Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
At A Glance
Turnover hit 2,624,800 gns (AU$5.1 million), up 66 per cent on last year.
The average of 15,350 gns (AU$29,800) was up 31 per cent on 2020 and even more on 2019.
The 10,000 gns (AU$19,500) median is up from 8000 gns (AU$15,500) last year.
The clearance rate of 84 per cent was a session record, and likewise the 16 transactions of 40,000 gns (AU$77,700) or more.
Rookie stallion Time Test (GB) had the top lot of the day, a colt who sold to Redpender Stud for 75,000 gns (AU$146,000).
A colt from the second Northern Hemisphere crop of Zoustar sold to Billy Jackson-Stops for 70,000 gns (AU$136,000).
Passing every Test
Time Test (GB) is the only rookie stallion in Europe to have mustered four black-type winners from his debut crop but here he owed his latest headlines to the people who stand his rival Ardad (GB), who has matched him with two Group scorers.
For it was Overbury Stud who presented a son of the National Stud stallion to achieve the top price of the opening session, at 75,000 gns (AU$146,000), from Redpender Stud. And Time Test must share the credit for Lot 362 with his dam, Wild Mimosa (Ire) (Dynaformer {USA}), who had further decorated what is already an excellent family when the result of their first mating, Love Interest (GB), made a stylish winning debut for David O'Meara at Newcastle since the publication of the catalogue.
Lot 362 - Time Test (GB) x Wild Mimosa (Ire) (colt) purchased by Redpender Stud | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Wild Mimosa was confined to a single start in a frustrating career for the Lloyd-Webbers and was culled for 52,000 gns (AU$101,000) to Blandford Bloodstock in this ring four years ago – despite a productive start as a broodmare, and counting two Group 1 winners Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer {USA}) and Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and the dam of champion The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) among her siblings. It is not difficult to understand why, however, judging from the testimony of Simon Sweeting.
“She's a mare we have to take the foals off straightaway as she savages them,” explained the Overbury Stud manager. “She has done it twice. So we were told not to let her see the foals, and to raise them on foster mares: we have one organised every time now. But she's been a huge success.”
Simon Sweeting | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Indeed, her yearling colt by Ardad brought six figures at the October Sale here.
“The 2-year-old looks like she might be okay,” said Sweeting. “She'll go back to Time Test. She was in foal to Ardad, but sadly lost it at 42 days.”
Sweeting declined to be partisan about Ardad's rival, describing him as a very different sire–while “almost” as good. In fact, he has a breeding right in Time Test. “He's a fabulous stallion,” he said. “And he's got a lot farther to go, we're very excited about him. It's great that the National Stud has such a good horse, I'm thrilled about that.”
"We're very excited about him (Time Test). It's great that the National Stud has such a good horse, I'm thrilled about that.” - Simon Sweeting
The new owner of this colt, Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud, said: “He's a nice-looking horse by a promising young sire. I've never had a Time Test before, but this one is well-made, so we'll hope for the best. There's a bit going on in the pedigree. I thought less would buy him, but you have to keep bidding if you want one.”
Time Test, who also shuttles to Little Avondale Stud, had another colt stoke up the embers of the session when one of the very last into the ring, presented by his home farm as Lot 433, brought 66,000 gns (AU$128,000) from Michael Fitzpatrick.
"I've never had a Time Test before, but this one (Lot 362) is well-made, so we'll hope for the best. There's a bit going on in the pedigree."- Jimmy Murphy
“Time Test is a son of Dubawi and they're doing well,” explained Fitzpatrick, after signing as Good Will Bloodstock. “It's a trend that is becoming apparent. I'd like to have a Time Test to sell next year as I think his first crop will go on again as 3-year-olds.”
Shooting for the Stars
The market is gradually waking up to the gift made by Tweenhills in introducing the Australian sensation Zoustar at such an inviting fee, and if his first Northern Hemisphere crop lives up to expectations next year then he may prove a very fertile pinhooking medium.
Sure enough, the March colt consigned by Highclere Stud as Lot 355 brought one of the top prices of the day from Billy Jackson-Stops.
“This is for a new pinhooking venture for Tony Elliott's Rogues' Gallery,” the agent explained, after signing a 70,000 gns (AU$136,000) docket as JS Bloodstock/RGS. “He's a good physical, and hopefully there will be good upside with Zoustar. He's likely to be prepped for next year's sales back here.”
“He's (Lot 355) a good physical, and hopefully there will be good upside with Zoustar. He's likely to be prepped for next year's sales back here.” - Billy Jackson-Stops
His dam is also entitled to contribute, of course, as a listed winner on both sides of the Channel. Making Eyes (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is catalogued as Lot 2067 in Highclere's mare consignment here next week.
