Another top lot for Boherguy Stud as brother to New Treasure brings £190,000
A big week for Clare Manning’s Boherguy Stud continued on Tuesday, when Robson Aguiar went to £190,000 (approx AUD$339,250) for the New Approach (Galileo) colt out of Maoineach (Congaree) during the early stages of the second and final session of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Boherguy Stud broke the September Yearling Sale record when Mick Kinane went to £325,000 (approx AUD$580,300) for the operation’s Teofilo (Galileo) brother to Gear Up, winner of the Acomb Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) since the catalogue’s publication, and the New Approach also had a significant update, as his full-brother New Treasure won the Round Tower Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) last month.
Dwayne Woods, positioned in the bidders’ area to the right of the rostrum, and Matt Coleman, who stood against the wall by the exit to the ring, pushed Aguiar all the way, but the breeze-up consignor turned agent ultimately proved the most determined.
Aguiar’s purchase saw a change in fortunes for Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian, who had stood with Alex Elliott when the agent underbid the record-breaking Teofilo colt on day one.
“I bought this horse for Amo Racing and Roger Varian,” explained Aguiar, who was joined by the trainer’s wife Hanako Sonobe as he signed the docket. “They liked the horse a lot, Roger was very keen to have him so the owner asked me to bid for him. He’s a nice horse, he’s well put together and has a good pedigree.”
Aguiar, who is best known for having prepared and sold breeze-up stars likes The Lir Jet (Prince Of Lir), Star Of Emaraaty (Pride Of Dubai) and Summer Sands (Coach House), has joined the Amo Racing buying team this year. On his role, he said: “I’ve helped buy a few horses for Amo Racing this year, I’ve just tried to do my best for them since I got the job. Hopefully it continues to go well.”
Amo Racing’s purple and white silks have already been carried to some notable successes, with Sardinia Sunset (Gutaifan) winning the Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed, 5f) for Varian, who also trains the owner’s smart filly Setarhe (Footstepsinthesand), while Ralph Beckett has struck with the likes of Babbo’s Boy (Mastercraftsman) and Mr Kiki (No Nay Never).
Manning, who consigned the colt on behalf of her grandfather, master breeder and trainer Jim Bolger, reflected on having sold the two session toppers, saying: “Although they’re quite different types they’re both extremely nice individuals in their own ways and the updates were obviously big boosts.
“I thought they’d be popular but they’ve both completely exceeded expectations.”
On Boherguy’s sale, she continued: “It couldn’t have gone any better really. To get one six-figure touch is unbelievable, never mind two. There was a bit of apprehension coming to the sale as we knew we had nice individuals but you’re just not sure how deeply people are going to be willing to put their hands into their pockets.
“I’ve taken a couple of the Sportsman’s Sale horses out but I was always happy coming here with this draft. Tatts have done a great job, they had to move the sale in the circumstances and I think they’ve played an absolute blinder so all credit to them.”
Having sold the top two lots across the two-day September Sale, Boherguy Stud topped the consignors’ charts with four lots sold for a total of £576,000 (approx AUD$1.028 million).
The stud’s New Approach colt was not the only lot boasting a major pedigree update offered during the session, with Ringfort Stud presenting the Galileo Gold (Paco Boy) half-sister to Flying Childers (Gr 2, 5f) winner Ubettabelieveit (Kodiac) and Coole House Farm consigning Minzaal’s (Mehmas) half-sister.
However, both fillies were bought back by their respective vendors, the former at £65,000 (approx AUD$116,000) and the latter at £100,000 (approx AUD$178,500).
Shades of Night Of Thunder
The second lot to break the six-figure barrier went the way of Ross Doyle, who outbid trainer Stuart Williams at £155,000 (approx AUD$276,500) for the Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) colt out of Tuolumne Meadows (High Chaparral) offered by Grove Stud.
The colt supplied his vendor with a handsome bit of pinhooking profit, as Brendan Holland had picked the youngster up for 30,000gns during last year’s foal sales. He is the first foal out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Circumvent (Tobougg) and this season’s Group-placed juvenile Devious Company (Fast Company).
The colt is set to join the ranks at Richard Hannon’s stable, from where his sire was trained.
“He’s a very nice individual and when I brought Richard Hannon to see him he said he really reminded him of Night Of Thunder,” said Doyle. “His stats are fantastic so he gives you a very good chance of getting a good racehorse.”
Doyle continued: “This colt seems to have a great temperament, is a super mover and he looks like he could be a two-year-old type. He’s a very good first foal and obviously he comes from a very good home too.”
Peter and Ross Doyle finished part one of the September Sale as the leading buyers by aggregate, with 15 yearlings purchased for a total of £621,000 (approx AUD$1.108 million).
