Excelebration Colt Tops Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up

It hasn't all been plain sailing for breeze-up consignors this year, but the Slattery family of Meadowview Stables in Killenaule had 140,000 reasons to celebrate July 8 after their Excelebration colt topped a solid Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale when bought by Alan King and Highflyer Bloodstock's Anthony Bromley.

The colt (Lot 108) brought a tidy bit of pinhooking profit, having been picked up by Meadowview for €18,000 (US$19,837) at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

And though the farm's Brian Slattery reported the youngster has always shown considerable talent throughout his preparation, his elated reaction spoke volumes about his delight at securing the sales-topping sum of 140,000 guineas ($184,389).

"He's always been a very nice horse," he said. "He was in a league of his own here, but he's always looked like a very good horse since the moment he was broken. You never know quite how it'll work out at the sales, but we knew we had a really nice product and two of the best agents in the world went at it, so I'm very happy."

Past Meadowview graduates include the likes of My Dream Boat and Richmond Stakes(G2)  winner Strike The Deal, and Slattery said he feels that Wednesday's top lot possesses just as much talent.

"We think he's very good," he said. "We were prepared to keep him if he didn't make a fair price, but a fair price is a lot less than what he's made! We've sold 11 breeze-up horses this year, and we've three left to go to Fairyhouse. It's a family-run business, so it's great to have days like this."

King has enjoyed some notable success from a relatively small number of flat runners, with Coeur de Lion, Scarlet Dragon, and Who Dares Wins providing the trainer with a hat trick at this year's Royal Ascot.

King and Bromley's past breeze-up purchases include Tritonic, who ran second to Highland Chief in the Golden Gates Handicap during the royal meeting.

"He was our favorite horse of the sale, though we didn't expect to have to go that far," Bromley said. "He's got size and scope. The unfortunate thing is that he did a bit of a time during the breeze. We don't buy on times, but he clocked a quick time, and that's what made it harder for us."

Expanding on his approach to buying breeze-up horses, Bromley said: "We tend to go on the individual and a nice stride, but the vendors tell you how fast they've gone, so you end up knowing about the times. I take a bit of confidence from David Redvers being the underbidder as he's a good judge. He's had much more success at the breeze-ups than I have."

King said the colt, a half brother to four winners and from the further family of Falbrav, was bought on behalf of owners Max McNeill and Niall Farrell. "That price wouldn't buy you much of a National Hunt horse these days" he added with a wry smile.

Dolmen in Dream Land

The previous lot into the ring also brought a six-figure sum, with Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock going to 105,000 guineas ($138,292) for the Make Believe filly out of Olivia Pope.

The filly (Lot 107) was another to bring a handsome profit, having been picked up by the Dolmen Bloodstock team of Justin Timmons and Danny O'Donovan at just €10,000 ($10,944) at part 2 of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

"She did a cracking breeze and the right people were on her, but that was more than we expected, although I think she deserved it," a delighted Timmons said. "The sire looks very good, too. She's a very progressive filly, and she has an engine on her. A good judge bought her, too, which is great."

Dolmen Bloodstock is based at Ballysax Manor Stud on the Curragh, and O'Donovan added of the pair's setup: "We do it all ourselves—riding work, mucking out, the whole shebang!"

Jake Warren on the Derby Trail

Gestut Graditz stallion Lucky Lion has had just one representative at this year's European breeze-up sales, though that number could well rise in the future based upon the success the Tally-Ho Stud-consigned colt enjoyed having gone the way of Jake Warren for 95,000 guineas ($125,121).

The colt (Lot 87), who is out of a placed Galileo mare and shares his page with rags-to-riches success story Pyledriver, was pinhooked by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for €21,000 ($23,222) at the BBAG September Yearling Sale.

Warren said his latest buy was sourced on behalf of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

"The market at the moment is allowing us to have a proper crack at the horses we really want to buy," he said. "Trade has been up and down, but without some key players in the market pushing hard, there are some opportunities. We've been oversubscribed for the horses we've bought for Highclere so far."

