1.05m Filly Breaks Same-Session Record

NEWMARKET, UK—If they felt at all hesitant, in consecutively hurtling towards bids never previously made for a Book 2 yearling, neither M.V. Magnier nor Angus Gold had to seek far for encouragement. Each only had to look at the back of his catalogue.

For the two graduates chosen by Tattersalls to measure the quality available in the second instalment of the October Yearling Sale were Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), both winners of Group 1 sprints—one for a Coolmore partnership headed by Magnier's father John, the other for Gold's patron Sheikh Hamdan.

At 200,000gns apiece, admittedly, both those speedsters repaid rather longer odds than will be the case for the two yearlings who broke the Book 2 record within a couple of hours of each other. In each case, however, there was not just a comforting familiarity in their paternity. There was also a “win-win” element to justify the extra expense.

For when Magnier gave 900,000gns for a son of the same young sire as Ten Sovereigns, he confirmed the giddy ascent of Coolmore's young gun No Nay Never into the European stallion elite. And when Gold then became the first man to sign a seven-figure docket in Book 2, for a filly by the same sire as Battaash, he knew that his employer set great store on her breeding potential. (Battaash, of course, blossomed only as a gelding.)

Nonetheless 1,050,000gns was a dividend that astounded her breeder Trevor Stewart—and left his wife literally incredulous.

“No, I'm not joking,” he had to reiterate, as he phoned her with the news. “Really I'm not.”

On hanging up, he explained, “She didn't watch it. It was only a horse to her. But it's a very special horse now.”

To Stewart, needless to say, lot 767 had long been special—so much so, that over lunch he had been having second, third and fourth thoughts about parting with her at all. But he was soon reassured as the bids poured in from around the ring to auctioneer Alastair Pim, who conducted the drama with all his customary verve. There was early interest from Japan and the United States, while Charlie Gordon-Watson lasted quite a time, but eventually it boiled down to a duel between Gold and Kevin Ryan.

Sheikh Hamdan had inspected the filly himself in the morning, and told Gold to go to 400,000gns and then call him. Gold only realised the extent of his employer's interest as bidding proceeded from that point. As the tension in the arena mounted, Ryan went for broke, boldly rotating his hand to accelerate from 925,000gns to the million. When Gold came back, undaunted, the trainer finally waved the white flag.

Stewart had bred the filly—and sold her, as usual, through Ballyhimikin Stud—from an unraced sister to Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), the Classic-winning daughter of his fairytale mare Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {GB}).

He remembered buying Cassandra Go back in the same ring as a yearling “by accident”. She went on to win at Royal Ascot and has since produced two seven-figure yearlings herself.

“That was pure innocence,” Stewart said wryly. “I thought I was being cool.”

Having retained this filly's half-sister by Kingman (GB), who recently broke her maiden for Eve Johnson Houghton, he took the gamble of showcasing an authentic Book 1 page this week.

“It's just the most amazing family and it goes on and on,” he said. “She's the most lovely filly, but we had a few Dark Angels here last week as well and felt it best to split them up and obviously thought she could stand out here. Everything she did was perfect but that was way above expectations, there's just no words. It's what you hope for, two people to take each other on, but it's difficult for it to actually happen after passing 500,000gns. I'd say she'll be the last filly from the family to be released from Ballyhimikin. Coolmore have several from the mare, and now Shadwell are lucky enough to have bought into it too.”

Gold, with typical good humour, remarked that Stewart might also count himself a little fortunate. “But no, it's a great family, the type that's genuinely hard to get into,” he acknowledged. “So while we obviously hope she can run, we know that Coolmore will breed theirs well, and the same for Trevor Stewart.”

Underlying Market Holds Steady

The twin peaks of the opening session did not alter a fairly even profile in the overall market. The median, in fact, was unchanged from last year's opening session at 55,000gns. From a virtually identical offering of 249, compared with 252 last year, the clearance rate dipped slightly (205 sold, down from 215) in producing an aggregate of 16,064,500. That very nearly matched 16,301,000gns; while the average of 78,363gns duly inched 3% forward from 75,819gns last year.

