Debut Tattersalls visit sparks international dream for owner Jay Hanley

It will be nigh-on impossible to find a replacement for Lady Eli, who stamped herself as one of the finest US turf mares of modern times during four racing seasons, but her part-owner Jay Hanley has this week paid his first visit to Tattersalls as an important stage of his bloodstock rebuilding process.

The amiable Hanley, who is involved in property around the Boston area, may become an increasingly familiar presence on these shores, particularly if his Book 1 purchases pay off.

Three deals were done during Tuesday’s trade through agent Mike Ryan, all of which will head to Chad Brown’s stable. The trainer was responsible for Lady Eli, who was retired at the start of 2018 and sold for $4,200,000.

"I’d been wanting to come for five or six years but life sort of got in the way," said Hanley.

"My focus was on turf fillies, but then I had two kids. The youngest baby is a little over a year now, I got the green light from my wife, so I said, 'Let’s go'.

"It worked out well because I was wanting to restart with the foundation of quality fillies, start a small breeding operation as well, hopefully if they can, race, and race well."

Trainer Chad Brown and American buyers were out in forceCredit: Laura Green

Hanley’s main purchase has been lot 110, a Galileo daughter of Group 3 winner Wannabe Better for 500,000gns. He added an Invincible Spirit (153) and a Dubawi out of Park Hill winner The Miniver Rose (78).

"I’ve always wanted a Galileo, to get those European bloodlines, and Chad does a great job with fillies, I have a lot of confidence in him," he continued.

"I might try to buy a colt or two, as I’m looking for a runner or two to keep here too. As I’m based on the east coast, it’s no real difference to having horses in California - it’s just the other way!"

The buying is quite a complicated process with Ryan also acting for the likes of Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm, Klaravich Stables and Bob Edwards of e Five Racing, all of whom have been very active this week.

"I’ll be back," affirmed Hanley. "It’s been a great experience with the team and a tonne of work from the vets, they’ve been so well prepped for every horse.

"We don’t know always exactly what we’re going to end up with, but we’ve had a pretty good gameplan going in.

"We sit down at the table, Mike will come up with a list of maybe 50 out of the 500 to target. We’ll sort it out amongst ourselves who’s going to bid on what; price points determine to some extent what we’re going to buy, and it all works out great. There are five or six of us in Chad’s barn but there’s no fighting, we all sort it out."

Hanley intends to be breeding in Kentucky at first and envisages his growing family to eventually become an addition, rather than an obstacle, to this abiding passion.

"It’s not a huge broodmare band, but it’s selective and I want to get more and more into it," he concluded. "If either of my kids are into it, I want to teach them all about the game, sort of the right way. I’ll be really excited to teach them; hopefully they’ll like it!"

More Book 1 tales here...

Godolphin v Coolmore on dramatic first day

Two more Dubawi millionaires at opening session

Five to follow as the curtain comes down