Figures Hold Steady As Book 1 Ends

 Newsells Park is no stranger to sales ring success with its mare Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), the dam of 3.6 million guineas colt Sir Isaac Newton (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2013, and Andreas Jacobs’s operation once again found itself at the top of the results table. Newsells topped Wednesday’s session with the sale-topping Dubawi (Ire) filly, and followed up Thursday with Shastye’s Street Cry (Ire) filly, which commanded a session-topping 800,000gns from agent Charlie Gordon-Watson.

Six seven-figure lots traded over the last three days, headed by the 2.1 million guineas Dubawi filly, led to 4% rise in aggregate on last year’s figures for Book 1 as a whole to 82,744,500gns–a new European auction record–with the median remaining static at 150,000gns and the average falling slightly by 6% to 222,431gns. The clearance rate was also unchanged from last year, with 372 of the 462 lots offered, or 81% of yearlings, being marked as sold. A slightly quieter final session saw the corresponding figures for day three take a dip, with the turnover of 24,375gns representing a decline of 19%, and the average and median contracting by 31% and 26% at 196,573gns and 140,000gns, respectively. The clearance rate for 124 sold on Thursday stood at 79%.

The momentum of the Newsells Park draft continued apace on the final day of Book 1 Thursday, with their Street Cry half-sister to G2 Middleton S. winner Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 439) creating a stir late in the afternoon when selling for 800,000gns to Charlie Gordon-Watson, who had to see off Darley’s John Ferguson for the February-foaled bay.

It was not the first time a Newsells-consigned progeny of the stakes-placed Shastye (Ire) (Danehill) has caused a stir in the Tattersalls ring; her Galileo (Ire) colt achieved a record price that stood for 24 hours when selling to MV Magnier for 3.6 million guineas at this sale in 2013, and that colt, now named Sir Isaac Newton (GB), was a maiden winner at Gowran Park in May before finishing sixth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in Royal Ascot’s G3 Jersey S. and fourth in Leopardstown’s G2 Boomerang S. Sept. 12. This filly nearly enjoyed the ultimate update when Secret Gesture, herself a 230,000gns buyback here in 2011, crossed the wire first in the GI Beverly D. S. at Arlington in August, but the 5-year-old lost that race in the stewards room.

The filly’s second dam is G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}), the dam of Group 1 winners Sagamix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and the second dam of G1 Prix d’Ispahan victor Sageburg (Ire) (Johannesburg) and G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Sagawara (GB) (Shamardal).

Gordon-Watson, who said the sale was made for an “existing client,” revealed he had bid on Shastye’s Medicean colt, now a winner in Australia, at Arqana August three years ago.

“The horse in Australia is doing well, which I actually bid for in Deauville,” he said. “I still think Sir Isaac Newton could come good, and the second dam, Saganeca, is fantastic.”

Shastye’s 2-year-old filly, a daughter of Shamardal named Secret Sense who was not offered for sale, is in training with Secret Gesture’s trainer, Ralph Beckett, and finished eighth of 14 on debut at Kempton Sept. 21. Shastye had a Galileo filly this year and was bred back to that champion sire.

Newsells Park ended Book 1 as leading consignor, with 19 sold for 8,160,000gns. Second was Highclere Stud, with 26 sold for 7,612,000gns, and Watership Down Stud was third with 11 sold for 4,585,000gns.

Wallace Wins Battle For War Front…

War Front, whose yearlings are averaging $574,375 thus far this year, had just one representative in Book 1 and that individual (lot 411) did not disappoint, selling to China Horse Club for 775,000gns. That operation’s agent Michael Wallace had to see off a handful of underbidders that included Charlie Gordon-Watson, Ed Sackville and John Ferguson. The colt from Lofts Hall Stud is out of GII Mrs. Revere S. winner River Belle (GB) (Lahib), and is a half-brother to GIII Bewitch S. winner Strathnaver (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Listed UAE 1000 Guineas winner Siyaadah (GB) (Shamardal), as well as the stakes-placed Soho Dancer (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was a 310,000gns purchase in this ring. In fact, River Belle’s last four yearlings to be offered at auction have all fetched six figures, headed by a 500,000gns daughter of Galileo picked up by trainer Michael Bell in 2013.

