Godolphin outgun Amo Racing with 11,050,000gns Tattersalls tally topped by Charyn's 'special' sister

The empire strikes back. If day one of the October Yearling Sale belonged to Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing, then the second session of Book 1 was very much Sheikh Mohammed’s. 

Godolphin signed for the four most expensive lots during another day of barnstorming trade in Newmarket, including the sister to dual Group 1-winning miler Charyn who fetched a cool 2,900,000gns. In all, Godolphin took away nine yearlings for a combined 11,050,000gns.

As he had when securing the 4,400,000gns top lot on day one, Joorabchian stood in the bidders’ area with his back to the auctioneer, turning to face Edmond Mahony only to signal he wanted to up the stakes with a sharp nod of the head. 

The Godolphin team, with Sheikh Mohammed at the centre of the huddle, were stationed outside next to the bid spotter's podium by the parade ring. Their 100,000gns increases came via a shout from the spotter on the podium, Shirley Anderson-Jolag. When Godolphin pushed the price to 2,500,000gns, Joorabchian remained in discussion with his team, including bloodstock agent Alex Elliott. 

But, just as Mahony had the gavel raised, Joorabchian, with near perfect theatrical timing, slowly turned towards the rostrum then paused momentarily before delivering yet another 100,000gns play. The pair exchanged two more six-figure raises, but when Godolphin pushed the price to 2,900,000gns, Joorabchian conceded defeat with a rueful shake of the head.  

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“We all dream of these moments and it’s great when there’s such a vibrant market,” said Guy O’Callaghan, who bred the filly at Grangemore Stud in County Kildare. 

Charyn's sister is centre of attention in the Park Paddocks ring on WednesdayCredit: Tattersalls

“It’s crazy, unbelievably strong. It’s great when two operations like Godolphin and Kia lock on and take each other on. That’s the dream for any commercial breeder. I just hope she goes on now and is very lucky for them. Our reserve was far, far lower than what she made, so it’s great that it’s all come together. It takes a special horse to do it and she’s a special one.” 

The seven-figure sales smash hit is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable story for O’Callaghan. He purchased the dam, the Listed-placed Kodiac mare Futoon, from the December Mares Sale in 2017 at a cost of 100,000gns. She has since bred five foals, all by Dark Angel. The first of her brood is the Mill Reef Stakes winner Wings Of War, while her second is Charyn, who was purchased by Nurlan Bizakov’s Sumbe operation for 250,000gns at Book 2 in 2021. 

The pair’s two-year-old sister, Shinara, remains unraced but is in training with Roger Varian. She was also bought by Sumbe, albeit for a more punchy 850,000gns 12 months ago. 

“She’s a special mare,” continued O’Callaghan. “The stars aligned with Charyn being champion miler this year, and she was a beautiful filly, so it all came together. It’s been a real team effort from everyone at home, from my wife, Serena, my head lad, Jack, and all the team. She’s been so straightforward. 

“Every day she’s been simple and it’s great she’s come here and behaved and operated, and just been an absolute queen. She’s been showing hard since Saturday and never did a bad show, which is a great sign of how good her mind is. 

"Charyn is the same, he has that same phenomenal mindset and they just take it. It’s a lot to ask of a yearling, but the good ones can take it – and she’s a good one.” 

Grangemore Stud's Dark Angel sister to Charyn sold for 2,900,000gns on WednesdayCredit: Tattersalls

The breeder added: “The mare has another very good foal on the ground by Dark Angel and she’s back in foal to Blue Point. She’s the mare of a lifetime. When Charyn won the Group 1 I knew I was sitting on some hot property, so every day I was out checking this filly in the field. Every step of the way she never missed a bit.” 

Charyn has done wonders for the page during a highly productive four-year-old campaign under Varian. His four victories this year came in the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes and Group 2 bet365 Mile, before stepping into Group 1 company to run right away with the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois. 

He is arguably unlucky not to be unbeaten this term having not been seen to best advantage when runner-up in tactical renewals of the Lockinge Stakes and Prix du Moulin. 

Asked how winning a Group 1 at a meeting like Royal Ascot compared to Wednesday’s sales success, O’Callaghan said: “They go hand in glove because that [sale] doesn’t happen without Charyn winning at Royal Ascot. That meeting is the pinnacle for every breeder. There’s no better feeling than breeding a Royal Ascot winner, and it doesn’t matter what race it is. 

"Royal Ascot is one of the toughest places to win, and to win a Group 1 there was just incredible. It’s a dream, and this is the reward when you’re fortunate to have nice stock coming behind.” 

A little over 24 hours earlier Sumbe had announced that Charyn would have at least two more races before retiring to the operation’s French stallion roster. Asked if he was planning on breeding to the champion miler-elect next covering season, O’Callaghan said: “Definitely, without a doubt.” 

The Grangemore Stud man cut a remarkably calm figure when addressing the press, but added: “Don’t worry, I’m doing cartwheels inside!” 

After signing the docket on Godolphin’s behalf, Anthony Stroud said: “Her pedigree speaks for itself and she was a very nice individual. The brother has done fantastically well this year. 

