Godolphin Outguns Coolmore Once More at Tattersalls

A new day but the same result, as Godolphin saw off archrival Coolmore to add Golden Horn's half brother by Frankel to Sheikh Mohammed's string with a bid of 3.1 million guineas (US$3,977,357) midway through the second day of Book 1 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

On Day 1, the two teams clashed over the Dubawi half brother to Barney Roy who went the way of Godolphin at 3.6 million guineas ($4,645,966), and as the respective camps lined up, separated only by the partition in the gangway, it soon became apparent that round two was in the cards.

Alastair Donald and Chad Brown also played their part in driving the price into session-topping territory, but the pair tapped out by the time the protagonists renewed their sales-ring arm wrestle.

It seemed as though Anthony Stroud, huddled with David Loder, played the winning hand when he pushed the price from 1.8 million guineas to 2 million. But after a lengthy pause, Coolmore man M.V. Magnier, nonchalantly chewing gum in the packed gateway, responded with a casual nod of the head.

Just a few yards away, the move was mirrored by Stroud.

After some seven-figure to-and-fro, Magnier paused for thought once more at the 2.6 million mark. However, after a short caucus with David Wachman and Paul Shanahan, he took the cue when auctioneer Simon Kerins looked in his direction and asked: "One if you like?"

After Stroud again wasted little time in firing back a 100,000 guineas increase of his own, Magnier tried to up the ante.

"At two million eight, I sell behind the far partition—do you want to round it up?" invited Kerins. Magnier responded in the affirmative. But even a bid of 3 million guineas was not enough to deter Stroud. Once Magnier turned his back on the proceedings, the gavel came down in Godolphin's favor.

"He looked really well and has an outstanding pedigree," Stroud said of the Norelands Stud-consigned youngster. "We stand Golden Horn, and he's looking a promising stallion. This colt is an exceptional-looking horse, and it's not often you get the opportunity to buy a half brother to a Derby winner by such a great sire."

A flashier model than his four-time group 1-winning half brother, with a white blaze and two white socks, the colt is also a sibling to the listed-winning Champs Elysees filly Eastern Belle and the 2-year-old Galileo colt Arrow of Gold, who sold to Kevin Ryan and Stephen Hillen for 450,000 guineas ($618,645) during last year's Book 1.

Those high achievers are out of the unraced Dubai Destination mare Fleche d'Or, who left the ownership of owner/breeder Anthony Oppenheimer when she sold to the BBA Ireland for 62,000 guineas ($104,805) in 2012, the year Golden Horn was foaled.

The son of Cape Cross was retained by Anthony Oppenheimer at 190,000 guineas ($321,136) when he was offered at Book 1 in 2013, a move vindicated in spectacular fashion when, under the tutelage of John Gosden, Golden Horn went on to land the Investec Derby (G1), Coral-Eclipse (G1), QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1), and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Golden Horn now resides at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud, from where his stallion career has made a bright start with his debut 2-year-olds, including German-Thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) winner West End Girl, who is due to appear in the bet365 Fillies' Mile (G1) Friday, and Italian listed scorer Festive Star.

Coln Valley's King of the Ring

Godolphin's show of sales-ring strength continued a little over an hour later when Stroud saw off a determined effort from the Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis axis with a final bid of 2.3 million guineas ($2,950,942) for the Kingman colt out of Grace And Favour bred and consigned by Coln Valley Stud.

The dam is a winning Montjeu sister to Gold Cup (G1) and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) hero Fame And Glory and is one of just six flat broodmares residing at Nicholas Jones' farm in Gloucestershire. The result is much the best enjoyed by the breeder, whose previous high price came at last year's Book 1 when Stroud Coleman gave 600,000 guineas for a Showcasing colt.

"You can't expect numbers like that," said a visibly stunned Jones. "A lot of people told me he was a gorgeous individual, but you never know if the bidders will show up or not. We were hoping for a good sale, but you can't predict something on this scale.

"Ian Emes, my stud manager of 16 years, must take all the credit. He foaled this colt and has done all the prep work. He's a top man, and we're very lucky to have him at Coln Valley. We have six flat mares and one National Hunt mare—and it's going to remain at one. In order to keep my wife, I have to keep a National Hunt mare. We like to keep the quantity down but the quality up."

The colt is the second foal out of his dam, whose first, Game And Set, won a Newbury maiden this year. He is a grandson of Gryada, who joined the Coln Valley fold for 180,000 guineas ($366,207) in 2006. Gryada is also granddam of group 1 winner Legatissimo.

The colt is the third seven-figure yearling by rising star sire Kingman, after the 1.7 million guineas All Our Tomorrows and the 1.05 million guineas Cormorant.

Despite Kingman's current standing as arguably the most exciting young sire in Europe, Jones said the decision to use the Banstead Manor Stud resident was not entirely straightforward back in 2017.

"It wasn't that easy a decision to use Kingman, given it was his third season and using any stallion in his third season can be a risk," Jones said. "But I think we'll have to use him again now."

Godolphin's spree continued apace as evening set in, with Stroud going to 1.1 million guineas for the Galileo colt out of Jacqueline Quest and, therefore, a brother to Godolphin's Line of Duty offered by New England Stud.

Coolmore Lands Magna Grecia Sibling

Coolmore may have missed out on both session toppers so far at this year's Book 1, but they enjoyed better fortune when Magnier struck a winning bid of 1.3 million guineas ($1,667,924) for the Siyouni half brother to Magna Grecia.

Bred by Bob Scarbrough and offered through Norelands Stud, the colt is out of the group 3-winning Galileo mare Cabaret, who was sold to BBA Ireland for 600,000 guineas ($972,657) at the conclusion of her racing days.

The transaction also represented a record price for a yearling by Haras de Bonneval's high-flying sire Siyouni.

"It's great for Bob Scarbrough, who's bred a lovely horse," Magnier said. "He's by Siyouni, who's a good sire—Le Brivido is a very good horse, as is Peter Brant's Sottsass, who could be a very exciting horse next year. Obviously, he's out of a Galileo mare, too, and Galileo just seems to be going from strength to strength in that department. And, of course, he's a brother to Magna Grecia, who was a very good 2-year-old and a Guineas winner."

Magna Grecia hasn't been seen since disappointing in the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1), but Magnier said the two-time group 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit could be set to return on Champions Day.

"Hopefully, Aidan's going to run him next week in the QEII," he said, referring to trainer Aidan O'Brien. "It's too early to say if he'll stay in training next year, but he's going very well at the moment. He's a very special horse, so let's hope this fella is as good as him."

Session Figures

Totals for the second session saw slight declines over last year's sale with the aggregate of 31,958,000 guineas ($41,002,694) for 132 yearlings sold down 22% from last year's total for the day when 129 lots brought 40,944,000 guineas ($56,499,035). The average was also down by 24% at 242,105 guineas ($310,626) from 317,395 guineas ($437,977) last year. The median of 150,000 guineas ($192,453) represented a 21% slip from last year's 190,000 guineas ($262,183). The session had an 84.1% clearance rate.