Kodiac Colt Fuels Royal Ascot Dreams at Craven Sale

Buyers were quick out of the blocks April 12 during Day One of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, as 6,311,000 guineas was traded during a lively session of selling. The biggest bid came from up-and-coming trainer David Loughnane, who saw off Oliver St Lawrence at 525,000 guineas (US$718,181) to secure the Kodiac (GB) colt out of No Lippy (IRE) bred and breezed by Tally-Ho Stud, who finished the session as leading vendor with aggregate sales of 1,182,000 guineas for five sold,. Prior to lighting up the Park Paddocks ring the colt scorched the Newmarket turf when putting in the second-fastest presale workout. Loughnane enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2021 with stars like Go Bears Go (IRE) and Hello You (IRE) winning major 2-year-old prizes, and the trainer said he hopes his latest acquisition will help take his career to new heights. "I liked everything about him," said Loughnane. "He's a lovely animal, very well balanced and he did an exceptional breeze. He was the second quickest of the lot and he looks like an out-and-out Royal Ascot 2-year-old. He's got a good pedigree too, his dam was a very good 2-year-old for Mark Johnston and the sire speaks for himself. He comes from a very good home at Tally-Ho Stud too, they're always very well prepared." Loughnane, who signed alongside the name OMNI Horse, continued: "He's been bought for a new syndicate. I didn't think we'd have to go that far but I knew he wasn't going to be cheap. Thankfully we have owners who are willing to back us. It's nice to be able to compete at the top level, whether that's in the sales ring or on the track. Hopefully this horse will allow us to do both." The sale of the Kodiac colt capped another productive evening at Tattersalls for Tally-Ho Stud, as the O'Callaghan family's operation sourced the dam, a daughter of Oasis Dream who won three races, for just 20,000 guineas ($26,719) at the December Mares Sale in 2018. No Lippy possesses a pedigree packed with precocious speed as she is a sister to listed-winning sprinter Polybius and a half sister to the Niarchos family's Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) heroine Albigna. She produced a Mehmas (IRE) filly last year before returning to Kodiac. The name OMNI Horse also appeared besides the Tasleet (GB) filly out of Royal Blush who went the way of Kerri Radcliffe at 200,000 guineas ($273,593) when offered by Aguiar Bloodstock. The 75,000 guineas ($108,970) pinhook is a sibling to four winners, including the group 2-placed A Momentofmadness (GB). Durcan Takes Aim With War Front Colt Loughnane was not the only young trainer to secure an exciting recruit during the Craven Sale's opening session, as Newmarket resident Joseph Parr can look forward to guiding the career of the War Front colt out of Pine Needles after Ted Durcan landed the promising prospect at 425,000 guineas ($581,385). "He's from a marvelous stable and he's a smashing-looking horse," said Durcan. "He had a small medical hiccup this morning but it was nothing major and our vets were happy with him so he's going into training with Joseph Parr in Newmarket. He's been bought for Oliver Harris. He was an obvious one but I'm afraid sometimes you have to pay for those." The War Front colt was offered by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm, the source of unbeaten dual group 1 winner Native Trail. The champion 2-year-old is not the only star to graduate from the Oak Tree academy, as Williamson also produced Preakness Stakes (G1) hero War of Will, who shares his sire with Tuesday's six-figure colt. The youngster went unsold at $170,000 when offered at Keeneland in September, and Williamson explained that agent Mark McStay provided some crucial assistance in sourcing the horse as a yearling. "I have to give Mark McStay a mention as he knew I'd had luck with War of Will and he told me there was a War Front colt who hadn't been sold," said Williamson. "Tim Hyde Jr. went out and took videos of the horse and we got him bought, but we wouldn't have got to him without Mark. "He's a beautiful horse and his breeze was beautiful, so let's hope he's a racehorse. We're delighted as it's a great price. He's very similar to War of Will in terms of action and attitude, he's always fresh and happy with life, which is interesting. If he's as good we'll be more than happy." The 10-year-old Pine Needles, a grade 3-placed daughter of Giant's Causeway, has had just one runner from four foals of racing age but has plenty to recommend her on pedigree. She is a sibling to four stakes performers and out of Meridiana, winner of the 2003 Italian Oaks. There is some strong German blood further back in the family, with German Oaks heroine Miss Yoda among the names that jump off the page. Session Numbers The session saw turnover hit 6,311,000 guineas, a 3% dip on the corresponding figure from last year's sale, although that change only reflects that more horses were sold 12 months ago, with 65 changing hands in 2021 and 52 selling on Tuesday for a clearance rate of 78%. The average price went up by 22% year-on-year to 121,365 guineas, while the median rose by 8% to 86,000 guineas, having been 80,000 guineas on Day One in 2021. The Craven Sale continues Wednesday.