Sackville strikes
Ed Sackville signed for the session’s joint third-top lot when he outpointed Richard Fahey with a bid of £70,000 (approx AUD$125,000) to secure the Dandy Man (Mozart) colt out of Model Looks (Majestic Missile) offered by Ballyhane Stud.
The dam has already produced the stakes-performing Thatsallimsaying (Dandy Man), and in turn she bred this year’s Richmond Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) third Lauded (Acclamation), who Sackville signed for at €46,000 at last year’s September Sale. The colt’s second dam is Victoria’s Secret (Law Society), who bred Julius Geezer (Antonius Pius), another stakes performer who was signed for by Sackville.
“Dandy Man is a stallion we love,” said the agent. “And this is a family that me and Tom Dascombe have done well with before through Lauded and Julius Geezer.
“He looks a really nice, sharp-looking two-year-old type. He’s a similar type to Lauded, they’re both fast-looking early types. We were in good company with the underbidders.”
Murtagh and Linehan on the mark
The other lot to hit the £70,000 (approx AUD$125,000) mark came much later in the session, when Johnny Murtagh and Eddie Linehan secured the Acclamation (Royal Applause) colt out of Voom Voom (Bahamian Bounty) offered by Salcey Forest Stud.
Murtagh will be hoping to repeat the success he has enjoyed with a past September Sale graduate, having picked up Matron Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) heroine Champers Elysees (Elzaam) for €28,000 in 2018.
“We’ve waited all day for this lad,” said Murtagh. “He’s by Acclamation and he looks like he’ll make a ready-made two-year-old. I already have the half-brother [Baba Boom], he’s done well for us and they both seem like very genuine horses.
“This colt looks like he’ll be faster than his brother, and being by Acclamation that’s what you’d expect. We’ve been busy here and this has been a lucky sale for us before so hopefully we’ve found the next Group 1 winner!”
Middleham Park have Ascot in mind
Next in the list of prices came the Kodiac (Danehill) filly out of Oui Say Oui (Royal Applause) consigned by Croom House Stud. The filly fetched £68,000 (approx AUD$121,500) from Peter and Ross Doyle, who were acting on behalf of Middleham Park Racing.
“A gorgeous filly, probably the nicest filly we saw this week,” said the syndicate’s Tim Palin. “Ross [Doyle] just used the word ‘queen’ and that’s what she is. The auctioneer commented about Royal Ascot and you could just see her winging around Chester in the Lily Agnes before going on to something like the Queen Mary or the Albany.
“It’s a fantastic page and she’s quite a progressive mare who’s only really just getting going. We might just have had one or two bids too many but we fell in love with her. She’s going to Richard Hannon.”
The filly is out of the Group 2-placed Oui Say Oui, a sibling to no fewer than five black-type performers, namely the Group 3-winning pair Eye Of The Storm (Galileo) and Satchem (Inchinor), Listed scorer Mohican Heights (Australia) and the Group-placed Curbyourenthusiasm (Mastercraftsman) and Eastern Express (Fastnet Rock).
Final figures
Part one of the two-day September Sale concluded with a set of figures that look about as solid as could have been predicted given the various challenges facing the industry, one of which was brought into sharp focus on Tuesday when it was announced that crowds are unlikely to return to the racecourse for six months.
The clearance rate finished at 84 per cent as 333 of 396 offered yearlings found a buyer. That figure was down slightly on 2019’s return, when 388 yearlings – 55 more lots – sold at a clip of 86 per cent.
With fewer lots offered and sold, turnover duly dropped by 15 per cent to £7,368,410 (approx AUD$13.156 million). The median also fell by 12 per cent to £16,175 (approx AUD$28,900), while the average held steady at £22,125 (approx AUD$39,500).
There were four six-figure lots compared to just two 12 months ago, where the high mark was £165,000 compared to this year’s record-setting £325,000. Both top lots were purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
In his end-of-sale statement, Tattersalls Ireland chief executive Matt Mitchell said: “The venue for the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale was new, but the fundamentals of the sale remained the same.
“We had a catalogue of quality yearlings catering for all sectors of the market and the clearance rate of 84 per cent demonstrates the enduring appeal of the sale, even in these challenging times.
“The obvious highlight was the new record top price of £325,000 for Jim Bolger’s outstanding Teofilo colt consigned by his granddaughter Clare Manning and we are delighted that his support of the September Yearling Sale has been so richly rewarded.
“The feature of the sale has, however, been the depth to the trade from start to finish. We have had a record number of lots sell for £150,000 or more and buyers from throughout Britain and Ireland have been competing with a strong overseas contingent, most notably from Italy.
“Relocating the sale was not an easy decision and we would like to thank the vendors and purchasers, all of whom have contributed to the success of the past two days.“The sale has displayed a remarkable resilience under the circumstances and is a tribute to the professionalism and commitment of all concerned.”