Middle Park placed horses give budget breeders and buyers cause for cheer

Earthlight was rightly centre of attention after his victory in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

But as the Andre Fabre-trained colt, now a dual Group 1 winner after his success in the Prix Morny last month, is a Godolphin homebred by Shamardal, who has covered almost exclusively Maktoum family-owned mares at Kildangan Stud in recent years, it was the placed horses in the race who will have given breeders and buyers working to a budget more encouragement.

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Runner-up Golden Horde is by Lethal Force, who stood at Cheveley Park Stud at a fee of just £4,500 this year, and was bred by James Cloney of Clara Stud under the CN Farm banner.

The dam Entreat, a Pivotal half-sister to Group 2 winner Producer, was bought carrying Golden Horde, who won the Richmond Stakes last month, by BBA Ireland on behalf of Cloney for just 14,000gns from the Cheveley Park Stud draft at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2016.

Golden Horde was bought by trainer Clive Cox for the far from princely sum of £65,000 from the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.

Thanks in no small part to his achievements, his year-younger half-brother by Mehmas sold to Oliver St Lawrence for £260,000 at this year's renewal of the auction held last month.

Compared with the colt who was just one place behind him in the Middle Park Stakes, though, Golden Horde cost an arm and a leg.

100-1 shot Summer Sands – by Coach House, who stands at Chapel Stud at just £3,000 – was unearthed at the Tattersalls Ascot September Yearling Sale by shrewd pinhooker Robson Aguiar for just £2,000.

Aguiar resold his purchase at the same venue's breeze-up sale in April to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock on behalf of the Cool Silk Partnership for £85,000.

Summer Sands was bred by the Koharu Partnership and is the second foal out of the winning Ishiguru mare Koharu, who was knocked down to Catridge Farm Stud for just 3,500gns at the Tattersalls December Breeding-Stock Sale as a four-year-old in 2014.

Koharu is out of Vellena, an unraced Lucky Story half-sister to one of Ishiguru's best offspring, Coventry Stakes winner Hellvelyn, who stands alongside Coach House at Chapel Stud.

Although Earthlight's pedigree might be out of reach of budget breeders – he is the first foal out of Fillies' Mile third Winters Moon, a New Approach half-sister to Group 1 winners Mandaean and Wavering – his success will no doubt heighten demand for stallions from the line of Shamardal, who is also responsible for this season's standout two-year-old talent Pinatubo.

Inexpensive options by Shamardal at stud in Britain and Ireland include Mukhadram at Nunnery Stud and Casamento at Sunnyhill Stud; both have posted Pattern winners this year.

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