Shadwell Stays Active into Tattersalls Book 2

By James Thomas

Courtesy of Racing Post

The Tattersalls October yearling sale's Book 2, the little brother of the blockbuster Book 1, kicked off Oct. 10 at Park Paddocks in Newmarket, England with a solid day of trade.

It was business as usual for Shadwell, the leading buyer at the last two renewals of the auction, as Sheikh Hamdan's operation signed for 18 lots for 2,074,000 guineas (US$2,691,730), including three of the top five most expensive offerings..

"Sheikh Hamdan has been unbelievably supportive of the market," said Shadwell's Angus Gold. "He hasn't lost any of his zest for it and he loves coming around the sales. He thoroughly enjoyed last week and it's fantastic to see him supporting the whole industry. I just hope we can get him some good horses as he thoroughly deserves it for all he's put into it."

The priciest of Shadwell's purchases and the highest price of the day came early with Gold going to 250,000gns ($324,460) for a Shamardal colt from Barry Mahon's Mountain View Stud, a close relation to group III winner Dubai Prince and from the family of Storming Home.

"The stallion is well-known and is a fantastic sire," said Gold. "This colt isn't particularly big, but he looked very tough. He showed himself beautifully, a great walker with a good swing to him. Sheikh Hamdan is a huge fan of Shamardal and he said if we saw one we liked to get it. For a small horse I was surprised we had to pay so much, but he didn't go around the ring like a small horse. A lot of people liked him so let's hope everyone was right."

Gold's other purchases included a son of Society Rock out of Its In The Air from Torard House Stud that brought 200,000gns ($259,570).

"He just looked a real tough, hardy trainer's horse," said Gold. "I saw him three times and every time I looked at him he seemed to have a good attitude, very down to earth, and he just got on with the job. I was very surprised we had to pay so much but quite a few of the trainers liked him. I've been very impressed by the sire's stock. He looks like he could be a loss."

The colt had been pinhooked by Pat and Breda Donworth for just €26,000 from the Goffs February Sale, and was bred by Philip Hore of Mount Eaton Stud.

"I'm really pleased to see him looking like a racehorse and being bought by Shadwell," said Hore. "Its In The Air is a young mare, she has a colt foal by Society Rock and is in foal to Ivawood."

Varian makes a splash

Next on the leading buyers' list was Roger Varian, who signed for seven lots at a total of 820,000gns ($1,064,230). The priciest of those was an Iffraaj colt consigned by Kilminfoyle House Stud. The colt is out of the Gilded Time mare Gift Of Spring, which makes him a brother to May Hill Stakes-placed Musharakaat.

"He's been bought for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid," reported Varian. "He's well-related and a really nice colt. He should make up into a summer 2-year-old but looks to have the scope to train on."

The colt was a €55,000 pinhook by JC Bloodstock from the Goffs November Foal Sale. Shadwell, Hong Kong Jockey Club and Anthony Stroud were among the underbidders.

Cheveley checks in

Cheveley Park Stud were another buyer in action during the opening session, and the very first lot through the ring—a Mastercraftsman filly consigned by New England Stud—went the way of Cheveley's managing director Chris Richardson for 165,000gns ($214,145).

The filly is a half sister to the listed winner Dalkova and out of a winning Marju half sister to dual top-level winner Daliapour. She also has a Dubawi half brother who was foaled earlier this year.

"She's very athletic and has a wonderful pedigree," said Richardson. "She fits our program as a potential broodmare. I also understand the Dubawi colt is very nice and I've been told the mare will visit Frankel next, so there's a lot going on in the family.

"She's been bought to race first though and Mrs. Thompson will make a decision on who'll train her. No doubt one or two of the trainers will ring up and say 'I rather liked her, can I train her?' "

Ferguson's sale-topper comes home in front

John Ferguson may not have signed for any lots during the opening session of Book 2, but one he did sign for last year, and 2015's top lot to be precise, made a big impression when breaking his maiden at Yarmouth.

Named Wolf Country, the son of Dubawi was offered by Newsells Park and fetched 725,000gns ($940,940) from Ferguson, a record price for the auction.

This year's catalog has a sole offering by the Darley stallion, that reigned supreme over Book 1 with 15 lots selling for 14,590,000 ($18,935,560)—including the joint sale-topping colts out of Fallen For You and Zee Zee Top.

The Croom House Stud-consigned colt is from the family of Henrythenavigator and is a half brother to Japanese group II winner Endowing and is catalogued as lot 1267.

Final figures

At the conclusion of trade figures had fallen roughly in line with last year's renewal, with 200 lots selling for an aggregate of 12,565,500gns—a 14% drop, albeit from a catalogue that was 15% smaller. The average of 62,828gns ($81,540) was roughly the same as 2015's figure, and a median of 50,000gns ($64890) gained 4% on last year.

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