There have been many memorable renewals of the Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze Up Sale, but there has never been anything quite like this.
The Mehmas colt from Katie Walsh's Greenhills Farm had been the subject of plenty of positive whispers after a turbocharged workout April 23. However, even the most optimistic prediction would have struggled to foresee this seven-figure outcome.
A helter-skelter three-way bidding battle broke out April 24 between Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown, chief talent scout for emerging force Wathnan Racing; Alex Elliott, a key cog in the Amo Racing machine; and Anthony Stroud, a long-serving member of Godolphin's buying team.
At times it seemed like the rivals had cried enough, and others when it felt as though the tussle could last all night. In the end, as has been the case so many times before, it was the Godolphin man who won out. A subtle nod of the head from his ringside office signaled a gasp-inducing bid of £1 million (US$1,330,000, £1=US$1.33).
The price was a Doncaster record by clear water. Prior to Thursday's session the record had belonged to Regent's Stroll, who cost Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls £660,000 last July. But that sum was bettered not once but twice Thursday, with another Mehmas colt going Godolphin's way at £720,000 earlier in the day.
"It's unbelievable," Walsh said after thanking the successful purchaser. "I'm delighted for my clients, he's owned by a big syndicate; there's people from Scandinavia, Ukraine, France. They gave €140,000 for him as a foal and it didn't happen for them as a yearling, so they asked me if I'd breeze him. He's been extremely straightforward from the get-go. Mehmas is obviously having a fantastic time and this colt has a lovely pedigree. He breezed very nicely and is going to a very good team. I just hope he's extremely lucky for them."
The colt was bred in Ireland by John and Barry Grogan of Milestream Stud from Rapid Reaction, a daughter of Shamardal who John trained to win two races. She also finished third to A'Ali in the 2020 Sapphire Stakes (G2). There is depth to the page too, as the dam is a half sibling to the triple listed winner Katla, and they in turn are out a half sister to Wootton Bassett.
The colt's appearance in Doncaster was the third time he has hit the public market. He first fetched €140,000 as a foal when signed for by Anna Sundstrom and Filip Zwicky at the 2023 Goffs November Foal Sale before going unsold at the same price at last year's Arqana August Yearling Sale.
Stroud reflected on becoming the first person to land a seven-figure bid in the Doncaster ring by saying: "If the horse is there, the people will be there. He did a very good breeze and is from a very good consignor. I thought he'd sell well, but at the top end it's always difficult to work out where you're going to end up. He's by a very good stallion, and Katie does a fantastic job. Our principal was keen to buy some breeze-up horses. He'll be going to Charlie Appleby."
Record Proceedings
The top lot was one of four records posted in Doncaster, with turnover also reaching a new high, along with the average and median prices. Aggregate sales reached £11,798,000 (US$15,691,340), which was up 12% year-on-year. The average price rose by 35% to £84,270 (US$112,079), while the median climbed four points to £37,500 (US$49,875). The clearance rate was a very healthy 83% as 140 lots sold from 168 offered.
Record prices were like London buses at Goffs Thursday morning as the previous high mark at the Doncaster Breeze Up Sale was smashed not once but twice. Prior to the seven-figure Mehmas colt another colt by the sire out of Boost from Tally-Ho Stud. On this occasion, it was Stroud who came out on top, striking a bid of £720,000 on behalf of Godolphin.
"It's lively, isn't it," Stroud said. "It's following on from Newmarket last week. The better ones are obviously making the money, and it's encouraging that we've got so many people who want to have a really good horse to race."
Expanding on his £720,000 purchase, Stroud said: "Tally-Ho have a good tradition of producing breeze-up horses. He did a good breeze, passed all the veterinary examinations, and just looked exactly like what he's meant to be—a real 2-year-old. We bought a few Mehmas yearlings for Godolphin last year, including the half-brother to Perfect Power from the same hotel (for 1 million guineas). He's a very nice horse."
Fittingly, the early record holder came from Tally-Ho Stud, whose Tony O'Callaghan was among the consignors at the very first Doncaster breeze-up sale back in 1977.
Although the family behind Tally-Ho tend to leave their horses to do the talking on their behalf, Roger O'Callaghan described his father as a "pioneer" of the breeze-up business, and reflected on the record-busting result by saying: "We want to be the best, and we want to sell the best, but you're only as good as the next horse."
The colt was bred in Great Britain by Cheveley Park Stud from Boost, a winning daughter of Pivotal and 2010 Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) heroine Hooray. This makes the youngster a half sibling to the listed-winning and group 3-placed Acclamation filly Benefit. The colt was offered at Book 2 of last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where he was led out unsold at 95,000 guineas.
The record-breaking brace mirrors results during last week's Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, where consecutive sessions saw new high marks set, most notably the 1.75 million-guinea Havana Grey bought by Amo Racing.
Mehmas, who set a new record for 2-year-old winners in a single season with 70 last year, stands at Tally-Ho at fee of €70,000. His current juvenile crop were conceived in 2022 during the season his fee had doubled from €25,000 to €50,000.
Concluding Remarks
At the conclusion of trade Thursday, Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent commented: "Today is a day that we will remember for an awful long time and is a real milestone in the evolution of the company, whilst it's particularly fitting that Harry (Beeby)'s son Henry, the Goffs Group CEO, was on the rostrum for this historic event.
"But we can be proud of so much more than the top price from today (Thursday). We've achieved a record turnover for this sale, a record average, and a record median whilst four horses matched or exceeded the previous top price of £500,000, 10 sold for £300,000 or more, and 29 exceeded £100,000. A truly remarkable day by any measure."
