Ferguson Hails ‘Vintage’ Crop

Ferguson Hails ‘Vintage’ Crop… 
John Ferguson was back in action four lots later to secure lot 241, a Dubawi colt out of the stakes-winning Cosmodrome (Bahri), from the draft of Highclere Stud, for 725,000gns. A further four lots later, Ferguson was forced to cross the 1 million guineas threshold again for yet another Dubawi, this time Watership Down’s colt out of the G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Crystal Music (Nureyev) (lot 245). The transaction was a near carbon-copy of Lot 237, with Ferguson forced to see off Warren, but this time that agent pushed him even further. Once again Sheikh Mohammed would not be denied, however, and after signing the ticket at 1.6 million, Ferguson discussed Darley’s buying philosophy. 
“You have to look at it across the whole spectrum of what we invest in the course of a year,” he said. “Although it’s a huge sum of money, across the spectrum of what we’re doing in Australia and America and around the world, it’s all relative. We’re trying to find the next goldmine to be a stallion that can go dual hemisphere and can repay. That’s how it works. And so although individually it looks like a lot–and I’m not saying for a second it’s not–you’ve got to look at it as one spike of investment during a year of investment.” 
Ferguson said he thinks this year’s British yearling crop is a “vintage” one. 
“I think there are some exceptionally nice yearlings here this year,” he said. “I think overall–and Dick O’Gorman who helps me here goes around to all the farms, and with our horses as well–whether it’s the weather, or what it is, I think this is a vintage year for yearlings. I think there is a very strong team, and funny enough, Sheikh Hamdan said the same thing. So I think overall it’s going to be a very good crop.” 
“These are the best, these yearlings here this week,” he continued. “The stallions we have in Europe now, sure there are some lovely horses in America, and don’t get me wrong, there are some fantastic operations in America, but as a conglomerate of horses, Newmarket has it.” 
Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber’s Watership Down Stud purchased lot 245’s second dam, Crystal Spray (GB) (Beldale Flutter) for 500,000gns in 1995, and that has proven a sound investment. They bred and raced her Group 1-winning daughter Crystal Music, and have also enjoyed plenty of highlights in the sales ring with members of the family. 
“That was a wonderful result, this family has been amazing for us and he is a lovely colt,” said Watership Down Stud manager Simon Marsh. “We’re absolutely delighted he’s been bought by Sheikh Mohammed. 
There’s every chance the colt’s full-brother could be seen in same ring next year as Crystal Music’s current foal is also a Dubawi colt, but the mare is not in foal this year.” 
Ferguson did not rest long, adding another Dubawi colt, this time Meon Valley’s lot 259, for 800,000gns. the chestnut is out of the stakes-winning Dash to the Front (GB) (Diktat {GB}), a half-sister to stakes winner Dash to the Top (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). 
Over the first two days of trade, Ferguson signed for 25 lots for 12,105,000gns, making him the sale’s leading buyer by more than 7 million guineas.