The empire strikes again. If Day 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale belonged to Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing, then the second session of Guide 1 was very a lot Sheikh Mohammed’s.
Godolphin signed for the 4 costliest heaps throughout one other day of barnstorming commerce in Newmarket, together with the sister to twin group 1-winning miler Charyn who fetched a cool 2,900,000 guineas (US$3,973,000, 1gns=US$1.37). In all, Godolphin took away 9 yearlings for a mixed 11,050,000gns (US$15,138,500).
As he had when securing the 4,400,000gns high lot on Day 1, Joorabchian stood within the bidders’ space together with his again to the auctioneer, turning to face Edmond Mahony solely to sign he needed to up the stakes with a pointy nod of the top.
The Godolphin group, with Sheikh Mohammed on the middle of the huddle, was stationed outdoors subsequent to the bid spotter’s podium by the parade ring. Their 100,000gns will increase got here by way of a shout from the spotter on the rostrum, Shirley Anderson-Jolag. When Godolphin pushed the worth to 2,500,000gns, Joorabchian remained in dialogue together with his group, together with bloodstock agent Alex Elliott.
However, simply as Mahony had the gavel raised, Joorabchian, with close to excellent theatrical timing, slowly turned in direction of the podium then paused momentarily earlier than delivering one more 100,000gns play. The pair exchanged two extra six-figure raises, however when Godolphin pushed the worth to 2,900,000gns, Joorabchian conceded defeat with a rueful shake of the top.
“All of us dream of those moments and it is nice when there’s such a vibrant market,” mentioned Man O’Callaghan, who bred the filly at Grangemore Stud in County Kildare.
“It is loopy, unbelievably sturdy. It is nice when two operations like Godolphin and Kia lock on and take one another on. That is the dream for any business breeder. I simply hope she goes on now and could be very fortunate for them. Our reserve was far, far decrease than what she made, so it is nice that it is all come collectively. It takes a particular horse to do it and he or she’s a particular one.”
The seven-figure gross sales smash hit is the most recent chapter in what has been a exceptional story for O’Callaghan. He bought the dam, the listed-placed Kodiac mare Futoon , from the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2017 at a price of 100,000gns. She has since bred 5 foals, all by Darkish Angel . The primary of her brood is the 2021 Mill Reef Stakes winner Wings of Battle , whereas her second is Charyn, who was bought by Nurlan Bizakov’s Sumbe operation for 250,000gns at Guide 2 in 2021.
The pair’s 2-year-old sister, Shinara, stays unraced however is in coaching with Roger Varian. She was additionally purchased by Sumbe, albeit for a extra punchy 850,000gns 12 months in the past.
“She’s a particular mare,” continued O’Callaghan. “The celebs aligned with Charyn being champion miler this 12 months, and he or she was a phenomenal filly, so all of it got here collectively. It has been an actual group effort from everybody at residence, from my spouse, Serena, my head lad, Jack, and all of the group. She’s been so easy.
“Every single day she’s been easy and it is nice she’s come right here and behaved and operated, and simply been an absolute queen. She’s been exhibiting exhausting since Saturday and by no means did a nasty present, which is a superb signal of how good her thoughts is.
“Charyn is identical, he has that very same phenomenal mindset and so they simply take it. It is quite a bit to ask of a yearling, however the good ones can take it—and he or she’s a great one.”
The breeder added: “The mare has one other superb foal on the bottom by Darkish Angel and he or she’s again in foal to Blue Level. She’s the mare of a lifetime. When Charyn gained the group 1, I knew I used to be sitting on some sizzling property, so on daily basis I used to be out checking this filly within the subject. Each step of the best way she by no means missed a bit.”
Charyn has achieved wonders for the web page throughout a extremely productive 4-year-old marketing campaign underneath Varian. His 4 victories this 12 months got here within the listed Doncaster Mile Stakes and Bet365 Mile (G2), earlier than entering into group 1 firm to run straight away with the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1).
He’s arguably unfortunate to not be unbeaten this time period having not been seen to finest benefit when runner-up in tactical renewals of the Lockinge Stakes (G1) and Prix du Moulin (G1).
Requested how profitable a gaggle 1 at a gathering like Royal Ascot in comparison with Wednesday’s gross sales success, O’Callaghan mentioned: “They go hand in glove as a result of that (sale) does not occur with out Charyn profitable at Royal Ascot. That assembly is the top for each breeder. There is not any higher feeling than breeding a Royal Ascot winner, and it does not matter what race it’s.
“Royal Ascot is among the hardest locations to win, and to win a gaggle 1 there was simply unbelievable. It is a dream, and that is the reward if you’re lucky to have good inventory coming behind.”
A bit greater than 24 hours earlier Sumbe had introduced that Charyn would have no less than two extra races earlier than retiring to the operation’s French stallion roster. Requested if he was planning on breeding to the champion miler-elect subsequent masking season, O’Callaghan mentioned: “Positively, indubitably.”
The Grangemore Stud man minimize a remarkably calm determine when addressing the press, however added: “Don’t be concerned, I am doing cartwheels inside!”
