THE Tattersalls February Sale honour roll reads as varied as its mixed catalogues, from bargain buys a la Euro Charline selling as a weanling for 800gns, to Grade 2-winning hurdler Wolf Of Windlesham costing 2,500gns.
At 145,000gns, Sovereign Debt cost considerably more as a horse in training, but proved more than worth the price for Dandy Nicholls.
Those are just a sample of what graduates have gone on to achieve on the track, but the February Sale has really become known for an impressive record of producing the dams of future stakes winners.
Fourteen Group 1 producers were sourced there, costing from between 1,000gns and 55,000gns. Their progeny have won 22 Group 1 races, including six European classics, as well as a Melbourne Cup.
The Godolphin draft has proven particularly fruitful, featuring the dams of Best Solution, Los Angeles, Metropolitan and Thundering Nights. Fillies from last year’s consignment yielded eight of the 11 highest prices, while Godolphin six-year-old gelding Galashiels topped trade at 220,000gns.
Shadwell and Juddmonte also regularly feature prominently in the top lots and are among the vendors next week, along with the likes of Baroda Stud, Barton Sales, Branton Court Stud, Cheveley Park Stud, New England Stud and The Castlebridge Consignment.
Excellent potential
Andrew Balding, William Haggas, Richard Hannon, Charlie Johnston and Ed Walker are among the leading trainers with stock on offer.
Jack Channon’s progressive four-year-old Excellent Believe is one of the expected highlights, having finished second in listed and Group 3 races at the end of last season.
The Make Believe gelding boasts an official rating of 108, while Shadwell’s John Smith Cup winner Enfjaar is rated 110, but the now six-year-old is offered out of training, having not run since July.
Several lots have been rated over 90 by Timeform, while other lightly-raced offerings appeal on their untapped potential. ‘What could be’ is part of the appeal of broodmare Elshaadin, whose Night Of Thunder filly brought 160,000gns from Max Joorabchian and Robson De Aguiar last autumn.
Brazilian Group 1 winner Namasse and a daughter of Blue Bunting are other broodmares of note in the catalogue, with covering sires including Chaldean, Kodiac, Palace Pier, Perfect Power, Shaquille, Starman and Vandeek.
Dragon Symbol, whose first foals sold so well, is among those with weanlings catalogued, alongside two-year-olds by proven Group 1 sires, such as Cracksman, Harry Angel, Ten Sovereigns and Territories.
Broodmares
Lot 4: The dam of a listed winner and a Group 3 performer, Elshaadin’s 2025 yearling sold for 160,000gns
Lot 18: Brazilian Group 1 winner Namasse is offered in foal to Cracksman
Lot 24: In foal to Starman, Soft Cover is by Shamardal, out of listed winner and Jersey Stakes second Sentaril
Lot 94: Joyful Act is a Frankel mare out of the top-class Blue Bunting
Yearlings
Lot 40: Golden Horn colt out of a four-time winner by Kapgarde
Lot 43: Cracksman colt out of a blacktype half-sister to Mukhadram
Lot 45: Calyx half-brother to listed winner and Group 3 performer Lady Penelope
Lot 47: Time Test colt out of Brazilian Group 1 winner Namasse
Lot 52: Study Of Man filly out of a Galileo sister to Fame And Glory
Lot 53: Mostahdaf colt is the first foal out of a blacktype mare
Two-year-olds
Lot 59: Cracksman half-brother to a stakes performer, from the family of Balisada
Lot 61: Belardo half-brother to two blacktype horses
Horses in & out of training
Lot 19: Blacktype hurdler Inspire Hope is a Camelot half-sister to Harlem, a dual Group 1 winner in Australia
Lot 84: Unraced full-sister to May Hill Stakes winner and Fillies’ Mile runner-up Powerful Breeze
Lot 87: Fourth at listed level, Too Darn Hot mare Ahlain was rated 92 at her peak
Lot 95: French Sand, out of Australia Group 2 winner French Bid, reached a rating of 92
Lot 110: A winner and placed from three starts, Dubawi gelding Monoceros is a full-brother to dual Group 2 winner Al Suhail
Lot 112: Placed on multiple occasions and once rated 81, Military Cross is a Nathaniel half-brother to Wicklow Brave
Lot 122: Porter won a Dundalk maiden on his second start for Joseph O’Brien on Wednesday
Lot 135: Dual winner Bridget’s View is officially rated 88
Lot 150: Well-bred Siyouni gelding Grand Traverse is offered with a rating of 92
Lot 153: Genuine Warrior has placed on both his starts, most recently runner-up over 10 furlongs
Lot 235: Uthooba is an Oasis Dream sister to the 103-rated Elarak, out of multiple Group 3 winner Tantheem
Lot 249: Cloth Of Stars three-year-old Eternity’s Sunrise has placed on both his starts, beaten a length and a quarter each time
Lot 251: Three-year-old colt Space Invasion is now two from four after winning on Thursday
Lot 257: Dual-purpose five-year-old Liam Swagger won a listed juvenile hurdle and finished third in the Fred Winter last year
Lot 260: Rated 80 after winning last time out, Wilhelmina is a New Bay half-sister to Group 1 winner Poptronic
Lot 261: Five-time winner Secret Guest is currently rated 83
Lot 263: Progressive five-year-old Sovereign Sea has risen to a rating of 95
Lot 266: A three-time winner from seven starts, 108-rated four-year-old Excellent Believe finished second at listed and Group 3 level on his last two starts
Lot 274: Well-bred four-year-old colt Hinchinbrooke is now rated 81 after getting off the mark in fine style at Chelmsford
Lot 277: Bin Ajwad is rated 86 after completing a hat-trick
Lot 279: Now a five-year-old and offered out of training, stakes performer and John Smith Cup winner Enfjaar is currently rated 110