IT’S GOTTA BE ME
Relentless Amo Racing go to eye-watering 4,800,000gns to secure sale-topping Classic winner You Got To Me
In what was yet another display of their incredible purchasing power, Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing went to a sale-topping 4,800,000gns (approx. AU$9.84 million) to acquire the Classic-winning filly You Got To Me (Nathaniel) during the final Sceptre Session at Tuesday’s second day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
Trained by Ralph Beckett to land the Irish Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) back in July, the three-year-old filly was always likely to be at the top of the billing come the end of this week’s sale, and any expectations did not disappoint.
Consigned by her part-owners Newsells Park Stud and catalogued as Lot 1753, the bidding merely began at an incredible 1,000,000gns (approx. AU$2.05 million) and took flight from there, with the final bid being struck by Joorabchian who was standing in the bidders’ section alongside bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, who purchased the filly as a yearling for 200,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2022.
“We are trying to do the right thing, we have to compete and we have been trying to compete many years and have probably burnt so much cash by trying to do it, by trying to pick the next one – why try to pick the next one when you have the one here?” said Joorabchian.
Joorabchian did not provide full confirmation on whether You Got To Me would remain in training or be retired to the breeding shed, but did confirm that the filly would stay with her current trainer should she continue to race on.
“If she stays in training obviously Ralph Beckett wants her back. I am thinking about plans,” Joorabchian said.
“If she stays in training she is not a horse to take away from her current trainer, and Ralph has done a wonderful job with her.”
On the final price tag for the filly, Joorabchian said: “We were getting to a point that we were thinking she was overpriced but she could be very cheap in the long run.
“At least we know she is proven, she won the Irish Oaks amazingly, and I am so happy because the guys that owned her Valmont are dear friends of mine, we have partnerships together in other horses.”
Amo Racing would also purchase a further four mares during the final Sceptre Session alone, with their total spend during Tuesday’s Sceptre Session totalling a whopping 7,150,000 guineas (approx. AU$14.67 million).
KEEP BELIEVING
Highclere Thoroughbreds’ multiple Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed sprinting filly Believing (Mehmas) will remain with her trainer George Boughey after she was purchased for a cool 3,000,000gns (approx. AU$6.15 million) by M V Magnier.
A four-year-old daughter of Mehmas (Acclamation), Believing has shown her abundant class on numerous occasions throughout her career to date, including in remarkable fashion this year, where she has finished outside the first four home on just one occasion from a total of nine outings, with five of those starts coming at Group 1 level.
Runner-up on two occasions behind this season’s start sprinter Bradsell (Tasleet), and having also run fourth behind Henry Dwyer’s King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) heroine Asfoora (Flying Artie), the ever-consistent filly, catalogued as Lot 1740, was another that was always likely to prove popular with bidders.
With the bidding sitting at 2,800,000gns (approx. AU$5.74 million) via an online bid, Magnier moved his hand in a circular motion to signal the auctioneer to round the total up to 3,000,000gns, and that final decision would prove enough, as the gavel fell in favour of the Coolmore supremo.
Magnier was surrounded by Highclere’s delighted syndicate manager Harry Herbert, who recalled watching their Classic-winning filly Cachet (Aclaim) sell for 2,200,000gns at the corresponding sale in 2023.
“It is unbelievable, there was some chat before that she might make more than Cachet and I thought that was ridiculous,” Herbert said.
“But hearing from Jake [Warren] and the stud before that all the key people were on her, there can be so many disappointments in the ring, both buying and selling, but when it happens – the journey her 20 share owners have enjoyed from a breeze-up filly of 115,000gns to a three million here.
“She is staying with George [Boughey], which is fantastic and is a wonderful bonus. It is so incredible to have a filly looking like that, she has an incredible will to win, consistent, with speed, she is a dream down the road. We look forward to following her future career.”
Boughey, who was also on-hand to witness the sale, was naturally thrilled to hear the filly would be remaining in his Newmarket-based stables.
“I had a suspicion that she could make what she did, but it is great for Highclere to have such good fillies to race and the shareholders are a great group of owners who have travelled around the world with her. It is a perfect ending for them and us,” the trainer said.
“We have had a few horses lately for Coolmore connections and we are delighted to have a filly to race at a high level for such a great operation.
“She will be back with us in her own stable, she will have a break now and then we will sit down and make a plan.”
Having originally been bought for 70,000gns by JC Bloodstock at Book 2 of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Believing was then re-purchased by Highclere for 115,000gns at the 2022 Tattersalls Craven Sale Breeze-Up Sale.
