Shadwell continued its sales-ring resurgence with the 460,000 guineas (US$639,400; 1 guinea=US$1.39) signing of a striking son of Showcasing during the early exchanges of the final session of Tattersall's October Yearling Sale Book 2 Oct. 14. The purchase saw the operation return to a source of some significant past successes.
The same sire has supplied notable Shadwell color-bearers Alkumait, Mohaather, and Tasleet, while the colt was bred by Paul McCartan's Ballyphilip Stud, the same breeder responsible for the operation's top-class sprinter Battaash.
"From what I saw, he was the best horse here today," said racing manager Angus Gold, who outbid Conor Quirke. "Only Paul McCartan could get a Showcasing looking as beautiful as that. He was born under a lucky star, that man!
"I thought he was a lovely, lovely horse. We've had luck with Showcasing before with horses like Mohaather and Tasleet, who were smaller, neater types as yearlings; this is a much scopier individual. To my eye, he didn't look anything like most Showcasings. He had a lot of class and moved beautifully for a big horse."
He added: "We had (fourth dam) Arjuzah, who bred us a group 1 winner. Malhub couldn't breathe, but he still won us a Golden Jubilee Stakes."
Gold, who filled the role of underbidder on Day 2's session-topping 650,000 guineas Lope de Vega colt, added: "I wanted to buy one nice colt and we've been hitting the bar a bit, coming up against the big lads. Richard Brown stole our thunder yesterday so I thought it was time to put some manners on him and put him back in his box!"
Shadwell has historically shopped Book 2 with its team of trainers. However, Gold explained that no decision had been made with regard to this colt's future. He said: "I've had no involvement with trainers at all this week, really. It's been a stress-free week compared to the old days! We'll get these horses home and talk to the family and see what they'd like to do."
The colt was Shadwell's seventh and biggest acquisition at this week's Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale. The 1,815,000 guineas spend follows on from a 1,655,000 guineas outlay on four lots during Book 1.
This week's haul represents Shadwell's biggest Book 2 spend since 2020, when the operation parted with 5,327,000 guineas for 36 new recruits. Prior to that, in the days of founder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum attending the sale, the outfit frequently topped the Book 2 buyers' chart.
Gold played down the notion of a reinvigorated buying strategy, simply saying: "All I can do is look at the horses and report what I find. If they want to do it, then we'll have a go. It's lovely that they've been so supportive and we're very grateful to them for coming back to the market. I just hope we haven't made a mess of it!"
BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe was behind the online bid of 410,000 guineas, the second-highest seller, that secured the Blue Point colt out of Divine Light from Longview Stud. The colt, whose dam is a Kingman half sister to Viren's Army, was bred under the banner of Highview Bloodstock.
Statistics
After three notably buoyant days of trade, Book 2 duly posted records across the board. Total spending rose 8% year-on-year to 75,166,000 guineas (US$104,480,740), while the average price was up 7% to 114,755 guineas (US$159,509).
The median, so often the most revealing market indices, was up an even punchier 12% to an unprecedented 85,000 guineas (US$118,150). All of this was underpinned by a clearance rate of 89% as 655 yearlings sold from 740 offered.
At the close of business Wednesday, Tattersalls' managing director Matthew Prior said: "Following an outstanding renewal of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, it has been particularly encouraging to see the sustained demand for quality yearlings continue throughout October Book 2.
"Records have been established across the board, with combined turnover for books 1 and 2 exceeding $200 million guineas for the first time. Turnover in excess $75 million guineas represents a new record for Book 2, once again reaffirming its position as Europe's second highest-grossing yearling sale, behind only October Book 1.
"The sale of 100 yearlings for 200,000 guineas or more is a remarkable achievement which, coupled with the record average and median, both higher than those achieved at any other yearling sale in Britain or Ireland outside October Book 1, further underlines the unrivaled strength and depth of demand at Park Paddocks.
The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues with Book 3 beginning at 9.30 a.m. local time Oct. 15.
