Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team did not hold back on day two of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when spending over 11 million guineas on nine horses.
Tuesday's session was dominated by Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing, which spent 12 million guineas on 12 yearlings but Amo Racing had to give way on Wednesday as Godolphin came away with the day's three highest-priced lots.
They were headed by a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner Charyn who cost Godolphin 2.9 million guineas.
The own sister to Charyn is heading to @godolphin, coming out on top at 2,900,000gns for @guy_oc's Dark Angel filly at #TattsOctober Book 1. pic.twitter.com/baipTd7xAQ
— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) October 9, 2024
Amo Racing was in the mix for Grangemore Stud’s daughter of Dark Angel out of Futon, with Charyn’s owner Nurlan Bizkov also bidding along with Anthony Stroud for Godolphin.
It developed into a match between Stroud and Amo, with the Godolphin bid eventually prevailing – much to the delight of Grangemore’s Guy O’Callaghan.
Godolphin representative Anthony Stroud said: "She is an extremely good looking filly, moved incredibly well, her pedigree speaks for itself. It is so difficult to buy these fillies, and she was one that we all liked very much. It was more than we had anticipated."
O'Callaghan said: “It is the stuff of dreams and as a breeder it is what you always hope could happen, two buyers such as Amo and Godolphin going head to head, then it can go anywhere.
“She has been flat out since she got here, but she has never turned a hair and showed exactly the same every time – it takes a very special horse to do that.
“I was not at Royal Ascot when Charyn won as I could not get away from home, but it is so very difficult for a horse to win there, it takes a great performance and that was special day – and days like this can’t happen without that first.”
?? "My head is still in the clouds... an amazing feeling."@guy_oc over the moon to see @godolphin go to 2,900,000gns for his Dark Angel filly at #TattsOctober Book 1, "a carbon copy of her brother" Charyn. pic.twitter.com/82R8POX7JH
— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) October 9, 2024
Godolphin also spent two million guineas on a Dubawi colt out of Group 1 winner Lady Bowthorpe, consiged by the Cumani family's Fittocks Stud.
Another who will race for Godolphin is the 1.5 million guineas Too Darn Hot colt from Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud. The colt is a half-brother to Idea Generation who was a shock winner of the Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown in August.
The 1.5 million guineas mark was reached again by Godolphin for a Dubawi colt out of Group 1-winning stayer Molly Malone. Consigned by Baroda Stud on behalf of Tweenhills Stud, the colt is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Morgan Le Faye.
David Cox of Baroda Stud summed up the incredible prices being achieved at Tattersalls this week, saying: "Trade has been very strong, we've had two millionaires this week, we have homebreds off the farm selling very well for clients – everyone is very happy. I was not expecting trade to be as a strong as this, it has been bonzana really, hasn't it? All the things going on in the world – here we are and the only thing we are worried about is the rain!"
Godolphin's other Wednesday acquisitions included an 800,000gns half-brother to classic winner Mac Swiney, consigned by Clare Manning's Boherguy Stud on behalf of her grandfather Jim Bolger.
"I am thrilled," said Manning. "I thought we are going well and to have Blandford and Godolphin get in a battle and the price get to 800,000gns. It is unbelievable. I have just been on the phone to 'granda' and he is delighted and over the moon. We are so pleased he has gone to a good home, we have had a good rapport over the years with Godolphin, so nice to see him go there."
"You stand there and can't really believe it's happening."
— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) October 9, 2024
?? Tremendous result for Clare Manning at #TattsOctober Book 1 as @godolphin spend 800,000gns on @BoherguyStud's Mehmas ½-brother to the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney, bred by "granda" Jim Bolger. pic.twitter.com/km971IgwUN
Separately a full-brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Hurricane Lane was sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 850,000gns.
The average price paid on Tuesday was 345,154gns, up 30% on the same day last year. The median price of 240,000gns was up 23%.
The Book 1 Sale concludes on Thursday.