Wallace said the March-foaled bay had appeal as a future stallion prospect.

“We’ve all seen the success of War Front worldwide and especially here in Europe,” he said. “He was a fantastic-looking, athletic type of horse who moved well all week and has a great temperament. He didn’t put a foot wrong all week. He’ll race in Europe.”

Ferguson Lands Dubawi Daughter…

A Dubawi filly led proceedings during the second session of Book 1, and another of his daughters made an early splash on the final day when lot 387, a bay filly out of the dual listed winner Polly’s Mark (Ire) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), was knocked down to John Ferguson at 700,000gns. Ferguson had to play second fiddle to MV Magnier for Wednesday’s session-topper but this time around he outstayed Chris Richardson, who was standing with Cheveley Park Stud owner Patricia Thompson in the gangway.

Bred by Fergus Anstock, the first filly and second foal of Polly’s Mark was consigned by Bumble Mitchell, who has enjoyed some notable sales-ring successes for Anstock’s The Kathryn Stud.

Mitchell said, “That was fantastic. I’m thrilled for The Kathryn Stud, who are wonderful clients. The filly has been no trouble to prep, she’s been an absolute delight all the way through.”

The consignor noted that Polly’s Mark has a filly foal by Frankel (GB) this year and is in foal to Kingman (GB).

Commenting on his purchase – one of 23 throughout Book 1 for a total of 8.4 million guineas, Ferguson said, “This is a wonderfully athletic filly and she looks like a racehorse. We were keen to get her. She comes from a great farm–Bumble Mitchell does a good job.” He added, “We would have loved to have bought the Loveisallyouneed filly yesterday, but we are delighted with her price and thrilled that so many are supporting the sire, who has had a wonderful year.”

Though Chris Richardson and Cheveley Park Stud were thwarted in their attempts to buy the Dubawi filly, three lots earlier they had successfully laid claim to a close relative of Kingman (GB) when going to 450,000gns for lot 385. The daughter of Invincible Spirit is out of Kingman’s unraced Johannesburg half-sister Pleasantry (GB), and was consigned by Oghill House Stud, which bred the filly in partnership with Stan James founder Steve Fisher and Joseph Burke. The partners sold the mare’s first foal, the as-yet unraced Pirquet (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to John Ferguson at this sale last year.

“We’re absolutely delighted with that and we wish Cheveley Park Stud every success with her,” said Joseph Burke, who bought Pleasantry privately. “After we brought the filly here last year and she sold at her reserve of 200,000gns, I’d say we were cautiously optimistic but we’re really happy with this result. Pleasantry has a corker of a colt by Dawn Approach (Ire) this year and is back in foal to Invincible Spirit.”

Shadwell Strikes For Frankel Colt…

Progeny of the mare Tariysha (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) are commodities Sheikh Hamdan is very familiar with, having bought four horses out of the 13-year-old mare, and his racing manager Angus Gold went back to that well once again Thursday at Tattersalls when outlasting a stubborn Lord Grimthorpe at 700,000gns for lot 487, a colt by Frankel (GB) from Corduff Stud.

Gold revealed, however, that it has been a far from straightforward journey with Tariysha’s progeny. Sheikh Hamdan purchased the mare’s first foal, Arcano (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), after his win in the G2 July S. as a juvenile, and while Arcano went on to add the G1 Prix Morny that proved to be his last win, and he now stands at Sheikh Hamdan’s Derrinstown Stud in Ireland. Gold was encouraged enough, however, to spend 450,000gns on Tariysha’s next foal, a Medicean (GB) colt later named El Muqbil (Ire), at this sale in 2009, and the following year he added a 700,000gns Oasis Dream filly, followed by a 1.1 million guineas Oasis Dream colt last year named Alkhayyam (Ire) that died before he could make it to the races.

