Time Test Colt Tops Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale

There was a competitive market at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale in Newmarket April 28, when the sale-topper proved to be the Time Test (GB) colt (Lot 145) out of Luna Mare bought by Michael O'Callaghan for 160,000 guineas (US$211,025). That transaction continued a fine run of form for consignor Tally-Ho Stud, who topped the recent Craven Breeze-Up Sale and enjoyed a nice touch with this youngster, a 65,000 guineas ($93,242) pinhook who shares his page with the likes of Pilsudski (IRE) and Youmzain (IRE). "He's a lovely horse and I thought he did one of the better breezes," said O'Callaghan. "He's a lovely looking horse with a nice pedigree; he's actually out of a Galileo mare and I thought he was probably the best physical of the whole sale. Hopefully he's useful." While O'Callaghan was busy sourcing Royal Ascot prospects at the Craven and Goffs UK breeze-up sales, he said he expected his latest acquisition to be a slightly longer-term prospect. "He's probably one for a seven-furlong maiden but he's forward enough so he could start in three or four weeks but we'll just see," the trainer added. "This is my first Time Test and the seventh breezer I've bought this year. By this time last year I had a few more bought, but we'll keep tipping away. I bought more of a spread of horse last year but we're trying to focus on quality this time around." Mehmas Mania Continues Tally-Ho's fingerprints could also be found on the second top lot, as John Nolan's filly (Lot 239) is by the stud's red-hot sire Mehmas (IRE). After a sparkling breeze the filly out of What About Me went the way of agent Alessandro Marconi, acting on behalf of Dubai-based interests, at 150,000 guineas ($197,836). "She was the pick of the sale," said Marconi. "Mr. Nolan has more experience in the game than myself and he highly recommended her. She put on an impressive breeze, not just the time but the way she galloped out too, so I think she's something special. She's staying in England and we'll make a plan about who'll train her soon. "Mehmas is a great sire. I really like some of these new speed sires like Mehmas, Sioux Nation, and Kessaar (IRE). We didn't get much at the Craven and were a bit unlucky at Doncaster but this is a good sale for us." What About Me, who won a Cork maiden and was fourth in the Loughbrown Stakes in the colors of Annette Nolan, has bred two winners, namely Danielles Diamond and Keep Believing. The Mehmas filly was offered at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale, and Thursday's transaction justified connections' decision to retain her at €16,000 ($18,524) on that occasion. Boman Secures a Stayer with Speed As a noted middle-distance influence whose offspring include German Derby winners Pastorius (GER) and Weltstar (GER), it isn't too much of a surprise that only one lot by Soldier Hollow (GB) made its way into this year's European breeze-up circuit. However, the colt (Lot 143) in question certainly made his mark as he went the way of Blandford Bloodstock's Stuart Boman at 130,000 guineas ($171,458). The youngster, a €28,000 ($29,653) BBAG pinhook by Powerstown Stud, boasts a pedigree that suggests he could one day be winning a European Classic, as his dam is a winning Lando half sister to 2013 Sparda Deutsches Derby (G1) hero Lucky Speed (IRE). "He's a very nice horse and will go into training in Ireland with Joseph O'Brien," said Boman. "Obviously he's a gorgeous individual and was well bought at the BBAG Yearling Sale by his vendor Tom Whitehead. "It was actually the day that everyone got stuck in the hotel fire the night before—Tom missed the fire but saw the horse! That meant I had to come back and buy him this year instead. He breezed very quickly for a stayer, he's bred to get a mile and a half but he showed a lot of speed." Top Marks All Round Both sections of the auction, horses in training and breeze-ups, generated record turnover, and the pair duly yielded combined spending of 6,691,500 guineas ($8,825,453), a 41% year-on-year increase and a new high mark for the Guineas Sale. The combined average was also up by 7% at 29,349 guineas ($38,708), while the median was 20,000 guineas ($26,378), down 9% from 22,000 guineas ($29,015) in 2021. The clearance rate was a very solid 87% as 228 of 262 offered lots found a buyer. At the conclusion of selling, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "Significant increases in average, median, and turnover are the mark of a very solid renewal of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, especially when combined with a highly creditable clearance rate in excess of 80%. "The domestic British and Irish demand at all levels of the market has been matched by diverse international participation, which has become the hallmark of this fixture. European buyers, particularly from Italy and Spain, have made a major contribution and they have been joined by buyers from south-east Asia and the customary strong contingent of buyers from the Gulf region. "Eight 2-year-olds selling for 100,000 guineas ($131,891) or more and a record sale turnover reflect the strong demand at the top of the market and, as ever, there have been some notable pinhooking triumphs, but the most pleasing aspect of the sale has been the record-equaling median, which demonstrates real depth to the trade from start to finish." He added: "The consignors have supported the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale strongly and it has been great to see the buyers respond accordingly, clearly encouraged by the sale's reputation as a consistent source of group 1 winners. "The horses in training section of the sale also continues to thrive and the record turnover, huge rises in average and median, and a clearance rate in excess of 90% have contributed to unprecedented combined turnover for the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses in Training Sale."