News

30 Nov

November Racing Round-Up: Rising Stars and International Success With yearling sales wrapped up, November is typically a quieter month, primarily focused on preparation for the upcoming mare and foal sales. However, there was still plenty of action on the track, showcasing some exciting prospects for the future. Rogue Sensation’s Bold Performance Rogue Sensation put in a strong display in Deauville’s Listed Prix Zeddaan, finishing a close second. The daughter of Too Darn Hot, out of an Oasis Dream mare, was a relatively inexpensive purchase at 50,000 Guineas for The Rogues Gallery syndicate from the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. Now boasting black type, she looks like an exciting contender for next year’s flat season. Tom Clover’s Newmarket Success Trainer Tom Clover celebrated an impressive victory on the final day of the turf season at Newmarket with a two-year-old gelding out of Sixtygeesbaby. The son of Starspangledbanner, purchased for 65,000 Guineas at...

01 Nov

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....

01 Sep

August brings with it the beginning of the yearling sales, and to kick off a return to France for their V1 August Yearling Sale in the delight town of Deauville on the Normandy coast. Billy secured two lots throughout the sale, an impressive son of Teofilo out of a Fastnet Rock mare, the colt is own sister to multiple black type winning mare Tres Valentine, he was purchased for €320,000 and will head into training with George Scott. The second, a filly by the great Sottsass from the family of Chriselliam, Very Special and Janicellaine, the filly is out of a winning Lope De Vega mare and she cost connections €180,000 to head into training with French 2000 Guineas winner Mario Barratti. The sales circus then headed back to the UK for the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale held in Doncaster where Billy purchased two colts. Firstly, a...

01 Aug

July Arqana Summer Sale kicked off the month, two purchases were made, both two-year-olds that have gone into training with Tom Clover. A smart Zarak colt out of a Kingman mare for €40,00 and a Shalaa filly from the French black-type family of Wheels On Fire, bought for €10,000. Tattersalls July Sale rolled around quickly bringing with it a catalogue of a whopping 923 lots. JS Bloodstock secured four lots, Juneberry a Night Of Thunder filly from Godolphin that will head to France and to the stable of Mario Barrati in Chantilly. Harvard Sound, a gelding with one start and one win purchased for 50,000 Guineas will go back to trainer Tom Clover. City House, a son of Night Of Thunder from the Stable of James Fanshawe will head to George Scott and will hopefully be destined for a winter campaign in Bahrain, the colt was...

30 Jun

Debate in the lead up to Royal Ascot was the lack of international runners, but that didn’t stop the only Australian horse of the week Asfoora from making the locally trained sprinters all look distinctly average. What was more disconcerting for our sprinters, was that Asfoora hasn’t ever managed to win a Group 1 in Australia - she came down and put a length on, what is considered to be our best in division, is a mild wake up call regarding the depth of our sprinters. Asfoora was even described by record breaking trainer Chris Waller as  ‘Just a B grade filly in Australia’. It was a superb effort from Ballarat handler Henry Dwyer to get her primed for the big day after a long year in training in Oz, a fully deserved victory for one of the industry’s nice guys. Let’s hope that her...

31 May

May started with the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale. Three purchases were made, all colts, by Australia, Mehmas and Kodi Bear. The Australia will head into training with George Scott, the Kodi Bear to Harry Eustace and the Mehmas who cost 160,000 Guineas for Opulence Thoroughbreds will head to Andrew Balding. From Tattersalls, the circus rolled on to Arqana for the last major Breeze Up Sale of the year - The top lot this year was a Justify colt of Norman Williamson’s that went the way of Godolphin for a steady €2,300,000. JS Bloodstock was responsible for four purchases, sadly nothing that broke the six-figure mark, let alone the seven-figure mark that Godolphin was spending. We bought four colts and a filly, the colts were by Galiway, Blue Point, Starspangledbanner and the filly, a Saxon Warrior. The Blue Point and the Starspangledbanner will go into training...

30 Apr

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...

31 Mar

March saw the racing world focusing its attention on the Middle East once again with the Dubai Carnival in full swing and the Bahrain season beginning to wind down. Billy was once again in Bahrain to witness Horses-In-Training purchase Isle Of Jura take part in the final leg of the Bahrain Triple Crown. Having already won the Crown Prince’s Cup and Al Khalifa Cup, Isle Of Jura was on course to do what no horse had ever achieved in Bahrain by winning the Kings Cup over 1 mile and 4 furlongs, which was an unknown trip for him. Having gone off 2nd favourite to Charlie Appleby’s Dhahabi, Isle Of Jura was briefly caught widest of all around the first bend but was eventually settled in behind the pace as usual by regular rider Callum Sheppard. He took a lot of rousing in the home straight...

29 Feb

February saw the start of a busy sales period once again with sales at Tattersalls, Goffs and Arqana where there was a last chance to buy breeding stock and short yearlings for various clients. On the racing front things were hotting up in the Middle East with international racing happening in Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar. Billy was in Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Cup trials night to meet various clients and spend time at track work with local trainer Lucas Gaiten. Originally from Argentina, Lucas, who is the son of champion Argentine trainer Nicolas Gaiten, was head hunted to become a private trainer in Saudi Arabia and he showed Billy the lay out and facilities of the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. Following on from Saudi and Billy went to Bahrain for the Crown Prince’s Cup meeting. Billy and trainer George Scott had purchased a...

01 Jan

December came and went in a flurry of sales with yet more triumph in the sales ring and on the track. During Tattersalls Yearlings Sale 6 lots were secured, 4 of which were for The Rogues Gallery; A Lope De Vega colt out of black type Motivator mare, Vue Fantastique from the same family as Calling Out, he was knocked down for 20,000gns. Bali Hai, an already named Too Darn Hot filly out of an Oasis Dream mare from the family of Kensington and Islington. The filly was consigned by Barton Stud and purchased for 50,000gns. A colt by Study Of Man out of a Galileo mare from the family of Mukhadram and Woodland Aria. The imposing colt was purchased for 78,000gns from WH Bloodstock. And lastly for The Rogues Gallery was the only Dubawi of the sale, a colt out of a group-winning mare and from the family...