By Brian Sheerin
There can be no bad time for a sale company to produce a Group 1 winner but, star graduate Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) bagging a much-deserved breakthrough success at the highest level in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan last week provided Tattersalls with something extra to shout about on the eve of the much-anticipated Craven Breeze-Up Sale.
The George Boughey-trained speedster became the fifth Group 1 scorer to emerge from the Craven in the past three years alone, joining genuine top-notchers like 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}), Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), dual Group 1 scorer Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and last year's Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). Not a bad roll call, one might say, and Jason Singh, associate director at Tattersalls, says he can see no reason why that trend can't continue at Park Paddocks this week.
He said, “Believing winning the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai was perfect timing and she becomes the fifth individual Group 1 winner to emerge from the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in the past three years alone.”
He added, “The great thing about those Group 1 winners is that there is a great mix of price tags. When you look at Cachet for example, she won the 1,000 Guineas and only cost 60,000gns. Then you have Native Trail, the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner who cost 210,000gns, dual Group 1 winner Vandeek cost 625,000gns, then Classic prospect Hotazhell who cost 200,000gns.
“Then you have Believing, who cost 115,000gns, and she placed in five Group 1s before getting her deserved day in the sun in Dubai last week. Other than Vandeek at 625,000gns, you could say that all of those Group 1 winners were extremely buyable so it's great to see the success has been spread right across the market.”
It's not just Tattersalls that is rightly pleased with Believing. It was Mick Fitzpatrick's eye and pocket that spotted the potential in Believing at Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale from Baroda Stud for 70,000gns. Believing went on to turn 45,000gns profit for Fitzpatrick at the Craven in 2022 before joining Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) on Kilminfoyle House Stud's Group 1 roll of honour.
Fitzpatrick said, “It's good that the horses are progressing for the next person and that we are selling a good product. Not only can we stand by our own brand, but we can stand behind the breeze-up game as well. But this game is a lot of hard work. It's 24/7. Only for my staff, I wouldn't be able to do what I do. There's no logic to it at times. It's a fugazi and you just have to buy the best and sell the best that you can. Believing was placed in a few Group 1s and I was just hoping she would be able to get her head in front in one. It is a very elite thing, to win a Group 1. It's very, very hard to produce a Group 1 winner so it's very special when it happens.”
Like any handler worth his salt, Fitzpatrick is concentrating on producing the next one and can call upon a smart-looking Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) filly [lot 101] as well as colts by Justify [44] and Knicks Go [52] and another filly by Maclean's Music [4]. His neighbours down in Somerville Paddock O, Tradewinds Stud, will have similar dreams going to bed on Monday after lot 65, a beautiful Havana Grey (GB) filly, showed up well on every time sheet post-breeze.
Alex Power said, “We've a lovely bunch of horses and have put five or six months of hard work into getting a day like today so it means a lot to me and Shane [brother]. You could go on for another five years and you might not have another day like it. It's hard to believe. We're not quite believing it but hopefully on Tuesday afternoon we will.”
He added, “Nothing the Havana Grey filly ever did suggested that she wasn't good. Everything she did was done in a smart fashion. But you can never be too bullish, especially when they are good.”
Not only are there good horses on the ground at Tattersalls but so, too, are the buyers. Kia Joorabchian was a notable inspector, alongside top bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, Robson Aguiar and the Amo Racing entourage, along with a host of top buyers and trainers. All promising signs, leading Singh to reveal there was 'quiet optimism' in the air on the eve of the sale, which kicks off at 5.45pm on Tuesday.
He said, “With this being the first of the major breeze-up sales of the year, there is definitely a certain level of cautious optimism. The breeze-up handlers always bring an outstanding bunch of horses to the sale and this year appears to be no different. There is a really good mix of stallions represented in this week's sale.
“We have nine Blue Points, three by Candy Ride, and a host of other sexy stallions like Dubawi, Justify, Kingman, Havana Grey, Mehmas, Night Of Thunder, Sioux Nation and Starman, who has made an exceptional start. Then you have the stallion who's arguably one of the most sexy stallions in the world right now, Too Darn Hot, and there are seven catalogued by him. Last but not least, Wootton Bassett, who had a remarkable 10 juvenile Group winners last year, has three horses in the sale.”
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