Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
At A Glance
A total of 144 lots were sold on Day 2, with gross sales of 35,599,000gns (AU$71,359,300). On the corresponding day last year, the aggregate was a record-breaking 49,545,000gns (AU$99,332,000).
Four yearlings made seven figures, with the top-seller being Lot 266 - a Frankel colt from Bizzarria. Consigned by Hascombe & Valiant Stud, he was bought by Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier & White Birch Farm for 2,000,000gns (AU$4,007,600).
The highest-priced filly on Day 2 was Lot 181. She is by Sea The Stars out of Waila and was bought for 650,00gns (AU$1,396,000) by Alex Elliott (agent for M.V. Magnier) from the Ballyhimikin Stud draft.
Wednesday’s clearance rate of 84 per cent was down on the 88 per cent of 12 months ago.
The Day 2 average 265,664gns (AU$532,200) was well below last year’s figure 344,062gns (AU$689,250).
Wednesday’s median of 195,000gns (AU$390,600) was marginally down on last year 200,000gns (AU$400,700).
Sheikh Mohammed continued his spending spree, with Godolphin having now accounted for 15 per cent of the turnover through the two days, with 17 yearlings bought for a total of 10,105,000gns (AU$20,243,000).
‘He’s a beautiful colt’
Australian Group 1-winning trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr made the first of what could be a few purchases at this year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, going to 150,000gns (AU$300,000) for Lot 324 - a colt from the Highclere Stud consignment by Dark Angel (Ire) from the unraced Dansili (GB) mare Divisimo (GB), herself a sister to the stakes winners Emulous (GB), First Setting (GB) and Daring Diva (GB).
Emulous was a brilliant race filly/mare, winning six stakes races, including the G1 Leopardstown Matron S. in 2011 - the same year she was named Champion Older Female in Ireland. She has since thrown the Group 1 placegetter Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}).
Lot 324 - Dark Angel (Ire) x Dansili (GB) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report post-sale, Price said he hopes the colt can get the job done on the track, before embarking on a career in the breeding shed.
“I’d like to think that some of the nice colts we buy can eventually end up at stud. We’ve had a fair bit of success looking after these colts and getting their Group 1 status up and finding them homes at stud. Hopefully, he’s another one. He’s got some credentials for that,” said Price.
“Dark Angel is a good stallion; he’s the sire of Harry Angel and Battaash.
“There’s a Group 1 winner in the second dam, which is always good, I like to see a Group 1 winner on the page of those colts.
“I like the Dansili part of him, I like the Dark Angel part of him and I like the individual.”
“I like the Dansili part of him (Lot 324), I like the Dark Angel part of him and I like the individual.” - Mick Price
The Price/Kent Jnr stable has already enjoyed success with Dark Angel, with his son Visinari (Fr) winning four races for them, including the 2022 Listed Paris Lane H. Other stakes winners in Australia by Dark Angel include Munhamek (GB), Top Ranked (Ire), Berdibek (Fr) and Valac (Ire).
“Dark Angel has 14 Group 1 winners to his name, so he’s a successful son of Acclamation,” Price remarked.
John Foote of John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) was on the ground in the UK to do some legwork for Price and Kent Jnr and he gave the colt a glowing report, confirming what Price already thought.
“He’s a beautiful colt, he’s not too big,” Price said
“He’s a beautiful-moving horse and I thought he came in under budget.
“He’s (Lot 324) a beautiful-moving horse and I thought he came in under budget.” - Mick Price
“He came highly recommended.
“I thought he had a beautiful head carriage.
“He was a very economical, elegant moving horse.
“He had crystal clear x-rays and scope.
Mick Price
“We bought him off Highclere Stud and they are a successful stud. They sold the World Champion Miler Palace Pier and the European Champion Camelot.”
Price believes the colt will be best suited anywhere between 1200-1600 metres.
“We didn’t buy him to be too dour,” Price explained.
“I like to picture whether they’re possible stud colts and I think this one is. If we can get the right form up, I think he’d have the right credentials for any stud.”
“If we can get the right form up, I think he’d (Lot 324) have the right credentials for any stud.” - Mick Price
Price said shares are available in the colt, who will head to Melbourne as soon as possible to enjoy the Australian spring.
