New Book 3 Record For Kodiac Colt

Smashing the record price for Book 3, Ballyhimikin Stud's smart son of Kodiac (Ire) (lot 1549) was the highlight of a buoyant first session of the sale, with Charlie Gordon-Watson out-trumping Richard Brown at 200,000gns.

Out of an unraced sister to the late Danetime (Ire) (Danehill), the late April colt represented a decent pinhooking success for James and Charlotte Hanly, who bought him at Goffs for €25,000.

“He's a beautiful colt who did really well. We just loved his pedigree, there's a lot of early speed and hopefully he'll be one for the Tattersalls sale race this time next year,” said James Hanly.

“Edmond Mahony asked us to support this sale as Tattersalls put up a lot of money and make a big effort for that race so we hand-picked this colt to come here. We wish the buyer lots of luck with him.”

That buyer is as yet unnamed, but Gordon-Watson confirmed that he is for a long-standing owner with Ed Dunlop. He added, “He's a very good-moving horse from a very good farm and he stood out a mile. Ed Dunlop will train him. We also bought Red Cadeaux at this sale – he cost 55,000gns and ended up winning £5 million.”

With four horses sold for 271,000gns, Ballyhimikin Stud ended day one as leading vendor by average, while Gordon-Watson was the leading buyer, with four bought for 339,000gns, including the National Stud's first-crop son of Havana Gold (GB) (lot 1374) for 60,000gns on behalf of Chinese owner Dr Johnny Hon.

Despite the fact that 66 fewer horses were offered and 69 fewer sold than on the same day last year, turnover wasn't far short of last year's tally at 4,447,000gns (-2%), and both the average and median improved dramatically at 22,689gns (+32%) and 17,000gns (+26%). The clearance rate was down from 84% to 79%.

Equalling last year's top price and the only other six-figure lot of the day was a colt by Sir Percy (GB), who sold to trainer Dean Ivory for 115,000gns with Gordon-Watson this time forced to play underbidder.

Lot 1514, a half-brother to one of Harbour Watch (Ire)'s first winners, Miss Sugars (GB), was bred by Chippenham Lodge Stud and offered for sale through the Castlebridge Consignment. He will replace another son of Sir Percy at Ivory's yard, as his 105-rated dual juvenile winner Twin Sails (GB) is heading towards the Horses-in-Training Sale later this month.

“My father found him and will take a share in him,” said Ivory, hose father Ken was also a trainer. “He's s a really good-topped colt by a solid sire who walks well. We're delighted with him.”

The colt's Australian-bred dam Three Sugars (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) is a winning daughter of GIII Natalma S. winner Hoh Dear (Ire) (Sri Pekan) from the family of GI Northern Dancer Turf S. winner Wigmore Hall (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).

Kodiac was also responsible for another couple of the more expensive yearlings of the day, with Acorn Stud's colt out of Listed winner Kindling (GB) (Dr Fong) (lot 1388) being the top selection for agent Jill Lamb at 75,000gns. Charlie Hills will train the colt for Julie Martin.

“We've been trying to buy all week and found things too strong, but we are delighted to have bought this colt. He looks strong, has a lot of quality and one we can get on with,” said Lamb. “I've been associated with a couple of good Kodiac colts and this horse looks quite similar––let's hope he is as fast.”

Four lots previously, Rathasker Stud's Kodiac filly (lot 1384) was claimed by Willie Browne for 70,000gns having been bought in the same ring last December for 15,000gns by Maurice Burns and Peter Kelly.

“She looked like a real 2-year-old––a proper one for the sales race. A lot of people liked her and those ones are always easy to sell,” said Burns.

The filly is the first foal of the 86-rated juvenile winner Katevan (Ire) (Heliostatic {Ire}), a daughter of the G3 Prix de Psyche-placed Lesgor (Irish River {Fr}).

The Iffraaj (GB) yearlings sold well through Book 2 and one of his daughters became the co-top price for a filly in Book 3 after Darren Bunyan went to 70,000gns for lot 1448. The chesnut filly is out of a Bertolini unraced half-sister to former champion 2-year-old Seazun (Ire) (Zieten), winner of the G1 Cheveley Park Stud S.

The trainer said, “She is for the Straight For Victory syndicate which has been lucky. She is a lovely filly, a stand-out for me today. She ticks all the boxes and has a great pedigree.”

The members of the Straight To Victory syndicate enjoyed Group 3 success on the Curragh in August when Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) won the Curragh S.

Few trainers would peruse the stock of Thewayyouare yearlings as keenly as Jamie Osborne, who trained the GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Toast Of New York by the same sire and added another by him to his stable on Thursday. Lot 1408, sold by Genesis Green Stud, is a half-brother to the G3 Round Tower S. winner and young stallion Cappella Sansevero (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and was bought through agent Federico Barberini for 60,000gns.

Overbury Stud's Delegator has made an eye-catching start with his first runners this year––his current tally standing at seven winners from 20 runners, including G3 Firth Of Clyde S. winner Delectation (GB)––and a colt from his second crop (lot 1365) provided an early highlight during the first day of Book 3 when selling for 58,000gns to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock.

Shrewd pinhookers Peter Kavanagh and Michael Downey came up trumps again, having bought the son of the Pursuit Of Love (GB) mare Heartsease (GB) for just 5,500gns at the December Foal Sale.

“We thought Delegator was a little under the radar when we bought him,” said Kavanagh, who consigned the colt through his Kildaragh Stud. “He was always a good racehorse in a vintage generation, and he's a good-looking horse who gets nice stock. We've supported him every year with a handful of mares. He's done well with his first runners and people are waking up to him now as he has a lovely pedigree.

“This colt had a lovely attitude and a great swing to him and plenty of people seemed to like him.”

Brown, who couldn't name his client, agreed with the vendor's assessment, adding, “The stallion has had some decent winners from not many runners and he was a classy racehorse himself, finishing second to Sea The Stars (Ire) in the 2,000 Guineas. He gets a good-looking horse and I really liked this colt.”

Book 3 continues at 10am today and is followed directly by the 84-lot Book 4, which concludes the October Yearling Sale.