Lot 214 Shamardal-Cassandra Go
There were records galore on the second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with the SHAMARDAL half-brother to HALFWAY TO HEAVEN selling for the highest price for a yearling in the world this year when knocked down for 1,700,000 guineas and the turnover, average and median all setting record benchmarks for a single day at a European yearling sale. A total of 123 lots were sold for 28,930,000 guineas at an average of 235,203 guineas and a median of 150,000 guineas. The clearance for the day was 87%.
Catalogued as lot 214, the colt by SHAMARDAL out of the King’s Stand Stakes winner CASSANDRA GO saw a rare head to head battle between two of racings superpowers, Sheikh Mohammed and Coolmore’s John Magnier. John Ferguson, standing alongside Sheikh Mohammed and Magnier traded 100,000 guinea bids that stopped only when Magnier declined to answer Ferguson’s bid of 1,700,000 guineas. The price represents the highest price for a yearling anywhere in the world in 2014.
“I can sleep well tonight!” joked Trevor Stewart, breeder of the colt sold through James Hanly’s Ballyhimikin Stud. “It’s easy to sell the good ones, but it is a wonderful price, I hope he goes on to be a star. Cassandra Go is at Ballyhimikin and in-foal to Iffraaj, I have her two-year-old by Pivotal in training with Roger Charlton. Cassandra Go’s daughter Tickled Pink is carrying to Dark Angel,” added Stewart.
Ferguson, who was delighted with his purchase, commented: “This colt is from a top breeder and out of a top racemare, who has gone on to produce a Classic winner – there is always the chance that she might do it again. He is also by stallion, who has enjoyed an outstanding year. Yes, it is a lot of money, but it is so difficult to breed something so special as this colt, he deserves to make a good price.”
Lot 245 Dubawi-Crystal Music
Whilst he might not have been represented by the sale topper, the second day of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 belonged to fellow Darley inmate DUBAWI who was represented by four of the top seven yearlings on the day including two to sell for 1 million guineas or more. The top priced of those was lot 245, the colt out of CRYSTAL MUSIC consigned by Watership Down Stud. Despite determined efforts from plethora of agents including Badgers Bloodstock, Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe, and John Warren and Charlie Gordon-Watson, the colt was knocked down to John Ferguson for 1,600,000 guineas.
“We are trying to find the gold mine,” said Ferguson, “the horse who will become a dual-hemisphere stallion. And this is just one spike of a broad investment made throughout the year. The very best yearlings are found at Newmarket this week, we currently have fabulous stallions in Europe and wonderful horses are being bred. And I don’t know whether it has been due to the weather, but this year’s crop of yearlings seem to be exceptional,” he added.
Simon Marsh, manager of vendor Watership Down Stud, and Madeline LLoyd-Webber, owner of the farm, were all smiles, particularly as the colt is a grand-son of the stud’s foundation mare, Crystal Spray. “We were very lucky to have bought Crystal Spray for 500,000gns in 1995,” said Marsh. “It is a massive operation to get the horses here for the day, and we have wonderful staff to thank.”
Madeline Lloyd-Webber added: “We are so proud, and although we have sold for more in this ring, to get a million guineas colt is a very hard thing to do.”
Crystal Music has a foal at foot by Dubawi and was covered by Frankel this spring.
Lot 237 Dubawi-Comic
The other DUBAWI to reach seven figures for the day was lot 237, the DUBAWI colt out of the BE MY CHIEF mare COMIC. Consigned by the Duke of Roxburghe’s Floors Stud, the half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner VIVA PATACA and dual US Grade 1 winner LAUGHING was knocked down to John Ferguson for 1,400,000 guineas after he saw off John Warren.
“I am over the moon,” said the Duke after selling the Dubawi colt for the best price ever achieved in the sale ring by the farm. I just have to thank my staff, and I am so pleased for them. They do all the hard work and they do a fabulous job all the time. Comic is 19 now, and back in-foal to Dubawi, but I guess they are not many dual Group / Grade 1 producers in the catalogue. She is owned in partnership with the Duke Of Devonshire. It is more than I had thought he would make, and it is right up with winning a Classic – and that was ten years’ ago! I really am blown away.”
It has been a remarkable two days for Floors Stud whose only three yearlings realised a total of 2,925,000 guineas.
Lot 170 Galileo-Another Storm
Earlier in the day Michael Wallace, buying on behalf of the China Horse Club signed for lot 170, the GALILEO colt out of the GONE WEST mare ANOTHER STORM. Consigned by Clare Castle Stud, the half-brother to three Group/Listed winners caught the attention of Badgers Bloodstock, Ross Doyle and underbidder Charlie Gordon-Watson, but none were able to match New Zealander Wallace who signed for the colt at 875,000 guineas.
“He is by a champion sire and a mare who is doing her job,” said Wallace. “His full-brother [Order Of St George] won his maiden by 9l and is going for a Group 1 next. We’ve had great success with Australia this year and are building on that. We have not decided on a trainer for this horse yet.”
The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 continues at 12 o’clock local time on Thursday, 9 October and can be followed live on their website.
