Alcohol Free joins Waterhouse and Bott with The Everest a potential option

17 min read
Yulong’s heavy investment into the breeding and racing industry shot to stratospheric heights on Tuesday as Yuesheng Zhang, acting through BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, secured brilliant race mare Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) for an eye-watering 5,400,000gns (AU$10,123,800).

Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls

Speaking from Australia on Wednesday, Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray confirmed to TDN AusNZ the four-time Group 1 winner had been bought in a partnership and would join the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, with a potential shot at the $15 million The Everest, for which Yulong own a slot, a definite possibility.

“If everything fell into place she would definitely take her place for us in The Everest and given her race record I think she would be very competitive. She is going into training with Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian (Bott) so it is going to be really interesting to see how she will perform over here,” said Fairgray.

“If everything fell into place she (Alcohol Free) would definitely take her place for us in The Everest and given her race record I think she would be very competitive.” - Sam Fairgray

“It is fantastic. She is a very exciting mare and she is obviously high-class and it is great for the industry that she is coming down to race here against the Australian competition, but then she will have a great career as a broodmare as well. It is what Mr Zhang is about and trying to achieve and to have her race on is a bonus as well.

“There is no limit to the options for any of the mares he buys. He has a very broad mind and he is very passionate about racing.

“It is a nice thing to be able to inter-change some of these mares between hemispheres and obviously with Lucky Vega he is going to get supported with some fantastic mares in his second year, it’s really very good for him.”

Widely tipped to be the headline act of the week, Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free duly shone brightest in a galaxy of stars on display at Park Paddocks and the figure she realised is the second-highest price ever recorded at a European auction.

Yulong has flexed some serious fiscal muscle at the breeding stock sales both home and abroad and they dug deep to secure this rare offering, outlasting Coolmore who stand her sire, No Nay Never (USA).

Alcohol Free will race in a partnership in Yulong’s familiar green and white silks and Donohoe believes she will suit the Australian conditions.

Sam Fairgray | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

“She vetted extremely well for a filly who has plenty of miles on the clock, her reports were exemplary. The partners already have horses in training and breeding interests in Australia and obviously she'll make a fantastic broodmare at the end of her racing career,” he said.

“I think there's 87 races in Australia next year worth a million-plus, so the prizemoney on offer there is big, and she's that type of filly. She's won the July Cup over six furlongs then she stays a mile too so there'll be a lot of options for her. Fair play to Andrew Balding and the guys, they did a great job with her.”

This is not the first time Yulong have invested in the mare’s family having secured her dam, Plying (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}), for €825,000 (AU$1,272,100) at last year’s Goffs Ireland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Plying (USA) | Image courtesy of Goffs

“I bought the dam last year for Yulong Investments at Goffs and she's got a lovely Lope De Vega foal at foot and she's back in foal to Lucky Vega,” said Donohoe.

“It's impossible to value those blue-chip fillies off the track, they're collector’s items because they don't come on the market very often. They're like Picassos, they're a rare commodity. I had a figure in my head though and I was bidding pretty strongly, so that might've indicated I had some petrol left in the tank.”

Bred by Churchtown House Stud, Alcohol Free was a rare non-homebred to race in the famous colours of Jeff Smith of Littleton Stud, who has campaigned such great names as Lochsong (GB) (Song {GB}), Arabian Queen (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Persian Punch (Ire) (Persian Heights {GB}) during his long association with the turf.

Michael Donohoe | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

Littleton Stud manager David Bowe selected the 4-year-old at the Goffs November Sale of 2018, signing for her at €40,000 (AU$61,800).

He said, “It's the end of a wonderful, wonderful journey that we have been on, a wonderful dream.

“She walked in and looked beautiful. If it had been five years earlier with Jeff we might not have brought her to the sale ring. We have enough broodmares, she was not bred by us, but it is really to do with the timescale. She will make a beautiful mare in time and it is time for someone else.

“We have enough broodmares, she (Alcohol Free) was not bred by us, but it is really to do with the timescale. She will make a beautiful mare in time and it is time for someone else.” - David Bowe

“We have had so much luck. Everyone involved with her, the team at home on the farm, the Gaffneys whom we bought her from, all of her jockeys. I can't thank everyone enough.