Railton boards the Ulysses bandwagon…
As the son of a Derby winner and Oaks winner, Ulysses (Ire) appears eligible to do better still as his debut crop benefits from maturity and middle distances next year. That obviously makes his achievements already still more auspicious, with 16 juvenile winners from 37 starters including G3 Eyrefield S. runner-up Piz Badie (Ire).
Lot 279 - Ulysses (Ire) x Traditionelle (GB) (colt) purchased by Jamie Railton | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Some pinhookers were ahead of the curve, as they would hope to be, most notably Hegarty Bloodstock in converting a 4000 gns (AU$7700) punt on a colt by the Cheveley Park stallion in this ring 12 months ago into a bumper payout of 150,000 gns (AU$291,000) in Book 3. Demand has risen accordingly, and Jamie Railton was obliged to pay 60,000 gns (AU$117,000) for a colt offered as Lot 279 by Bearstone Stud.
“We will just have to see how Ulysses turns out, but he has certainly made a promising start,” Railton said.
“We will just have to see how Ulysses turns out, but he has certainly made a promising start." - Jamie Railton
“I've not been fortunate enough to have one yet, but he was a top 10-furlong horse so looks a sire with a future. Let's hope this horse matures and develops and goes the right way: I just thought he was a nice, attractive individual–and that is what they cost.”
The Force is with rookie sire
Needless to say, a lot of the energy in this market traces sooner to a newer cycle; to the search for a future Time Test, Ardad or Ulysses. And plenty of rookies predictably prompted an early roll of the dice.
One was Land Force (Ire), the G2 Richmond S. winner by No Nay Never (USA) who, after a single start at three in Australia, under the name King Of Yulong (Ire), returned to Europe to cover 155 mares at Highclere Stud. That gave him quite a footprint here and he landed a couple of breakthrough punches in his home farm draft–both ending up in the day's top six transactions.
“They look runners,” said Con Marnane, such a good judge of the evolving physical, after giving 65,000 gns (AU$126,000) for a February colt (Lot 380). “This is a lovely, quality colt, and we had to go an extra bid or two to get him. But I think the stallion could have some quality yearlings next year. Of course, he was a very good racehorse himself.”
But the dam could certainly contribute in that respect, too, having been placed in the G3 Princess Margaret S. and herself being out of a stakes-placed half-sister to dual Classic winner Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley {USA}). She was bought by Avenue Bloodstock at the end of her career with Paul Cole, at the December Sale here three years ago, for 190,000 gns (AU$369,000).
Con Marnane | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Lot 356, similarly, had the benefit of a young dam with a useful page: she's an unraced Redoute's Choice half-sister to G1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup Regal Parade (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and G3 Acomb S. winner Entifaadha (GB) (Dansili {GB}). That steeled Alex Elliott's resolve in giving 60,000 gns (AU$117,000) for this February colt.
“I'm a huge fan of the Scat Daddy line,” the agent said. “And a big admirer of Land Force. But this colt has a lovely pedigree all round.
“I'm a huge fan of the Scat Daddy line. And a big admirer of Land Force. But this colt (Lot 356) has a lovely pedigree all round." - Alex Elliott
"I've always loved the family. And he's a lovely horse, a good early foal with a lot of upside to him. He's bred to be fast, and should be easy to place in any sale next year. I buy for a few (resale) syndicates and he'll probably go to Ireland in the meantime.”
New Territories for Wentwood's half-brother
Pinhookers seeking motivation through the toil of the months ahead will keep in mind the inspiring touch pulled off by John Foley of Ballyvolane Stud with a Time Test colt picked up in this ring a year ago for 56,000 gns (AU$109,000). Having elevated his value to 400,000 gns (AU$770,000) in Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale, Foley was back to play up his winnings on a March 5 foal by Territories (Ire) offered as Lot 234 by Hungerford Park Stud.
“He's a lovely horse with good updates,” Foley remarked after signing a 50,000 gns (AU$97,000) docket as GHS Bloodstock. “He'll be for resale, I doubt we can repeat what we did but we'll try.”
“He'll (Lot 234) be for resale, I doubt we can repeat what we did but we'll try.” - John Foley
Those updates concerned the colt's half-brother Wentwood (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}), who has been in productive form in Australia, notably in winning the G3 Bendigo Cup last month. Among those disappointed to see the colt head off to Co. Limerick was Matt Coleman, who gave Foley sporting congratulations as underbidder.
