Strong Trade on Second Day of Tattersalls October Book 2

Lot 977: Kodiac (GB) / Red Vale (IRE)
Lot 977: Kodiac (GB) / Red Vale (IRE)

The yearling trade at Tattersalls continued in robust fashion on the second day with a son of KODIAC topping proceedings at 380,000 guineas, one of eight lots to sell for 200,000 guineas or more, whilst 39 sold at or above 100,000 guineas. Turnover for the day was 13,241,000 guineas at an average of 66,874 guineas and a median of 50,000 guineas. 

The top price for the day and the sale so far is the KODIAC three-parts brother to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner VALE OF YORK who was offered by Michael Magill’s Bellewstown Farm Stud in Navan. The son of the HALLING mare RED VALE was knocked down to John Ferguson for 380,000 guineas after he saw off trainers John Murphy and Roger Varian.

"We topped the October sale before," smiled a delighted consignor Michael Magill, "that was back in the 80s with an Alzao colt sold to Henry Cecil.

"This colt is the best yearling, without a shadow of doubt, we have ever had on the farm, he was faultless. We covered the mare with Kodiac because that was the cheapest way to try and get back to the Invincible Spirit cover that had produced Vale Of York.

"I bought his dam as a foal in Ireland and we have four mares on the farm at home. Vale Of York was the second Group or Grade 1 winner we have sent out from Bellewstown - we also sold Classic Cliche who was a pinhook."

The colt was bred off a Kodiac covering fee of 10,000 euros.

A pair of colts by Cheveley Park Stud’s stallion KYLLACHY filled the next two spots on the list of top prices for the day. It was Michael Fitzpatrick’s Kilminfoyle House Stud that was the first to reap the rewards after Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold won the battle to secure the son of MIND GAMES mare ON THE BRINK at 270,000 guineas.

"He is the single most athletic horse I have seen here this week," said Gold.

"The mare has done well with progeny by not such 'fashionable' stallions and we are in the business of buying horses to win races. He will probably be going into training with Owen Burrows."

The sale represented a remarkable pinhooking result, with JC Bloodstock’s Michael Fitzpatrick having purchased the Bearstone Stud-bred colt for 35,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

A quietly proud Fitzpatrick said: "He was always a beautiful foal, with unbelievable action and presence. He was very easy to prepare, and I wish the best of luck to the new purchasers.

"I am just very proud of the farm and the staff."

The second of the KYLLACHY colts to star on the second day was the Cheveley Park Stud consigned own-brother to the Group 2 winning pair PENITENT and SUPPLICANT. Out of the BISHOP OF CASHEL mare PIOUS, the colt was also knocked down to Angus Gold, this time for 260,000 guineas after the Shadwell representative saw off Roger Varian. 

Late in the evening Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown signed for the SEA THE STARS colt consigned by Luke Lillingston’s Mount Coote Stud at 260,000 guineas.

"Sea The Stars' record speaks for itself," said Brown after buying the son of the six-time Group 1 winner. "This is a smashing colt, though he is still quite immature due to his May foaling date - he still has some developing to do over the next six months. He goes into training with William Haggas."

The colt was owned by Mrs Ling Tsui, mother of Christopher Tsui who owns Sea The Stars. He was raised at Gilltown Stud and was consigned by Mount Coote Stud.

"The colt has improved so much in the last three weeks," said Lillingston. "He is a late foal, but he has a lot of quality and a really easy way of going and a fantastic temperament."

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues with the third and final session starting at 10am on Wednesday, October 12.