Solid Start to Tattersalls October 2

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale got off to a solid start with colts by KYLLACHY and EXCEED AND EXCEL topping proceedings at 150,000 guineas each. The first day of the four-day sale saw a total of 183 lots sold for a total of 6,965,500 guineas, at an average of 38,063 guineas, and a median of 30,000 guineas.

The first lot to sell for 150,000 guineas was the KYLLACHY colt out of the DANEHILL mare MAUGWENNA who was knocked down to agent Charlie Gordon-Watson having been consigned by Corduff Stud. The sale represented a massive return for her owners after being purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for 20,000 guineas at last year’s Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

"It's a cross that works, Kyllachy over Danehill - Arabian Gleam, the winner of three Group 2s, and Awinnersgame, who won the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 Stakes are both bred on the cross and both are owned by Saeed Suhail. This horse has been bought for Saeed.

"I am not sure where the horse will be trained, but he is a lovely two-year-old type.

"I have had a good day - bid on six and bought six and now I am done until tomorrow!" smiled Gordon-Watson.

A few lots later the EXCEED AND EXCEL colt out of the SELKIRK mare MERLE became the joint top-lot when knocked down to Peter Doyle for 150,000 guineas. Although Doyle was bidding and signed for the colt, he was taking instructions from trainer Amanda Perrett, who was in turn taking instructions over the phone. The bidding became a battle of the "Amandas" - underbidder was bloodstock agent Amanda Skiffington.

"This horse has been bought for John Connolly, a long-standing client of Amanda's," said Doyle. "He had a winner at Goodwood yesterday, Empiricist, who was bought here last year."

The sale was another good pinhooking return, this time for consignor Horse Park Stud’s John Cullinan who purchased him for 75,000 guineas at the December Foal Sale.

"He's for David Armstrong," said trainer Richard Fahey's assistant Robin O'Ryan after Fahey purchased (through Highfield Farm) this son of first-season sire MYBOYCHARLIE out of the TAGULA mare LAUREN LOUISE for 135,000gns.

"This is a very nice horse and we bid on the half-brother at the breeze-up sales. You are taking a chance on a first-season sire, but the mare has already done very well."

That half-brother is BLAINE, winner of the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes, while the older half-brother BOGART won the Listed Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar.

David Armstrong has enjoyed a wonderful season with his flag-bearer MAYSON, winner of the Group 1 July Cup and runner-up in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye on Arc Day. It was announced yesterday that the son of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT has been retired to Cheveley Park Stud.

Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman, standing with yesterday's Canadian International Stakes-winning trainer Marco Botti, tried hard for the colt, but declined to answer Fahey’s final bid.

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 10am on Tuesday, October 16.