“It has been emotional. Jeff is not here tonight, but it is all down to him: he let us buy her, let us all get involved in the whole dream. I am absolutely delighted, it is a beautiful end to our chapter, and we wish her new connections all the luck.”

Gan Teorainn to join Waller

Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) was the first filly to break the million gns-mark (AU$1,871,500) and, like Alcohol Free, was snapped up by the BBA Ireland and will head into training with Chris Waller.

Lot 1874 - Gan Teorainn (Ire) was purchased for 1 million gns (AU$1,871,500) by BBA Ireland | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

The G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up was trained by Jim Bolger and consigned by his granddaughter Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud.

Donohoe, who purchased over 30 fillies and mares this week, described the catalogue as being exceptionally strong as well as explaining why he feels Gan Teorainn is a good fit for racing in Australia.

“Gan Teorainn is going to Australia as well. She's a big 2-year-old and what she did this year is extraordinary for a big filly. Again, she vetted exceptionally well and we'll give her a little bit of time to acclimatise in Australia. We'll decide on a trainer after that and she's for the same syndicate of people who bought Alcohol Free,” he said.

“Gan Teorainn is going to Australia as well. She's a big 2-year-old and what she did this year is extraordinary for a big filly.” - Michael Donohoe

“Saxon Warrior has the makings of becoming a top-class Classic-type sire. He had a lot of maiden winners towards the back end of the season and they are hard to win. She is going to be a lovely miler, maybe even a mile-and-a-quarter filly in time, and she has a lovely pedigree as well so she should make a broodmare. We're delighted to get her as well. It's been an exceptional catalogue. It's rare that you get a catalogue so strong.”

Kia Ora come to the table

A few lots later, Kia Ora Stud came to the fore when they snapped up G2 Sapphire S. winner Mooneista (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) for 850,000gns (AU$1,590,750).

Kia Ora Stud have been a familiar name on the buyers’ sheets at breeding stock sales overseas this year, having purchased Listed-winning juvenile mare Toby’s Heart (USA) (Jack Milton {USA}) for US$450,000 (AU$695,600) at the Keeneland November Sale last month.

Lot 1910 - Mooneista (Ire) was purchased for 850,000gns (AU$1,590,750) by Kia Ora Stud | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

The farm’s Bloodstock and Breeding Manager, Shane Wright, who chatted to TDN AusNZ from Scone on Wednesday, said options were open with the daughter of Dandy Man (Ire), who also finished fourth behind Nature Strip (Nicconi) in this year’s G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot.

“We are open at the moment. She was absolutely spotless on vetting so we do have the option to race her on. We are just going to give it a day or two and the team will have a chat about her to work out the next steps. We could bring her home straight away or we could give her another campaign, perhaps looking at Royal Ascot again next year.

“She ran a very good race there this year and has that form around Nature Strip, so we will have a think over the next couple of days,” he said.

“She (Mooneista) was absolutely spotless on vetting so we do have the option to race her on. We could bring her home straight away or we could give her another campaign, perhaps looking at Royal Ascot again next year.” - Shane Wright

Mooneista is out of the Group 3-winning Intikhab (USA) mare Moon Unit (Ire) and Wright said one of the most attractive aspects of the mare is that stallion options are endless for her.

“When you look the whole way through the sireline on both sides of her page, you’ve got Dandy Man, Intikhab, Danehill, Night Shift and Green Desert which is just an extraordinary lineup of sires the whole way through. We thought it was a pedigree that would very much suit down here and we thought there was a lot of speed through the family. Her pedigree is completely open and she can go to anyone we want her to.

Shane Wright | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

“The market is very strong and that was at the top end of our budget, but we were very happy to get her when you look back through and have a look at what everything was making over the course of the day and at the sales throughout the year.”

'It defies logic'

Having purchased Darkest (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for 125,000gns (AU$233,900) on the first day of the sale, Dean Hawthorne (BAFNZ) and Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock made their presence felt again on Tuesday, buying two lots, headed by Listed-placed mare Elizabethofaragon (Ire), paying The Castlebridge Consignment 650,000gns (AU$1,216,450) for the daughter of Galileo (Ire).

