'I hope he goes on to be what I think he is' - mixed emotions for Ryan as La Bellota moves on for sale-topping 425,000gns at Tattersalls

A two-year-old named after the Spanish word for acorn grew into a mighty price at Tattersalls on Wednesday evening as wildcard entry La Bellota topped day three of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale at 425,000gns. 

Agent Tom Biggs was unable to shed any light on future plans having struck the winning bid on behalf of his colleague Richard Brown. The Blandford Bloodstock man was not at Park Paddocks when the session-topper passed through the ring having boarded a flight to the US to watch his Wathnan Racing purchases Aesterius and Shareholder tackle the Breeders’ Cup. 

La Bellota was offered as a wildcard entry by John Ryan, who saddled the son of Mehmas to shed his maiden tag in the Listed Doncaster Stakes on Saturday.

The sale of the Gerry McGladery-owned gelding prompted mixed emotions for Ryan, who may have landed a tidy windfall with the 52,000gns Guineas Breeze-Up Sale buy but was left to wave goodbye to a potential flagbearer for his Newmarket stable. 

“He’s probably the best independently owned two-year-old on the market,” said Ryan. “To be honest, it’s bittersweet and it’s sad to lose him. At the end of the day we bought him for what we bought him for and sold him for what we sold him for. 

"You’d love to have him in your yard because he’s an absolute superstar. He’s a very special horse and I think he’ll do very special things.

“We put him out here to be sold but I’m not too sure my owner is happy he’s gone. It can be a bit of a conundrum when you’re being given big offers, but we’ve made a nice profit on him. That isn’t always the point because it’s hard to find these horses, but I hope he goes on to be what I think he is.” 

La Bellota compiled some strong form over the course of seven starts, including when beaten just a neck by Powerful Glory in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes. 

Ryan also expanded on the naming of the youngster, saying: “The owner named him after his villa in Marbella, so it’s a name with a special meaning to him. La Bellota means acorn, and as people say, from acorns, mighty oaks grow. Hopefully that’s the case with this horse.”

Juddmonte draft to the fore

Few drafts pique buyers’ interest quite like the offerings from Juddmonte. That was evident once again on Wednesday evening as the operation presented some high-class talents on the third day of the sale.

The buying team from Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz’s Najd Stud scooped the top two lots from the draft, first going to 260,000gns for Task Force before spending 380,000gns on the very next lot, Amphius. 

Those purchases took the Saudi Arabian operation’s haul to 13, with representatives Saud Al Qahtani, Saad Al Mishraf and Nico Archdale of Archdale Bloodstock contributing 1,529,000gns to turnover.

“They’ll go to Saudi for the King's Cup, both will go for that race,” said Al Qahtani after signing for Amphius and Task Force. 

Saud Al Qahtani: "Juddmonte is the best breeder in global racing"Credit: Alisha Meeder

“Juddmonte is the best breeder in global racing and both are by top-class stallions and have very good form. We didn’t expect to have to go so far, but when you’re looking for good-quality horses, the competition will always be strong, and when you find a good horse that you want, you should go for it. 

“We’ve bought 13 so far. We have four trainers in Saudi and the prince will decide who will train each horse.” 

Amphius ran six times for Harry Chalton and finished outside of the places just once, when fourth to Economics on his debut at Newbury in April. The colt opened his account in a Beverley maiden on his penultimate outing and was last seen finishing second, beaten just a neck, to Movie Maker in a 7f handicap back at Newbury. That effort was allotted a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 99. 

The three-year-old is a Kingman brother to Sangarius and a half-brother to Bee Queen, dam of Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Belbek. This is one of Juddmonte’s most prolific families, as Amphius boasts blue hen Hasili as his third dam. 

Although Amphius brought the bigger price after Al Mishraf outbid Sean Graham, racing manager to Tony Bloom, Task Force possesses the more eyecatching profile. Both of his victories came at two, winning a Salisbury maiden on his debut and following up in the Listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy. 

His final juvenile outing came in the Middle Park Stakes when a keeping-on second to Vandeek. That effort was allotted an RPR of 110, a mark he hit again at three when third to Lead Artist in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes. He was last seen finishing third in the Group 2 Joel Stakes won by Prague. 

