01 Nov October ’24 Round-Up

October swung around in a flash and Goffs Orby was the first sale of the month to attend. Two purchases were made at Ireland’s premier sale, firstly a daughter of Kodiac out of a Mastercrafstman mare, Woodland Maiden, she is an own sister to Group and Listed placed Iveagh Gardens – she was knocked down for €115,000 and will head into training will Ollie Sangster for owner partnership Michael Blencowe and Valmont. Secondly a son of Night of Thunder out of the Listed and Group placed American Apples from the family of Pomology, the strapping colt was purchased for Victorious Racing to head into training with George Scott, knocked down for half a million euros the colt is an exciting acquisition for the owner and trainer duo.

All roads then led to Newmarket for the heavily anticipated Book 1 where trade was at an all-time high. Record prices were recorded, sixteen lots sold for over a million – Godolphin and Amo Racing were the heavy hitters, Amo buying the two top lots – a Frankel filly for 4, 400,000 Guineas and a Wootton Bassett for 4,300,000 Guineas.

Billy purchased eight yearlings from Book 1 for clients. Two with Alex Elliott for the partnership of Blencowe and Valmont – a son of Too Darn Hot from the family of Program Trading and Silk Sari for 155,000 Guineas, he will go to Ralph Beckett and a son of Sea The Stars out of European Group and Listed winning Zoffany mare, Main Addition. He was purchased for 190,000 Guineas and will head to trainer Andrew Balding. Another purchase was made for Blencowe, a daughter of American Sire Catholic Boy from the family of Superstar Leo and One Master, she was knocked at 30,000 Guineas and will be another one for Andrew Balding to train.

Sheikh Nasser of Victorius Racing was keen to add more fuel to the fire and Billy bought a further three to head into training with George Scott. Firstly a strong Lope De Vega filly own sister to Group placed Editor At Large and out of winning Galileo mare, What Say You, own sister to Group performing Bolshoi Ballet and Southern France. The filly was purchased for 375,000 Guineas.

A strapping Night of Thunder colt from the family of Strath Burn, the colt was purchased for 250,000 Guineas. A Starspangledbanner colt from the family of Galashiels out of Listed -placed dam, Glenmayne for 260,000 Guineas. Lastly an easy-moving daughter of Lope De Vega out of Galileo mare Over All, an own sister to Group Kenya. She was purchased for 320,000 Guineas and will go with the others to George Scott.

Book 1 rolled quickly into a hugely competitive Book 2 where there was no let up in the energic trade. Another ten yearlings were picked up for clients. Six of which, will go into training with Tom Clover – a Study Of Man, Camelot, an Invincible Spirit, Sea The Moon, Kodiac and a Kameko. A further two more for duo Victorious and George Scott – an Acclamation colt from master consigners Rathbarry for 500,000 Guineas hailing from the blue blooded family of Oh This Is Us and Shamwari Lodge. A Lope De Vega filly out of Group and Listed performer Born With Pride, she cost 160,000 Guineas.

For Blencowe, an easy moving son of No Nay Never from the family of Forest of Dean, purchased for 130,00 Guineas he will go to Andrew Balding to be trained. Lastly a Mehmas filly bought in partnership with David Appleton, a relative of Havana Gold, she cost 125,000 Guineas.

At Tattersalls Book 3 two colts were secured, a 78,000 Guinea Saxon Warrior from Plantation Stud  for the ownership of Blencowe and Valmont, the colt has headed into training with Harry Charlton. The colt is out of a black type Elusive Quality mare who has already produced a group winning horse, Zoffarelli. To finish off a fast-looking son of Zoustar costing 32,000 Guineas and heading to George Scott.

The end of October whizzed around quickly bringing the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale, strong trade seemed to roll on from the yearling sale. Billy secured two Lots to head down under for Ciaron Maher, Jareth – a son of Make Believe, with only one placed start in Ireland he is unexposed and he looked as if he could only improve for 140,000 Guineas. Go Daddy was the second purchase for Maher Racing at 350,000 Guineas, the three-year-old has picked up multiple Group placings across Europe and looks like he should be a strong contender for the Aussie tracks.

King Of Bears was purchased for 200,000 Guineas to head into training for George Scott, the son of Kodi Bear rated 97 by the BHA has been lightly campaigned as a two-year-old and again only looks as if he should improve as a three-year-old.

On the turf things are winding down to a close but the winners kept coming, Rogue Sensation won a Maiden Stakes impressively at Southwell beating home the favourite Maui Breeze. The daughter of Too Darn Hot was purchased from Tattersalls December Yearling Sale 23, she was 50,000 Guineas from Barton Stud.

West Acre won again, this time with a six lengths lead. He impressively ran away in front at Southwell to claim a Novice Stakes race over five furlongs for owner partnership Michael Blencowe and Valmont on his third start and will now head to Middle East for the Dubai Carnival.

Qetaifan won another Novice Stakes at Goodwood, the colt has now won his last two starts. The colt by Starspangledbanner was a purchase from the Arqana Breeze Up Sale in May earlier in the year, he cost Al Rabban Racing €55,000. He has subsequently been sold to continue his career in Hong Kong.