After signing the docket on Godolphin’s behalf, Anthony Stroud mentioned: “Her pedigree speaks for itself and he or she was a really good particular person. The brother has achieved fantastically nicely this 12 months.
“It was in all probability greater than we anticipated however there appears to be a premium on these fillies, and he or she was a filly that all of us appreciated quite a bit.”
Stroud shared his perspective on the extent of competitors within the ring, saying: “That is the best way the day has gone. It is so aggressive and these horses are promoting so nicely. It is such a global market and there are such a lot of principals from completely different components of the world. It has been an extremely sturdy sale.”
Stroud mentioned Sheikh Mohammed’s presence at Park Paddocks had been pivotal in Godolphin’s spend, which, after two days of promoting, stood at 13,420,000gns for 11 yearlings purchased.
“For sure, he is key,” he mentioned. “There was undoubtedly a broad part of horses on the high finish that we had been glad to point out him. (By) horses like Too Darn Sizzling, who’s an rising stallion and standing at Dalham Corridor. It is good that he is doing so nicely as nicely, therefore we purchased the colt from Croom Home.”
Seven Figures however a Totally different Purchaser
The fourth seven-figure lot of the session, however the first to flee Godolphin’s clutches, was secured on-line even when Yulong’s Vin Cox was in attendance on the gross sales floor.
It was the Dubawi first foal out of Lordship Stud’s Loving Dream , winner of the Prix de Royallieu (G1) on her ultimate profession outing in 2021. Provided by Watership Down, the February-born colt made 1,100,000gns.
“He is one of many elite stallions of all time and we got here right here eager to zero in on Dubawis, amongst others,” mentioned Cox.
“He was a horse we noticed on our first day and we stored coming again and taking a look at him. He is out of a gaggle 1 winner, there’s quite a bit to love concerning the pedigree and quite a bit to love concerning the horse. We’ll begin him off right here in Europe and who is aware of after that.”
Cox, a former managing director of Godolphin Australia, had notably prescient perception available on the market as he was additionally a long-time managing director of the gross sales agency Magic Thousands and thousands in Australia.
“It is completely staggering,” he mentioned. “After I was operating Magic Thousands and thousands, you’d like to have statistics that jumped up like that. They’re phenomenal, it is put a spring in everybody’s step, you possibly can see everybody strolling round right here, they’re up and about, and as they need to be.
“It is fantastic to see, it is nice for the business and on the again of that, all boats rise in bloodstock the world over. It is a beautiful lot of horses, they’re broadly acclaimed, it was a great shopping for bench right here and really aggressive.”
Amo Bullets Land
Amo Racing could have missed out on the day’s headline seven-figure heaps however the operation definitely didn’t stroll away from Park Paddocks empty-handed. Essentially the most vital recruit on the day was a strapping son of Sea The Stars who value 800,000gns when offered by The Castlebridge Consignment. The teen is a sibling to 4 winners, most notably Shadwell’s prolific group 3 scorer Al Aasy .
The colt was secured in partnership with Al Shaqab Racing, an alliance that additionally landed three heaps on Day 1 at an outlay of 965,000gns. Alex Elliott revealed that Valmont, the racing automobile of Anthony Ramsden, would even be taking an equal third share within the six-figure teen.
“He will go to Ralph Beckett,” mentioned Elliott, who expanded on the three-way partnership. “It fits everyone with these big-money colts, and it is one thing you see occur much more within the (United) States. If you happen to purchase sufficient of them hopefully one hits and he pays for the lot. That is the concept anyway.
“He is a helluva horse, he is enormous, however he is bought a temperament to die for and vetted completely. He is very gentle on his ft too. Let’s hope he can win us a Derby.”
By the shut of commerce Wednesday Amo’s title had appeared on the docket of 20 yearlings who value a mixed 14,490,000gns. Together with the 800,000gns colt that Valmont invested in, seven of the 20 had been purchased in partnership with Al Shaqab.
Increasing on how the 2 operations got here to hitch forces, Elliott mentioned: “Nicolas de Watrigant and I purchased (the partnership) a Wootton Bassett horse (the €575,000 Behike) in France final 12 months and he went to Ralph. The fellows have stayed in contact and so they have a really comparable mindset and are attempting to do the identical factor.
“What is the level in competing when you possibly can be a part of up? It limits your threat, particularly if you’re racing for peanuts. Clearly there are silks to think about and that kind of factor, but when everybody can get on the identical web page—if we are able to keep within the buggy—we’ll attempt to handle it.”
Remaining Tally
5 extra seven-figure heaps helped Wednesday’s figures observe a equally buoyant trajectory to Day 1. Turnover rose by 13% year-on-year to 40,383,000gns (US$55,324,710), regardless of 17 fewer heaps altering palms.
The common value went up by 30% to 345,155gns (US$472,862) and the median improved 23 factors to 240,000gns (US$328,800), having been 195,000gns on the corresponding session 12 months in the past. The clearance price remained rock stable at 89% as 117 yearlings offered from 131 supplied.
Guide 1 of the October Yearling Sale concludes Oct. 10, with the third and ultimate session beginning at 11 a.m. native time.