The Factor Colt Tops Final Day of Craven Sale

By James Thomas

Courtesy of Racing Post

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale ended on April 13 with a record median price of 77,500 guineas (US$119,076), pointing to strength at the top of the market, as the catalogue was numerically the smallest to be offered this century.

Whereas last year top lot honours had gone the way of War Front  , 12 months later it was one of his sons, The Factor  , at the top of the pile.

The sole offering from the Lane's End Farm resident realised 350,000gns ($524,607), with the winning bid coming from Jamie McCalmont on behalf of a partnership between Coolmore and Stonestreet Stables.

The striking grey colt, who is the fourth foal of the Listed-placed Deputy Commander mare Sweet Belle, had been pinhooked by the vendor Tally-Ho Stud from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $100,000.

McCalmont said: "He's very typical of The Factors I've seen. An attractive colt recently made a similar figure at Barretts [two-year-olds in training sale in California]. He did an exceptional breeze despite racing on sticky ground that probably wouldn't be to his liking—he has a great stride."

Late exchange

As if winning the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup in recent weeks wasn't enough, Giggingstown House Stud's Eddie O'Leary tasted success in the Tattersalls ring, when an Exchange Rate   colt consigned by Lynn Lodge Stud made 340,000gns ($509,618). Charlie Gordon-Watson and Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock traded bids, with the latter eventually emerging victorious.

The colt continued the theme of Keeneland purchases providing substantial returns, having been picked up for $140,000 by Lynn Lodge through Margaret O'Toole. He is out of the Pulpit mare Blessings Count, and shares his page with the likes of grade II winner Topicount and group III winner Jahid.

Brown said: "He's a colt you can crack on with. He looks a straightforward colt by a stallion who in my opinion is underrated, and he did a fabulous breeze.

"For me, this colt and the Invincible Spirit colt last night were the picks of the sale—we missed out last night so we're delighted to get this horse."

The colt is due to go into training with Simon Crisford.

More than whispers

There had been positive whispers around for the More Than Ready   colt consigned by Johnny Collins' Brown Island Stables. They had clearly also reached Charlie Gordon-Watson, who went to 300,000gns ($449,663) to secure the colt, who is out of the winning Honour And Glory mare Rainbow Luck who herself is a half sister to grade II winner City To City.

Gordon-Watson said: "He's a lovely horse who did everything right. I didn't see him at Keeneland but people who did told me he's just transformed. Ed Dunlop will train him."

Collins, who also picked up dual grade I winner Mshawish for small money as a yearling, was enjoying another sizeable pinhooking return, having picked up the More Than Ready colt for just $17,000 at Keeneland in September.

A delighted Collins said: "He was always a big, good-moving colt, but he was a bit backward when I bought him. That really improved over the winter. He's always had a good mind."

While the whispers for the colt may not have been heard by everyone, no one in the ring at Tattersalls could have missed the attempt made by underbidder Clive Washbourn to secure him, loudly shouting his bids of 40,000gns increments.

Come to daddy

Another Keeneland yearling purchase to make a big return was Oak Tree Farm's Scat Daddy colt, who had been bought for $150,000 by Norman Williamson and was eventually knocked down to Alistair Donald for 270,000gns ($404,696).

The colt is out of the winning El Prado mare Rosangela, who is herself out of the US Grade 1 winning Vivid Angel.

Donald said: "He'll stay here for now. He could race here or wait until Hong Kong. I'm a big fan of the sire and I thought this colt had great balance and temperament. He was the only real one on our list today."

First time's the charm for Star

Stephen Hillen and Kevin Ryan, who struck with joint-second-top lot on the opening evening of the sale, again made a big impact on the second day, going to 200,000gns ($297,118) for a son of Coolmore's first-season sire Requinto.

The colt capped a good day for first-time consignor Star Bloodstock, having been bought by Kilbride Equine for 50,000gns from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

John Kilbride, who pinhooked the half-brother to Grade 3 winner Good Mood, said: "I'm delighted to have a good horse. I loved the sire and he's a great physical. I'm delighted he's gone to Kevin Ryan; the key to us rolling forward is getting them to such good trainers. We're very much here to try and penetrate the market."

Freshmen make a splash

Progeny of first-season sires proved to be in demand, with Shadwell going to 200,000gns for a Helmet colt from the family of South African champion Kundalini, who was consigned by Powerstown Stud.

The only lot by Nathaniel on offer across the two days made the same price, with the hammer coming down in favour of Jamie McCalmont. The colt, who is out of the Listed-placed Swain mare Wait It Out, was consigned by Mocklershill, having been picked up by Darby Dan Farm for 100,000gns from the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

Earlier a Bated Breath colt from Oak Tree Farm was knocked down to for 120,000gns ($178,271). The colt, who is out of the listed-winning Three Wrens, was pinhooked by Margaret O'Toole for 47,000gns from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The second horse through the ring was the only lot by Frankel on offer at the sale, a colt out of the Grade 1 and Listed-placed Charnwood Forest mare Noahs Ark, and from the further family of triple US Grade 1 winner Wandesta.

He was originally bought in at 95,000gns but was later sold privately to John Dance for 100,000gns.

Pinhooking prowess

One of the features of the sale was the number of outstanding pinhooking successes, with Lynn Lodge Stud, Tally-Ho Stud and Johnny Collins all recording notable returns.

Mocklershill finished the sale as leading consignor, having sold seven lots for a total of 925,00gns ($1,374,173). Charlie Gordon-Watson was the leading buyer, having signed for seven lots at a total of 802,000gns ($1,191,445).

Size doesn't always matter

Despite the relatively small catalogue, which was a major contributor in the aggregate, which stood at 8,641,500gns ($13,085,879), falling by 13% on last year, overall the sale returned a positive set of figures. The record median, 77,500 gns ($119,076), was up by 9%, while the average was up by 8%, to 110,788gns  ($167,768).

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "The feature of the 2016 Craven Breeze Up Sale has been the strength of demand at the top of the market.

"The sale is a proven consistent source of top class performers on the global stage and leading international buyers, most notably from the Gulf region and Hong Kong, have made a significant impact.

"Every year we reflect upon the professionalism of our Breeze Up consignors and this year is no exception.

"Yet again they have brought a magnificent collection of two year olds to the Craven Breeze Up and we confidently expect to see graduates of the sale performing at the highest level throughout 2016 and beyond."

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