'It seems to be a recession-proof market' - Premier Sale ends on £240,000 high

Maybe they haven’t seen the headlines about an energy crisis, soaring inflation or an onrushing recession, or perhaps they have and are simply in need of some respite from the doom and gloom.

But whatever the reasoning, buyers showed remarkable resilience in the face of significant external pressures as they returned to Doncaster on Wednesday and ensured that day two of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale was every bit as lively as the first.

An unmistakably positive vibe on the sales ground was reflected across the key market indices, not least the aggregate, which rose by 20 per cent year on year to £15,987,500. The average went up by eight per cent to £44,043, while the median showed a nine per cent increase to £35,000.

There were 23 six-figure lots across the two sessions, while seven yearlings sold for £200,000 or more. There was also a rock-solid clearance rate of 89 per cent as 363 sold from 406 offered.

Topping the pile on Wednesday was the Night Of Thunder filly out of Thiswaycadeaux from Tally-Ho Stud who brought £240,000 after a six-figure tug of war between Richard Knight and Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock. Knight put up a valiant effort but it was Boman, standing outside Blandford’s ringside office, who proved more determined.

“She’s for an existing client who particularly likes Night Of Thunder,” said Boman. “She’s an outstanding filly, very muscular and forward and she behaved impeccably each time I saw her over the last three or four days. It’s a family I’ve got a strong connection with as I bought Red Tea, who’s under the second dam, and she’s a very good mare for Joseph O’Brien.”

Kilboy Estate Stakes scorer Red Tea cost just 42,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale but her Group 2-winning exploits, allied to Thiswaycadeaux’s own Listed placing, helped the Night Of Thunder filly bring considerably more.

“The family just exploded as there was no black type under the first two dams but Red Tea won her Group 2 and then this filly’s dam was stakes-placed afterwards too,” continued Boman. “Night Of Thunder is doing a fantastic job, he seems to have a new stakes winner every week, so I’m delighted to have her.

“The client I buy for always buys fillies as he sees the residual value, but he enjoys his racing too and I hope she’s very lucky for him because he deserves to have some success.”

When Boman was asked who was likely to train the filly, or which country she would race in, the agent replied: “Undecided and undetermined!”

Boman went on to reflect on the sale-topping price as well as the wider market conditions by saying: “It was a little bit over where I thought she’d be but you’ve got to meet the market. You either get on with it and buy the horse you want to buy or you sit on the sidelines.

“I was surprised at how strong it’s been but it seems to be a recession-proof market. Everything you read in the media is that we’re in tough times but this market doesn’t seem to show any signs of that. It’s resilient and long may it last.”

Night Of Thunder had two lots catalogued in this year’s Premier Sale and both topped their respective sessions after day one saw Avenue Bloodstock go to £230,000 for the colt out of Pious Alexander from Mountarmstrong Stud.

Darley’s Kildangan Stud resident stood the latest breeding season at €75,000, while his yearlings were conceived at a generous looking fee of €25,000.

Havana Grey filly fuels a bright start

Bidders wasted no time in getting stuck into day two of the Premier Sale as just the fourth lot into the Doncaster ring equalled the opening session’s high mark of £230,000.

The tone was set early on when Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Havana Grey filly drew an opening bid of £100,000. The bid board barrelled through the six-figure sums until matters boiled down to Jake Warren, stationed at the top of the stairs opposite the rostrum, and Richard Hannon and Ross Doyle, who were out of sight of their opponent in the chute below.

At £220,000 Hannon raised his hand to signal an optimistic increase of £5,000, but Warren responded in kind to bring the hammer down. The striking grey filly is out of Whitsbury Manor’s highly promising producer Showstoppa, a daughter of Showcasing who has bred four winners from as many runners.

That quartet is headed by this filly’s three-parts brother El Caballo, a son of Havana Gold who won the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes earlier this year, and the Listed-winning Brazen Beau filly Avengers Queen.

