Kyllachy Colt Tops Tatts Opener

Kyllachy (GB) has long been a dependable sire, both in the sales ring and on the racecourse, and his popularity was evident on Monday when his colt out of multiple winner Amicable Terms (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) topped the first day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale at 48,000gns.

Lot 472 was the selection of Kate Barclay, who confirmed that he had been bought as a pinhook. Bred and consigned by Dwayne Woods' Brook Stud, the colt is a half-brother to two prolific full-siblings, Extrasolar (GB) and Golly Miss Molly (GB), both by Exceed And Excel (Aus), who have won nine races between them. Further back, the family boasts a couple of notable Classic winners in Riverman and Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire).

It is hard to make a direct comparison between the first day's figures and the Wednesday of last year's sale, as Tattersalls hosted an extra half-day session in 2015 held on the Tuesday afternoon. However, the clearance rate was a little more encouraging at 72% (up from 68%), with an average price of 11,260gns (-22%) and median of 8,000gns (-16%). Wednesday's aggregate stood at 2,094,350gns for 186 foals sold from the 260 offered.

To a large degree, the first of the four foal sessions provided a showcase of freshman sires. With around a third of the catalogue being the first foals of a large bunch of new stallions, it was Maywood Stud's homebred colt by Gregorian (Ire) (lot 237) who led the way for the new boys at 47,000gns.

The Burns family of Rathasker Stud, who bought the colt, know the sire well as they bred the son of Clodovil (Ire) and bought him back as a stallion prospect, choosing to stand Gregorian at the National Stud in Newmarket. Breeders who enjoy seeing colts prove themselves on the track for a number of seasons before retiring to stud will find Gregorian a particularly appealing prospect, as he ran 25 times in four consecutive seasons, with his six victories including the G2 Hungerford S.

Commenting on her purchase, Madeleine Burns said, “He is a strong foal, with a great temperament. Gregorian seems to be getting them of a type and this colt is fairly typical. He is from a good farm too.”

The colt is a son of the winning Diamond Green (Fr) mare Miskin Diamond (Ire), who has already produced a dual 2-year-old winner in Mind The Slope (GB) (Intikhab). The family is also responsible for GI Test S. winner Sweet Lulu (Mr Greeley) and her Grade III-winning half-brother Anchor Down (Tapit).

Gregorian, whose fee last year was £4,500, ended the day with six weanlings sold for an average of 13,200gns.

Among the other first-season stallions with stock selling well during the opening session was Darley's Slade Power, another seasoned performer over four seasons and of course the winner of Darley's G1 July Cup and the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in his swansong season. Lot 340 was his leading candidate on Wednesday, selling for 40,000gns to Larry Stratton to become the joint-most expensive filly of the day.

“She's a gorgeous filly from the first crop of a champion sprinter and from a family that keeps chucking up decent winners,” said Stratton, who had more reason than most to scrutinise a member of this particular family, as he bred GII San Clemente H. winner Up In Time (GB) (Noverre), who appears under the filly's third dam Up And About (GB) (Barathea {Ire}). The filly's dam, Bedouin Dancer (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), is a sister to G3 Oak Tree S. winner Summer Fete (Ire). He added, “She's been bought for a partnership and will be reoffered next year through Tom Whelan's Church View Stables.”

One of three foals by Lanwades Stud's freshman Sea The Moon (Ger) was the pick of Peter Moody, who has made the trip from Australia to buy some youngsters with staying blood to take back home. After buying a Camelot (GB) yearling filly for 70,000gns on Monday, the former trainer added lot 402, a colt by the German Derby winner out of a sister to Group 1 winner Cavalryman (GB) (Halling) to the list at 30,000gns. Consigned by Longview Stud, the colt is a half-brother to two winners.

Overbury Stud's Delegator (GB) only has four foals in the entire catalogue and two of them ended up in the top 10 on Monday. The third-top lot of the session, lot 328, prompted the interest of a number of shrewd pinhookers, with the gangway suddenly filling up as the Crossfields Bloodstock-bred colt entered the ring. Maurice Burns, David O'Callaghan and Matthew Houldsworth were all among the bidders, but it was Roger O'Callaghan who had the final say for Tally-Ho Stud at 43,000gns.

When Crossfields Bloodstock offered a Delegator yearling filly through Bearstone Stud at Tattersalls last year, she was unsold at 3,000gns but, having started her career racing in their colours from Bryan Smart's stable, she is now the unbeaten Group 3 winner Delectation (GB), the star of her sire's first crop, and has been sold privately to Australian owner Jamie Lovett. Indeed, 2016 has been a memorable year for Crossfields Bloodstock, who also bred the leading light of Harbour Watch's first crop, G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Tis Marvellous (GB).

Stringston Farm also did well with a Delegator colt, selling lot 308 to Brendan Holland of Grove Stud for 35,000gns. From the further family of G1 Irish St Leger winner Sans Frontieres (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the colt is a half-brother to dual winner Noble Peace (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) out of Peace Concluded (GB) (Bertolini).

Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) reminded us all recently of the power of the Cheveley Park broodmare band when winning the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf for her owner-breeder, and Tom Malone went to 40,000gns for a well-bred filly from the stud's draft (lot 441) by the farm's leading homebred stallion Pivotal (GB). Out of the young Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Expect (GB), a half-sister to listed winner Don't Touch (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) who won over six furlongs at two, the March-born foal is her dam's second produce. Some pretty smart racemares also feature close up in the pedigree, with Group 1 winners Echelon (GB) (Danehill) and Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) being a daughter and grand-daughter, respectively, of the filly's third dam Exclusive (GB) (Polar Falcon).

It's been a good sales year for the unraced Marju (Ire) mare Casulae (Ire), whose Showcasing yearling filly sold for 120,000gns at October Book 1, while her Foxwedge colt foal (lot 460) was knocked down for 40,000gns on Wednesday to Mags O'Toole. Their 2-year-old brother Itsakindamagic (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) was placed on debut for Andrew Balding in October, while the mare's first foal, 3-year-old Strada Di Carsoli (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) won in May for Ger Lyons. The colt's grandam Trois Heures Apres (GB) (Soviet Star) was also unraced but has proved to be a sterling producer, breeding eight winners from nine runners, including three black-type performers.