Superpowers Meet as Tattersalls October Book 1 Begins

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The Dubawi yearling that sold for $3.5 million guineas enters the ring during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year

There's a distinctly timeless feel to the hours leading up to Book 1, the first and most prestigious installment of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which is set to begin Oct. 8 at Park Paddocks in Newmarket.

Year in, year out, there is a sense of calm before the storm, as prospective purchasers scour the grounds, carefully and closely examining hooves, hocks, hips, and heads, looking for any of the subtle tells that the unbroken yearling stood in front of them could be a champion in waiting.

It is a routine that has been the same for decades, but Monday, a dank day of inspections also brought together many of the players who sit at the peak of the global bloodstock pyramid in 2019.

John Magnier was in Newmarket and spent the day flanked by key members of the Coolmore camp—including his son, M.V., and Aidan O'Brien—as he scrutinized a select bunch among the 552 cataloged yearlings.

The Coolmore crew's march between barns was only briefly interrupted when they stopped to exchange pleasantries with the likes of Juddmonte racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe, who was back from seeing Enable run a most valiant second in her historic Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) bid.

With Coolmore picking up the likes of Japan, Ten Sovereigns, and Australia at past editions of Tattersalls' flagship yearling sale, it will be fascinating to see which lots will be heading to Ballydoyle to begin their racing careers.

Coolmore are not the only outfit to have enjoyed success buying at this sale, and were far from the only operation to park their tanks on the Park Paddocks lawn.

Magnier's old sales ring and racecourse adversary Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his entourage, including Charlie Appleby and Anthony Stroud, were also in attendance late in the afternoon.

With 25 lots by Dubawi, including colts out of The Fugue and Speedy Boarding, and a half sister to his beloved Blue Point in the catalog, there was plenty for the ruler of Dubai to feast his eyes on. After acquiring the likes of Blue Point and Line of Duty here, he seems unlikely to have merely been window shopping. 

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum was present too, and was spotted taking a close interest in the full brother to Elarqam, who comes on the market late in in the opening session.

Peter Brant, whose Sottsass also ran a brave race in the Arc to be third, headed a notable U.S. contingent, with prominent Stateside trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher also busy combing the grounds for ammunition to aim at the growing U.S. turf program.

There was, of course, a strong representation of British and Irish owners and trainers, including John Gosden, William Haggas, Charlie and Barry Hills, Roger Varian, John Oxx, and Ger Lyons.

David Redvers, buyer of last year's 3.5 million guineas (US4,811,678) top lot, was also here, as was just about every bloodstock agent worth their salt.

While the superpowers may have exchanged handshakes and pleasantries outside of the ring, vast sums of money will soon be on the line when they meet inside it. Things may just be about to get rather more exciting.

Given the catalog features siblings to a staggering 59 group/grade 1 winners, including the likes of Advertise, Al Kazeem, Battaash, Golden Horn, Magna Grecia, and Ten Sovereigns, to name just a few, there is plenty of get excited about. So please take your seats. The biggest show in town is about to begin.