Showstoppa’s two-year-old has also done her bit for the page as Katey Kontent, who is also by Havana Grey, won her first two outings and wasn’t beaten far when sixth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“She was an absolute cracker of a filly and the mare has been incredible,” said Warren. “She’s four from four with two very high-class horses so far. Havana Grey needs no introduction and Whitsbury have done a terrific job breeding some very high-class types by the stallion, so they know exactly what they’re doing.

“Their breeding programme is all about two-year-old speed and Havana Grey and Showcasing are both there in the pedigree. This filly had all the attributes to be a proper two-year-old; she’s very well balanced, she’s got a great action and she’s strong and powerful.”

Trainer Clive Cox took a major interest during the bidding and with good reason, as several members of the immediate family have flourished under his care, including the aforementioned Katey Kontent. Warren revealed Cox would also take charge of the six-figure filly.

“Clive loved her and I loved her,” added Warren. “We had a very short shortlist, we underbid the New Bay yesterday [bought by Ross Doyle for £200,000], but we came to try to buy the best and we think we have. She’s been bought for Sheikh Isa.”

As well as Katey Kontent, Cox also trained the Listed-winning Harry Three and the Group 3-placed Diligent Harry, who appear beneath the second dam having also been bred by Whitsbury Manor. Coincidentally, the mare in question, Efisio’s daughter Harryana, was bred by Warren’s father John.

Consignor Ed Harper (left) and buyer Jake Warren after the Havana Grey filly's saleCredit: Sarah Farnsworth

“She is definitely the best yearling that I’ve brought to Donny in the 12 or 13 years I’ve been coming here,” said Whitsbury Manor’s Ed Harper. “I’m delighted she’s done so well and I’m very grateful to the purchaser, but a little bit of me is sad to see her go. We’re trying to breed horses that we’d be happy to have ourselves, but sometimes the best time to sell is when you don’t want to.”

Harper continued: “The pedigree couldn’t be more Whitsbury. The mother was actually the first ever Showcasing on the ground. I wasn’t at home but I got a call from the stud manager and I said I hope it’s a nice bay colt to get us started and he said, ‘It’s a little chestnut filly!’

“She’s just been fantastic though, she was teak-tough to train and she’s a fantastic broodmare. To be able to send her to our own stallion and produce a filly like that is brilliant.”

Harper confirmed that Showstoppa has a Sergei Prokofiev filly foal who is “built in the same shape and mould as the Havana Grey filly” and is back in foal to the son of Scat Daddy.

Havana Grey continues to carry all before him in the European first-season sire standings, with 30 winners worldwide and nine black-type performers headed by the Listed scorers Cuban Mistress and Lady Hollywood. He also sired Shouldvebeenaring, winner of this year’s Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes.

Ed Harper said of the filly: 'A little bit of me is sad to see her go'Credit: Sarah Farnsworth

“We had high hopes for Havana Grey but he’s exceeded those,” added Harper. “It’s the consistency that’s the most exciting thing about him. There are all sorts of races that are markers for first-season stallion managers like myself and you think it would be nice to have the winner of races like the Hilary Needler Trophy, for example.

“But he got the Hilary Needler winner [Star Of Lady M] and she’s not even in his top ten-rated horses! He’s just got so many good ones.”

Hughes on a high with Frankel colt

The catalogue contained just one lot by champion sire Frankel and the colt out of Tai Hang Dragon duly brought £200,000 from Richard Hughes, who saw off the attention of Marco Bozzi.

The colt, who was bred by Ben Keswick’s Rockcliffe Stud and offered by Highclere, is the second foal of his dam, whose siblings include four black-type performers. The most notable of the quartet is Group 3 winner Pasar Silbano, who in turn bred Australian Group 2 victor Zousain.

“It’s not every day you have the chance to get a Frankel,” said Hughes. “I think he was well placed in this sale as he’s probably not as big as some of the others, but he’s big enough and he didn’t look out of place. And Frankel wasn’t a huge horse himself.

