There is no let-up in the European breeze-up season at the moment, with Tattersalls' Guineas Breeze-up following hard on the heels of the Tuesday's sale at Osarus and bringing a top price of 230,000gns for a colt by Exchange Rate (lot 284).
Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud has now offered the top lot at this sale for two years running, his $60,000 Keeneland pinhook out of minor stakes winner Valid Lilly (Valid Expectations) following last year's War Front filly, which made 270,000gns.
The solid dark brown colt entered the ring just three lots from the close of play, ensuring that a good crowd stayed until the conclusion, with a number of them making attempts to snare the impressive breezer. James Delahooke, Ross Doyle, David Redvers and Peter Doyle all played a part in the bidding, but Charlie Gordon-Watson was the ultimate victor on behalf of a long-term client. He said, “I thought he was an exceptional horse. He breezed well, walked well, had plenty of substance and strength and really stood out. I think he was better than most of the horses at the Craven Sale.” (click here for a TDN feature on Jim McCartan and Gaybrook Lodge).
The Gaybook Lodge Stud draft was just pipped at the post to be leading vendor by aggregate, but with five sold for 462,000gns compared to Mocklershill's 11 for a total of 464,000gns, McCartan's team retained the honors by average price of 92,400gns. The justifiably delighted consignor commented, “I loved the whole package of him. Exchange Rate has been a lucky sire for me and I just loved the way this horse moved, and his temperament–he always wants to please and he has a lot of natural ability. I couldn't wait to get him home from America after I bought him.”
After a relatively quiet start to the breeze-up section of the sale, trade warmed up significantly throughout the session to surpass last year's figures in key sectors. Turnover improved by 15% to 3,763,900gns, while the median went up by 7% to 23,500gns. The average dipped slightly by 4% to 31,366gns, and the clearance rate was down just a point at 78%.
Oak Tree Farm's son of Quality Road (lot 203) was another to emanate from the Keeneland September Sale and, having been bought by Norman Williamson for $85,000, increased in value to 115,000gns when Oliver St Lawrence gave best on behalf of Fawzi Nass.
“He's a quality Quality Road,” said the agent, who confirmed that the colt will be trained at Aislabie Stud by George Peckham. “He did a good breeze in a fast time and really caught the eye.”
Out of Canadian stakes winner Masada (Pleasant Tap), the colt's half-siblings include the black-type duo of Menacing and Lemondropsmypop, both of whom are by Lemon Drop Kid.
Earlier in the session Williamson's operation also sold lot 140A, a late entry to the sale by Blame out of a half-sister to Afleet Express (Afleet Alex) for 92,000gns. The colt had previously breezed at the Craven but then wasn't offered for sale. His second appearance on the Rowley Mile was much smoother, however, and attracted the attention of Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, who was working in partnership with SackvilleDonald's Alastair Donald for an unnamed client.
“He was the only one on our list so we're pleased to get him,” said Brown. “He fluffed his lines in his last breeze–that can happen, they are only babies–but he did it much better this time around.”
The only Sir Percy (GB) juvenile in the sale (lot 231) ended up among the top lots of the day when selling to Stephen Hillen for 90,000gns. Out of an unraced daughter of Mr Greeley named Princess Aurora, the good-topped colt will be trained by Kevin Ryan, having been bought on spec.
“I'm pretty confident he'll be sold by this evening,” said Hillen of the Mocklershill consignee, who cost 28,000gns as a yearling. “He did a good breeze and he's from a good vendor. I'm very happy to have got him as he was one of my picks of the sale.”
Several lots later, Hillen was back in action, again for Kevin Ryan, and went to 50,000gns for a first-crop son of Frozen Power, who was represented by his first winner, Rockfield Last (Ire), on Thursday. Hillen added of lot 237, a grandson of the listed winner and Group 1-placed Royal Shyness (GB) (Royal Academy): “The Frozen Powers seem to be nice individuals–I bought a few last week [at Doncaster] and this colt is for a new client of Kevin's.”
Horses-In-Training Boost…
The horses-in-training section, which kicked off the sale, added 836,200gns to the day's record turnover, with 52 of the 64 lots offered for a clearance rate of 81%. Wildcard addition Castlelyons (Ire) (Papal Bull {GB}) (lot 92) has been seen on the racecourse just once, but his winning performance was such that Alex Elliott was forced to part with 170,000gns to buy him on behalf of a syndicate of owners to set a new record price for a horse in training at the Guineas Sale. The tall and rangey 3-year-old–a descendant of GI Yellow Ribbon S. heroine Castilla–posted a 2 3/4-length victory for trainer John Joseph Murphy at Cork Apr. 20, prompting his late entry to the sale.
“There are plenty of options with this horse,” said Elliott, who confirmed that he will be trained in Wales by Robert Stephens, with whom he worked for jumps trainer Philip Hobbs. “He could be anything. His maiden is already working out well and he did a hugely impressive time in that. All options are open–he could be a horse to travel with to Australia.”
Unusually for this sale, two in-foal mares were among the bestsellers of the day, both forming part of a dispersal of racing and breeding stock owned by the late Stefan Friborg. Neamour (GB) (lot 89), an Oasis Dream (GB) half-sister to the useful Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was sold with a southern hemisphere cover to Archipenko, will be joining the ranks at Brook Stud after being bought by Dwayne Woods for 72,000gns. He said, “She's a lovely mare, medium-sized with a great walk and a good page. Postponed could be a Group 1 winner by the end of the year. I think he blew up a little at Sandown last week.”
Next into the ring was Aiden Sea (Ire) (lot 91), a Danehill Dancer (Ire) half-sister to French listed winner Argentina from the family of champion racemare Allez France. Sold in foal to Leroidesanimaux (Brz), she was knocked down for 70,000gns to Paul Moroney on behalf of New Zealander Sir Owen Glenn, the owner G1 Queen Elizabeth S. winner Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}).
Tattersalls' Park Paddocks will be quiet now until the July Sale, but reflecting on a successful breeze-up season in Newmarket, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented, “Last year's record-breaking Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up & Horses in Training Sale was always going to be a hard act to follow, but this year's renewal has all but matched the significant rises across the board achieved in 2014. A record top price and record turnover in the horses-in-training section of today's sale have continued the upward progression in that sector of the Guineas Sale, and again demonstrated the extra dimension it has brought to this fixture. The breeze-up has recorded an increase in turnover and median and a very similar average and clearance rate to last year.”
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