GODOLPHIN and Amo Racing showed no signs of slowing down on the second day of Tattersalls October Book 1, with Sheikh Mohammed’s operation bringing their spend to 14,750,000gns, while a pair of 2,200,000gns colts led Amo’s buys totalling 11,910,000gns.
As was the case on Tuesday, the tone was set early into trade, with Godolphin parting with 2,200,000gns for a Frankel brother to their multiple group winner and Group 1 performer Ottoman Fleet. Godolphin’s talent scout, Anthony Stroud, is evidently fond of the mare, Innevera, as Godolphin has now bought three of her progeny, and Stroud Coleman another.
Wednesday marked a career-best result in the ring for the Cumani’s Fittocks Stud, who consigned and bred the colt in partnership with the Marinopoulos family and Newsells Park Stud. An emotional Luca Cumani later commented: “We sold one for 2,000,000gns last year, which was exciting, and this is even better.
“He is such a lovely horse, he is great-looking Frankel horse out of a proven mare and we are delighted he is going to such a good home. The stud team at home has done an amazing job.”
Godolphin added another Frankel colt to their haul when giving 900,000gns for Ballylinch Stud’s half-brother to Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Aunt Pearl. A pair of Night Of Thunder colts, bought from Forenaghts Stud and Houghton Bloodstock for 850,000gns and 700,000gns respectively, and a Wootton Bassett colt from The Castlebridge Consignment, completed their shopping for the day.
EDDIE IRWIN’S Marlhill House Stud was another consignor to enjoy a memorable result, with manager Brian McConnon describing their sale of a Wootton Bassett colt for 2,200,000gns as “beyond our wildest dreams.”
Speaking after Amo Racing outbid MV Magnier for the half-brother to Crypto Force, McConnon explained: “Coming to the ring we were hopeful, all the right people were on her, but until the hammer falls you never know. But to get a seven-figure sale is always very special.”
Marlhill House Stud bought the colt’s dam, Luna Mare, for 500,000gns following Crypto Force’s Beresford Stakes success, when he carried Amo Racing’s purple silks to glory. On their latest acquisition, Kia Joorbachain said: “We have the half-brother, he has been a good horse, and won a Group 2 for us. We know the mare can produce a good horse, and so to have a Wootton Bassett out of her is a positive, a big upgrade for her, too.”
Amo showed their appreciation for the late Wootton Bassett later in the session when once again parting with 2,200,000gns for a colt out of Nell Gwynn Stakes winner and 1000 Guineas third Qabala. Sold by Newsells Park Stud as part of a dispersal by Al Shahania, he is a half-brother to Raammee, who is now two from two after bolting up by 12 lengths at Newcastle last month, earning the three-year-old a rating of 95.
“I think we have bought two serious Wootton Bassett colts today,” Alex Elliott reflected. “Qabala's Persian King colt Raammee looks a bit of a freak, his performance at Kempton was pretty special, and then he won at Newcastle and was equally as smart.
“Wootton Bassett is an upgrade on most stallions; this goes back to a Juddmonte family, and this colt has the potential to be a very special horse.”
Bertrand Le Metayer, who manages Al Shahania’s affairs, is equally hopeful about the colt’s future, saying: “We went to Wootton Bassett because we wanted to have an outcross. He has proved to be exactly what we were hoping for, and it is rare when it works! He looks a proper miler, a Guineas horse, and, hopefully, the new owners will believe in him the same way we do.”
Simply outstanding
Kia Joorabchian once again clashed with MV Magnier for a Night Of Thunder colt from Lynn Lodge Stud, which was knocked down to Amo for 1,700,000gns. Ben McElroy was on press duties after the sale and said: “He is a fantastic-looking horse, great strength and movement. The full-sister can run; she is in the Fillies' Mile on Saturday. He is outstanding.”
The full-sister, named Evolutionist, shaped like a smart filly when winning a Newmarket maiden on her second start and subsequently finished third in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes. The pair were bred by Gigginstown House Stud out of the Group 3-placed Showcasing mare Model Guest, who was bought by Mags O’Toole for 330,000gns in 2021.
On his expectations leading up to the ring, Eddie O’Leary commented: “You are never confident, you hope everyone shows up, and I hope this horse is as good as I think he is. The team has done a great job.
“You could have brought him here in February, and he'd have looked like that. He is a stunning horse. We didn't prep him; we just brought him on here. It is a great day.”
UNDERBIDDER on the 3,600,000gns Frankel on Tuesday, MV Magnier joined the buyers’ table when securing Lady Bowthorpe’s Dubawi colt for 1,300,000gns. After signing alongside Peter Brandt’s White Birch Farm, Magnier commented: “He is a lovely horse, Lady Bowthorpe was a very good race mare, it is a great result for Emma Banks who is a very nice lady, so well done to her.
“Dubawi is still going very well, and we have retired Delacroix this year – he is a complete outcross for us, and he is probably one of the most important horses we have retired for a good while. If this lad is any good, he will be the same.”
The result continued Emma Banks’ dream run with Lady Bowthorpe, who was bought by James Toller on her behalf at Book 2 for 82,000gns. Sent to William Jarvis, the daughter of Nathaniel went on to win three group races, most notably the Nassau Stakes, and chased home Palace Pier in the Lockinge Stakes. Her first foal, also a colt by Dubawi, sold to Godolphin for 2,000,000gns 12 months ago.
After selling the mare’s latest yearling through Fittocks Stud, Banks reflected: “I am so lucky to have a mare who has produced two beautiful yearlings. Her foal by Too Darn Hot is lovely, he took weaning very well, and she is in-foal to Wootton Bassett.
“If the vets are right, we have a Wootton Bassett filly in the oven, and I am thrilled with that. She will be one to probably keep – I am very emotionally invested in Lady Bowthorpe and that first filly stays with me. But we have got to get her out first, and that is a long way down the line!”
Sire power
After securing a Wootton Bassett filly for 550,000gns and Blackbeard colt for 500,000gns MV Magnier dug deep once again for a No Nay Never colt out of Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Millisle, bought with Peter Brandt. The price of 1,700,000gns marginally bettered that paid for the mare’s first foal, a Frankel filly, two years ago.
Bred by Stonethorn Stud Farm, both were consigned by Watership Down Stud, whose general manager Simon Marsh, noted: “To get all the stars to align is very difficult, but he this is a lovely horse, and he was on a lot of lists. It is a wonderful price, but now we need him to be a good racehorse.”
No Nay Never was an obvious draw for Magnier, especially considering purchases’ potential future stallion careers. After signing for his most expensive buy of the day, he said: “No Nay Never is having another great year with the likes of Charles Darwin, who’s very good, and True Love. The mare was very good.
“Blackbeard is having a good sale, and there’s plenty of good word for the Little Big Bear foals. The best ones by Blackbeard that we have will be going to Ballydoyle.”
Wednesday’s figures marked an improvement on the Book 1 opener, with the clearance rate rising to 85%, compared to 80% at last year’s equivalent session. Turnover increased by 17% year on year, from a 15% greater offering. The average price of 352,672gns marked a 2% increase, while the median fell by 10% to 215,000gns.