Tattersalls Guineas
Sale as it happens

Final statistics

Offered: 150

Sold: 120 (80%)

Aggregate: 2,761,000gns (+14%)

Average: 23,008gns (unchanged)

Median: 14,000gns (-9%)

 

Breeze-up statistics:

Offered: 113

Sold: 92 (81%)

Aggregate: 2,349,800gns (+9%)

Average: 25,541gns (-7%)

Colts average: 29,724gns

Fillies average: 17,735gns

Median: 16,500gns (-21%)

No. six figure lots: 4 (2012: 1)

No. successful pinhooks (listed as sold on previous auction appearance and plus approx. expenses) : 27 of 72

Leading vendor: Gaybrook Lodge Stud, five sold for a total of 274,000gns

TOP FOUR LOTS

Lot no.	Breeding	Buyer	Price (gns)
148	c Teofilo - Caraiyma	Blandford  Bloodstock	110,000
197	c Dubawi - Late Night	C. Gordon-  Watson	105,000
161	c Exchange Rate - Deputie's Notebook	Lars Kelp	100,000
130	c Pivotal - Abandon	David  Redvers	100,000

 

LEADING BUYERS

Name	No. bought	Total (gns)
David Redvers B/S	4	235,000
Blandford Bloodstock B/S	3	180,000
New Approach B/S	5	155,000

 

LEADING SIRES (MORE THAN ONE SOLD)

Name	No. sold	Average (gns)
Exchange Rate	2	57,500
Teofilo	3	47,167
Dubawi	4	45,725

 

FIRST-CROP SIRE WATCH

Name	No. offered	No. sold	Average (gns)
Archipenko	2	2	8,250
Art Connoisseur	1	1	27,000
Bushranger	2	2	24,000
Captain Gerrard	1	1	11,000
Champs Elysees	4	2	25,000
Dandy Man	3	3	27,000
Intense Focus	1	1	20,000
Mastercraftsman	1	1	4,800
Naaqoos	1	1	13,000
Shamdinan	1	0	----
Virtual	1	1	3,800
Winker Watson	1	1	14,000

 

Edmond Mahony's statement

"Last year's decision to reintroduce the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale and to add a horses in training section proved to be a success and this year has further cemented the fixture as a valuable addition to the Tattersalls sales calendar. The horses in training section achieved significant rises across the board with the 85,000 guineas session topper heading to Australia and international buyers prominent at all levels of the market. As
last year the horses in training attracted participation from throughout the world and the international buyers continued to make their presence felt at the Breeze Up Sale which followed.

"Middle Eastern buyers, in particular from Qatar and UAE, have made a major contribution to both parts of today's Guineas Sale and, similar to the 2012 renewal, the clearance rate of around 80 per cent has not only been a huge positive, but also particularly welcome after the more selective demand that has been typical of the breeze up market this year. To have sold four six figure Breeze Up lots today has demonstrated the continued demand at the top of the market, but the depth and diversity to today's trade has been the real feature and we look forward to continuing to build on the success of this year's renewal of the
Guineas Breeze Up and Horses in Training Sale."

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Lot 197 - this Dubawi colt will carry the Red Cadeaux colours of Ronald Arculli after selling for 105,000gns to Charlie Gordon-Watson. "It was a bit more than we intended," said Gordon-Watson, who outbid Rabbah Bloodstock.

Sold by Tally-Ho Stud, the German-bred is a half-brother to two winners including Leofilo, a debut winner in Germany since the publication of the catalogue. His dual-winning dam, Late Night, is a Groom Dancer half-sister to Canadian Group 2 winner Lauro and from the further family of Lando.

"Dubawi is a fantastic sire," said Gordon-Watson of the €32,000 pinhook, "and the three-year-old can obviously run a bit. He'll be trained by Ed Dunlop."

Lot 162 - a first obvious sign of Maktoum involvement here today as Rabbah Bloodstock pay 55,000gns for Ballyhane's Shamardal colt.

A 10,000gns pinhook by Federico Barberini, the colt is out of a half-sister to the Group 2 winners Russian Hope, Russian Cross and Archange d'Or as well as the exciting Esoterique, who won the Prix Vanteaux last weekend.

Lot 161 - Scandinavian agent Lars Kelp came off second best at 70,000gns earlier today on lot 116, by Dubawi, but his determination pays off with this colt by Exchange Rate, for whom he pays 100,000gns.

"He did the best breeze in the sale and so was the one we really wanted," he said.

Norwegian owner Wibecke Magell-Ericksen, who races as Stall Zuccini, signed the ticket and punched the air when the hammer came down in her favour. The colt will be trained by Niels Pedersen.

"We hope he will be a Classic prospect next year," added Kelp. "It helps that he's by Exchange Rate as they perform on turf and dirt, which is important in Scandinavia as we race on both."

The sale marked another good result for Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud as the colt cost a reasonable $40,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale.

He is a half-brother to two winners and out of Deputie's Notebook, a dual-winning Notebook half-sister to Grade 2 winner Delightful Kiss.