Lot 1876 - Elizabethofaragon (Ire) was purchased for 650,000gns (AU$1,216,450) by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) and Badgers Bloodstock | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

Offered in foal to Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB), having produced a colt by the same stallion earlier this year, the mare was bought for GSA and agent Dean Hawthorne told TDN AusNZ she would likely be kept in Europe for a few seasons before being relocated to Australia.

“She will probably stay here for a short period of time. Our plan is usually to take them home eventually, but when you are starting to pay over $1 million, you’ve got to think about trading in pounds for a year or two, which we will do and this market is very strong up here and it makes sense to be a part of it,” he said.

“We have made a few calls in the last hour or so and hope to get into a few high-profile horses here. We have got one or two in mind, we’ll see where we end up.”

“...when you are starting to pay over $1 million, you’ve got to think about trading in pounds for a year or two, which we will do and this market is very strong up here and it makes sense to be a part of it.” - Dean Hawthorne

The mare is out of Beltisaal (Fr) making her a sister to Group 1 winner Kingsbarns (Ire), while she is a half-sister to Sweeter Still (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), the dam of dual Group 1 winner and now Tweenhills-based sire Kameko (USA).

“She has a lovely, current page. We had to pay similar money for unraced sisters to good horses in the past and this one could run,” said Hawthorne.

“We’ve got half a dozen Galileo mares in Australia and they are leaving us good, athletic types and you can’t have enough of them. We thought that was one of the stronger pedigrees here and the fact that she is Group-placed at the second dam is very good.”

Dean Hawthorne | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk

Hawthorne and Tom Pritchard-Gordon also struck earlier in the day, securing Beloved (Ire), a placed daughter of Frankel (GB), for 125,000gns (AU$223,900).

Offered in foal to Tally-Ho’s young-gun sire Starman (GB), Beloved will likely foal and then head to Australia with Monday’s purchase, Darkest, who was offered in carrying a positive to Starspanngledbanner.

Beloved is out of Group 3 winner Love And Bubbles (USA) (Loup Sauvage {USA}), making her a half-sister to Japanese Grade 1 winner Deep Brilliante (Jpn).

Lot 1762 - Beloved (Ire) was purchased for 125,000gns (AU$223,900) by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock and Badgers Bloodstock | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

“She and the Dark Angel we bought on Monday will go south after having their foals and be mated in Australia. We have identified stallions that will suit those horses already. The Frankel mare is a half-sister to a Group 1 winner and some of her family have been mated quite well in Japan,” said Hawthorne.

“We thought she was good value. There were some other Frankels that we really liked, but they were a bit more expensive, so she fit the bill. Frankel is doing such a good job in Australia and because of that you would have to say there will be some commercial aspect to progeny out of his daughters.”

“We thought she (Beloved) was good value. There were some other Frankels that we really liked, but they were a bit more expensive, so she fit the bill.” - Dean Hawthorne

Of the market, Hawthorne commented, “It’s so crazy and it has just been so, so strong. The world is strong in bloodstock at the moment; it defies logic. America was a strong market, but this has been a crazy, crazy market.”

Show Of Stars to shine in Australia?

Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Michael and Terry-Ann Sherrin of Sheralee Estate came away on Monday with Group 3-placed mare Romantic Rival (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}), who they purchased for 300,000gns (AU$561,450) and on Tuesday they returned to the well, paying the same figure for Show Of Stars (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

However, unlike Monday’s purchase, Show Of Stars, who is a winner and is also Listed-placed, will race on in Australia with Clarke eyeing up some potentially lucrative prizes for the 3-year-old filly.

Lot 1805 - Show Of Stars (GB) was purchased for 300,000gns (AU$561,450) by Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Michael Sherrin | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

“Show Of Stars was the other mare we were most keen on out of the sale. She has a different profile to Romantic Rival because she was more of a racing prospect,” Clarke told TDN AusNZ.

“She is lightly raced and her form in Ireland is very good and there are quite a few mares in the sale with similar formlines. We are going to race on and the big part of the appeal is the fact that there is a great program for her in Australia.

“She gets off the plane as a 4-year-old and in the spring there are great stakes races for her, but also a race like The Five Diamonds worth $2 million and if we can get her to that grade, that would be great.”

