Six-figure showdown sees Lope De Vega filly bring 650,000gns at record Book 2
Anthony Stroud got the better of a six-figure tussle with Tom Goff as the Lope De Vega sister to Oviedo topped the concluding session of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale at 650,000gns (approx. AU$1.2 million).
A bustling Park Paddocks ring looked on as the rival camps traded increasingly expensive blows as each of Goff’s 25,000gns increases, delivered from the middle of the packed gangway, came after discussion with Coolmore’s Paul Shanahan.
However, the outcome never really looked in doubt as Stroud repeatedly reappeared from behind the partition to respond in kind with an assertive nod of the head.
The filly is out of Gallitea (Galileo), whose first foal, Oviedo, was catalogued as a winner but collected black type when running third to Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) hero Chaldean (Frankel) in the Acomb Stakes (Gr 3, 7f). She becomes the second-most expensive filly sold in Book 2 history, behind only the auction record setter Tarhib (Dark Angel), who sold to Shadwell for 1,050,000gns in 2019.
“It’s exciting as she’s a very nice, athletic filly,” said Stroud after receiving some good-natured ribbing from his rival bidders. “There was a good update in the pedigree and she’s for Godolphin. That would have been my last bid.”
In turn, Gallitea is out of Danielli (Danehill), making her a sibling to three black-type performers, most notably the ill-fated Fillies Mile (Gr 1, 1m) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Gr 1, 1m) heroine Chriselliam (Iffraaj) and the three-time Group 2 winner Very Special, who is closely related to the six-figure filly as another daughter of Lope De Vega.
The filly was bred and offered by Ballylinch Stud, who also presented the New Bay colt out of Fact Or Folklore (Lope De Vega) who went Stroud’s way at 425,000gns (approx. AU$788,000) earlier in the session.
The youngster is a sibling to two winners, including Statement (Lawman), who has won a Listed contest and the Concorde Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) since the catalogue was released. Further updates could be in the offing as the colt’s other sibling, the twice-raced Self Belief (Make Believe), is due to run in the Trigo Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f) at Leopardstown on Saturday.
“This particular horse has a beautiful temperament and he’s a lovely, free-moving, well-balanced individual,” said Ballylinch’s managing director John O’Connor. “A few things kicked off out here in the parade ring and he handled it very well. I think he’s got a racehorse mind and that’s the thing with these New Bays, the trainers like working with them.”
Ballylinch resident New Bay (Dubawi) is regarded as one of the most upwardly mobile young stallions around and duly covered his 2022 book of mares at a career-high fee of €37,500 (approx. AU$58,090).
O’Connor added: “With the calibre of mares New Bay is covering now, he has the opportunity at least to step to a higher level again. Obviously, every horse still has to take that opportunity, but we believe he can.”
New Bay’s record of 17 stakes performers is headed by Jane Chapple-Hyam’s dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach, and Stroud’s purchase is set to head into training with the same trainer.
“He was bought for Peter Harris,” said Stroud. “Peter very much has his own system [for buying] and we work together. He’s actually my oldest client, I’ve worked with him for 40 years, which makes me very old and him a little bit older!”
Stroud Coleman Bloodstock ended the three-day sale as the leading purchaser, with 23 lots secured for an outlay of 5,625,000gns (approx. AU$10.45 million).
Just as had been the case at Book 1, the three-day Book 2 finished with unprecedented returns across the range of market indices.
Turnover hit 60,780,500gns (approx. AU$113 million), an 11 per cent increase on 2021’s result, which had also been a record return. The average was up 14 per cent at 96,020gns, while the median was up 13 per cent at 70,000gns, having been 62,000gns 12 months ago.
There was a slight drop in the clearance rate, down two points compared to last year, albeit the final figure of 86 per cent as 633 lots found a buyer still represents a perfectly healthy outcome.
Knight back in business
Backed by his mystery client, Richard Knight was back in the thick of the action on Wednesday evening when outlasting Amanda Skiffington at 600,000gns to secure the Starspangledbanner (Choisir) colt out of Great Dame (Dandy Man) from Ballyvolane Stud.
Bred by The Great Dame Partnership, the youngster is the first foal out of the daughter of Dandy Man (Mozart), whose two juvenile successes include victory in the Lily Agnes Stakes (5f).
The mare, a sister to the Group 3-placed De Boss Man and a half-sister to the Group 2-winning Donnerschlag (Bahamian Bounty) and Listed scorer Izzy Bizu (Kodiac), last changed hands at public auction for just 28,000gns when signed for by Barry Lynch in 2019.
“He was the only horse we really picked out in this sale,” said Knight. “We thought he was a lovely individual and I’m a big fan of Starspangledbanner having bought The Wow Signal.
“I like the fact that the mare was a useful two-year-old herself and he looks like he’ll be sharp and a great addition to the horses we’ve already bought. He shouldn’t take a huge amount of time. He’ll be trained in Britain and we’re looking forward to seeing him.”
Shadwell were also back in business and added the Siyouni (Pivotal) filly out of Dancing Breeze (New Approach) to their Book 2 haul at a cost of 350,000gns (approx. AU$650,000). The filly was bred by Merry Fox Stud and offered by The Castlebridge Consignment.
The dam was Listed-placed during her own racing career and is a New Approach half-sister to the Group 3-winning Future Generation, who in turn bred the dual Group 2 winner Brundtland and Listed scorer Love Child.
Shadwell’s Book 2 spend reached 1,540,000gns and included eight new recruits, of which the Siyouni was the priciest.
Unrelenting trade
All told across the three days of Book 2, 633 lots sold from 732 offered for a clearance rate of 86 per cent and aggregate sales of 60,780,500gns (approx. AU$112 million), a rise of 11 per cent on 2021.
The average price of 96,020gns was 14 per cent better than last year’s 83,865gns, while at 70,000gns the median was 13 per higher than 12 months ago, when the figure was 62,000gns.
At the close of trade Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “Three extraordinary record-breaking days at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale have been followed by a second consecutive record-breaking renewal of Book 2.
“The word most commonly used to describe the trade we have experienced throughout this week has been ‘unrelenting’. There have been records established in pretty well every conceivable category. Turnover, average and median have all reached unprecedented levels, and yet again Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been the second-highest grossing yearling sale in Europe, second only to Book 1.
“The number of yearlings selling for 200,000gns or more is a wide-margin record, as is the number selling for 300,000gns or more, and never before have seven yearlings at Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale broken the 500,000gns mark.”
He added: “Following on from Book 1, buyers from America, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and throughout the Gulf region have all continued to make significant contributions over the past three days.
“European buyers have also been conspicuous at all levels of the market while the domestic British and Irish demand continues to be the bedrock of Europe’s largest yearling sale, which annually showcases so many of the best commercial yearlings to be found and consistently produces top-class horses like this year’s outstanding unbeaten Derby winner Desert Crown.
“The support we receive from so many breeders and consignors from Britain, Ireland and further afield is the key to the enduring popularity of the October Yearling Sales at Tattersalls and is hugely appreciated.
“There is quality to be found at every level and next up is Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale, which has produced two of this year’s top European two-year-olds; Lezoo, recent winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, and Crypto Force, the impressive winner of the Group 2 Beresford Stakes.”