So surreal is the bubble that is Book 1, that seven-figure yearlings are essentially expected each and every session, so after a few hours of uncharacteristically muted trade on the third and final day of trade, many were surprised that the session was being led by a colt that ‘only’ cost 900,000gns.
Just before 3pm, the million mark was reached – a first for Forenaghts Stud, who have been enjoyed a fantastic year, but their Night Of Thunder filly’s position as session topper lasted just a few lots.
Soon after, an online bidder stretched to 2,200,000gns for Fittocks Stud’s colt by the same Kildangan Stud, the purchaser later signing as Ace Stud. It marked a fantastic start for the mare Capture The Heart, an unraced full-sister to three-time stakes winner and multiple Group 1-placed River Of Stars, who was bought by Sam Haggas’ Hurworth Bloodstock as an unraced two-year-old for 175,000gns.
Haggas’ client, and the colt’s breeder, is Nic Jonsson, a prominent racehorse owner in South Africa – his great-grandfather founded the Durban Turf Club in 1887.
“I was very happy to keep the horse,” he said of Thursday’s session topper. “I don’t really race here but I was lucky to have a nicely-bred filly who didn’t get to the racecourse and we got lucky with Night Of Thunder.
“Thanks mostly to Luca and Sara [Cumani]; they do all the work. I was planning on sending the mare back to South Africa and Sara convinced me not to, which was very good advice. It’s a great result.”
When asked how his success in the ring compares to that he’s enjoyed on the track, Jonsson replied: “Well, I’m not sure this is a success, is it? I mean, it’s a lot of money but winning races is a much better feeling. Winning Group 1s is a way better feeling than buying or selling a horse.”
Godolphin ended Book 1 with a total spend of 26,910,000gns – the most Sheikh Mohammed’s operation as spent at Book 1, with Thursday’s haul was led by a Frankel colt out of Crystal Zvezda from Longview Stud, which cost 2,000,000gns.
Twelve months ago, Godolphin gave 3,700,000gns for the colt’s Sea The Stars half-brother and another three years prior, their talent scout Anthony Stroud purchased Crystal Zvezda herself for 775,000gns.
On whether Thursday’s purchase shares similarities with the unraced juvenile, Stroud commented: “The one last year was bigger, stronger, a real mile-and-a-half horse. This horse, to me, had a neater quality. You could see him running over seven furlongs, hopefully the Dewhurst [Stakes], and looks a horse that will run at two.”
Godolphin’s previous record spend at Book 1 was 25,355,000gns in 2022, when second place was filled by Richard Knight at 10,455,000gns, closely followed by M V Magnier & White Birch Farm with an outlay of 10,215,000gns. It was later revealed that Knight was buying on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi, who subsequently failed to pay for his purchases.
Amo Racing have been Godolphin’s leading rivals for the last two years and while Kia Joorabchian did get close on a few of this week’s millionaires, his seven purchases this week have been far less expensive, totalling 1,685,000gns.
M V Magnier and White Birch Farm sat second in the buyers’ table with a spend of 8,150,000gns, followed by Blandford Bloodstock at 7,650,000gns and Ace Stud at 4,575,000gns.
Stroud's suggestion
Stroud Coleman filled fifth with a total spend of 4,565,000gns, with Peter Harris among Anthony Stroud’s clients in attendance. Given his purchases across various price points this week, Stroud was in a respected position to comment on trade and gave a thought-provoking suggestion on changes that could be made to Book 1.
“I think it’s been a good sale, all things considered,” the agent reflected. “Maybe contrary to everyone else’s opinion, but I think it should be a two-day sale. I think it’s very difficult to attract important people from all around the world – I think that’s why you get lulls.
“I think three days is dragging it out really, to be truthful. That’s my personal opinion, not Godolphin’s opinion. I think the time they start and finish at the moment is excellent but I just think that the better horses warrant a two-day sale.”
