FRANKEL, a dual champion sire in Britain and Ireland, achieved the highest average price of any stallion at the yearling sales in Europe so far in 2024, writes Martin Stevens.

Figures in the newly published Weatherbys Bloodstock Sales Review Part 1 2024 show that the Banstead Manor Stud resident has had 31 lots sell for an average of 711,398gns (€859,013) this year. The top price of 4,400,000gns was given by Amo Racing for a filly out of Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner Aljazzi, consigned by Newsells Park Stud to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

She is one of six Frankel yearlings who made seven-figure sums this year, the big-sellers including a full-sister to Arc heroine Alpinista bought by Amo Racing from Staffordstown for 2,500,000gns, and a colt out of the listed-winning Invincible Spirit mare Loch Lein, purchased by Godolphin from Croom House Stud for €2,000,000.

Frankel’s median price stands at 450,000gns (€543,375), which is narrowly the second-best figure this year, just behind that achieved by Dalham Hall Stud kingpin Dubawi, who is running at 455,487gns (€550,000).

Darley’s Dubawi

Dalham Hall Stud’s Dubawi has had 17 yearlings sell for the second-best average of 646,822gns (€781,038), headed by two colts out of Group 1 winners purchased by Godolphin: one out of Lady Bowthorpe from Fittocks Stud, who made 2,000,000gns, and the other out of Molly Malone from Baroda Stud, who commanded 1,500,000gns.

Sea The Stars, who will stand for €250,000 next year at Gilltown Stud, is responsible for the third best average price this year, with his figure of 304,116gns (€367,220) for 58 lots sold boosted by a full-sister to Group 1 heroine Sea Silk Road from Kildaragh Stud who was knocked down at 1,600,000gns, and a colt out of the listed-placed Farhh mare Bighearted from Staffordstown who changed hands at 875,000gns. Godolphin bought both.

The Aga Khan Studs are home to another popular sire. Haras de Bonneval’s Siyouni has the fourth best average price of 303,615gns (€366,615) for 35 lots sold, thanks in part to the sale of a half-sister to Group 1 Fillies’ Mile victress Ylang Ylang from Newsells Park Stud to Godolphin for 3,700,000gns.

Lodge Park star

Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett is in fifth place by this measure, with an average price of 298,831gns (€360,838) for 75 lots sold. His top seller was Lodge Park Stud’s son of Group 1 Oaks heroine Was’s full-sister Park Bloom to Amo Racing for a European yearling colt record of 4,300,000gns.

This year’s European first-season sire table has a very open look to it, and that has been reflected in prices paid for their second-crop yearlings this year, with less than 20,000gns covering the averages of the top five by that measure. They were Pinatubo (71,299gns for 47 lots sold), Kameko (63,148gns for 37 sold), Ghaiyyath (54,254gns for 55 sold), Persian King (53,864gns for 17 lots sold) and Hello Youmzain (52,312gns for 34 lots sold).

Generally, the most in-demand sire with first yearlings this year has been St Mark’s Basilica, who has achieved an average price of 173,100gns (€209,018) and median of 90,000gns (€108,675) for 61 lots sold. The son of Siyouni’s best result was €1,700,000, paid by M.V. Magnier for a half-sister to Group 1 winners Chicquita and Magic Wand from Ecurie des Monceaux.

The next best average prices among the new sires belong to Palace Pier (74,435gns for 54 lots sold), Space Blues (54,582gns for 70 lots sold), Victor Ludorum (51,052gns for 34 lots sold) and Starman (41,211gns for 139 lots sold).

For more insights into stallion performance at this year’s yearling sales, purchase the Bloodstock Sales Review Park 1 2024 online at the Weatherbys Shop.

Breeding short – sale update

WHITE Birch Farm’s three-year-old filly Olatz De Vega (Lope De Vega) was a 90,000gns yearling purchase, and sent to be trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. She won a maiden at Dax in June and placed a few times, but a move to Francis-Henri Graffard had a galvanising effect, and her first start for him resulted in a Deauville victory, which should boost her sale prospects when she comes up for sale as Lot 437 in the Arqana December Sale.

Also happy with the update will be Haras de Logis, as they will sell, two lots apart at the same sale, a Masar (New Approach) colt foal, half-brother to Olatz De Vega, and their dam Motivee (Motivator), in foal to Victor Ludorum (Shamardal). They are Lots 735 and 737. Surely there will be a profit made, as Motivee was sold last year at Tattersalls for just 5,000gns, a bargain given that Masar’s fee was £14,000.

Olatz De Vega is the first winner for Motivee, while her two-year-old Zou’s Your Daddy (Zoustar) has been placed a few times, and there is a yearling colt in the wings by Kameko (Kitten’s Joy). Motivee is a full-sister to a stakes winner, but a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Indonesienne (Muhtathir).