Book 1 To Dazzle From Start To Finish

To say that Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale offers the very finest in international bloodstock from start to finish is no empty claim. Within the first seven horses through the ring on Oct. 3 can be found a son of the Grade I winner I'm A Dreamer (Ire) (Noverre) (lot 2) and a full-brother to Group 1 winner Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 7). And, in the perfect example of saving the best 'til last, the final horse to walk that famous circle as dusk falls on Thursday, Oct. 5 will be none other than a son of the fabled Galileo (Ire), Camas Park Stud's full-brother to Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire). As lot 502, he looks set to bring the curtain down in dramatic style on three frenetic days of action at Park Paddocks.

But don't plan on leaving your seats too frequently for the intervening lots, either. There are a total of 146 yearlings from the seven leading stallions in Europe–Galileo (Ire), Dubawi (Ire), Dark Angel (Ire), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Sea The Stars (Ire), Acclamation (GB) and Frankel (GB)–as well as 30 daughters of Group 1 winners on offer. Furthermore, Book 1 heralds the start of the significant Ballymacoll Dispersal, with five yearlings set to go under the hammer at the end of the first day. Another four will be auctioned during Book 2 Oct. 9 to 11.

Following a strong start to the yearling sales around the world in 2017, and with Tattersalls having recruited a stellar cast for its flagship event, the company's marketing director Jimmy George is in an understandably optimistic mood as the clock ticks down to Book 1 and the start of a fortnight of trade in Newmarket. Over the last four years, Book 1 has consistently posted an average well in excess of 200,000gns, while last year's sale broke new ground in setting a record for turnover of just over 88-million gns.

“Book 1 is regarded as Europe's number one yearling sale but even by Book 1 standards I think this year's catalogue is out of the ordinary,” George says. “Certainly the feedback that we've received suggests that's the case. The sire power is massive but the female sides of the pedigrees are very deep indeed. The quality of stallions available to breeders in Europe is very strong at the moment and Book 1 is proving to be an extraordinary showcase for some of the best stallions in the world. As well as the acknowledged names of Galileo, Dubawi, Dark Angel, Invincible Spirit, Sea The Stars and Frankel–and they are all world-class stallions by any standards–the first-crop sires are a smart-looking bunch as well. Numerically, the best represented are Australia (GB) and Kingman (GB), who are going to be very high on a lot of people's lists as they were both outstanding racehorses in their own right and they have some very smart yearlings to represent them in their first crops.”

Book 1 has enjoyed some encouraging results on the track this season, notably from some of the leading lights of last year. Two Dubawi colts–sons of the Group 1 winners Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic)–shared top billing last year at 2.6-million gns. Fallen For You's colt, bred by Normandie Stud and named Glorious Journey (GB), is now unbeaten in two starts for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, his most recent victory coming in the G3 Prix la Rochette. Meanwhile, the Meon Valley Stud-bred colt out of Prix de l'Opera winner Zee Zee Top has been named Emaraaty (GB) and has made one eye-catching appearance for Sheikh Hamdan when overcoming a bad draw and slow start to run home strongly for fourth in a Sandown maiden.

Another of Shadwell's purchases at last year's Book 1, Elarqam (GB), the Frankel colt out of dual Classic winner Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) who cost 1.6-million gns, scored decisively on debut at York on Sept. 10 for his dam's former trainer Mark Johnston. His breeder the Duke of Roxburghe will offer his Dubawi half-brother through Floors Stud as lot 347.

“It's crucial that Book 1 is regularly producing top 2-year-olds as well as the Classic performers these days and that's a message that's been taken on board–it's not just a catalogue of middle-distance performers–and that's key to its popularity,” George adds. “And of course it's good to have seen some of the more expensive horses from last year performing really promisingly.”

Buyers have been clamouring for the final yearlings of Scat Daddy this season and there are two chances to secure one at Tattersalls via lot 45, Glidawn Stud's grandson of the Grade 3 winner Where We Left Off (GB) (Dr Devious {Ire}) from the further family of Hong Kong hotpot Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), and lot 220, the first foal of Similu (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) from the Moyglare Stud family of G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Trusted Partner, offered by Glenvale Stud.

Gerry Burke of Glidawn Stud has long been a fan of shopping in America and his Book 1 draft also includes a filly from the first crop of Frankel's brother Noble Mission (GB) (lot 47) out of a Shinko Forest (Ire) half-sister to the five-time Group/Grade 1 winner Cape Blanco (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). She is one of three yearlings by the Lane's End stallion in Book 1.

This top tier of the market is really the only place where fillies can hold their own against the colts when it comes to price, with a number of buyers having a long-term plan in mind for their investments.

“The quality of the fillies in the catalogue is truly exceptional– there are 30 out of Group 1 winners and some of these are first foals out of very serious race fillies,” George says. “In that respect, if you're looking for a future foundation mare, it's the best opportunity you'll have for a long time, especially with the weakness of the sterling making it extra appealing for overseas buyers.”

Those regally bred fillies include a rare yearling sale appearance for a James Wigan homebred. The breeder is renowned for the success of his West Blagdon Stud draft at the December Foal Sale, but he has opted to sell the first foal of his GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}) through Norris Bloodstock. Named Gloam (GB), the Galileo filly will sell on the final day of Book 1 as lot 418 and is currently being prepared for sale by Liam and Jenny Norris, who consigned last year's co-topper Glorious Journey and will again be offering some select yearlings from Normandie Stud.