Never Seen the Like

They say records are made to be broken, but the one set by Magnier was dispatched with almost indecent haste. After all, he had exceeded the 900,000gns he gave for lot 723 only three times in Book 1 last week—during which 10 sales for No Nay Never had averaged 231,500gns.

As ever, however, he will be considering the bigger picture. And the fact is that No Nay Never, whose explosive start has been headlined by Group 1 wins at both two and three for Ten Sovereigns, had already multiplied his fee from €20,000 to €100,000 for his second season. With underbidder Anthony Stroud presumably operating for Godolphin, who had squared up to Coolmore for so many of the priciest animals in Book 1, then No Nay Never's standing in the market was there for all to see—whoever ultimately gained the day.

With a colt, obviously, there is greater pressure to succeed on the track. After all, the previous Book 2 record had been the 850,000gns paid by Shadwell for Alfaatik (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})—and while he won on debut last December, he has been gelded after twice disappointing this year. It can be done, of course, above all at Ballydoyle: but in the more immediate term the big winner was Denis Brosnan, who bred and presented this brawny colt through his Croom House Stud.

Poignantly, the dam Winning Sequence (Fr) (Zafonic) was lost foaling this spring at the age of 17. Nonetheless it was gratifying for Brosnan to recall buying the mare—as a sibling to a recent Group 1 winner in Coquerelle (Ire) (Zamindar), and carrying her first foal—at the Arqana December Sale 12 years ago for €480,000.

“Everyone said we were crazy,” he said wryly. “She's repaid us now. We felt this colt would stand out a little bit more here [as opposed to in Book 1]. Not a little bit more, a lot more! Obviously it's all about No Nay Never but it's a black-type pedigree too that's now repeating itself. He's an outstanding walker and very easy to mind, he has a great temperament.”

His stud manager Joe Hartigan confirmed as much. “Every single time he strutted his stuff, 100%,” he said. “He has an absolutely fantastic mind. There was so much action on him, he had the most shows regardless of the Book 1 horses, 130-plus. Some people he wasn't even on the list, but I'd say: 'You have to look at this fellow.' And they'd all say: 'Wow, you're right!'”

Comfortingly, Brosnan still owns the mare's unraced daughter by Montjeu (Ire), who has already produced listed winner Barbill (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}). But it must be said this price is a standout for the family, and that can only reflect well on a sire who had again consolidated his reputation over the weekend.

No Nay Never was responsible for the two colts who chased home champion-elect Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Darley Dewhurst S., in Arizona (Ire) and Wichita (Ire), as well as G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner Shadn (Ire), listed winner Tango (Ire) and impressive Newcastle debutant Yes Always (Ire).

“No Nay Never looks like he could be an exceptionally exciting stallion, he's had a huge amount of stakes winners in the last few weeks alone and had a great weekend,” Magnier said. “He even had four runners in the Dewhurst. The second and third ran great races and look like they'll improve into next year. Aidan [O'Brien] is very high on him and Paul Shanahan is very high on him, everybody is very excited about his future. And this is a great result for Denis Brosnan, who's been a big supporter of our stallions. He's a fantastic breeder.”

Pier Sibling Worth the Wait for Donald

One of the most luminous updates in the catalogue concerned one of the final animals through the ring, a Camelot (GB) half-brother to the exciting juvenile Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman).

And, given that lot 803 was stamped with all the Montjeu (Ire) quality associated with his sire, Alastair Donald was within his rights to fear that the giddy prices already paid during the session would put him beyond reach.

In the event, he was relieved to secure the colt—presented by Highclere Stud—for 300,000gns on behalf of King Power. That was half the sum given by John Gosden for Palace Pier in Book 1 last year.

“We've waited all day for that,” he admitted. “He was the only one on the list. We'd been very keen on Palace Pier last year, and couldn't get him, and this is a very athletic, elegant horse. Looking at the prices paid together, I wasn't very confident—so I'm glad he was worth the wait.”

The unraced dam is a Nayef half-sister to Group 2 winners Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), and Palace Pier looks eligible to drive up the page after two stylish wins at Sandown in recent weeks.

