Time Being Goes To War
Time Being Goes To War…
The traditional Wednesday evening presentation of well-bred fillies from Juddmonte again proved the highlight at Tattersalls, and Sheikh Fahad was outbid once more on the second-top price of the day, Time Being (GB) (Zamindar) (lot 2158), who is another Juddmonte jewel to have been claimed for an American farm. Bidding via Tattersalls’ Marketing Director Jimmy George on the telephone, Michael Baum went to 375,000gns to ensure that the full-sister to G1 Falmouth S. winner Timepiece (GB) and half-sister to fellow top-flight winner Passage Of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}) will be a glittering addition to his Man o’ War Farm in Kentucky.
“Michael was here two years ago buying mares and he also has two Frankel foals,” said George. “He hasn’t discussed mating plans for this filly but you can be sure she’ll go to a top stallion somewhere in the world.”
Amber Isle (First Defence) (lot 2130), a full-sister to G3 Acomb S. winner Dundonnell, was another major draw from the draft, selling to James Delahooke for 240,000gns on behalf of a syndicate named Pursuit Of Success. The winner of a six-furlong maiden in June for Roger Charlton, the 76-rated 3-year-old is a daughter of Danehill’s sister Family.
Juddmonte’s families have been just as prolific in the U.S. as in Europe, and thus it was no surprise that a bidding flurry began when the unraced 3-year-old filly Reimpose (First Defence) (lot 2154), a half-sister to GI Kentucky Oaks winner Flute (Seattle Slew), stepped into the ring. She was also secured by U.S. interests, having been knocked down to Brookdale Farm for 270,000gns. Bobby Donworth was involved in the early bidding but the final blows boiled down to the Seitz trio of Fred, Freddy and Joe Seitz of Brookdale versus Cormac McCormack. The Seitzes stayed strong for their compatriot, with Freddy Seitz admitting they had reached their limit by the time the hammer came down.
“That was as far as we could go, to be honest,” he said, noting that she was purchased for a partnership. “We were hoping to get her for a little bit less than that. We had to stretch really hard.”
He stressed the rarity, however, of getting into such a good family. Reimpose is also a sister to stakes winner Velvet Morning (Broad Brush), and two of her sisters, including Flute, have produced stakes winners. Her second dam, Media Luna (Star Appeal) produced Group 3 winner Eva Luna (Alleged), who went on to produce dual Group 1 winner Brian Boru (GB) and three other stakes winners, as well as the dam of Juddmonte’s G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Workforce (King’s Best).
“She’s a beautiful filly and she has a great pedigree,” Seitz noted. “She’ll probably be bred here then go to the U.S. eventually–we’re not really positive what we’re going to do yet.”
Seitz recognized that with the Juddmonte powerhouse standing behind the pedigree, the page is only likely to improve going forward.
“They cultivate their families so well that if you’re able to get into one you’re hitting the jackpot. She comes from such a great organization, it’s just great to get into it.”
The Seitzes secured another young filly from a prominent American family from the Juddmonte draft when paying 58,000gns for lot 2140, Generata (Mizzen Mast), whose second dam is the four-time Group 1 producer Toussaud. Brookdale Farm was also the name on the ticket for the 3-year-old Kaiserwurde (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}) at 35,000gns Tuesday, and Joe Seitz signed for the Galileo filly Madame Clouseau (Ire) at 70,000gns Monday.
“Most of them will go back to the U.S. eventually, but this year I think we’re going to leave some here and breed to some of these nice horses over here in Europe,” Freddy Seitz noted.
Another member of the Juddmonte draft is bound for the U.S. after Alex Elliott prevailed for lot 2141, the First Defence filly Hiking, at 95,000gns. Hiking won three races in the Juddmonte silks for trainer Roger Charlton, including a July 12 Salisbury handicap, and Elliott–who struck out on his own as an agent earlier this year–noted she will race on in California.
Elliott has spent his fair share of time on the West Coast, having previously worked for trainer Eoin Harty. He then spent about two years with British agent Jamie McCalmont and he is also a graduate of the Darley Flying Start program. Elliott still works closely with American trainers including Christophe Clement and Simon Callaghan.
Elliott said Hiking reminded him of Rhagori (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a filly he picked out for 90,000gns at this sale last year while with McCalmont. Expatriated to the barn of Simon Callaghan for owner Michael House, Rhagori won this year’s Swingtime S. at Santa Anita and was subsequently sold at Keeneland November for $230,000 to Kern/Lillingston.
“This one reminded me of Rhagori–she was the same, if not a better model,” Elliott noted. “She was my pick of the sale. She will be a standout in California, and I think she’ll become a graded stakes winner.”