30 Apr April ’24 Round Up

April saw the return of the breeze up sales, starting at Tattersalls for the Craven Sale, biblical weather led the way to what should have been a straightforward start to the sale season and caused chaos for purchasers and vendors alike with the breeze having to temporarily be halted while a passing storm came through Newmarket.

Billy made four purchases, three for long-term client Sheikh Abdullah Al Sabah. The first, a daughter of Kitten’s Joy out of a Night Of Thunder mare from the family of Twilight Jet and Go Angellica – she was purchased for 50,000GNS from Grangecoor Farm and will head straight to Saudi Arabia.
Secondly a colt by No Nay Never out of a Mastercraftsman mare, from the family of Flanders and G Force. The easy moving colt was purchased for 115,000GNS from consigners Mocklershill.
Thirdly a colt by Mehmas out of a Teofilo mare from the family of Miblish and Count John. He was purchased for 67,000GNS, they will all head into training with Richard Hannon.
Finally,Billy bought a Havana Grey colt for Opulence Thoroughbreds, out of a Lethal Force mare and from the family of Evasive and Autocratic. He was bought privately having not sold in the ring and will head into training with Clive Cox.

Goffs Breeze Up came around next and five purchases were made. Another two for Sheikh Abdullah Al Sabah – a Havana Gold filly from the family of Touching and Brian Ryan and a First Samurai colt, from the American family of Girlfriendontheside and The Qantico Kid, for £28,000 who will head straight to Saudi Arabia to start his career.
Another was lot 63 who was bought in Partnership with Middleham Park Racing, an Ardad colt out of a New Approach mare, from the family of Pure Grain and Grain Of Truth, for £40,000. The colt breezed in the top 10 quickest on the day and connections are hoping of a tilt at Royal Ascot.
There was also a Calyx filly for the Opulence Ladies Syndicate who was purchased from first-time Breeze Up consigners Station Yard. Out of a Mayson mare, she comes from the black type family of Aktabantay and Reina Madre she was knocked down for £42,000.
And finally a Too Darn Hot colt from the family of Goldream and Galileo Gold, the substantial colt was purchased for Tom Clover for £68,000 from renowned breeze up consignor Malcolm Bastard.

Prydwen has now won twice on the bounce for trainer George Scott and Blue Starr Racing, the six year-old was originally bought for €30,000 as a yearling in 2019 from Goffs Orby Sale by Billy. The son of Camelot has managed to amass prize money in excess of £219,999.
The gelding now holds entries for Sandown in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes in May and in June for the Group 1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup, should he run, it will be his first start at the Royal meeting.

Circle Of Fire made history in Australia when backing up off of an easy Group 2 win in the Chairman’s Quality handicap to take out the Group 1 Sydney Cup the following week under Hong Kong regular Andrea Atzeni. It was an emotional affair for Andrea who had been in Australia the previous week to the race to say fair well to long standing friend Stefano Cherchi who sadly passed away after a shocking accident at the Canberra racetrack.
Circle Of Fire was a private purchase for The King in 2023 for current trainer Ciaron Maher and will work back from the first Tuesday in November when he’ll likely take his place in the Melbourne Cup.