“The fact that we’ve got that blood in our yard is very pleasing and the mother was a nice horse too. He’s been bought for an existing client and I’m really pleased to get him.”

The sole lot by Frankel selling to Richard Hughes for £200,000Credit: Sarah Farnsworth

Tai Hang Dragon won three races in Keswick’s silks having been bought from Lynn Lodge Stud as a yearling for €200,000. She produced a filly by No Nay Never earlier this year.

Hughes was the third biggest spender in Doncaster, with 11 bought at a cost of £714,000.

Doyle continues Dark Angel association

Peter and Ross Doyle added a second £200,000 lot to this year’s Doncaster haul when the latter-named agent secured the Dark Angel colt out of Star Approval from Guy O’Callaghan’s Grangemore Stud.

“He’s a lovely horse and he’s by Dark Angel, who’s a sire we’ve been very lucky with over the years,” said Ross Doyle. “We got horses like Estidhkaar and Yafta out of this sale and he reminds us a lot of those types. He’s strong, he’s forward going and every time we went to see him he showed a great attitude. Obviously he comes from a great nursery so hopefully he’s lucky.”

The colt’s dam has bred four winners, including the Group 3-placed Kocna. The son of Dark Angel also supplied his previous connections with a tidy bit of pinhooking profit as Grangemore signed the docket at last year’s Tattersalls December Foal Sales at 40,000gns.

“We always support our stallions, especially at the foal sales, and it’s great when the horses come back and make a profit,” said O’Callaghan, whose family run Yeomanstown Stud. “I can’t understand why this colt missed at last year’s sales but that was my good fortune I guess.

The Dark Angel colt out of Star ApprovalCredit: Sarah Farnsworth

“He developed into a very big strong horse and he suited the sale because he’s so mature. I felt he took over the ring up there. I knew he was going down well with some big guys and I’m delighted a couple of them turned up and took each other on.”

He added: “It’s been a genuinely brilliant market. If you have the gear, you get well paid. The strength in depth has been phenomenal. Trade has been very buoyant.”

Spencer lands a Thriller

Few lots in the 433-strong catalogue boasted as big an update as the Galileo Gold colt out of Thrilled, as the Tally-Ho Stud-consigned youngster is a half-brother to The Platinum Queen, who finished runner-up to Highfield Princess in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes just five days earlier.

The daughter of Cotai Glory runs in the colours of Middleham Park Racing but the team behind the syndicate had to give best to Newmarket trainer Richard Spencer, who secured the promising youngster on a bid of £170,000. The March foal will now carry the colours of Phil Cunningham’s Rebel Racing.

“He was the one we wanted today,” said Spencer. “Phil has named him already, he’s been called Thriller Night after the Michael Jackson song! He’s a nice-looking two-year-old type so hopefully he can go on and do the job. We’ve been lucky out of this sale before so hopefully he can be another one.”

The Rebel Racing silks have been carried with distinction by the likes of Coventry Stakes winner Rajasinghe and Molecomb scorer Rumble Inthejungle, who now stand at the National Stud and Norman Court Stud respectively. Both were sourced from the Premier Sale through Bobby O’Ryan, with the former costing £85,000 and the latter £70,000.

A new face but a familiar name

Plenty of big players from the training ranks were stocking up in Doncaster, including the likes of Cox, Hannon and Richard Fahey.

There was also a new face among the crowd, albeit one with a familiar name, as Ben Brookhouse made an impact when going to £150,000 for the Too Darn Hot colt out of Whispering Bell from the National Stud.

Brookhouse is the son of owner Roger, whose pale blue and pink chevroned silks have been carried by the likes of Black Op, Summerville Boy and Western Warhorse. Brookhouse is close to finalising details over where he will begin his training career but says he expects to be up and running by the start of 2023.

“I’m setting up training this year ready for 2023 so hopefully he’ll be one of many of my Dad’s that come to me,” he said after signing the docket.

