THE foal sales are a strong predictor of which stallions will be among the stars at the following season’s yearling sales, and when these are the first progeny of those sires, the foal market can also be an indication of which freshmen will have the highest hopes behind them in two years’ time.
The greatest excitement in 2014 was the appearance of a handful of the first crop of Frankel (by Galileo), Banstead Manor Stud’s unbeaten superstar whom Timeform rated at an all-time high of 147.
Seven of his foals appeared in the ring, on their own, but two failed to reach their reserve, two were bought back, and the other three made €1,800,000, €460,000, and 150,000gns, with the top price being for his daughter of the classic star Finsceal Beo (by Mr Greeley). The Goffs-sold filly is a half-sister to the unbeaten Group 2 Beresford Stakes winner and ante-post Derby market leader Ol’ Man River (by Montjeu).
RUNNER-UP
Nathaniel (by Galileo) was runner-up to Frankel on their racecourse debut and he was also runner-up among the first crop sires by their foal price average.
Newsells Park Stud’s Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Group 1 Eclipse Stakes hero had 19 sold for an average of almost €108,000, and his top price was 300,000gns for a half-sister to the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes heroine Spinning Queen (by Spinning World), sold in Newmarket.
Eight of Nathaniel’s first crop fetched 100,000gns or more, which is an impressive start, and clearly this is a young stallion who is expected to achieve a lot in his second career.
The third highest average (€66,681) was achieved by Coolmore Stud’s ace miler Excelebration (by Exceed And Excel), with 19 sold, including a top price of €220,000 in Goffs for a colt from the family of the 1982 Derby hero Golden Fleece (by Nijinsky).
Born To Sea (by Invincible Spirit), the classic-placed stakes winning half-brother to Galileo (by Sadler’s Wells) and Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross), achieved an average of €55,395 from 33 sold, putting him in fourth place.
His top price was €220,000 for a half-sister to last year’s Group 2 Norfolk Stakes winner Baitha Alga (by Fast Company), sold in Goffs, and having spent his first two seasons at Rathasker Stud, he is to stand at Gilltown Stud in 2015.
JUVENILE CHAMPION
Australian juvenile champion and four-times Group 1 star Sepoy (by Elusive Quality) stands at Dalham Hall Stud and his mean price of €53,966 was fifth highest. His top foal was a 95,000gns son of the Grade 1 E P Taylor Stakes heroine Fraulein (by Acatenango), and the southern hemisphere half of his global first crop includes the recent AUS$1.2 million Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale colt and an AUS$800,000 filly at the same venue.
The Australian Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Helmet (by Exceed And Excel) also did well with his first foals, and the Kildangan Stud team member had a top price of 98,000gns for a Newmarket-sold grandson of the classic-placed Group 1 star Pass The Peace (by Alzao).
Just fractionally ahead of him in sixth was Banstead Manor Stud’s Bated Breath (by Dansili), with an average of €49,489 from 34 sold and a top price of 130,000gns for a colt from the famous family of the Group 1 stars Wemyss Bight (by Dancing Brave), Beat Hollow (by Sadler’s Wells), Oasis Dream (by Green Desert), Zenda (by Zamindar), and Kingman (by Invincible Spirit).
The only other stallion to achieve an average of at least €40,000 was Tweenhills Farm & Stud’s ace juvenile Harbour Watch (by Acclamation), and his top price, from 45 sold, was a 240,000gns half-sister to the Group 3 scorer Esentepe (by Oratorio) in Newmarket.
Kildangan Stud’s Casamento (by Shamardal; 9th) came next, with an average of €39,422 from 49 sold and a top price of €210,000 in Goffs for his half-sister to the Group 1-placed, Group 2 Temple Stakes hero Hot Streak (by Iffraaj), who comes from the family of Nashwan (by Blushing Groom), Nayef (by Gulch), and Ghanaati (by Giant’s Causeway).
Group 1 Irish St Leger winner Jukebox Jury (by Montjeu), who stands at Gestut Etzean, had four colts sold, for an average of €38,580, and they included an 82,000gns colt in Newmarket, a grey who comes from the family of the Group 1 star and sire Tiger Hill (by Danehill).
Three others averaged at least €30,000: Mayson (by Invincible Spirit), So You Think (by High Chaparral), and Requinto (by Dansili)
Mayson (Cheveley Park Stud) had a 90,000gns colt from the family of the Group 1 stars Rock Of Gibraltar (by Danehill) and Riverman (by Never Bend), So You Think (Coolmore Stud) had a 70,000gns grandson of the Group 2 scorer Fabulous Hostess (by Fabulous Dancer), and Requinto’s (Coolmore Stud) top price was €85,000 for a half-brother to the classic-placed pattern scorer Glory Awaits (by Choisir).
MENTION
Two others deserve a mention as they got a foal that made in excess of €100,000.
In fact, Tally-Ho Stud’s Sir Prancealot (by Tamayuz) got two of them, a 120,000gns filly from the family of the classic stars Forest Flower (by Green Forest) and Night Of Thunder (by Dubawi), and a €110,000 colt out of the pattern-placed stakes winner Duchess Of Foxland (by Medecis).
The other one was the Irish National Stud’s Famous Name (by Dansili) whose son of the Group 2-placed Saying Grace (by Brief Truce) made €105,000. The colt comes from the family of the Group 1 stars Soldier’s Tale (by Stravinsky) and Lemon Souffle (by Salse).