Stroud’s thinking is influenced by his experience elsewhere, he added. “In America, the sales build momentum and so, you could go to Book 3 or 4 and it’s competitive for relative horses. But in Europe, it seems to me that it needs to become more concise.”
Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown didn’t back Anthony Stroud’s suggestion when quizzed after buying the Justify half-brother to Camille Pissarro for 1,300,000gns.
“Terrible idea,” he said regarding the proposal to shorten Book 1 from three to two days. “Huge respect for Anthony but I don’t think that’s a good idea because if you look through it, there’s still plenty of trade here.
“While it’s not easy, there’s plenty of trade here from 100,000gns to 300,000gns. I think whenever we’ve seen things go back to elite sales, it just didn’t work. This is eminently workable; I wouldn’t be changing it to two days.”
When asked his view on trade over the past three days, Brown commented: “The middle to top has been exceptional. There have been some cracks below, which there always are in any elite sale. If you don’t have everything, or as close to everything as possible, it can be tricky.
“You guys obviously write about the headline horses and I’ve had messages from friends in New Zealand and Australia saying, ‘Wow, it’s off the charts.’ If you hit it, it can be off the charts, but if you miss, it can be pretty sticky and it can get lonely quickly.
“I would say that for vendors, it’s not very well spread. But to be honest, overall I’d say it’s been surprisingly good. Everyone’s always doom and gloom in racing and it drives me insane, because if you go to [Royal] Ascot, you can’t get a ticket. At Goodwood and York, the crowds are huge.
“Everyone still wants to race in England – people from all corners of the globe have been here this week, competing for British and Irish thoroughbreds. It’s an elite sport; it’s the sport of kings, and actually, I think there’s so much to champion about our sport. We’re terrible about bashing it down, but what we’ve seen here shows we’ve still got a hugely viable industry.”
The wonder mare
The three yearlings bought by Brown for seven figures will remain in England and while he didn’t reveal his client, he said that the 1,300,000gns Justify colt would first head to Malcolm Bastard.
“It’s quite rare that you see a mare that’s produced two Group 1 winners come to auction,” he said. “She’s done that, with a top-class colt in Camille Pissarro and this colt was an outstanding individual.
“I’m a massive fan of Justify. For a young stallion to have a Guineas winner, a Derby winner and a Leger winner in his first few crops, is rare to see. I think he’s only going to get better and his record over here is exceptional.”
The Justify colt became the second seven-figure yearling sold by Clara Stud, with his half-brother Camille Pissarro selling for 1,250,000gns in 2023. Their half-sister by Dark Angel sold to Hugo Lascelles for 900,000gns in November, having missed her original Book 1 date.
Three six-figure yearlings preceded them – quite the achievement for the mare Entreat, who was bought by BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls July Sale for 14,000gns.
James Cloney, who bred the smart siblings with Michael Nolan, hasn’t got used to the thrill and said: “I still have goosebumps at the moment. Brilliant result, once again, for the wonder mare Entreat. Great individual, great sire. To break the million mark again was a huge thrill.”
On the decision to use Justify, he explained: “It happened over a couple of bottles of Heineken. I wanted to send her to a sire who was going to be a bit unique, and at the time Justify was not really advertised
“It was before he had his big winners, and I was trying to buy a nomination. Luckily, Mr Magnier agreed and we loaded up the mare and sent her on. I blame it on Heineken!”
Forenaghts Stud has been on a roll for the past 12 months or so. At Book 1 last year, Tony and Sharon Smurfit’s Co Kildare farm sold a Night Of Thunder colt for 850,000gns and since named Nabati, he went on to win the Mill Reef Stakes.
He is one of four winners from four two-year-old runners this season bred at Forenaghts Stud, who had the same number of yearlings to sell this year, after two were withdrawn. They topped the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale last month with a Study Of Man colt, who fetched 330,000gns, while their sole offering at Goffs sold for €360,000.
The title of Forenaghts’ highest-priced yearling to date, though, goes to a Night Of Thunder filly, the first foal out of their listed winner Cadeau Belle, after Nabati’s owner Godolphin outbid Kia Joorabchian at 1,000,000gns.
