Record Price Broken Twice on Opening Day of Tattersalls October Book 2

The record price at Book 2 of th Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was broken twice on the opening day, initially when a colt by NO NAY NEVER sold for 900,000 to MV Magnier and then a couple of hours later when Shadwell Estates secured a DARK ANGEL filly for 1,050,000 guineas.

Dark Angel Filly Breaks October 2 Sale Record at 1,050,000 Guineas

The record price at Book 2 was broken for a second time within a couple of hours when the DARK ANGEL filly out of the PIVOTAL mare ALLEZ ALAIA from Ballyhimikin Stud was sold to Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold for 1,050,000 guineas. The grand-daughter of the once in a lifetime mare CASSANDRA GO caught the attention of many in the sale ring including US agent Liz Crow, Charlie Gordon-Watson with the Watership Down team and eventual underbidder Kevin Ryan. 

"What can you say – that was amazing!" said breeder Trevor Stewart. "People said I was smiling at the 450,000 guineas mark... it is what you hope for, two people to take on the bidding to such a figure, but it is difficult for it to actually happen after passing the 500,000 guineas."

He continued: "It is just such an amazing family, I am so lucky. We decided to sell in Book 2 because we had a few Dark Angels and wanted to split them up, we hoped she'd be a stand-out in this sale."

Of the decision to sell, Stewart said: "Even at lunchtime I was wondering whether I should sell or not! I do have a lot of the family and something has to go at some point, and money, especially when it is a million guineas, does count! Who can refuse that?

"I think it will probably be the last filly from the family that I sell so it does mean there is a rarity value – Shadwell should think they are lucky!"

Stewart recounted his purchase of CASSANDRA GO, probably one of the luckiest moments in bloodstock history.

"I bought her almost as a mistake; I was very innocent and thought I was being cool!" he laughs of his purchase from Corduff Stud for 200,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Houghton Yearling Sale in 1997. "I tried to sell a share after and no one was interested. The rest as they say is history, I am very lucky."

CASSANDRA GO, a daughter of INDIAN RIDGE, went onto win the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes and the Group 2 Temple Stakes and be Group 1-placed in the July Cup. 

She is dam of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner HALFWAY TO HEAVEN, dam of the Group 1 winners MAGICAL and RHODODENDRON, and of the Group winner THEANN, dam of Grade 1 winner PHOTO CALL and of Group 2 Richmond Stakes winner LAND FORCE. 

Successful buyer Gold said: "Sheikh Hamdan saw the filly this morning, he was particularly looking for fillies.

"She is from a great family, a great farm and a successful breeder. It is a family that is difficult to get into."

MV Magnier Secures No Nay Never Colt for 900,000 Guineas

MV Magnier secured the NO NAY NEVER colt from Croom House Stud for 900,000 guineas after a bidding duel with Anthony Stroud. The sale was the highest ever achieved at this fixture for just a couple of hours before being eclipsed by the DARK ANGEL filly that realised 1,050,000 guineas. 

The Stud’s owner Denis Brosnan said; "He has been outstanding, No Nay Never is very exciting and this colt's Montjeu half-sister is already a black-type-producing mare.

"It is some years back now that we bought the mare in France – she was carrying her first foal and we paid 480,000 Euros, lots of people said we'd paid too much."

Joe Hartigan, general manager at Croom, added: "He has taken this all so well. He has had over 130 shows and he was the same in all of them, 100 per cent – he has a great mind. 

"Even those who had not got him on their lists, if I took them to see him just said, 'wow!'. All the right people were on him coming to the ring."

NO NAY NEVER is sire of the Group 1 July Cup winner TEN SOVEREIGNS and five Group 2 winners, including the Coventry Stakes winner ARIZONA, who finished second in last weekend's Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.

Whatton Manor Celebrate Pinhook Success

The team at Whatton Manor Stud were celebrating a pinhooking triumph after their KINGMAN colt sold for 280,000 guineas, having been purchased for just 85,000 guineas at last year’s Tattersalls December Foal Sale. 

"We've been very lucky," said Ed Player of Whatton Manor.

"We like selling in Book 2, it's our territory and it’s what we are known for – we like to have horses that stand out a little this week. This colt is a gorgeous horse, we didn't think we'd afford him last year. 

"Things have gone well – the Group 1 form for Star Terms in the pedigree has helped, while Kingman has done so well.

"We wish Sheikh Hamdan, who is also a strong supporter of this sale, the best with him, we hope he becomes a great horse."

The colt is out of the MONTJEU mare SUNSEMPERCHI and is a brother to the Group/Listed winner pair FACIASCURA and FINIDAPREST.

Mains Secures Australia Colt for Jon Kelly

Local bloodstock agent Philippa Mains secured lot 610, the AUSTRALIA colt out of the INDIAN RIDGE mare SOPHIE GERMAIN, for 300,000 guineas on behalf of US based owner Jon Kelly. The brother to the Group 2 winner CREGGS PIPES will go into training with Jessica Harrington who also trains Group 1 Fillies’ Mile fourth CAYENNE PEPPER for Kelly. 

The colt was sold by Pa Doyle of Galbertstown Stud on behalf of breeders John & Una Hayes, who had purchased the colt's dam SOPHIE GERMAIN originally as a foal.

"She is a daughter of Indian Ridge and she was a June foal - I think she was possibly the very last foal by him. As a June foal she was too backward to sell on, but I loved her pedigree as she is a daughter of a Group 1 winner.

"She has turned into a great broodmare and two of her three foals now have black-type – Silver Spear's Listed update yesterday was well-timed! 

"I was told that Pa was a great man to prep a horse hence why we sent him this colt and he has done a great job," said Hayes. "Sophie is now in-foal to Frankel and Creggs Pipes to Sea The Stars – she had a filly foal by him this year."

Donald Secures Palace Pier Brother for 300,000 Guineas

Late in the evening SackvilleDonald’s Alastair Donald went to 300,000 guineas to secure the CAMELOT colt out of the NAYEF mare BEACH FROLIC. The Highclere Stud consigned colt is a half-brother to John Gosden’s exciting two-year-old KINGMAN colt PALACE PIER and from the family of Group 2 Dante Stakes winner BONFIRE and Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes winner JOVIALITY.  

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues on Tuesday, October 15 at 10am.