Amphius: Juddmonte's brother to Royal Ascot winner Sangarius sells to Najd Stud for 380,000gnsCredit: Alisha Meeder

The colt is by Frankel and is the tenth foal out of Special Duty, who won the Cheveley Park Stakes and was promoted to first in both the 1,000 Guineas and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. This breeding makes Task Force a sibling to two winners, including the Listed scorer Elegant Verse. 

All told Juddmonte sold 18 lots for a combined 1,500,000gns. 

The latter stages of Tuesday’s session were dominated by some heavy-hitting Australian investment, most notably when Go Bloodstock, De Burgh Equine, Waterhouse and Bott Racing and McKeever Bloodstock combined to secure the high-class Delius at a sale-record price of 1,300,000gns.

All about next year for Hawk Power

Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock and Australia-based trainer Annabel Neasham have combined on three lots this week for an outlay of 640,000gns. The hat-trick was brought up on Wednesday with the 300,000gns signing of Hawk Power from Godolphin. 

The homebred son of Gleneagles won two of nine races for Andre Fabre, victories that came at Chantilly and Deauville. He was last seen finishing third in the Listed Prix le Fabuleux won by Fast Tracker. 

“He’s a lovely horse and buying from Godolphin means there’s no reserve,” said Boman. “Obviously that attracts a lot of people. He’s a very consistent horse and he was the one that once I’d gone through everything I just wanted to buy. We’ve bought a couple of others along the way but we’ve had to be patient waiting for him. 

Godolphin's Hawk Power goes the way of Blandford Bloodstock for 300,000gnsCredit: Alisha Meeder

“I think he’s all about next year, plus he’s a very well-bred horse and it’s a pedigree that’s worked in Australia. He’s out of a Street Cry mare, which I thought was very attractive too and I think he’ll be better on top of the ground. He ran on a bog behind Fast Tracker, who Wathnan Racing bought and was favourite for the French Derby. 

"He just shows up every week, travels well, has a turn of foot; he’s just a simple horse to like.” 

Hawk Power is the sixth foal out of Lyric Of Light, dam of five winners and successful herself in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile. He was one of 44 lots sold by Godolphin at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale, a draft which generated receipts worth 1,117,500gns.

Kirk on the mark with Poniros

Antipodean buyers picked up where they left off as Guy Mulcaster, agent for the Chris Waller stable, went to 210,000gns for the Jamie Railton-consigned Tazima, a three-year-old son of Awtaad who won a Redcar novice stakes on Monday. 

Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk also continued their cross-code talent search with a brace of 200,000gns lots. First came Poniros, a son of Golden Horn offered by Baroda Stud on behalf of Amo Racing. The three-year-old made a winning debut a little over 12 months ago and has twice hit an RPR of 99 when placed in handicaps at Newbury and Ascot subsequently.

This was Kirk’s second acquisition by Golden Horn after going to 330,000gns for Too Bossy For Us on day two. 

“I’m collecting them now!” quipped Kirk. “This lad has a bit more class than yesterday's horse, and he could even be the sort to drop back in trip. He’s very light on his feet, a good mover and he has again been bought as a dual-purpose type.” 

Poniros: "This lad has a bit more class than yesterday's horse"Credit: Laura Green

Poniros was making his third appearance on the public market having first fetched 20,000gns from Windleston Bloodstock as a foal before Peter and Ross Doyle gave €95,000 for him at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. 

Kirk brought the double up when securing Pappano from The Castlebridge Consignment draft. Bred and owned by Rachel Hood, the three-year-old son of Nathaniel won two races for John and Thady Gosden. His most recent success came on his penultimate start in a Southwell handicap over a mile and six furlongs, an effort that was given an RPR of 99. His latest run, when third in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes, achieved the same mark. 

“He came highly recommended by the Gosdens,” said Kirk. “I’ve been very lucky buying from the yard before. I’ve not bought from the stable for a couple of years, but whenever one is recommended I take note and give it serious consideration. 

“This is a progressive sort and he’ll be a lovely four-year-old. He’s a bit immature mentally and wasn’t gelded until July and it all happened a bit quick for him after. 

“Willie has not had that many by Nathaniel but those he has had have been good – Concertista being one. The options are open for this horse over hurdles and on the Flat.” 

Among the noteworthy names to have switched from the Gosden stable to Mullins’ Closutton base is eight-time Grade 1 winner and Stayers’ Hurdle hero Nichols Canyon. 

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues on Thursday at 9.30am.

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