“El Muqbil was a better horse than he looks; he was quite a decent horse but had a few problems, then the other horse [Alkhayyam] was very long and backwards, then he died. And we had another filly out of the mare that flipped over in the stall and smashed her poll, and that’s why she never ran,” Gold explained. He is therefore looking towards the Frankel colt to turn the family fortunes around. “Things haven’t gone right so hopefully they will with this one,” Gold said. “This is a late foal and an immature horse. I’m happy to get a Frankel, and Sheikh Hamdan liked the horse very much. He had a lovely attitude, too.”

Gold said Sheikh Hamdan has two homebred Frankels.

“We’ve bred two, one in America and one in Ireland, which have both improved as the year has gone on,” he noted. “They’re definitely late-maturing horses but very much going the right way.”

Dugan Digs Deep For Pair of Fillies…

U.S.-based agent Shawn Dugan admitted it’s been a competitive buyers market at Tattersalls this week, but she was all smiles Thursday afternoon after signing for her second filly of the day–lot 407, a filly by Shamardal–for 625,000gns. Dugan had earlier picked up a Teofilo filly for 250,000gns for an undisclosed group of buyers that was visiting Book 1 for the second straight year.

“It’s for a new fledgling group, we were here last year, and we’re just trying to buy quality fillies to eventually create a broodmare band, and she fits that bill. She was a stunner,” Dugan said, noting the group has bought five yearlings at the European sales this year. She added that the daughter of Red Bandanna (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) from Corduff Stud would begin her racing career in Europe, but said a trainer hadn’t been picked out for the relative of G1 Nassau S. winner Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who was bred by Wardstown Stud and was a €175,000 purchase by Blandford Bloodstock at last year’s Goffs November Foal Sale.

“She could go anywhere, and you’re hoping when you buy something for that kind of money that she’s going to be rather versatile,” Dugan added. Of the market, she remarked, “it’s tough to buy anything here; we’ve been blown out of the water the last two days.”

The filly’s sale was yet another good result for the Egan family’s Corduff Stud, which earlier in the week sold a homebred Dubawi filly for 900,000gns to China Horse Club as well as a Lope De Vega (Ire) colt for 400,000gns to John Ferguson. The Shamardal filly was pinhooked at Goffs last year for €175,000.

“The sale’s been very kind to us,” said David Egan, who married bloodstock agent Henrietta Michael in June. “We knew we had some lovely horses coming here but you never know what the market will be like. Fortunately it has been strong.”

He continued, “we have 30 mares at home so our drafts are always a mixture of homebreds and pinhooks. The Shamardal filly was very much my dad’s pick. He and I work the foal sales together with Richard Brown, who is a big help to us.”

The new Mrs. Egan added that the results enjoyed this week would help pay for the couple’s honeymoon. She said, “We haven’t been away yet as we’ve been so busy with the horses since our wedding. We’re off fishing in Venezuela for a week before going on to the Breeders’ Cup and then back for the foal sales.”

Familiar Family For Juddmonte…

Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms made its second purchase of the week when shelling out 600,000gns for lot 367, a filly from the first crop of G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) consigned by Watership Down Stud. The half-sister to G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World) had topped last year’s Tattersalls December Foal Sale when sold by Newsells Park, which stands Nathaniel, to Charlie Gordon-Watson for 300,000gns.

Spinning Queen has set a precedent as a successful producer, being the dam of stakes winners Trade Commissioner (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Gallipot (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), and this filly is also a half-sister to the stakes-placed Shannon Springs (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). The second dam, stakes winner Lady Blackfoot (Prince Tenderfoot), has made a much greater mark as a producer, being the dam of GI Hollywood Derby victor Labeeb (GB) (Lear Fan); GII Arlington H. winner Fanmore (Lear Fan); G2 International S. winner Alrassaam (GB) (Zafonic) and the stakes winner and producer Madame L’Enjoleur (L’Enjoleur).

