Godolphin Takes $4.6M Session Topper at Tattersalls

In a scene reminiscent of so many major clashes down the years, Godolphin blew their old rivals Coolmore away with a bid of 3,600,000 guineas (US$4,645,966) securing the Dubawi half brother (Lot 148) to Barney Roy during the opening session of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Oct. 8.

Given the weight of pedigree on offer, proceedings got off to a relatively inauspicious start until Alastair Donald and Anthony Stroud, joined by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum himself, began to trade increasingly expensive bids. However, it was only once Coolmore entered the fray shortly after the bid board registered 1,000,000 guineas that it became apparent something big was brewing.

The old foes traded sizeable raises with rare gusto, notably when M.V. Magnier pushed the price from 1,700,000 guineas to 2,000,000 guineas in one fell swoop.

Stroud persisted, even when Magnier, who stood in the bidders' area above the Godolphin camp, raised a trio of fingers to auctioneer Alastair Pim's direction.

"Three million and I sell him up on top," said the auctioneer.

Taking instructions from Sheikh Mohammed, Stroud responded with another 200,000 guineas increase, delivered with a subtle nod of the head.

"Does anyone else want in here now?" said Pim as he scanned the silent ring. "Don't be shy!"

But, when Magnier was almost instantly bested having pushed the price to 3,400,000 guineas, it became apparent the Sheikh did not plan on being denied. As the Coolmore man turned his back on the ring at the 3,600,000 guineas mark, Pim slammed the gavel down on the year's most expensive yearling colt.

"He's really athletic, a really good mover, Sheikh Mohammed picked him out and he was his favorite of today," said Stroud after a debrief with the Sheikh and Charlie Appleby. "Obviously we stand the stallion and he's out of a Galileo mare, he's a wonderful specimen. He cost a lot, but to get a nice horse that's what you've got to pay."

When asked if Stroud had known who he was up against, he said: "I guessed it was them. They're wonderful judges and fantastic at what they do. To be honest, being in their company is only an honor."

Here, There, and Everywhere

Sheikh Mohammed has been a notable presence at the biggest yearling sales in the Northern Hemisphere this year, with his buying team having also secured the €1.625 million ($1,802,288) sale-topping Dubawi filly at Arqana, as well as having signed for $16 million worth of stock at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale followed by a €2.36 million spend at last week's Goffs Orby Sale.

"He's been to Deauville, Keeneland, Goffs and now here," said Stroud of the Sheikh's sales ring visits. "He's the boss and he's absolutely pivotal in all the decision making. It's great for all of us that he has the time to come to these sales, not just for us buying the horses, but the whole industry.

"It's the same with his brother, Sheikh Hamdan. They're completely unique and our industry would be lost without them. We've got so much to thank them for."

Bred by Sun Kingdom, the seven-figure colt is the fifth foal out of Alina, an unplaced Galileo mare purchased by the outfit under the Eliza Park banner for just 65,000 guineas ($111,623) in 2013. The Hong Kong-based operation stands the likes of Fiorente and Black Caviar's sire Bel Esprit at Sun Stud in Victoria, Australia.

They also keep a select broodmare band of around a dozen in Europe, and rose to prominence in the Northern Hemisphere having raced Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (G1) winner National Defense.

"You don't go expecting a result like that, but once you go past a million, you never know," said the operation's David O'Callaghan. "He just got better and better every day, but you need everything to come right at the sales and even then you don't believe that something like that can happen." 

He added: "We bought the mare carrying Barney Roy and we sold him as a foal (for 30,000 guineas, $49,295). And then she threw Wisdom Mind (a listed-placed daughter of Dark Angel), who we retained."

Damn Good Dam

This is not the first good turn Alina has done her breeders, as her Kodiac filly topped the 2017 Tatteresalls December Yearling Sale when selling to David Redvers for 400,000 guineas ($559,944)

While Coolmore and Godolphin may be old rivals, the result was a major feather in the cap for one of the sales scene's newer names, consignor Hazelwood Bloodstock.

"I'm blown away," said the Newmarket-based operation's general manager Adrian O'Brien. "He's a beautiful horse and never missed a trick. He's worked like a champion from day one, but that's an unbelievable figure. I couldn't have possibly predicted it.

"I'm over the moon and so grateful to our amazing clients for giving us this quality of stock. It's phenomenal. It's our third season consigning and only our fifth yearling sale.