Bargain Purchase Adding Up for Hayes

It has taken time, but it turns out that John Hayes made a wonderful investment when giving just €25,000 for a filly foal by Indian Ridge (Ire) at the Goffs November Sale 12 years ago. True, Sophie Germain (Ire) was never able to race—but she is developing into a very promising broodmare, having produced a Group 2 winner by Rip Van Winkle (Ire) in Creggs Pipes (Ire) and now another stakes performer for Andrew Slattery in Silver Spear (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}).

The latter was still unraced when the catalogue went to press, but she had not only won a nursery since but also earned some timely black-type when making the frame in a listed race at The Curragh on the very eve of her half-brother's appearance here as lot 610.

The Australia colt strolled round the ring with so mild a step that he would not have broken raw eggs rolled in his path, and the result was a 300,000gns docket signed by Philippa Mains—a wonderful birthday return for Pa Doyle of Galbertstown Stud, more often associated with National Hunt sales and making his only offering of the week.

Mains indicated that the colt was on the same path as the same sire's smart juvenile filly Cayenne Pepper (Ire), namely that he would join Jessica Harrington in the colours of Jon S. Kelly. Cayenne Pepper completed a summer hat-trick in Group 3 company at The Curragh before finishing a good fourth behind Quadrilateral (Frankel) in the G1 bet 365 Fillies' Mile here last Friday.

“Just a cracking horse,” Mains said. “The half-sister was listed-placed yesterday and it looks like the mare is producing good stock.”

Sophie Germain was a revolutionary French mathematician, born in 1776, who overcame the social prejudices and lack of formal training of her time. The numbers are certainly now adding up for her namesake, who has earned upgrades for the whole family. The mare herself is in foal to Frankel (GB), while Creggs Pipes is carrying a sibling to the Sea The Stars (Ire) filly she delivered this spring.

Hayes, a Co Tipperary consultant engineer who keeps his stock on a 10-acre plot, explained why the mare had required patience. “She was a June foal, I think possibly the very last one by Indian Ridge,” he said. “She was too backward to sell but has turned into a great broodmare, now two of her three foals have black-type. I still own Silver Spear and we decided just to let her run [on Sunday] and see if we could get the update, and it worked well. I was told that Pa was a great man to prep a horse and he has done a great job.”

Whatton Manor Land Running

A dozen lots sold by Whatton Manor Stud was the fewest among the top five consignors by aggregate in Book 2 last year, and duly produced the highest average. A tough act to follow, then, for the Player family and their team—but they made a wonderful start yesterday, their first two offerings making over half a million between them.

Lot 639, a colt by Kingman (GB) picked up in the same ring last December for 85,000gns, was sold on to Shadwell for 280,000gns, while lot 581, a son of Sea The Stars (Ire) bred by St Albans Bloodstock, made 260,000gns from Tom Goff.

“Book 2 has been very good to us,” Ed Player said. “It's sort of our territory, and we've been very lucky that we've managed to hit the jackpot with both our first two.”

The Kingman is out of a group-placed Montjeu (Ire) half-sister to G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Lowther S. winner Best Terms (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) from a prolific family—the fourth dam is the mighty Time Charter (GB)—and Player acknowledged he could easily have been eligible for Book 1.

“But historically people know this is our week,” he reasoned. “We'd rather shine in a slightly lesser sale. This is a gorgeous horse, we felt we were very lucky to afford him as a foal, and obviously the stallion is carrying all before him. It's a very current family, too, with a couple of good updates. I hope he becomes a good horse for Sheikh Hamdan, who's such a huge supporter of this sale.”

After landing the consignment's first offering, on behalf of an anonymous patron of John Gosden, Goff offered some animated and entertaining opinions about the likelihood of Saturday's big card at Ascot—menaced by the conditions seldom experienced during the long years when the Champion S. was staged down the road on the Rowley Mile—being transferred to the hurdles track. But the weather did not dampen the agent's enthusiasm for a colt he had contested with Ross Doyle and William Haggas.

The colt's dam is Sharnberry (GB) (Shamardal), whose multiple stakes placings included second in the G3 Fred Darling S. “Lovely horse,” Goff said. “Rangy, classy, a lovely mover with a beautiful attitude from a good farm we know well. Lots of Shamardal, in fact a great combination of both sires: obviously he's going to be a 3-year-old.”

