'She was the standout horse in Book 3' - Elliott and Amo to the fore again with 200,000gns Havana Grey filly

Another day, another session of record trade at Tattersalls. Whitsbury Manor Stud presented the highly touted Havana Grey filly out of Ealaan, who brought the hammer down at 200,000gns. That price is the highest ever paid for a filly at Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale, and matches the previous high mark set in 2016. 

Another daughter of Havana Grey has proved herself one of the season’s best juveniles, with Arabian Dusk landing the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes before running third in the Cheveley Park Stakes. The Group 1-placed filly was pinhooked as a yearling by Norman Williamson then sold at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale by Katie Walsh, and that pair played a leading role in the bidding on Thursday. They were joined by agent Anthony Stroud, who signed for Arabian Dusk on behalf of Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa at 525,000gns back in April.

However, those interested parties ultimately featured as also-rans after Alex Elliott, standing in the second row of the bidders’ area opposite the rostrum, threw in the decisive 20,000gns increase that brought matters to a conclusion at 200,000gns. The sessions-topper was Elliott’s 67th purchase at this year’s October Yearling Sale. 

“She’s been bought for Amo Racing and is going to be trained by George Boughey,” said Elliott. “As the price suggests, she was the standout horse in Book 3 based on what I found. It’s nice to hear Norman Williamson thinks the same thing. He said that at the same stage this filly is better than Arabian Dusk was. Now at this stage there’s still a long way to go, but she was the main target today so I’m very happy. 

“I knew the breeze-up men would be there to a certain level, and I knew Anthony Stroud, who bought Arabian Dusk at the breeze-ups, would be involved too. I thought Anthony would be there at the end, and he was down the back stairs with the Crisford crew. That was a bang on where I thought the price would be.” 

Alex Elliott: "As the price suggests, she was the standout horse in Book 3"Credit: Laura Green

The filly is a sibling to three winners, while her dam is out of Nell Gwyn Stakes scorer Misterah. Her price matched that achieved by Creek Harbour, a seven-time winner by Kodiac who was knocked down to Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock eight years ago.

Williamson was able to atone for his earlier reversal when successfully bidding 90,000gns for Daymark Stud’s Havana Grey colt out of Kalfu later in the session. “I sold the Havana Grey filly [Arabian Dusk] at this year's Craven Sale with Katie,” said the man from Oak Tree Farm. “The sire is doing fantastic and I thought this fella was the best colt here today. He has great balance and I’m very pleased to get him. Let's hope he’s lucky.” 

Expanding on his October Yearling Sale activities, Williamson added: “It has been very tough but I’ve bought one in Book 1, one in Book 2 and now one in Book 3. It’s great to see such good trade. There’s been a great bunch of horses here.” 

Browne’s Blue Point breeze-up bound

The strength of trade during Books 1 and 2 meant those buying with resale in mind have had to box clever in order to protect potential profit margins. Breeze-up doyen Willie Browne will also be hoping brute spending strength will reap dividends after going to 150,000gns for a Blue Point colt out of the Group 2-placed Anahita from the draft of New England Stud. 

“It was all breeze-up money on this colt, but I think he’s a good horse,” said the Mocklershill man after signing the ticket. “The sire is very good, I have had a good price for one by him before. It’s been very tough to buy but this is my sixth this week. We’ve spent a lot of money and sadly you can bring them home then in February they’re slow and suddenly you’re in trouble. You’re trying to buy a quick horse, but I didn’t intend to give that much for him.” 

The Blue Point colt out of the Group 2-placed Anahita sells to Willie Browne for 150,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Asked about the balance between buying the right article but not blowing the budget, Browne continued: “It’s very difficult because you definitely have to go beyond where you want to be. That’s grand if they can run, but sadly you’ll lose everything if they’re not.” 

Browne was making a swift reinvestment having been involved in pinhooking the son of Territories who went from 65,000gns foal to 750,000gns Sumbe yearling purchase during the closing session of Book 2. “It was a great result, but it’s all gone now in one fell swoop!” he said. “It was way above expectations, I couldn’t believe it. He was a gorgeous horse but it was one of those freaky things. We’ll take it though.” 

Another for Najd Stud

Although some of the bigger hitters had left town there was still plenty of international involvement during Thursday’s session. Saudi Arabian operation Najd Stud made a six-figure involvement when agent Nico Archdale went to 110,000gns for the Time Test colt out of Cashla Bay from WH Bloodstock. 

The Lofts Hall Stud-bred youngster boasted one of the day’s more eyecatching pages as he is a three-parts sibling to the Ollie Sangster-trained Simmering, who cleared away with the Group 2 Prix du Calvados in August and has since run well at Group 1 level in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Prix Marcel Boussac.

“He was the standout physical here today and he’s a half-brother to a very smart horse this year in Simmering,” said Archdale. “He’s also by a sire who’s done very well out in Saudi, so he’ll head straight there. He’s the perfect physical for the racing there so I’m delighted to have bought him for Prince Faisal and Najd Stud. Hopefully he’ll be a nice horse for the future.” 

The Time Test close relation to Simmering is bound for Saudi ArabiaCredit: Laura Green

Najd Stud has been recruiting throughout the October Yearling Sale, with the most notable signing the half-brother to Golden Horn who fetched 270,000gns during Book 2. The Sea The Stars colt was signed for alongside trainer Roger Varian. 

Archdale added: “We bought one other Time Test in Book 1 and then seven yearlings in Book 2. They will all go to Saudi, apart from the Sea The Stars colt, who’ll go into training with Roger Varian. It’s been a very strong market with some very nice horses.”

Although the market was not quite so buoyant as throughout bumper editions of Books 1 and 2, trade remained perfectly solid for the level. At 6,451,000gns, turnover was down just one per cent year-on-year, despite a smaller catalogue meaning 20 fewer lots changed hands. The average price was up seven per cent at 26,330gns, while the median was down five points at 20,000gns. The clearance rate was 88 per cent as 245 yearlings sold from 278 offered.

Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues on Friday, with Book 4 due to follow immediately after during the evening session.

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