"There was an awful lot of interest in the horse, everyone who saw him liked him, but for Godolphin and Coolmore to go head-to-head in the ring, it's what everyone dreams of."

Dubawi Colt Heads Two More Millionaires 

It wasn't all about the session-topping colt on the opening day of Book 1 of the October sale, with two other sons of Dubawi breaking the seven-figure barrier Tuesday.

The first came when David Redvers, acting on behalf of Qatar Racing, went to a round 1,000,000 guineas ($1,290,546) for the colt (Lot 77) out of four-time group 1 winner The Fugue offered by Watership Down Stud.

"I'm not out of place asking for a million," said auctioneer Edmond Mahony as he scanned the ring in search of an opening bid. He would get there eventually, but was forced to drop down to 200,000 guineas before the interested parties began to emerge.

Chad Brown played an early part in proceedings, but it was Grant Pritchard-Gordon, accompanied by his son Tom, who filled the role of underbidder from his usual position in the bidders' area directly to the left of Mahony's rostrum.

The colt is the third foal out of The Fugue, though his two sisters, Fughetta and Counterpoint, have not yet made the track. Fittingly it is John Gosden, who saddled The Fugue to win the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes (G1), Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1), Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes (G1), and Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), who will now take charge of her seven-figure son.

"By all accounts he's very different to his two full siblings, he's very much like his daddy," Redvers said. "If he's half as good as his mum and his dad, he's going to be a very exciting horse. He'll obviously go to Mr Gosden, it would be silly to send him anywhere else. I'm excited to add him to the team."

He continued: "Dubawis are very hard to buy. We know he's a sensational stallion, but sometimes they come in slightly surprising packages. This horse is beautiful, very strong, and is out of one of the best racemares of recent years. This game is all about dreams and he'll certainly give Sheikh Fahad and his brothers plenty to dream about over the next couple of years."

With such a blue-blooded pedigree, some seasoned observers noted that the colt's price could almost be considered good value given the rude health of the top end of the bloodstock market.

On the subject of valuing such a rare commodity, Redvers said: "It entirely depended on whether he was going to be on the Godolphin shopping list, evidently he wasn't. With the best pedigrees in the sale it all depends how much people are prepared to pay.

"There seems to be an incredibly international buying bench here, there are a lot of Americans spending plenty. It's started very strongly, we'll have to see how that holds out."

The colt is the second seven-figure son of Dubawi to be sold by Watership Down Stud at Book 1 in as many years, with Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber's nursery having bred and offered the brother to Too Darn Hot who topped last year's edition when bought by Redvers for 3,500,000 guineas ($4,811,678).

This colt is the third generation of his family to be bred by Watership Down, after the Lloyd-Webbers' bought his third dam, Sumoto, through Charlie Gordon-Watson for 920,000 guineas in 2000. In turn she produced Twyla Tharp, who was sold to Mandore International for 1,700,000 guineas ($2,857,964) after The Fugue's 3-year-old season.

"He's a beautiful horse and has always been a very easy colt to deal with," said Watership Down's Simon Marsh. "The Fugue was the most wonderful racemare. She broke the track record at Ascot which has never been beaten since. This is her third foal and her first colt and we couldn't be more pleased. We're delighted Sheikh Fahad bought him, he bought Darain (3,500,000 guineas, $4,811,678, sale-topper) from us here last year.

"Interestingly the two fillies out of the mare take after the dam, but this colt is all Dubawi. The Fugue doesn't have a foal this year but is in foal to Shamardal."

Just two lots before the Dubawi colt out of The Fugue took to the ring, Redvers went to 550,000 guineas ($709,801) to secure the Galileo filly (Lot 75) out of Terror offered by New England Stud. Redvers has first-hand experience with the pedigree, having bought Terror on behalf of Qatar Racing for €75,000 ($102,420) at the 2014 Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale.

The daughter of Kodiac landed the listed Irish Stallion Farms Bosra Sham E.B.F. Fillies Stakes before being sold on to Chris Hanbury through Gatewood Bell for 300,000 guineas ($474,264) at the following year's December Sale.

"She has much more scope and quality than Terror—she was a very typical Kodiac filly," said Redvers. "This filly is gorgeous and incredibly athletic, she's everything I look for in a physical, so we're thrilled to get her.

"Obviously it would have been better if we'd bred her, rather than having to pay for her, but then that price is pretty much the value of the nomination."