This represented the first significant price of the session and Goff indicated relief to have landed an early blow. “I'm very happy we were able to get him,” he said. “Because the competition in this market is going to be very stiff.”

Pride in a Leading Pinhook

The Blind Leading The Blind syndicate proved to have been exceptionally far-sighted when it came to the Pride Of Dubai (Aus) filly they bought here last December for just 14,000gns. Returned here as lot 689 by Luke Barry's Manister House Stud, she was sold to Joe Foley on behalf of Clipper Logistics for 115,000gns.

The pinhooking partnership, comprising around 10 friends, includes Harry Eustace and James Horton, who work locally for William Haggas and Sir Michael Stoute, respectively. They certainly did well to get this filly as cheaply as they did, as she is out of a half-sister to the G2 winner Land Of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB})—the dam of champion Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}) and granddam of Group 1 winner Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). But Australian members of the group were especially keen on the other part of the equation, and have lately felt vindicated by a flying start for Pride Of Dubai's first few runners Down Under.

“It was an idea myself and Harry came up with over some wine,” Horton said. “This is our third year and before now, we've about washed our face. This is our best result. She was a very athletic, racy filly as a foal and we thought we'd have a go if we could get her at the right price. Luke has done a brilliant job, there's a big WhatsApp group and he's been great sending us all videos and updates.”

Foley congratulated all concerned on a filly “well pinhooked, prepared and produced.”

Culworth Pinhook Strikes Gold

Sheikh Hamdan reliably supports his Shadwell trainers in Book 2 and his record-breaking filly was only the icing on the cake. Angus Gold was busy through the day, giving 3,595,000gns for 20 lots—and ensured that Sophie Buckley of Culworth Grounds Farm was at least as delighted as Trevor Stewart.

For she presented the pinhook of the day in lot 798, a Cable Bay colt bought for just €4,000 at Fairyhouse last year—and sold here for 160,000gns.

“He was a good-walking foal, but I suppose what swung it was when the auctioneer said that he was from the family of Enable,” said Buckley. Admittedly you have to go back a fair way to find that connection, but his half-brother Fifth Position (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has earned some black-type in the meantime.

The third dam of lot 751, a 260,000gns daughter of Kodiac (GB) bred and consigned by his home stud Tally-Ho, doubtless resonated with Sheikh Hamdan as a half-sister to his champion Al Bahathri—who of course gave him a Classic winner in Haafhd (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}).

“Kodiac is tipping away well!” said Tally-Ho's Tony O'Callaghan. “This season he has had two Group 1 winners, 42 individual winners, the most runners, the most winners of any stallion.”

O'Callaghan bought this filly's unraced Dansili (GB) dam out of the Juddmonte draft at the 2016 December Sale here for 50,000gns, carrying Flighty Lady (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}). The latter was picked up for just 21,000gns in this sale last year, but was placed at Group 1 level a few days ago in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

One that did elude Shadwell's grasp was lot 665, an Iffraaj (GB) filly bred and presented by Airlie Stud who made 250,000gns from John Clarke. Unable to name his client, Clarke confined himself to remarking that she was a “very, very attractive filly” but that laconic endorsement was presumably sustained by a guaranteed residual value. For her dam, a winner by Invincible Spirit (Ire), is a half-sister to Cinnamon Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}), herself a Group 1 winner in the Moyglare Stud S. and meanwhile the dam of last year's St Leger winner Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The latter could yet give the page a fresh upgrade when undertaking the biggest test of stamina of his career to date at Ascot on Saturday.

One of the less expensive animals surely merits a small footnote, meanwhile, in lot 647—an Exceed And Excel (Aus) half-sister to no less extraordinary a Thoroughbred than dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). Her paternity proposes a rather different kind of vocation, though who can say what chapters may yet be written following her 55,000gns acquisition by Tina Rau?

The beauty of all these adolescent creatures is that nobody can guarantee their future, for better or worse, from Monday's two new record breakers to the lowliest animal in Book 4 later this week. And that's precisely why everyone feels it will be worth coming back for another go this morning.