Khalid Abdullah’s Racing Manager Lord Grimthorpe, who saw off underbidder Richard Brown and signed the ticket, explained the filly’s page was a large part of her appeal.

“That’s what we’ve been looking for this week, to try to buy into what’s a relatively new family for us, although Prince Khalid did race Fanmore, so he knows the family,” he said. “Obviously she’s a sister to a Group 1 winner and it’s a good, strong producing family, which is very important for us. We’re looking at her long-term.”

Lord Grimthorpe also weighed in on Nathaniel, who faced Juddmonte homebred Frankel on just two occasions, when second to the unbeaten champion on both their debuts and when third behind Frankel in both their last starts in the G1 Champion S. three years ago.

“It’s quite interesting–Nathaniel was second to Frankel on his first start and third to Frankel on their last starts, so they had not dissimilar careers,” he said. “Both horses are by Galileo, which is interesting, but Nathaniel looks to have had a good start.”

Nathaniel wrapped up Book 1 with 13 sold at an average of 232,769gns, making him the second-leading first-season sire behind only Frankel, whose nine sold averaged 445,000gns. Nathaniel was also the sire of lot 472, a colt from Watership Down Stud hammered down to Dermot Farrington for 500,000gns. The March foal is a half-brother to GI Canadian International winner Sarah Lynx (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G3 Classic Trial winner Sugar Boy (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}).

Lord Grimthorpe also offered an update on GI Sword Dancer S. winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who for the second consecutive year finished second in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last weekend.

“He’s 100% reliable,” he said. “We’re lucky to have a horse as honest and straightforward as him. You’d arguably say he’s run his two best races in his last two starts, and he’s come out of the Arc very well, so we’re looking at a couple combinations for the end of the year–Breeders’ Cup, Japan, Hong Kong. He wouldn’t run in all three of those, it might be one or two depending on the circumstances.”

Dream Duo For Varian…

Trainer Roger Varian was recently handed the entire string of owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, and the Newmarket conditioner was shopping for that client at Park Paddocks this week. His haul Thursday included a pair of Oasis Dream (GB) youngsters in the form of lots 388 and 399. The former, a filly bred by Fittocks Stud and consigned by Highclere Stud, is out of the stakes-winning Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), a half-sister to the second dam of G1 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). She is also from the family of Group 1 winners Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and Magical Romance (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), and was bought for 450,000gns.

“It’s a current family that’s doing very well,” Varian said. “In time I’m sure she’ll visit Dubawi, but hopefully she’ll have a racing future before that.”

Pongee herself has a colt foal by Dansili (GB) and was bred to Dubawi this year.

Varian struck again for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid a short time later when shelling out 500,000gns for lot 399, an Oasis Dream colt from Newsells Park Stud. The bay was bred by Newsells’ German branch, Gestut Fahrhof, and is a full-brother to Fahrhof’s Italian Group 1 winner Querari (Ger), and a half to that operation’s unbeaten Quasillo (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was favored for this year’s G1 Deutsches Derby after winning the G3 Bavarian Classic in May but missed that Classic due to injury.

“He was a lovely colt; a scopey Oasis Dream,” Varian said. “He’ll need a bit of time to mature, but he just floated around the ring and we liked him from the first time we saw him.”

Leigh’s Passing Adds Touch of Sorrow…

Despite a decent price of 420,000gns, there was an air of sadness attached to the sale of lot 437, the colt by Oasis Dream out of multiple stakes winner Seta (GB), following the death of his breeder, Sarah Leigh, last month.

The daughter of the Eydon Hall Farm owner Gerald Leigh boarded her remaining few mares at Fittocks Stud, owned by Luca and Sara Cumani, who enjoyed such a fruitful partnership with her late father. Their many notable racecourse triumphs included a number of the colt’s family, such as GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Barathea (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), and his G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas-winning sister Gossamer (Ire).