"It was probably more than we anticipated but there seems to be a premium on these fillies, and she was a filly that we all liked a lot.”

Stroud shared his perspective on the level of competition in the ring, saying: “That’s the way the day has gone. It’s so competitive and these horses are selling so well. It’s such an international market and there are so many principals from different parts of the world. It’s been an incredibly strong sale.”

Stroud said Sheikh Mohammed’s presence at Park Paddocks had been pivotal in Godolphin’s spend, which, after two days of selling, stood at 13,420,000gns for 11 yearlings bought. 

“Needless to say, he’s key,” he said. “There was definitely a broad section of horses at the top end that we were happy to show him. [By] horses like Too Darn Hot, who is an emerging stallion and standing at Dalham Hall. It’s good that he’s doing so well as well, hence we bought the colt from Croom House.”

Seven figures but a different buyer

The fourth seven-figure lot of the session, but the first to escape Godolphin's clutches, was secured online even if Yulong’s Vin Cox was in attendance on the sales ground.

It was the Dubawi first foal out of Lordship Stud’s Loving Dream, winner of the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu on her final career outing in 2021. Offered by Watership Down, the February-born colt made 1,100,000 gns.

"He’s one of the elite stallions of all time and we came here wanting to zero in on Dubawis, among others," said Cox.

Vin Cox: active at Tattersalls on WednesdayCredit: Tattersalls

"He was a horse we saw on our first day and we kept coming back and looking at him. He’s out of a Group 1 winner, there’s a lot to like about the pedigree and a lot to like about the horse. We’ll start him off here in Europe and who knows after that."

Cox, a former managing director of Godolphin Australia, had particularly prescient insight on the market as he was also a long-time managing director of the sales firm Magic Millions in Australia.

"It’s absolutely staggering," he said. "When I was running Magic Millions, you’d love to have statistics that jumped up like that. They’re phenomenal, it’s put a spring in everyone’s step, you can see everyone walking around here, they’re up and about, and as they should be.

"It’s wonderful to see, it’s great for the industry and on the back of that, all boats rise in bloodstock the world over. It’s a stunning lot of horses, they’re widely acclaimed, it was a good buying bench here and very competitive."

Amo bullets land

Kia Joorabchian's team had to play second fiddle to Godolphin at Book 1 on WednesdayCredit: Tattersalls

Amo Racing may have missed out on the day’s headline seven-figure lots but the operation certainly did not walk away from Park Paddocks empty-handed. The most significant recruit on the day was a strapping son of Sea The Stars who cost 800,000gns when presented by The Castlebridge Consignment. The youngster is a sibling to four winners, most notably Shadwell’s prolific Group 3 scorer Al Aasy. 

The colt was secured in partnership with Al Shaqab Racing, an alliance that also landed three lots on day one at an outlay of 965,000gns. Alex Elliott revealed that Valmont, the racing vehicle of Anthony Ramsden, would also be taking an equal third share in the six-figure youngster. 

“He’s going to go to Ralph Beckett,” said Elliott, who expanded on the three-way partnership. “It suits everybody with these big-money colts, and it’s something you see happen a lot more in the States. If you buy enough of them hopefully one hits and he pays for the lot. That's the idea anyway. 

"He’s a helluva horse, he’s huge, but he’s got a temperament to die for and vetted perfectly. He’s very light on his feet too. Let’s hope he can win us a Derby.” 

By the close of trade on Wednesday Amo’s name had appeared on the docket of 20 yearlings who cost a combined 14,490,000gns. Including the 800,000gns colt that Valmont invested in, seven of the 20 were bought in partnership with Al Shaqab. 

Al Aasy's full-brother was bought in partnership by Amo Racing, Al Shaqab and ValmontCredit: Tattersalls

Expanding on how the two operations came to join forces, Elliott said: “Nicolas de Watrigant and I bought [the partnership] a Wootton Bassett horse [the €575,000 Behike] in France last year and he went to Ralph. The guys have stayed in touch and they have a very similar mindset and are trying to do the same thing. 

"What’s the point in competing when you can join up? It limits your risk, especially when you’re racing for peanuts. Obviously there are silks to consider and that type of thing, but if everyone can get on the same page – if we can stay in the buggy – we’ll try to manage it.”

Final tally

Five more seven-figure lots helped Wednesday’s figures follow a similarly buoyant trajectory to day one. Turnover rose by 13 per cent year-on-year to 40,383,000gns, despite 17 fewer lots changing hands.

The average price went up by 30 per cent to 345,155gns and the median improved 23 points to 240,000gns, having been 195,000gns at the corresponding session 12 months ago. The clearance rate remained rock solid at 89 per cent as 117 yearlings sold from 131 offered. 

Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale concludes on Thursday, with the third and final session starting at 11am.

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‘Graham’s thrilled and the accountant is delighted!’ - famous farm back in clover after 4,400,000gns Frankel filly stars at Tattersalls 

'He was the one horse we really wanted today' - Godolphin succeed in quest for No Nay Never colt at a cost of 2.2m gns