“Where I’m setting up isn’t 100 per cent decided yet but it’s good to have some nice stock to work with. This lad looks like he wants time but he’s a good model who walks well and he’ll get plenty of time with Dad. He’ll go to Martin Jones to be broken in and then probably go home for a holiday, then come to me once I’m set up.”

Although Brookhouse is in the fortunate position to have the backing of his owner-breeder father, he has put in plenty of hard yards to learn his trade having spent time with the likes of Jim Bolger and Hugo Palmer. He is currently assistant trainer to Ian Williams.

“I’m assistant to Ian Williams at the minute, which has been great,” he said. “I’ve been there for around five years now and we’ve had lots of success with two Royal Ascot winners, and we were beaten a nose in the Ebor [with Alfred Boucher], which I still haven’t got over!

“Dad has a lot of people around him that are very experienced and I’m lucky enough to have become one of those people. He’s trusting enough to let me have a go [at buying] but we’ve done well together. Dad’s last runners with me have done well, we’ve had three winners from the last three runners, including the bumper at Fontwell last night [with Aslukgoes]. It’s a good time to strike form, just before the yearling sales!”

Brookhouse snr made his fortune in the engineering sector, but his son said the draw of the racing world has proved irresistible. “I did dabble in engineering but I kept finding my way back into horses,” he said.

“It’s been brilliant because the whole family is involved, we’ve had Cheltenham winners and some really nice Flat horses. Dad has broodmares and his own stallion now too with Yorgunnabelucky and he’s done well. There’s a great team around us and we’re enjoying it, which is the main thing.”

Brookhouse also signed for a Phoenix Of Spain colt from WH Bloodstock at £105,000 and a £38,000 son of Profitable from Galloway Stud.

The late show

A gaggle of agents and trainers hung around until the close of proceedings, with Highclere’s Showcasing colt out of Eminently the lot firmly in the crosshairs. Jill Lamb, Matt Coleman and Daniel Creighton all expressed an interest, but it was Alex Elliott, taking instructions on the phone on the bridge, who won out at £140,000.

“He’s been bought by Willie Browne to go breezing,” said Elliott. “He had to catch a flight home but I thought this horse looked like a cracker and has the pedigree to be a good horse as well. When people like Willie Browne are spending £140,000 to pinhook him, he’s probably a pretty good horse.”

Elliott also struck for the very next lot into the ring, the Havana Grey filly out of Enchanted Linda, a sibling to Coventry Stakes third Vintage Clarets, from Lynn Lodge Stud. “She’ll go to Archie Watson and is for a partnership that I’m involved in called Lone Star Investments,” said the agent.

“Havana Grey is doing it all and I thought she was as good as the filly who made £230,000 earlier but just without the pedigree. Hopefully she’s an Ascot filly because that’s what we came here to buy.”

The Havana Grey filly proved another fruitful pinhook as she was signed for by Mags O’Toole at 26,000gns at last year’s December Foal Sale.

Manor House Farm mission continues

John and Jess Dance’s Manor House Farm operation was the second biggest investor at this year’s Premier Sale, with nine lots secured for an outlay of £837,000. Agent Ed Sackville was back on bidding duties on the couple’s behalf on Wednesday and landed the Bated Breath filly out of Bounce from Manister House Stud at £120,000.

Karl Burke and Fahey are among the trainers set to take charge of the new acquisitions, but Sackville said of the February born filly: “This is for James Horton and she’s a lovely big, scopey filly. She’s by a proven stallion who does particularly well with fillies and she has a great outlook and a lovely attitude. Luke Barry always seems to bring nice horses to this sale.”

Sackville also reflected on Manor House’s latest buying spree by saying: “John’s best filly Laurens came from this sale so I’m sure he has a bit of a soft spot for the place.”

More sales news:

'I'm overwhelmed' - £230,000 Night Of Thunder colt tops day one in Doncaster

'There’s been good profit all round' - Kent on the mark with pinhooking success

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