Snow, Sales Descend On Newmarket

Newmarket, UK–It seems unlikely that there will be a repeat of last year's excitement at the Tattersalls February Sale when Willie John (GB) (Dansili {GB}) smashed the European record for a colt in training sold at auction.

The winter gathering in Newmarket, which lay under a light carpet of snow on the eve of the event on Wednesday, is something of a mixed bag for the two-day sale. The majority going through the ring are colts and fillies both in and out of training, but some useful broodmares as well as 2-year-olds and yearlings are included.

Willie John's contribution of 1,900,000gns by moving to Roger Varian's stable helped the sale's turnover to reach 8,037,150gns last year, an improvement for the fourth year in a row despite impressive gains in 2017. The average of 26,880gns was also a record. The first event of the year in Park Paddocks might be one of the lowest-key, but could yet give some pointers to the financial climate ahead.

Godolphin has already made a strong early impression to 2019 at the Dubai World Cup Carnival and several of the members set to leave the team could add a little lustre.

Its consignment now numbers 36, predominately consisting of those who have raced, and much the best-known name is that of Atty Persse (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 375). He had looked a Classic prospect after an impressive juvenile success and struck for trainer Roger Charlton in the King George V H. at Royal Ascot in 2017 before his fortunes dwindled.

Ambassadorial (Elusive Quality) (lot 315) had a similarly attractive profile for Michael Halford after taking the Listed Star Appeal S. at Dundalk, but he too has failed to build on that promise.

In terms of finding a younger horse with potential close to that of Willie John, the credentials of Patrick Sarsfield (Fr) (Australia {GB}) (lot 188) are sure to be scrutinised. He was trained in Ireland by Eddie Lynam last term and was unlucky to run into G2 Champions Juvenile S. scorer Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Group 1 runner-up Sydney Opera House (GB) (Australia {GB}) on his only two starts.

John Gosden is responsible for several of the more recently in-form offerings with War Eagle (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (lot 353) and recent Lingfield scorer St Peters Basilica (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 352), a half-brother to the far speedier pair Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and Spirit Quartz (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), having some reasonable form on the board.

Harvey Dent (GB) (Mayson {GB}), (lot 180) did himself no harm in winning in impressive fashion on only his third start at Lingfield a few days ago and is being offered on behalf of trainer Archie Watson by The Castlebridge Consignment. John Murphy's Confrontational (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) (lot 333) has also been in terrific heart of late, scoring at successive meetings at Dundalk, as has the William Haggas-trained Deputise (GB) (Kodiak {GB}) (lot 369).

Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}), who ended up being the dam of last year's G1 Oaks scorer Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), changed hands at this sale a few years ago and there are certainly options for those with breeding or another season of racing in mind.

Several likely types are being offered through Baroda and Colbinstown Studs on Thursday. Among their six are Kalandara (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), whose dual Group 3-winning daughter Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr} sold for 900,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls December Sale. Although the mare is now 16, she is believed to be carrying a filly foal by Lope De Vega (Ire) and is one of the best of the earlier lots as lot 69. One lot before her (lot 68) is Art Of Dance (GB) (Medicean {GB}), a Bloomsbury Stud-bred mare who is in foal to the much in-demand young buck No Nay Never.

This could be a busy few minutes as another in-foal to No Nay Never is the useful race-mare Hestia (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), an eye-catching entry by the National Stud as lot 66, whilst lot 67, the unraced All I Need (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) has an attractive Wildenstein pedigree.

Ellery Lane (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 163) has not yet become a broodmare after leaving Brian Lynch in Canada but was stakes-placed in both Ireland and America. Highclere Stud's Snazzy (Ire) (Kodiak {GB}) (lot 159) ought to have similar credentials as she was listed-placed for Charlie Fellowes and hails from the illustrious extended family of the likes of Cassandra Go (Ire), Magical (Ire) and Rhododendron (Ire).

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Tattersalls February Sale has firmly established itself as Europe's premier midwinter sale and there is no shortage of high-class breeding stock in this year's catalogue, as well as horses in training, 2-year-olds and yearlings to appeal to the usual diverse mix of domestic and international buyers who descend on Park Paddocks each year.”

At 11am, prior to the sale commencing half an hour later, will be the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat stallion parade. Ten stallions who are about to embark upon their first and second seasons at stud in Great Britain will feature. They include Whitsbury Manor Stud's acquisition Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), the G1 Flying Five S. hero, and G1 St Leger scorer Harbour Law (GB) (Lawman {Fr}, who is to stand at Batsford Stud.

A pair of ex-Aidan O'Brien performers are also on show in top sprinter Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), now moving to Bearstone Stud, and the National Stud's Lancaster Bomber (War Front), who signed off winning the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup S. Sophomore stallions Ardad (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) are also on parade with a handful of other more established stallions on hand for viewing afterwards in the Left and Right Yards.

In this period of calm before the storm during which breeders and buyers will be in town, some of the leading local studs are also holding an 'open house' over the next couple of days and there is the opportunity to visit both Juddmonte's Banstead Manor and Darley's Dalham Hall headquarters, among others.