BOOK 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale opened its two-day run on Thursday when James Hanly’s Ballyhimikin struck gold and silver, selling the top two lots on the day and the only yearlings in the opening session to realise six-figure sums. The top lot, who realised 135,000gns, became the second highest priced yearling in this section of the sale.
It was towards the end of the session when the day’s best price was achieved. The object of all the attention was a son of Kodiac out of the Group 3 winning Sadler’s Wells mare Lucky, a full-sister to the 2000 Guineas winner King Of Kings.
After a protracted bidding war Oak Tree Farm’s Norman Williamson emerged triumphant.
Williamson commented: “He was the stand out lot for us today. Mags O’Toole and I saw the colt this morning and loved him.
“He has come from a great farm, he has some size and hopefully he will come back to breeze in the spring.”
The colt was purchased for €40,000 as a foal last year. The vendor said: “We bought the colt last autumn - we loved the pedigree and the sire; he is a lovely big strong colt. We bought him especially for this Book 3 sale as Tattersalls does such a good job.”
Hanly was earlier responsible for the second highest price on the first day when his son of Society Rock, himself bred by Hanly, sold to Alex Elliott for 100,000gns.
The colt is out of a winning Falco mare and from the family of Group 1 Prix de Moulin winner Gravelines. Ellis revealed plans for the purchase, saying: “He is for Jeremy Noseda and looks a fast horse, a real two-year-old type, a horse that Jeremy typically does so well with.
“We have followed a lot of horses through and been underbidder, but am delighted to get this one. He is from a top farm; James Hanly is a phenomenal breeder.”
Kevin Ross succeeded in acquiring a son of Champs Elysees out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Elpida for 90,000gns, outlasting Charlie Johnston who was underbidder.
This was another great result for the Player’s Whatton Manor Stud and the colt’s half-brother Sporting Chance boosted the pedigree with wins in the Listed Ripon Champion Trophy Stakes and the Group 3 Prix Eclipse at Maisons-Laffitte.
Ross said; “He is a beautiful horse and his dam has already had a good horse from one runner. We knew we’d have to push the boat out.”
A pair of fillies sold for 80,000gns. Glebe Farm Stud’s Poet’s Voice filly was knocked down to Richard Frisby and is out of an own-sister to dual Group 2 winner Trumpet Major.
The popularity of No Nay Never continued and his daughter out of Flavia Tatiana sold to Katie Walsh’s Greenhills Farm.
The Jamie Railton-consigned filly is a sister to two winners with Joseph O’Brien and will return to breeze. She was a major pinhooking success having cost just €17,000 earlier in the year.
A final report of Friday and Saturday’s sale will be carried in next week’s issue