Tate Bags 'Standout' Kodiac Filly

James Tate's former charge Far Above graced the cover of this year's Guineas Sale catalog, and the Newmarket-based trainer has another graduate to look forward to, having gone to 90,000 guineas ($118,536) for the Kodiac filly offered by Katie McGivern's Derryconnor Stud.

"She did a very fast time, and I thought she was the standout filly in the sale; she's a very fast-looking filly," Tate said of his purchase. "I'm not sure if she'll end up being the most expensive, but I thought she was decent value at that, and hopefully she'll be running in July. She's been bought for Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum."

The strong-looking filly (Lot 47), who took her third turn through the sales ring Wednesday, boasted one of the catalog's stronger pages, being out of the group 3-winning Fair Nashwan.

"I've sold everything I've offered so far, and there's been great trade at every sale I've been at," McGivern said reflecting on the state of trade across the breeze-up season. "It's been no different to any other year, bar the precautions we have to take, but, for me, there's a good, solid market at every level. That's not always the case at the breeze-ups, but it seems to be this year."

Quinn Seeing Stars Again

John Quinn has enjoyed some notable results with the progeny of Starspangledbanner sourced at the breeze-up sales, having won the 2014 Coventry Stakes (G2) and Darley Prix Morny (G1) with The Wow Signal. The Malton-based trainer now has another son of the Coolmore sire to go to war with after his son and assistant trainer Sean went to 77,000 guineas ($101,414) for Knockanglass Stables' offering (Lot 6).

"He did a very pleasing breeze, and what I liked most is that he got stronger as the breeze went on," Sean Quinn said. "I didn't have any intention of buying a breeze-up horse, but he caught my eye, so I discussed it with Dad and we decided he'd be a good addition."

Tylicki Lands a Touch

Freddy Tylicki was also among the pinhookers to turn a profit on the day when a Lawman colt he picked up for 28,000 guineas ($37,049) was sold on to budding trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy for 72,000 guineas ($94,829) through CH Thoroughbreds.

"He's a strong and very attractive colt," said De Foy, who is currently assistant trainer to James Fanshawe.

The colt (Lot 76), who is out of a winning daughter of Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) third Royal Shyness, was offered by up-and-coming consignor Cian Hughes.

Final Figures

By the close of trade, 94 of 116 offered lots had sold for a clearance rate of 81%. Turnover stood at 2,680,000 guineas ($3,529,715)—down 23% year-on-year, albeit from 19% fewer lots than were offered in 2019. The average was up by 1% to 28,510 guineas ($37,550), and the median was down 28% to 17,250 guineas ($22,719).

Eight of the sold lots were purchased online, with those transactions totaling 177,500 guineas. Five other lots were underbid by online participants, with 57 internet bids accepted on 23 lots from 17 bidders.

"In the current climate, we are all looking to accentuate the positives, and I think we can reflect on solid if unspectacular trade at this year's renewal of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up," Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said in his end-of-sale statement. "This is, however, a year where 'solid if unspectacular' is a positive outcome, and we would like to thank all those who have participated at today's sale for their contribution.

"The buyers have worked incredibly hard, and the breeze-up consignors have had to endure uniquely difficult conditions in the run-up to the 2020 breeze-up sales season, but ultimately everyone can look back on sales which have largely exceeded expectations.

"It has been challenging staging events of this nature with the prevailing COVID-19-related regulations still in place, but despite continued travel restrictions, today's Guineas Breeze-Up has seen demand from throughout the world, including Australia, Bahrain, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Kuwait, Qatar, and Spain.

"The international demand has been accompanied by spirited bidding from the domestic British and Irish buyers and has resulted in some notable pinhooking successes, while the overseas buyers have made use of every possible means at their disposal to participate in the sale, including extensive use of our new live internet bidding platform as well as telephone bidding.

"It is a tribute to the resilience of the global bloodstock market that we continue to experience this level of international demand, and we expect to see further widespread use of the live internet bidding platform at our two-day July Sale, which commences tomorrow morning at 10 a.m."