Godolphin outmuscle Amo Racing as Charyn’s sister brings 2,900,000gns
Kia Joorabchian was in no mood to be denied on day one of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, but the Amo Racing man had to give best when running into a bid of 2,900,0000gns from one of the sport’s established superpowers shortly before Wednesday lunchtime.
Grangemore Stud presented the yearling in the rival camps’ crosshairs, with the Dark Angel (Acclamation) filly out of Futoon (Kodiac) being a sister to dual Group 1-winning miler Charyn.
As he had when securing the 4,400,000gns top lot on day one, Joorabchian stood in the bidders’ area with his back to the auctioneer, turning to face Edmond Mahony only to signal he wanted to up the stakes with a sharp nod of the head.
The Godolphin team, with Sheikh Mohammed at the centre of the huddle, were stationed outside next to the bid spotter’s podium by the parade ring. Their 100,000gns increases came via a shout from the spotter on the podium, Shirley Anderson-Jolag. When Godolphin pushed the price to 2,500,000gns (approx. AU$5,114,000), Joorabchian remained in discussion with his team, including bloodstock agent Alex Elliott.
But, just as Mahony had the gavel raised, Joorabchian, with near perfect theatrical timing, slowly turned towards the rostrum then paused momentarily before delivering yet another 100,000gns play. The pair exchanged two more six-figure raises, but when Godolphin pushed the price to 2,900,000gns (approx. AU$5,932,300) Joorabchian conceded defeat with a rueful shake of the head.
“We all dream of these moments and it’s great when there’s such a vibrant market,” said Grangemore’s Guy O’Callaghan. “It’s crazy, unbelievably strong. It’s great when two operations like Godolphin and Kia lock on and take each other on. That’s the dream for any commercial breeder. I just hope she goes on now and is very lucky for them.
“Our reserve was far lower than what she made, so it’s great it’s all come together. It takes a special horse to do it and she’s a special one.”
The seven-figure sales smash hit is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable story for O’Callaghan. He purchased the dam, the Listed-placed Kodiac (Danehill) mare Futoon, from the December Mares Sale in 2017 at a cost of 100,000gns. She has since bred five foals, all by Dark Angel. The first of her brood is the Group 2 winner Wings Of War, while her second is Charyn, who was purchased by Nurlan Bizakov’s Sumbe operation for 250,000gns at Book 2 in 2021.
The pair’s two-year-old sister, Shinara, remains unraced but is in training with Roger Varian. She was also bought by Sumbe, albeit for a more punchy 850,000gns 12 months ago.
“She’s a special mare,” continued O’Callaghan. “The stars aligned with Charyn being champion miler this year, and she was a beautiful filly, so it all came together. It’s been a real team effort from everyone at home, from my wife, Serena, my head lad, Jack, and all the team. She’s been so straightforward.
“Every day she’s been simple and it’s great she’s come here and behaved and operated, and just been an absolute queen. She’s been showing hard since Saturday and never did a bad show, which is a great sign of how good her mind is.
“Charyn is the same, he has that same phenomenal mindset and they just take it. It’s a lot to ask of a yearling, but the good ones can take it – and she’s a good one.”
The breeder added: “The mare has another very good foal on the ground by Dark Angel and she’s back in foal to Blue Point. She’s the mare of a lifetime. When Charyn won the Group 1 I knew I was sitting on some hot property, so every day I was out checking this filly in the field. Every step of the way she never missed a bit.”
Charyn has done wonders for the page during a highly productive four-year-old campaign under Varian. His four victories this year came in the Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed, 1m) and bet365 Mile (Gr 2, 1m), before stepping into Group 1 company to run right away with the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois (Gr 1, 1600m).
He is arguably unlucky not to be unbeaten this term having not been seen to best advantage when runner-up in tactical renewals of the Lockinge Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) and Prix du Moulin (Gr 1, 1600m).
Asked how winning a Group 1 at a meeting like Royal Ascot compared to Wednesday’s sales success, O’Callaghan said: “They go hand in glove because that [sale] doesn’t happen without Charyn winning at Royal Ascot. That meeting is the pinnacle for every breeder. There’s no better feeling than breeding a Royal Ascot winner, and it doesn’t matter what race it is.
“Royal Ascot is one of the toughest places to win, and to win a Group 1 there was just incredible. It’s a dream, and this is the reward when you’re fortunate to have nice stock coming behind.”
A little over 24 hours earlier Sumbe had announced that Charyn would have at least two more races before retiring to the operation’s French stallion roster. Asked if he was planning on breeding to the champion miler-elect next covering season, O’Callaghan said: “Definitely, without a doubt.”
The Grangemore Stud man cut a remarkably calm figure when addressing the press, but added: “Don’t worry, I’m doing cartwheels inside!”
After signing the docket on Godolphin’s behalf, Anthony Stroud said: “Her pedigree speaks for itself and she was a very nice individual. The brother has done fantastically well this year.
“It was probably more than we anticipated but there seems to be a premium on these fillies, and she was a filly that we all liked a lot.”
Godolphin continued their spending spree on Wednesday, securing the second and third top lots, paying 2,000,000gns (approx. AU$4,091,200) for a Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) colt, who is the first foal out of Nassau Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Lady Bowthorpe (Nathaniel), while a few lots earlier they bought a colt by their former shuttle stallion Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) for 1,500,000gns (approx. AU$3,068,400).