Lot 148 - another major pinhooking touch comes the way of Adrian Costello as Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock pays 110,000gns for his Teofilo colt.

Although a half-brother to Prix de la Foret winner Caradak, Costello was able to pick up the colt for just €25,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale. Two weeks ago at the Craven Sale, Costello's Clenagh Castle Stud sold an Invincible Spirit colt for 300,000gns for whom he had paid just 38,000gns as a yearling.

"He's a big horse and I looked back at my yearling notes and saw then that I had noted he was a big raw horse," said Brown. "He's filled out since then.

"He'll go to William Haggas, who has trained a few nice ones by the sire [including Sunday's Pretty Polly Stakes hopeful Lady Nouf], and will be trained with next year in mind. 

"He's a half-brother to a Group 1 winner and I love the sire - he's already doing very well but I think he could be about to explode."

Lot 130 - "He would have made twice that at the Craven Sale" - that's the opinion of David Redvers after he secures this son of Pivotal with one bid of 100,000gns on behalf of Sheikh Fahad.

Bidding opened at 30,000gns for the colt, who was a 48,000gns pinhook by vendor Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud. Alex Elliott was the eventual underbidder.

"He was by far and away the stand out of the sale," said Redvers," and I think that if he had been at the Craven Sale he would have made twice that. Good horses come out of this sale - we bought some smashers here last year including [115,000gns sale-topper] Robot Boy, who should go well in the 6f handicap at Newmarket this weekend."

Training plans will be finalised shortly for the colt, the third foal out of Abandon, a four-time winning Rahy half-sister to Caulfield Cup winner Tawqeet.

Lot 129 - Giuliano Manfredini has already enjoyed success with the progeny of Haatef as the owner of the Listed-placed Hasopop and today returns to the well by paying 70,000gns through agent Alberto Panetta for Gaybrook Lodge Stud's son of the stallion.

The colt - a £20,000 DBS pinhook by Jim McCartan - is a half-brother to two winners and out of the winning Diesis mare Zuniga's Date.

He will join Hasopop, who ran third in Wednesday's Pavilion Stakes at Ascot, at Marco Botti's Prestige Place.

"He has a lot of quality - I thought he had a beautiful head - and you have to fall in love with them to buy them," said Manfredini. "He breezed well but you'd think that he would improve again as he strengthens up."

Lot 116 - Brendan Powell will train this daughter of Dubawi after Bobby O'Ryan outbids Charlie Gordon-Watson and then Norwegian interests at 70,000gns.

The result provided a good return for Paddy Twomey's Hawthorn Villa Stud since she cost just 36,000gns at Book 2 of last year's Tattersalls October Sale.

"Hopefully she'll be alright!" remarked O'Ryan as he was signing the ticket. "I saw her two weeks ago and absolutely loved her."

Powell added: "Bobby took me down to see her yesterday and I really likes her. She's for an existing owner as a long term project - the idea is to win and if she can get black-type then great because she's been bought to breed from as well. There's plenty happening on the page - her half-brothers are rated in the 90's and below that there's [Group 3-placed] Montiridge.

"I always give mine a three week break after buying them but she looks forward enough and you'd think she'd be ok around 7f later in the year."

A half-sister to two winners, El Buen Turista and Weststow, the filly is out of the Listed-placed Summer Sunset, a Grand Lodge half-sister to the dam of Richard Hannon's highly regarded three-year-old Montiridge. The son of Ramonti won two races last year and ran second in the Autumn Stakes.

Lots 95 and 96 - a quickfire Exceed And Excel double for David Redvers, who goes to 48,000gns for Jamie Railton's filly out of Prairie Lilli and 45,000gns for Hillwood Stud's colt out of Princess Georgina.

The filly, who was bought back for €13,000 at the BBAG September Sale, is heading to Olly Stevens, who recently saddled Qatar Bloodstock's Extortionist to win on his debut at Nottingham.

Plans are undecided for the colt, who was a 42,000gns pinhook by his vendor.

Lot 88 - highlight of the breeze-up section so far is this son of Iffraaj, who sells for 50,000gns for Nigel Tinkler. Sold by Friends Stud, the colt was bought back for just €11,000 at last year's Goffs Orby Sale.

He is the first foal out of the unplaced Noverre mare Nightswimmer, a half-sister to Listed winner Waterways.

Horses in training statistics

Offered: 38

Sold: 30 (79%)

Aggregate: 411,200gns (+57%)

Average: 14,686gns (+46%)

Median: 7,000gns (+100%)

Lot 64 and 65 - the sale seemingly ends with a flourish with the sales of Grey Mirage and Kingsdesire out of Marco Botti's yard.

Grey Mirage (64), winner of a Kempton handicap last time out, is knocked down to Federico Barberini for 65,000gns while last season's Dee Stakes third Kingsdesire (65) is knocked down for 75,000gns.