Frankel colt leads the way
The ripples of Frankel (GB) combined with Hascombe and Valiant Stud were felt on the turf of Longchamp on Sunday when Ace Impact (Ire), a son of the Oppenheimers’ Frankel-sired star Cracksman (GB) waltzed off with the Arc. This year, with Anthony Oppenheimer selling a large draft of colts at Tattersalls, his stud was represented by a star turn of a different kind with the Frankel colt out of Bizzaria (GB) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}) heading Book 1 when sold for 2,000,000gns (AU$4,007,600) to Coolmore.
Lot 266 - Frankel (GB) x Bizzaria (GB) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The dam of Lot 266 hails from a different Hascombe & Valiant family to Cracksman but it is one which has nevertheless provided the stud with much success. Her brothers Cannock Chase (USA) and Pisco Sour (USA) are Grade 1 and Group 2 winners respectively, and they are both former winners of the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot. Their half-sister Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was better still, with her hat-trick of Group 1 victories including the Irish Oaks.
With five of his seven-strong Book 1 draft having been sold already for a total of 2.9 million gns (AU$5.8 million), Oppenheimer was naturally pleased with the week’s business.
“So far we have done quite well,” he said. “I know (the Frankel colt) is a very nice horse. He’s refuelled the stud’s finances and it can’t do any harm.”
After having the final say over Godolphin and Juddmonte for the session-topper, Magnier said, “They (Hascombe & Valiant Stud) are very good breeders and have bred some very nice horses in the past. Frankel is flying at the moment. He’ll go to Ballydoyle and let’s hope he’s good.”
“Frankel is flying at the moment. He’ll (Lot 266) go to Ballydoyle and let’s hope he’s good.” - M.V. Magnier
McCartan lauds 1.5 million Blue Point showstopper
Renowned breeder Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud heaped praise on his Blue Point (Ire) half-brother to multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by describing him as the best horse he has ever had anything to do with.
Paul McCartan | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
That is saying something as, along with Battaash, McCartan has had Xtension (Ire), Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Harry Angel through his hands. But he clearly wasn’t alone in his appraisal of Lot 240, who drew a collected hush at a jam-packed auditorium during Book 1 with Godolphin seeing off Najd Stud at 1.5 million gns (AU$3 million).
“Look, I haven’t said it to too many people, but I think he’s the nicest horse I have ever had anything to do with,” a delighted McCartan said moments after the sale. “I really think that. I have always put Battaash number one but, just when he (the Blue Point colt) got here and did everything right and everything came together - he’s an absolute belter.”
“Look, I haven’t said it to too many people, but I think he’s (Lot 240) the nicest horse I have ever had anything to do with.” - Paul McCartan
Godolphin weren’t for beating and once again threw their might behind a colt by one of their own bright young stallions. On Monday, it was a Ghaiyyath (Ire) half-brother to Breeders’ Cup hero Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who piqued interest from Sheikh Mohammed’s powerful operation.
Just 24 hours later, it was the colt by Blue Point, who has made the most terrific start to his stallion career with Big Evs (Ire) and Rosallion (Ire) the most notable performers, who led the way.
McCartan continued, “I’m delighted that Godolphin have got him and I’m delighted that Charlie Appleby will be training him. Because, to me, he’s the image of his father and his grandfather. I think Charlie loved him as well, and Charlie could see that.”
Blue Point shuttles to Darley’s Northwood Park and stands this spring at a fee of $44,000 (inc GST). He had his first runners in Australia at Randwick last weekend and has two juveniles in Saturday’s Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. at Flemington.
Wootton Bassett colt another millionaire for Magnier at 1.25 million
Just a handful of lots remained to sell on Wednesday evening, and Lot 352 - a son of Coolmore’s shuttle sire Wootton Bassett (GB) and a half-brother to the G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}), attracted a final bid of 1.25 million gns (AU$2.5 million) from M.V. Magnier to become the fourth millionaire on the day. The Clara Stud-consigned son of Entreat (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is also a half-brother to listed winner Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), and under the second dam is the Turkish Group 2 winner Producer (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). American Hall of Famer and blue hen producer Serena’s Song (USA) (Rahy {USA}) is under the third dam.
Wootton Bassett shuttles to Coolmore Stud in Australia and stands this spring at a fee of $93,500 (inc GST).