“I’m still shocked,” said a delighted Caoimhe Doherty, who took on the role of Forenaghts Stud manager in 2020.
“I just can’t believe it. I thought it couldn’t get better after the Mill Reef and then Fairyhouse (Tattersalls Ireland) was unbelievable. We had a good time in Goffs and this is just insane. I’m going to retire at the end of the year – it just can’t get any better!”
On the operation, which has a broodmare band of 18, Doherty explained: “We’re an all-female team as well, so I’m so proud of the girls – they’re just class. Two of them are here today – Hazel Rowan is assistant manager; she keeps the whole thing going when I’m at the races or the sales, and Kelly Rae led her up.
“Then there’s Imelda Creighton and Laurie Cordonotto. We do have two guys, but the horse team is all girls. It’s so unusual and they’re just brilliant. Their attention to detail is amazing, their commitment is amazing and they’ve been so richly rewarded.”
Doherty also paid tribute to Tony Smurfit’s commitment to the industry, saying: “Tony’s been in the business for 40 years and he’s rowed in again, and again, and again, and again. And now I think it’s all just finally come to fruition for him.
“I’m so happy for him and Sharon and the Irish industry. We need people like Tony, and I’m so pleased that’s he’s been rewarded, and I’m so pleased that Godolphin got her. I owe so much to Godolphin in terms of the Flying Start, working at Kildangan [Stud] and now this.”
Final figures
The Forenaghts filly was one of four millionaires on the day, compared to seven on Wednesday and six on Tuesday. The smaller show of fireworks affected the atmosphere on site and the fact that 10 horses were withdrawn on the day – compared to four and two the previous two days – suggested that demand had tightened somewhat.
From 12% less horses offered, the daily turnover dropped by 6% to 37,353,000gns, producing an average price of 316,551gns, which was a 9% improvement on last year. The median price rose by 10% to 220,000gns, which along with a clearance rate of 86%, concurred with the idea that those horses who made it through the ring were well-received
Overall, the final figures for the three-day sale were largely positive, with the average and median prices being the second-highest in the sale’s history, only bettered by the 2024 edition characterised by Amo and Godolphin’s intense rivalry.
The average price of 359,420gns represented a 12% increase year on year, while the median improved 10% to 230,000gns. The 1% drop in turnover was not a negative given that 12% fewer lots were catalogued and 11% fewer lots were offered.
Tattersalls’ take
At the conclusion of the sale, Tattersalls Managing Director Matthew Prior commented: “Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale is Europe’s premier yearling sale, and it was fitting that Park Paddocks and Newmarket once again became the focus of the international bloodstock world, welcoming a truly global audience for the cream of the European yearling crop.
“This week we have witnessed a European record for a yearling colt, with the Norelands-consigned son of Night of Thunder realising 4,600,000 guineas, a figure unmatched anywhere in the world this year. He was one of a record-equalling seventeen yearlings to realise one million guineas or more, whilst a remarkable 63 lots sold for in excess of 500,000 guineas, testament to the unwavering support of vendors and consignors from Britain, Ireland, France and Germany.
“There has been a vibrant atmosphere at Park Paddocks throughout the week, underpinned by the strength and depth of international participation. Of particular note, an unprecedented number of North American buyers to Park Paddocks who purchased more than fifty yearlings between them. Their growing participation has been underpinned by the continued success on the burgeoning US turf scene, and their support of the October Yearling Sale is greatly appreciated.
“We have also once again welcomed Godolphin’s principal, Sheikh Mohammed, to Park Paddocks. His continued support of the European racing and breeding industry, and of Newmarket in particular, is hugely valued. Equally, the enduring support of the Maktoum family and their associates, together with that of so many buyers from across the Gulf region, is something for which we are enormously grateful.
“We now look forward with a degree of optimism to Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale as we continue the most important fortnight in the European bloodstock calendar.”