“We are going to race on and the big part of the appeal is the fact that there is a great program for her (Show Of Stars) in Australia. She gets off the plane as a 4-year-old and in the spring there are great stakes races for her...” - Jim Clarke

The mare is the second foal out of the Raven’s Pass (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}) mare Gloryette (GB), herself a three-quarter sister to Group 3 winner Elusive Pimpernel (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}) and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Palavicini (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}).

“Again, she is a complete outcross to Danehill and we were very keen on the prospect that she is from the Oasis Dream sireline and Raven’s Pass is a very good broodmare sire. When she does go to stud we have unlimited options of what we can breed her to,” said Clarke.

The mare will join her Wootton Bassett half-sister in Australia with that filly having been purchased at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale earlier this year by Jeremy Brummitt and John Wheeler for 400,000gns (AU$748,600).

Nafaayes to return home

Nafaayes (Exceed And Excel) will return to her native Australia as she was purchased by Olly Tait’s Twin Hills Stud for 78,000gns (AU$146,000).

Lot 1710 - Nafaayes was purchased for 78,000gns (AU$146,000) by Twin Hills Stud | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

The daughter of Exceed And Excel landed a brace of Grade 2s in South Africa and was also placed a Grade 1 level and she was purchased as a yearling by Shadwell Estate Company for $350,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2017.

Having produced a filly by Mohaather (GB) earlier this year, she was offered in foal to Blue Point (Ire) and Tait told TDN AusNZ she would foal down at Newsells Park Stud and then relocate to Australia next year.

“Firstly, she is an Exceed And Excel mare and he is a great broodmare sire and commercially he is very popular in Australia when you have a yearling out of an Exceed And Excel mare,” he said.

Olly Tait | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

“She was a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 placed and there are a few siblings in Australia that are still on the go, so there is potentially some upside, so that is always nice. Nice mares are hard to buy and to me she is a lovely mare. Exceed And Excel is just a fantastic stallion and to do what he has done in both hemispheres is what sets him apart from almost all the other stallions.

“She will foal here at Newsells Park Stud and once she has had the Blue Point we will take a view of whether it sells as a foal or a yearling. We will then send her down and be bred in the Southern Hemisphere next year.”

“She (Nafaayes) will foal here at Newsells Park Stud and once she has had the Blue Point we will take a view of whether it sells as a foal or a yearling. We will then send her down and be bred in the Southern Hemisphere next year.” - Olly Tait

Neasham and Boman add to their collection

Earlier in the day, the familiar team of Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman and Annabel Neasham added one-time winner Kings Joy (GB) (Kingman {GB}) to their portfolio, paying 80,000gns (AU$149,700) for the daughter of Kingman (GB).

“She’s a gorgeous Kingman filly. She’s shown a good level of form the whole way through,” Boman told TDN AusNZ.

“She’s run recently, which I like. She was fourth in a race at Newmarket. The winner was Group 3-placed, the second horse was a Listed winner and the third horse won a Grade 3 in America by 5l. So, there’s good collateral form there and she’s a cheap filly.

“Annabel (Neasham) has a knack of improving these European horses and she should suit the system. There’s plenty of races for her.”

“Annabel (Neasham) has a knack of improving these European horses and she (Kings Joy) should suit the system. There’s plenty of races for her.” - Stuart Boman

Boman said there are plenty of opportunities for fillies in Australia and believes there is a gap in the market for good European race fillies to continue their careers in Australia.

“There’s just not many fillies bought for Australia, but I think there’s a real angle in buying fillies. That, to my mind, means the Australians are missing the boat.

“It’s all very well buying these geldings, but I think there’s a real opportunity for Australians to be buying race fillies and people don’t really seem to want to do it.

Stuart Boman | Image courtesy of Tattersalls

“I understand the stakes program (in Australia) is a mile and below but there are still horses that would be suitable to buy here and it would be great to bring in some new bloodlines and serious families.”

Tattersalls December Mare Sale
Alcohol Free
Yulong
No Nay Never
Sam Fairgray
Chris Waller
Gan Teorainn
Olly Tait
Jim Clarke
Dean Hawthorne