At Tattersalls on Monday Godolphin continued where they left off last week by purchasing two yearlings for a total of 1.35 million guineas. Both were colts by Sea The Stars.

Last week Sheikh Mohammed's racing operation was the leading purchaser at Book 1 of the October Yerling Sale, spending over 22 million guineas on 18 horses.

It was a week which will also be remembered for Amo Racing's 20 million guineas spending spree, and market observers had wondered if both these major buyers would continue to purchase at this week's Book 2 sale.

Trade was predictably far quieter on Monday morning, with some lots selling for as little as 7,000gns and 9,000gns, but the big players, including Coolmore, did get involved.

The average and turnover were both up on last year’s opening session and the clearance rate was an impressive 90%.

Monday's top lot was a Sea The Stars colt from Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown Stud which was bought by Godolphin for 875,000gns.

The February-born colt was bred by Michael E. Perlman and Sunderland Holding Inc and is the first foal out of the Listed John Musker-placed mare Bighearted (by Farhh). She is a daughter of the Irish champion two-year-old filly of 1996, Bianca Nera.

"The mare is actually catalogued in the December Sale and that will freshen things up," said Richard Frisby, stud representative. "This colt was accepted for Book 1, but we felt that dropping him in here he would be a stand-out, and I think that is what has happened.

"He is a fine first foal, obviously he is a horse who will need a bit of time, but he has been bred to be a classic horse and that is what you would expect to need to give him some time. I bought Bianca Nera as a yearling, it is a family who has been very kind to us. Bighearted is in-foal to Modern Games."

Of expectations coming to sale this week, he said: "You never know really how much they are going to make, the price at half at what he has made was a good sale and who could forecast that?"

Buyer Anthony Stroud said: “He’s a very strong, well-made horse from Staffordstown. It’s a wonderful family and he’ll be a nice staying horse for the future."

Stroud confirmed that Charlie Appleby will train both this colt and the other Sea The Stars colt he had bought earlier in the day on behalf of Godolphin. This was a colt out of the Dark Angel mare Angel Fairy, a half-sister to the Grade 3 placed Dress Rehearsal and to Fairy Of The Night, dam of the Group 2 winners Muthmir and My Titania.

He was sold for 470,000gns by Norelands Stud whose owner Harry McCalmont said: "We love this horse, he could have sold in any sale. We decided on this sale, we bring very few to Book 1 usually... I wish had had 30 yearlings there.

"He is a beautiful colt, we thank Mrs Tsui for sending us the mare, delighted to get another good result for her. Sea The Stars goes from strength to strength, and the page says it all."

Amo Racing

Amo Racing also bought two horses on Monday, both in partnership with Qatar outfit Al Shaqab. They partnered on eight horses in last week's Book 1 sale and on Monday they teamed up again to buy a St Mark's Basilica filly from Yeomanstown Stud for 600,000gns and a Night Of Thunder colt for 240,000gns from Ballyhimikin Stud.

Of the St Mark's Basilica filly, a half-sister to Kieran Cotter's useful sprinter Sturlasson, bloodstock agent Alex Elliott said: "She is an exceptional physical out of a fast Dark Angel mare, who has bred two decent horses. St Mark's is obviously an unknown but you like to think he has got every chance. It was the physical that was attractive, you like to think she could be a Royal Ascot filly. She is an early foal, she is very together, she was giving us all 'Fairy Godmother' vibes, let's hope we can replicate that."

Elliott added: "We need to keep adding horses if we think they are the right ones, but this market has got very very strong, which is fantastic for everyone. It is making it very hard to buy horses, everyone hones in on the best ones; it is just who is going to bid last."

Shadwell made two purchases at Book 1 - both fillies - and they bought another high quality one on Monday when paying 425,000gns for a Too Darn Hot half-sister to Kalpana. A recent Group 3 winner for Juddmonte and trainer Andrew Balding, Kalpana is favourite for Saturday's Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.

M.V. Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm joined forces to buy the No Nay Never half-brother to recent Group 2 winner Hotazhell for 380,000gns from Blue Diamond Stud.

Magnier also made his first purchase of a yearling by Mehmas when paying 350,000gns for a colt from Tally-Ho Stud.

"Roger O'Callaghan has been going on about the sire for long enough!" said Magnier. "You have to listen to him! To be fair, this is a nice horse and, the O'Callaghans, they are very good breeders. He is out of a Frankel mare, let's hope he is a nice horse. He goes to Roger Varian."

Book 2 continues on Tuesday and concludes on Wednesday.

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