The second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw a further six lots realise seven-figure prices headed by a trio of colts, two by the late WOOTTON BASSETT, both bought by Amo Racing, and one by FRANKEL, at 2,200,000 guineas. The average was an impressive 352,672 guineas.
Fittocks’ Frankel Colt to Godolphin at 2,200,000 Guineas
It did not take long for the first lot to breach seven-figures on the second day of Book 1 with Fittocks Stud’s colt by dual Champion sire FRANKEL knocked down to Godolphin for 2,200,000 guineas. Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida, the underbidder on the 4,400,000 guineas sale topper in 2024, was again a valiant runner up.
The colt is a half-brother to OTTOMAN FLEET, who has already carried the Godolphin silks with distinction to five Group/Graded Stakes victories, and the sale was the best result achieved to date in the sales ring for Fittocks Stud. An emotional Luca Cumani commented:
“We sold one for 2,000,000 guineas last year which was exciting, and this is even better. He is such a lovely horse, he is a great looking Frankel horse out of a proven mare and we are delighted he is going to such a good home.”
The colt is out of the MOTIVATOR mare INNEVERA, a half-sister to Group 1 Lockinge Stakes winner and Champion Older Miler KELTOS, and he was bred by a partnership of Scea Marmion Vauville, Fittocks Stud and Newsells Park Stud. INNEVERA was consigned by Fittocks at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mares Sale when bought for 750,000 guineas by Jill Lamb, and Cumani recounted:
“We offered the mare on behalf of the Marinopoulos family, they are friends of ours and also had horses in training with me for a long time. They did want to stay in for some of the mare but needed to resolve a former partnership. Graham Smith-Bernal had previously said that he was interested in a mare with us – we knew her and thought it would be a good partnership, and it has worked out great. The stud team at home has done an amazing job.”
Newsells’ Graham Smith-Bernal added: “We loved this colt as a foal, he has the walk and the presence about him. He looked a real Frankel both physically and temperamentally – he has the Frankel look with the four white socks. All the right people were interested, and then it was just a case of them turning up in the ring. It is a great result all round.”
Amo Strike For Wootton Bassett Colt at 2,200,000 Guineas
Equalling the FRANKEL colt’s session-topping price was the Marlhill House Stud consigned son of WOOTTON BASSETT who was knocked down to Amo Racing for 2,200,000 guineas, with MV Magnier the frustrated underbidder. Again it was a case of the successful purchaser returning to a family they know well, Amo Racing own this colt’s half-brother CRYPTO FORCE who won the Group 2 Beresford Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
The colt was sold by Marlhill House Stud and manager Brian McConnon revealed: “We bought the mare here three years ago and the plan was always to use Wootton Bassett, this is the first by the sire we have had out of the mare.”
Marlhill House Stud purchased dam LUNA MARE for 500,000 guineas at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mares Sale and McConnon explained: “She is by Galileo and we are always fond of that, Crypto Force had won the Beresford and so she was a young mare who could produce – she had a good young profile and would suit the stallion. She has a filly by the sire at foot and is not in foal.”
He concluded: “Coming to the ring we were hopeful, all the right people were on her, but until the hammer falls you never know. But to get a seven-figure sale is always very special – it is beyond our wildest dreams.”
Amo Again for Wootton Bassett Colt at 2,200,000 Guineas
The third lot to realise 2,200,000 guineas was another son of WOOTTON BASSETT and another purchase by emerging racing superpower Amo Racing, this time consigned by Newsells Park Stud.
The colt is out of the 1000 Guineas third QABALA and was knocked down to Amo Racing after a rapid fire bidding duel outside the sales ring.
Bred by Al Shahania Stud, the colt’s sale was part of dispersal by the breeder and Newsells’ Julian Dollar said: “We have sold for Al Shahania, who is sadly dispersing the thoroughbred stock and is just focusing on the Arabians. The farm has some lovely stock to come here in December, including Qabala and her Ace Impact foal.
“We have had a lovely association with the farm, Bertrand Le Metayer looks after things and is brilliant to deal with and the farm has an exceptional manager in Arnault Leraitre.”
Bloodstock agent Alex Elliott said: “It is a dispersal and when the bidding started at zero, I thought we might get a chance – there were three parties out here and it was strong! But I think we have bought two serious Wootton Bassett colts today.
“Qabala’s Persian King colt Raammee looks a bit of a freak, his performance at Kempton was pretty special, and then he won at Newcastle. Wootton Bassett is an upgrade on most stallions, this goes back to a Juddmonte family, and this colt has the potential to be a very special horse.”
Bertrand Le Metayer commented: “We went to Wootton Bassett because we wanted to have an outcross. He has proved to be exactly what we were hoping for, and it is rare when it works. He looks a proper miler, hopefully a Guineas horse, and hopefully the new owners will believe in him the same way we do.”
No Nay Never Colt Realises 1,700,000 Guineas to MV Magnier & White Birch Farm
Underbidder on the 2.2m guineas WOOTTON BASSETT out of LUNA MARE, MV Magnier would not be denied for Watership Down Stud’s NO NAY NEVER colt, seeing off Godolphin to secure the son of Champion Two-Year-Old Filly MILLISLE at 1,700,000 guineas with regular buying partner White Birch Farm.
Watership Down Stud’s General Manager Simon Marsh said: “To get all the stars to align is very difficult, but he is a lovely horse and he was on a lot of lists. It is a wonderful price, but now we need him to be a good racehorse.”
Of the choice of NO NAY NEVER for the mating he revealed, “I felt that MiIlisle being a Cheveley Park winner, we needed to keep the speed. He has had an exceptional year and this colt was an exceptional horse. She has got a Siyouni colt foal, and we would love to get a filly out of the mare now.”
MV Magnier commented: “No Nay Never is having another great year with the likes of Charles Darwin, who’s very good, and True Love. The mare was very good.”
The colt’s dam MILLISLE won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes to be named European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly for Stonethorn Stud Farms in 2019 and her first foal by FRANKEL realised 1,600,000 guineas at Book 1 in 2023.
Lynn Lodge Stud’s Night of Thunder Colt Another for Amo Racing at 1,700,000 Guineas
Lynn Lodge Stud’s NIGHT OF THUNDER colt was one of the talking horses of the week and did not disappoint in the sales ring, selling for 1,700,000 guineas to Amo Racing with the team pushed to the seven-figure sum by MV Magnier, with an online bidder not far behind.
“He is a fantastic looking horse, with great strength and movement. The full-sister can run, she is in the Fillies’ Mile on Saturday,” said Ben McElroy. “He is outstanding.”
Of the stallion he said: “Night of Thunder started at the bottom and has worked his way up, he has proved it year in and year out and goes from strength to strength, he is getting to that elite level.”
The colt’s dam MODEL GUEST was placed in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes and was bought by Mags O’Toole for 330,000 guineas at the 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. The two-year-old own-sister to this colt is named EVOLUTIONIST and was third in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August.
Delighted consignor Eddie O’Leary said: “He is an absolutely beautiful horse, he has a great mind. The sire is very good, and I hope the two-year-old filly is very good. The mare has had a stunning filly and colt by Night of Thunder.”
On expectations prior to the sale, he added: “You are never confident, you hope everyone shows up, and I hope this horse is as good as I think he is. The team has done a great job. You could have brought him here in February and he’d have looked like that. He is a stunning horse. We didn’t prep him, we just brought him on here. It is a great day.”
Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 11am on Thursday, 9th October.
