900,000 Guineas Starspangledbanner Filly Tops Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale concluded on a high note, headlined by a filly from Egmont Stud topping proceedings at 900,000 guineas. The sale saw a record-equalling 11 lots realise 300,000 guineas or more and a turnover surpassed only by last year’s edition.

Stroud Coleman Bloodstock Goes to 900,000 Guineas for Starspangledbanner Filly

Anthony Stroud came out on top of a protracted bidding duel with Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown, the former landing the winning bid of 900,000 guineas for the STARSPANGLEDBANNER filly from Egmont Stud.

The filly has been purchased on behalf of Shaikh Khalid and Shaikh Nasser bin Hamed Al Khalifa’s Victorious Forever who have been huge supporters of the sale, Stroud explained:

“Shaikh Khalid takes a lot of interest in the breeze up and has had enormous success with the likes of Vandeek and others. His input is so vital. It is a team effort picking them, but his involvement is huge and he makes up his own mind.

“I did not think she would make so much, but that is a horse sale for you. You always have to go the extra mile when you see one you really like. It is fantastic that Victorious Forever is here; there is so much going on in the world and it is to be hugely admired that they are participating. It shows how much they love their racing here.” 

After thanking Anthony Stroud for his custom, Egmont Stud’s Mark Flannery said: “She belonged to the Gaffneys [Churchtown House Stud], they have done an amazing job, and they are huge supporters of us. They were first to ever send us a horse and they are great producers.

He added: “It is unbelievable to watch something like that, and there were some great judges on her. She has not missed a beat all week. She has not had a poor show and from the moment we got her off the box – we rode her out on Saturday and when she did the practice breeze – she has been foot perfect and did the same show half an hour ago as she did at he beginning of the week. It makes our life very easy!”

Mehmas Colt Sells for 550,000 Guineas to Blandford Bloodstock

Richard Brown was the successful bidder for Tally-Ho Stud’s MEHMAS colt out of SUPERIORITY, half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner CAMPANELLE and dam of one winner from one runner.

Brown said: “Again, it is all about the breeze and this colt did an exceptional breeze. The first time I saw him I thought he was quite a nice colt, but the more I saw him, the more I liked him and he did a real show out there. It looks like he has got a great temperament, he seems a very straightforward colt, and is by a top sire who can get you a really early one.

 “The page works, he is out of an Exceed And Excel mare. He is from Tally-Ho, we have been very lucky with the farm. It is somewhere I feel very confident shopping from.”

Tally-Ho Stud did not offer the colt as a yearling and Roger O’Callaghan said: “I just had a hunch that he would be a good breeze up sort – it is just such a classy all-speed family, and so we waited for this year. The family has been very good to us all the way along.

“Mick Hussey rode this horse in his last piece of work at home and said after that he is one for Royal Ascot.”

Grove Stud’s No Nay Never Filly Fetches 400,000 Guineas

Bidding on the rope, Rob Speers went to 400,000 guineas on behalf of Ibrahim Araci’s Old Mill Stud for Grove Stud’s NO NAY NEVER filly.

The filly is from a family well known to Araci and Old Mill Stud, with them owning the Group 3 Solario Stakes winner AKTABANTAY, who is out of this filly’s granddam SPLASHDOWN.

Talking more about the pedigree, Speers said: “It is a family we know well. Aktabantay stands out, we know how good he was and he had an unlucky injury in a stall at the Breeders’ Cup, which curtailed his career. We also had another out of Splashdown called Baydar, who was rated 105.

“This filly put up a very nice breeze, she vetted well enough for us, she looks like a filly we can get on with, but has a bit of scope for the future. She will be one for the broodmare band and, hopefully, we can nick a bit of black type before.”

Speaking on the filly’s future Speers says: “She goes to George Boughey, we will give her a week to ten days now, get her to George and see where we are with her. The dream with a filly who breezed like that and with that type of pedigree is to get to Royal Ascot, but it is not the be-all and end-all for us, we will do the right thing by her and let her tell us when she is ready to go.”

Dubai Beckons for 325,000 Guineas Too Darn Hot Colt

Powerstown Stud’s TOO DARN HOT colt caught the eye of Suited & Booted Racing’s syndicate manager Paul Ebbs, outbidding Michael O’Callaghan to secure the two-year-old for 325,000 guineas. The half-brother to the Group 3 winner UNFORGETTABLE FILLY will head to Dubai where the syndicate is based.

Reflecting on the purchase, Ebbs said: “We owned his half-brother Raven’s Corner in another syndicate called Touch Gold Racing.

“He won the Dubawi Stakes, he is very classy, and he held the track record over 7f.

“This colt is by Too Darn Hot, he is a little more petite than Raven’s Corner and not the same physically, but he will make his money back over the next two years in Dubai. He will ship soon and will be in Dubai by July.”

It proved a successful pinhook for Powerstown Stud, who bought the colt for 100,000 guineas at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Managing Director’s Statement

At the conclusion of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, Tattersalls Managing Director Matthew Prior commented: 

“The Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale is the first major European bloodstock sale to take place since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, which has created a degree of trepidation and uncertainty amongst bloodstock professionals heading into this week. 

“Against this backdrop, we can only be pleased that the sale has returned turnover surpassed only once in its history. We have witnessed strong competition for the best breezers, with a record-equalling elevenlots realising 300,000 guineas or more. Whilst not reaching the heady heights of last year’s sale, nevertheless it is pleasing to see a clearance rate in excess of 80%. Demand has come from both domestic and international purchasers, including a significant number of buyers from the Middle East, Hong Kong, Australia and the USA, attracted by the consistently high-class results achieved year after year by the sale’s graduates.

“Once again, we must pay tribute to the professionalism of the breeze up consignors whose horsemanship and dedication form the backbone of the sale and make it an unmissable fixture each year. That said, we acknowledge that the market has been selective, and that the sale has not been easy for all consignors.

“We now look forward to the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up and Horses in Training Sale and to welcoming buyers to Newmarket on the eve of Guineas weekend.”