Another Top Lot for Time Test as Book 3 Concludes

Sire on fire Time Test  has rarely been far from the headlines during the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, and the National Stud's promising young gun was responsible for the headline act at the Oct. 15 concluding session of Book 3.

The gangway filled up with interested onlookers as Whatton Manor Stud's colt, a sibling to two winners and from the Gredley family of User Friendly, took to the Park Paddocks ring. Matters ultimately boiled down to Amanda Skiffington and owner Montgomery Motto, with the latter party winning out at 95,000 guineas (US$137,146).

"He was one of the best athletes I saw and has a lovely temperament to match," said Motto. "It's hard to go wrong with a Shamardal mare and she has produced a useful runner abroad (in Lory Di Tony). I went a bit higher than planned but the money nearly always finds the horse. He'll go to Richard Brabazon for breaking and we'll make a plan from there."

Motto has not been a regular fixture of the Tattersalls buying bench in recent times, explaining that his attentions had previously been focused on training in the U.S.

He said: "I raced in the States as an owner-trainer but now I'm back in Europe and will be based here for the foreseeable future.

"I stopped training about seven years ago. I was based at Calder for about 15 years but I closed the stable and disbanded the team as it's a bit too much work for me right now.

"It's been very hard to adapt my eye from the American horse. I tend to like a compact early sprinter type, but I bought four at Goffs, all fillies and all early 2-year-old types. This is the only colt I have so my string is rather unbalanced at the moment.

"Richard will take his time with them and give them a bit of work in March and then we'll decide what to do at that point. I also spent quite a bit of time in Italy, so that's an option, as are France, Ireland, and Britain."

Time Test's second-crop are headed by the 400,000 guineas ($571,019) colt who topped the Oct. 13 session of Book 2 when snapped up by Alastair Donald on behalf of King Power Racing, while the group have averaged £64,235 ($88,316).

The son of Dubawi  has fielded nine European winners, including four successful in stakes company.

Just as had been the case at the preceding Book 2, and to the surprise of few who witnessed the sheer strength of trade up close, Book 3 produced a record-breaking set of results.

The number of lots increased by just 2% year-on-year, with 547 offered and 471 sold for a clearance rate of 86%. However, turnover leapt by a huge 44% to 10,593,150 guineas ($15,292,748) as did the average, with a climb of 40% returning a figure of 22,490 guineas ($32,467).

The median, so often the most representative barometer of market health, showed the biggest gain, with a rise of 64% generating a return of 18,000 guineas ($25,985). That final number is full 7,000 guineas ($10,105) higher than the 11,000 guineas ($15,880) registered 12 months ago.

Fahey Team Among Ardad Fan Club

Yearlings from the second crop of Overbury Stud's sire sensation Ardad  have also been in high demand throughout this sales season, thanks in no small part to the exploits of Darley Prix Morny (G1) and Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1) winner Perfect Power .

The dual group 1-winning colt's trainer Richard Fahey has another son of Ardad to look forward to in 2022 after assistant Robin O'Ryan secured the colt out of Night Affair from Throckmorton Court Stud on a bid of 85,000 guineas ($122,709).

Nancy Sexton, taking instructions on the phone from behind the partition, filled the role of underbidder.

"I don't know whether that's good or not!" joked O'Ryan after being informed his purchase was heading the market. "Obviously the stallion speaks for himself, Ardad has done really well and hopefully he can be another Perfect Power. Both this colt and Perfect Power are racy horses, we actually had three Ardad 2-year-olds and they've all won."

The colt, out of a Bold Edge half sister to group 1-winning sprinter and Cheveley Park Stud stallion Twilight Son , was sourced on behalf of owner Steve Bradley, who stood beside O'Ryan and added: "He looks like a nice early type and these boys (Robin O'Ryan and Peter Fahey) recommended him. He's got Twilight Son on his page and hopefully he can be lucky for us."

Reflecting on a busy five days of action at Park Paddocks, O'Ryan said: "We've bought 15 here this week. Trade has been very strong, which doesn't make our job any easier but it's healthy for the game. It's good to know there's plenty of interest from people who want to invest in racehorses."

Tally-Ho Get Busy

Tally-Ho Stud has enjoyed a fruitful time of it at the October Yearling Sale with 36 lots sold for receipts totaling 4,206,000 guineas ($6,071,970). The O'Callaghan family have also been busy on the buying front too and got among the action on Friday when they landed a Zoustar filly through Hamish Macauley Bloodstock at 77,000 guineas ($111,160).

"Tony O'Callaghan has bought her to breeze or race," said Macauley. "She was a stand-out today. We tried to buy two Zoustars at the end of Book 2 and we didn't get near them. He's obviously done very well in Australia so hopefully he can do the same here."

The filly, who was consigned by Chasemore Farm, is out of Roger Sez, a group 3-winning daughter of former Tally-Ho stallion Red Clubs.

The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concludes on Saturday, with Book 4 starting at 10 a.m.