Ryan Joins the Seven-Figure Club

It was during last year's edition of Book 1 that it was revealed Kevin Ryan had been added to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's roster of trainers, and the burgeoning relationship was cemented Tuesday when the Hambleton trainer went to 1,000,000 guineas ($1,290,546) on behalf of the owner to secure the Dubawi half brother (Lot 124) to Without Parole and Tamarkuz  offered by Newsells Park Stud.

"I'm very lucky that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid loved the horse, he knows more about the sire than anyone," said Ryan, referencing the sheikh's ownership of the Dalham Hall sire. "He's got a great pedigree and it's just wonderful to be able to buy a horse like this. He's by a fantastic sire and out of a great mare and he's the most gorgeous individual."

Bred by Triple Crown-winning breeder John Gunther, the colt is out of Without You Babe, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid whose broodmare career has seen her produce Tamarkuz, winner of the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for Shadwell, and St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) scorer Without Parole. The page received a further piece of black type when She's Got You, Without You Babe's Kingman 3-year-old, finished runner-up in a listed contest at Newmarket late last month.

Without You Babe is also a half sister to dual grade 1 winner and sire Stay Thirsty , while that pair are out of a daughter of the grade 1-placed Make Change.

Expanding on the link-up with Sheikh Obaid, Ryan said: "We've trained for him for a season now and he's a lovely man to train for; he's very patient and very knowledgeable. He's been in the game a long time, he's seen all the highs and the lows, and he puts you under no pressure. To get this kind of support at the sales is just wonderful."

Ryan has enjoyed a fruitful first season training for Sheikh Obaid, with the likes of Juan Elcano, Repartee and Emaraaty Ana all carrying his yellow and black silks with distinction.

The result also saw two sets of connections who enjoyed huge results at ParisLongchamp on Sunday combine, with Newsells Park Stud co-owner-breeder of Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) hero Waldgeist, while Ryan landed the Prix de l'Abbaye (G1) with the hugely progressive Glass Slippers.

Frankel Files

Having secured the sale-topping Galileo filly out of Green Room for €3 million ($3,279,929) at last week's Goffs Orby Sale, the partnership between Coolmore and Georg von Opel's Westerberg operation made another notable acquisition when Broadhurst Agency went to 850,000 guineas ($1,096,964) on their behalf for the Frankel filly (Lot 105) out of Wadyhatta.

Bred by Lynch Bages and sold through Glenvale Stud, this filly is a half sister to recent 2-year-old winner Santiago, a son of Authorized trained by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, and from the Allez Les Trois branch of the Allegretta family also responsible for Tamayuz, Anabaa Blue, and the exciting Khayzaraan.

"It's great to get involved with a very nice Frankel filly from this family," said Benoit, who was joined in the bidders' area by Von Opel and Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.

"The pedigree is really alive, there's a good Kingman under the second dam and the 2-year-old sibling looks promising also. It's hard to get these nicely-bred fillies, they're not cheap. She'll be raced in partnership but no decision has been made with regards to a trainer."

Varian Lands Speedy Boarding's First Foal

Roger Varian is set to train Speedy Boarding's first foal, a colt (Lot 44) by Dubawi, having gone to 500,000 guineas ($645,273) for the Meon Valley Stud-consigned youngster. The March foal boasts one of the catalog's most active pages, hailing from the family of Milligram.

The pedigree has received a couple of notable enhancements this season, as Speedy Boarding, a daughter of Shamardal who won the Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) and Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1), is out of Dash To The Front, whose daughter, Miss Dashwood, produced Queen's Vase (G2) scorer Dashing Willoughby.

Investec Oaks (G1) heroine Anapurna, who bounced back to form to claim the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (G1) on Saturday, adds further weight to the page by appearing beneath the third dam.

With such illustrious bloodlines, the stud's managing owner Mark Weinfeld said he felt the colt's price fell just shy of what he had hoped for.

"I thought he might have made a bit more," he said. "But a sale is a sale and he's gone to a good trainer, which is very important. We've just got to hope he's going to be a good racehorse now."

There could be plenty more to come from this family too, as Speedy Boarding has a Frankel filly foal and is carrying to Juddmonte's sire sensation Kingman.

From 164 yearlings offered during the opening session, 136 were sold for an 83% clearance rate. Gross receipts for the day came to 35,408,000 guineas. The average was down 2% from 2018 to 260,355 guineas and the median was up 6% to 180,000 guineas.