Not many owners would turn down the chance to get their hands on a relation to four-time Group 1 winner Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and while her yearling full-sister is unlikely ever to come on the open market, the only other filly of Galileo's yearling crop bred on the same cross is offered as lot 40. The daughter of Choisir (Aus)'s dual Group 3 winner Lady Springbank (Ire) was sold as a foal last year by her breeder Castlefarm Stud for 300,000gns, and will be offered for sale by the fearless pinhooker Philipp Stauffenberg.

Another exciting first foal, among what is regularly a first-class draft from Watership Down Stud is lot 195, a Dubawi filly out of G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}). The Watership Down draft also includes an Oasis Dream colt out of Zenyatta's winning half-sister Eblouissante (Bernardini). Offered as lot 439, he too is a first foal.

In the days before he won four Group 1 races, Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the subject of a rare collusion between two leading bloodstock agents, Charlie Gordon-Watson and John Warren, who were listed as his joint-buyers after going to 300,000gns to secure the son of Dubawi for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. Highclere Stud will offer his full-brother for Andrew Stone of St Albans Bloodstock as lot 451, and the page has received another good update this year courtesy of half-sister God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), winner of the G3 Prix Minerve and Listed Aphrodite S. in her breeder's colours.

Relations to recent Classic winners include lot 425, a sister to G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger winner Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from Camas Park Stud; lot 473, Pantile Stud's Champs Elysees half-brother to Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) offered through Houghton Bloodstock, and lot 155, a Frankel half-sister to Oaks victrix Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), offered by John Troy. Ballyhimikin Stud consigns Trevor Stewart's Invincible Spirit half-sister to Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who is already also a proven producer as the dam of Rhododendron (Ire). The daughter of the smart sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge) is sure to draw plenty of interest on the final day of the sale when she appears as lot 381.

Another Invincible Spirit yearling with a highly enticing pedigree is lot 145, Oghill House Stud's daughter of Pleasantry (GB) (Johannesburg), whose half-brother Kingman is also by the Irish National Stud resident.

It's not just the delicious array of cakes and biscuits in the hospitality suite which draws potential buyers to the Newsells Park Stud draft. The bloodstock on show is also of the highest quality and this year is no different. Among a 24-strong Book 1 draft is a Teofilo half-brother to Grade 1 winner Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}) (lot 306), a full-brother to Classic heroine Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a Dubawi colt out of Arc and King George winner Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {Ger}) (lot 416) and a Poet's Voice half-brother to the top-class sprinters The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) and Deacon Blues (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) (lot 140).

Five years on from dual Derby winner Australia (GB) taking his own turn in the ring where he was bought for 525,000gns by MV Magnier, Ouija Board's best son will be represented by 20 members of his first crop during Book 1. They include lot 221, the Rathbarry Stud-consigned half-brother to the group-winning duo of Rekindling (GB) and Golden Sword, both sons of the late High Chaparral (Ire).

Another freshman sire, Lanwades's Sea The Moon (Ger), proved popular at the BBAG Sale in September and an eye-catcher among his five Book 1 offerings is Staffordstown's son of the treble Group 1 winner Albanova (GB) (Alzao) (lot 319). His half-brother Algometer (GB) (Archipenko) won last year's G3 Arc Trial at Newbury.

Along with Australia, the Coolmore team also has the first yearlings of No Nay Never to keep an eye on and he is represented in Book 1 by lot 114, a January-foaled half-brother to G1 Darley Prix Morny winner The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).

Chance for a Book 1 Bonus…

In 2015, Tattersalls introduced the Book 1 Bonus Scheme for all graduates of its premier sale, which offers the chance to win an extra £25,000 on top of a maiden victory. The tally of winners currently stands at 74, meaning that a total of £1,850,000 of extra prize-money has been distributed so far through the scheme.

“This is a huge incentive for owners at every level of the market to want to buy in Book 1. The horses who have won bonuses so far haven't all cost vast sums of money. Well over half of the bonus winners have cost £100,000 or less,” says Jimmy George.

Click here to hear Jimmy George discuss the Book 1 Bonus.

Mark Johnston-trained runners have benefitted from a number of bonus wins, and they include the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Nyaleti (Arch), who was bought for 40,000gns last year. Nick Bradley Racing won two bonuses in two days courtesy of Klosters (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), a 45,000gns purchase, and Lynn's Memory (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who cost 40,000gns.

George adds, “It's great to see so many syndicates winning the bonuses–for example the Windmill Racing team, which has Shepherd Market with Clive Cox. She cost 22,000gns and won £37,000 when she won her maiden.”

End Of An Era At Ballymacoll…

As trade draws to a close on the first day of Book 1, racing historians and breeding buffs alike will have pause to reflect on the significant impact to the sport made during the Weinstock family's tenure at Ballymacoll Stud.

Five yearlings start the major dispersal, which will continue in Book 2 and through the Horses-in-Training Sale and December Sales. The first to come to market is a daughter of the champion racemare Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) by Sea The Stars (Ire) (lot 167), followed by a daughter of Kingman (lot 168) who enjoyed a good update last week when her 2-year-old half-sister Aim Of Artemis (Ire) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) won at Leicester for Sir Michael Stoute. Click here for a video preview of the Ballymacoll dispersal.

“We work very hard to attract people to the sale from around the world and we feel there's plenty to encourage major buyers throughout Book 1,” says Jimmy George. “The first wave of the Ballymacoll dispersal comes in Book 1, which marks the start of one of the most anticipated dispersals in the world from an outfit which has been outperforming its relatively small numbers for five decades now. It's a unique opportunity and so many of these families are still very current. That's an exciting moment in itself.”