A BREEDING right to one of Europe’s most exciting young sires, Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Havana Grey was the headline act at this week’s Tattersalls Online November Sale when selling for 280,000gns to the bid of Richmond Bloodstock. It was by some way the major contributor to a turnover of 660,800gns, with just over a third of the catalogued lots changing hands.

There was a prolonged bidding duel for the breeding right to Havana Grey, and the son of Havana Gold is set for a major increase in his fee for the 2024 season, going from £18,500 to £55,000. He has had a tremendous start to his stallion career with dual Group 1 winning juvenile Vandeek, Group 1 Sprint Cup runner-up Shouldvebeenaring and Group 2 winner Jasour among the 15 stakes winners from his first two crops to race.

A spokesperson for Richmond Bloodstock, whose registered offices are in Co Kildare, said: “We’re looking to make a range of investments and Havana Grey is a stallion on the up who we wanted to take an interest in.”

The second highest-priced lot was three-year-old Dire La Verite, and he was sold to bloodstock agent Federico Barberini for 50,000gns. Consigned by Brian Meehan’s Manton Lodge Stables, the son of Muhaarar made a winning debut at Chelmsford in August before running twice at Chantilly, finishing fifth in listed company on his second start and being placed on the all-weather there. The 94-rated colt is a full-brother to a winner and hails from the family of Group 1 Prix de Diane-French Oaks winner Avenir Certain.

Other notable results saw the well-rated maiden Dunstan realise a price of 38,000gns when sold to www.racingclub.com from Ralph Beckett’s Kimpton Down Stables, who offered four lots in the sale. Gary Gillies, the founder of the club, spent another 38,000gns when securing Monarchic, a group-placed four-year old son of Kingman from Gainsborough Thoroughbreds offered on behalf of Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd. Monarchic has won three times in France.

Buying through the online platform for the first time, Gillies commented: “Most of my horses have come through Tattersalls already and while I’ve been looking through, I saw the online sale and more people have said they are willing to try it now than before. The vettings are very important and the videos too. I’d like to see more comments from the vendors, Brian Meehan’s write-up and videos about the horses in this sale were very good. It makes people feel more confident.”

Other lots amongst the horses in training included Margesson, purchased by Ed Stapleton Bloodstock for 18,500gns, Galileo’s Compass who was sold to Paere Dansk also for 18,500gns, and the 18,000gns paid by Milan Racing Club for Commander Of Life.