European Record At Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up

The European record for a breeze up was broken for the second straight year when Ross Doyle went to 800,000 guineas to secure lot 44, the HIGH CHAPARRAL colt out of ABUNAI, on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing. The record sale helped the turnover soar 35% to 5,403,000 guineas with the average and median up 49% and 46% to 117,457 guineas and 76,000 guineas respectively.

The previous record at a European breeze up was set last year when the subsequently named GREAT WHITE EAGLE sold for 760,000 guineas. That record only lasted 12 months until the HIGH CHAPARRAL colt consigned from Jim McCarten’s Gaybrook Lodge Stud was knocked down to Ross Doyle for 800,000 guineas after he saw off the determined efforts of Jamie McCalmont, stood with Paul Shanahan, Michael Tabor and MV Magnier.

The sale represented a massive result for the vendors who purchased him at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale for 41,000 guineas. Following the sale, McCarten commented; "I loved the colt from the moment I bought him and he has done everything right since, never missed a day. The first time I worked him, you could see he was special and the lads riding have always been mad about him. I never expected that, but this is what we are all in the game for."

Purchaser Ross Doyle said: "He was the stand-out here - easily the best in the sale, he is a lovely, beautiful horse. He could be a superstar." 

Doyle struck earlier in the day as well when securing the ARCANO colt consigned from Roger Marley’s Church Farm Stables for 320,000 guineas, again on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing. Doyle saw off a number of interested parties, including trainer John Gosden, agent Stephen Hillen and eventual underbidder Jamie Lloyd, standing with trainer Marco Botti. The sale represented a massive pinhooking success for his owners who purchased him for €36,000.

"He is a very special horse," said Harry Herbert of Al Shaqab, "and the Sheikh is thrilled. This horse did a great breeze and all in all it's been a good day."

Derrinstown Stud stallion Arcano, a son of Oasis Dream, has his first crop of two-year-olds running this year and is already sire of an impressive winner from his first starter.

The SPEIGHTSTOWN colt out of the ROYAL ACADEMY mare SLEEPYTIME was another to realise 320,000 guineas when knocked down to Mandore International’s Nicholas de Watrigant, also on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing.

"He's the best two-year-old I ever sat on," enthused vendor John Egan of Friarstown Stud following the sale.

"I don't do a lot with them at home, I don't start asking any questions, but this will be a good horse. I hope he is really lucky for his new owners."

The colt also can boast of a superb pedigree being out of the 1,000 Guineas winner SLEEPYTIME, a sister to the Group 1 winner ALI ROYAL.

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale continues at 6pm on Thursday, April 17.