He was initially unsold but later privately changed hands for 85,000gns to Alberto Panetta on behalf of a group of Australian owners. He will remain with Marco Botti.

Lot 47 - Maverik will join William Knight after selling for 42,000gns to Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald.

Maverik was introduced as a 'horse who can go on anything, including snow!', and as his race record shows, that statement isn't far off the mark; the son of Iceman has won six races for Ralph Beckett including a Nottingham handicap since the publication of the catalogue as well as a race at St Moritz in February 2012.

"He's been bought for a new owner in the yard," said Knight, "and he should make a fun horse. He's tough and sound - I know him quite well as I recently finished fourth to him with a nice horse."

Lot 37 - Nigel Spreadbury sees off Bobby O'Ryan at 33,000gns among others for Kimberella, a three-year-old brother to Challenge Stakes winner Arabian Gleam from Michael Bell's yard.

Lot 34 - the ring lights up thanks to Line Of Reason, a dual winner for David Simcock who sells for 80,000gns to trainer Paul Midgeley.

The price surpasses last year's top mark of 67,000gns paid by Jalil al Mallah for subsequent Summer Mile winner Fanunalter.

Line Of Reason came into the sale with a rating of 83 and most recently ran second of 12 in a 6f handicap at Doncaster last month. To date, the son of Kheleyf has won two races and been placed twice from only four starts.

He will now carry the colours of Andy Taylor and could be next seen at York's May meeting.

"Hopefully there's a decent prize in him," said Midgeley. "We'll get him home and have a look at him before we make any plans but he could be a horse for York.

"David [Simcock] is a good trainer to buy off - he looks after them - and with any luck this horse will turn out to be better than his mark. Hopefully he'll like Northern air better than Southern air!"

Lot 10 - an unexciting start to the sale with few horses changing hands. The only horse to hit five figures within the first half hour is this filly, Zain Joy, from Gerard Butler's yard who is knocked down for 10,000gns - however, she fails to change hands.

Although by a little known Canadian sire in Survivalist, she would make a broodmare for someone as a half-sister to Group 3 winner Summertime Legacy, the dam of Group 1 winners Mandaean and Wavering. Further back it is the family of Golden Fleece and Be My Guest.

Some of the better horses in training are scheduled to come in later but without unlike last year there aren't any wildcards entries to boost the section.

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ONE of the current hottest debates at European breeze-ups are the use of times. Unlike the US, where breeze-up times have been meticulously recorded for years, horses are not officially timed at any breeze-up sale in Europe. Instead, it is left to individual buyers to choose whether to record their own times, some agents going as far as to set up their own timing equipment at the winning post.

Trainer Stuart Williams was one of the first buyers to time breezers. Much has changed since he started ten years ago; not only have more buyers become reliant on times but the art of breezing is increasingly professional and horses are going quicker than ever before.

"You can look at a horse's action," says Williams, "and determine what is going well. But timing them was a real eye-opener - some horses who looked like they were going fast weren't and ones that didn't look fast posted quick times.

"The idea of the breeze-ups was to showcase a horse going nicely over 3f and everyone would come up on the bridle. But we found at every sale that there would be one or two who came up four or five lengths quicker than everything else.

"Now you have about 50 that work within that five to six length range, so it's become more difficult to spot the best horse."

A number of consignors would not relish the idea of official times being introduced for fear of it placing further pressure on their horses, some of whom after all don't actually turn two until after their sale dates. But plenty of breezes are now conducted with one eye on a respectable time - "they are running times over 2f now that they will never have to do again in their lives," says Williams.

That is not to say that timing breezers is the foolproof way to success since there will always be some horses that don't impress on the day for whatever reason.

Among the examples are the Tattersalls Guineas Sale cover girl Margot Did, the Nunthorpe Stakes winner who was picked up for just 10,000gns in 2010 by Richard Frisby. "She didn't breeze great at the sale," her trainer Michael Bell told the Racing Post upon her retirement last year. "She came up with her ears pricked and wasn't doing a tap but she worked really well from the start for us and went to Newbury three weeks after the sale and bolted up."

Williams adds: "It's an art to get a two-year-old to come up the track so professionally. But I would like to see the consignors step back from trying too hard, back to say three or four years ago, when they were breezing in a nice time without going too hard on them."

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What they say:

"It [the sales season] has gone as expected. We've had good sales right the way through this year and I'd be surprised if this sale isn't the same. But we've lost some markets. There's a lack of European buyers, those from Italy, Germany and Greece. It's worrying and vendors should get together and find a way of moving on these lower end horses." Con Marnane, Bansha House Stables

"At the very top of the pyramid, you're wanted and have a lot of interest but the further down you go, the fewer friends you have. I thought the quality at the Craven Sale was very good at the top end and it was certainly very difficult to buy a nice colt. Personally, I bought some nice affordable fillies.

"But the clearance rate [66%] possibly left a bit to be desired. There's no doubt it's been difficult for vendors - one or two often ended up paying for the whole lot." Tom Goff, Blandford Bloodstock