She is the second foal out of the unraced Kodiac (Danehill) mare Misfortunate, herself closely related to Group 3 winner Miss Sally (Danetime).
Resolute Racing’s John Stewart goes on spending spree
American businessman John Stewart was another high roller to make a big statement during the Sceptre Session of Tuesday’s second session of the sale, parting with a total of 6,150,000gns (approx. AU$12.61 million) for a quartet of fillies.
Comfortably sitting atop of the spending spree was recent Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr 1, 1600m)-winning filly Vertical Blue (Mehmas), a wildcard entry from the Francis Graffard stable.
Bred by Haras Du Mont Dit Mont and sold to Paul Nataf for just €50,000 at the 2023 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, the daughter of Mehmas carried the colours of Gemini Stud and Argella Racing to her elite-level victory, and Stewart confirmed the filly would remain in France with her current trainer.
“Vertical Blue was my number one pick and I targeted her,” Stewart, speaking by phone from the US, said.
“I know a lot about the filly as she’s trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, and he trains Goliath for me. She will be going back to France to be trained by him. I thought she would make that sort of money, premium horses generate that sort of price.”
Graffard said of the sale: “It’s a beautiful sale and I’m very pleased for the owners. They’ve had a lot of fun with this filly and I think they are delighted with the price. It’s very good for the whole team at home to have her back because she’s a great filly and a great prospect.
“I will discuss with him [on future plans] but I don’t see why she couldn’t challenge for the Guineas and then I think she can stay the ten furlongs of the French Oaks. Maybe he would like to send her to America to race also, so we have plenty of options.”
Graffard is already among the roster of Resolute Racing trainers after Stewart bought a 75 per cent stake in stable star Goliath (Adlerflug), who was last seen finishing sixth in the Japan Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) in the emerging powerhouse owner’s black and blue silks.
On his association with Stewart, Graffard said: “It’s fantastic. He’s a great owner and a fantastic man. He has a very different view of racing and it’s very positive. He has a great attitude, which makes it exciting. I hope we can bring him some big results.”
Tales Of The Heart (Mehmas), who opened the second offering of the prestigious Sceptre Session, was first to go the way of Stewart, who purchased the WH Bloodstock-consigned filly for 650,000gns (approx. AU$1.33 million).
A winner from five starts, the Ralph Beckett-trained daughter of Mehmas has been placed at both Group and Listed level in the colours of Andrew Rosen and Marc Chan and has an official BHA rating of 96.
Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, the filly was originally purchased for 400,000gns by Jamie McCalmont Bloodstock during Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and is a sister to Group 2 scorer Caturra, being the seventh foal out of the winning Sleeping Indian (Indian Ridge) mare Shoshoni Wind.
Stewart was certainly not done there, going to seven figures on another two occasions during the Sceptre Session, firstly purchasing the Classic-placed winning filly A Lilac Rolla (Harry Angel) for 1,000,000gns (approx. AU$2.05 million).
Trained by Paddy Twomey, the daughter of Darley shuttler Harry Angel (Dark Angel) is also a winner at Group level, landing the “Priory Belle” Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) by a head over the now Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Kitty Rose (Invincible Army).
Resolute’s fourth purchase during Tuesday’s second leg of the Sceptre Session came when Stewart stretched to 1,300,000gns (approx. AU$2.66 million) for Jessica Harrington’s three-time stakes-winning filly Village Voice (Zarak).
Purchased as a two-year-old for just 38,000gns in 2022, the daughter of Zarak (Dubawi) has proved incredible value on the track, winning her latest stakes race by four lengths, and has an official BHA rating of 107.
Of the four acquisitions barring Vertical Blue, Stewart said: “The others will be coming to the US and will be staying in training.
“I want to dominate the turf racing at Keeneland, I want to do an Aidan O’Brien there. Around 80 per cent of my horses are turf horses.
“The Keeneland track is quite an anomaly in the US – most of the tracks are firm but the turf at Keeneland is on the soft side. The horses I have bought will act on a soft track.”
The breathless session of selling saw what is believed to be record turnover for a single day at a European bloodstock auction. The aggregate closed at 55,168,500gns (approx. AU$113.18 million), which is up 14 per cent on this day 12 months ago. The average price was almost identical to 2024 at 275,845gns (approx. AU$565,920), while the median was up 30 points at 120,000gns (approx. AU$246,190), having been 92,000gns at the corresponding session. The clearance rate was 85 per cent as 200 lots sold from 235 offered.