Breeders Cup Double For Tattersalls October Yearlings

St Nicholas Abbey in full stride
St Nicholas Abbey in full stride

The Aidan O’Brien-trained pair of ST NICHOLAS ABBEY and WROTE provided a memorable Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup double for Tattersalls October Yearling Sale graduates at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The Ballydoyle pair won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf respectively for the Coolmore team.

With his comfortable victory in the Breeders Cup Turf, ST NICHOLAS ABBEY finally realised the great potential he had shown as a juvenile when winning the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy. The son of MONTJEU was bought at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale by Demi O’Byrne for 200,000 guineas from Oaks Farm Stables.

The HIGH CHAPARRAL colt WROTE, who had finished third behind stablemate DADDY LONG LEGS in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, looks a likely Derby prospect for next year after winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The colt, who was bred by Mertoun Paddocks’ Rob Speers, was sold at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Heatherwold Stud for 145,000 guineas to MV Magnier.

The dams of both ST NICHOLAS ABBEY and WROTE are both graduates of the Tattersalls July Sale, with LEAPING WATER, dam of ST NICHOLAS ABBEY bought at the sale for just 3,200 guineas whilst DESERT CLASSIC, dam of WROTE was purchased for just 13,000 guineas.

The Tattersalls December Mare Sale takes place from November 21 until December 1 with one day of yearlings, followed by four days of Foals (November 23 - 26) and four days of Mares (November 28 – December 1).