to Alex Elliott (agent for Spicer Thoroughbreds). The colt is from Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}). She won three races, including the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) in 2018.
“He’s a ripper. I’ve seen quite a few of the Sea The Moon stock over the years and he’s by far the best colt I’ve seen,” Spicer told The Thoroughbred Report.
“He’s (Lot 147) a ripper. I’ve seen quite a few of the Sea The Moon stock over the years and he’s by far the best colt I’ve seen.” - Brad Spicer
“He was coming back with us, by hook or by crook. We just had to figure out how to get him done.
“I’ve got some clients who like to race these sorts of horses and chase the Melbourne Cup dream, so hopefully we’re there one day.”
Desperate to buy the colt, Spicer said the price-tag was in the vicinity of what he expected.
Lot 147 - Sea The Moon (Ger) x Teppal (Fr) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“We knew the reserve was around the 250,000gns mark, so we knew we would have to be pretty strong on him,” he said.
“He’s a quality colt out of a Group 1-winning mare. She was very lightly raced; she won a (Group 1) mile race as a 3-year-old filly in France.
“There’s quality on both sides of the pedigree and you can’t source that at this sale and expect to pinch them; you’ve got to pay for the quality.”
“There’s quality on both sides of the pedigree (of Lot 147) and you can’t source that at this sale and expect to pinch them; you’ve got to pay for the quality.” - Brad Spicer
Speaking on the strength of competitiveness of Day 1, Spicer said: “It wasn’t as strong as last year, last year was out of this world. I really couldn’t get close last year. A colt like him last year was making 400,000gns (AU$806,000).
“It’s probably reflective of Australia; the top end of the market is flying, the bottom end can be a little bit patchy.”
Brad Spicer | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Spicer will race the colt in conjunction with Alex Elliott’s Valmont Partners and he will stay in the UK to be trained by Ralph Beckett for the time being. Valmont has enjoyed success with Beckett-trained horses such as the Group 1 placegetter Salt Bay (Ger) (Farhh {GB}) and the Group 3 placegetter Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
“The plan is for him to hopefully come down to Australia after his 3-year-old year,” Spicer explained.
“Fingers crossed, we can get him to a race at Ascot, probably not next year, probably a horse for 2025, then beyond that, hopefully he’s good enough to come to Melbourne.”
“Fingers crossed, we can get him (Lot 147) to a race at Ascot, probably not next year, probably a horse for 2025, then beyond that, hopefully he’s good enough to come to Melbourne.” - Brad Spicer
The colt’s second dam, Jummana (Fr) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), was a winner at two and is a sister to Party (Ire) - the winner of the Listed Radley S. at Newbury in 2006. Party has produced Observational (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and he won the G3 Easter Cup at Caulfield in 2017 for trainer John Sadler.
Spicer expects the colt will get out over a trip.
“I think he will be an ideal 2400-metre horse. Whether he stretches out beyond that, time will tell,” he said. “They’ve got a knack of stretching them out over here, given the way they train. I expect him to get a strong 2400 metres.”
Alex Elliott | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Sea The Moon has had a host of winners in Australia. They include Durston (GB), who triumphed in last year’s G1 Caulfield Cup, the 2021 G3 Queen’s Cup victor Favorite Moon (Ger), and the dual Group 3 placegetter Pondus (GB).
“There’s been plenty of really good performers by him down in Australia. He’s a proven sire and I try to follow them,” Spicer commented.
Waller and Ferguson purchase Kingman colt
Champion Australian trainer Chris Waller, in partnership with Newmarket-based, Group 1-winning trainer James Ferguson, went to 200,000gns (AU$403,000) for Lot 107 - a colt by Kingman (GB) from the Ballyinch Stud draft.
Lot 107 - Kingman (GB) x Sivoliere (Ire) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Out of the Listed winner Sivoliere (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), he is a half-brother to the Listed runner-up Doctor Carl (GB) (Fastnet Rock). The colt’s second dam is the Listed scorer Sefroua (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) and, as well as Sivoliere, she has produced the Group 3 victress Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}).
‘The bank manager will be happy’: Ghaiyyath colt leaves Stewart tickled pink
Irish owner-breeder Trevor Stewart was once again basking in the glow of his golden goose Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) as the great mare’s grandson by Ghaiyyath (Ire) led the way at 1.05 million gns (AU$2.11 million) on the opening day of Book 1.
Lot 151 - Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Tickled Pink (Ire) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
It was Godolphin, the leading buyer on the day, who landed the colt from the first crop of Ghaiyyath, consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud, to provide Stewart with yet another memorable result with the family that has served him so well.
Or perhaps it is the other way around? Stewart famously purchased his foundation mare in 1997 for just 200,000gns (AU$403,000). There has been steady flow of top-notchers to emerge from the family ever since, from Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) to Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the dam of Tuesday’s sale-topper, who has already produced a Breeders’ Cup winner in Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), and there is no sign of this well running dry any time soon.
“Money goes to money,” is how Anthony Stroud, buying on behalf of Godolphin, cheekily summed up the transaction. With a beaming smile, Stewart admitted that nobody would be happier with Tuesday’s business than his bank manager.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Tattersalls
Asked why he sent Tickled Pink to Ghaiyyath, Stewart responded, “Her first few foals were a little bit on the neat side and I thought we needed to get more height and length into her individuals. That was really why she went to Ghaiyyath. Obviously he was a great racehorse; it can be risky going to a first-season sire but time will tell.
“It’s a wonderful feeling and I hate to say it, but, after number four, I’m getting used to it! At least the bank manager will be happy again for another while.”
Tuesday’s success came in a week where it was announced that Ozzie Kheir had bought last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road, who is now bound for the G1 Cox Plate at The Valley on October 28.
Ghaiyyath (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Ghaiyyath, the top-rated horse in the world in 2020, had three yearlings sell on Tuesday for an average of 532,333gns (AU$1,070,800).
Godolphin purchased the four most expensive yearlings on Day 1. It went to 1,000,000gns (AU$2,012,000) for Lot 96 - a Dubawi (Ire) colt from the Newsells Park Stud draft. He is from the blue hen mare Shastye (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), who has thrown six winners, including the elite-level scorers Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Shastye’s other progeny include the Group 3 winner Sir Isaac Newton (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who also placed in Group 3 company in Melbourne, and the 2016 Listed Ipswich Cup victor Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}).