Paying tribute to Sarah Leigh, Sara Cumani said, “We go back a long way with the Leigh family and we’ve all had great success together. Gerald and Luca were great friends and we learned a lot from him. It was a very sad day when he died but wonderful when Sarah took over.” She continued, “Sarah was probably the first to admit that she came to breeding late in life but she was really keen to learn and to get things right. She tried to do things as her father would have done and she kept a few mares that were particularly close to her. The Leighs were also very lucky to have Terry Campbell as such a loyal farm manager for a long time. Sarah was so brave in her fight against cancer for eight years.”

A little later in the day, another member of the famous Leigh family fetched 450,000gns but lot 452, a filly by Lawman (Ire) out of Gossamer’s daughter So Silk (GB) (Rainbow Quest), was actually bred by the Cumanis, who bought So Silk from the Eydon Hall Farm dispersal for 480,000gns in 2008. She has already proved to be a worthwhile purchase, producing G2 Park Hill S. winner Silk Sari (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire})–now also a member of the Fittocks Stud broodmare band–as just her second foal.

“It’s been a great sale for us,” said Cumani. “What’s particularly nice is that So Silk’s Lawman filly was bought by Trevor and Libby Harris of Lordship Stud, who are very good breeders, and they are sending her to Luca to train. It’s lovely to have a nice new owner.”

Other Fittocks-bred individuals to have found favor during Book 1 include an Oasis Dream filly out of Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), and thus a great granddaughter of the Cumanis’ foundation mare Souk (GB). The relation to Classic-winning fillies Chicquita (Ire) and Alexandrova (Ire) was knocked down for 450,000gns to Roger Varian and will race for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

John Ferguson signed for the full-sister to the Oaks-placed Lady Of Dubai (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at 420,000gns, while on Tuesday, Al Shaqab Racing bought an Invincible Spirit colt out of Voodoo Dancer S. winner Wallis (GB) (King’s Best). All of the Fittocks yearlings are consigned through Highclere Stud.

Cumani continued, “Highclere did their usual amazing job. The horses all looked great. It’s a partnership that works very well.”

Magnier Leading Buyer…

Coolmore’s MV Magnier was Book 1’s leading buyer, having signed for 10 lots for 8,885,000gns, including the 2.1 million guineas sale topper. Darley’s John Ferguson was second, with 23 bought for 8.4 million guineas. Shadwell took home 15 for 5,530,000gns, and South Africa’s Mayfair Speculators made a big impression with 12 bought for 4,075,000. Four of those came on the final day: lot 440, a 650,000gns Sea The Stars (Ire) half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}); lot 364, a 400,000gns Dansili (GB) colt from Meon Valley Stud; lot 504, a 300,000gns filly by Treve (Fr)’s sire Motivator (GB); and lot 486, a 180,000gns filly from the first crop of G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Power (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Dubawi was the sale’s leading sire by average (for sires with more than one sold) with 11 sold for an average of 662,273gns. Dubawi’s current arch-nemesis on the sires’ table, Galileo, finished second by average with 17 sold for an average of 545,882gns.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony described Book 1 as a success, saying, “this time last year we were reflecting on an extraordinary Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale which had shattered all records, and it seems remarkable that we are in a very similar position again. Last year’s wide-margin record median has been matched, the average, with a larger catalogue, has been fractionally below the extraordinary 2014 figure, and the turnover in excess of 80 million guineas is a record for the third consecutive year, and a clear demonstration of the robust international market which sets Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale apart from all other European yearling sales.”

“From start to finish we have witnessed fierce global demand and for the fourth year in a row, Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale has produced the highest-priced auction yearling in the world. While the sale-topping 2.1 million guineas Dubawi filly was an individual highlight, the real feature of the three-day sale has been the strength and depth to the demand, in particular at the top of the market. Six yearlings selling for seven figures matches last year’s record; there have been nearly 40 yearlings sell for 500,000 guineas or more; more than 150 breaking the 200,000 guineas mark; and, equally importantly, there have been some spectacular pinhooking triumphs.”

The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale picks up Oct. 12 with the start of Book 2, which runs through Oct. 14.