The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale opened with a flurry of activity from American buyers. The second of three days comprising the prestigious sale's Book 1 had a similar theme Oct. 8 as Determined Stables again made the single-biggest purchase among buyers visiting the Newmarket, England, auction from the United States.
Working with bloodstock agent David Ingordo, Determined's Matt Dorman went to 600,000 guineas (US$845,865, 1 guinea=US$1.41) for Lot 188, a filly by Juddmonte stallion Frankel , out of the Highclere Stud consignment.
"I bought a Frankel a couple years ago," Dorman said. "Loved it. This is more developed, more going on in the family, so it just made a whole lot of sense. Just a great specimen."
The dam, Hostess, who is by Iffraaj, raced six times with the last three at Santa Anita Park. She had four top-two finishes including a win in the 2019 Providencia Stakes (G3T) and second in that year's Honeymoon Stakes (G3T). She has two runners from two foals of racing age, including a 2-year-old of 2025 that finished runner-up on debut last month. Her other runner, the winning Military by Siyouni, finished third in the 2023 Killavullan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown.
Through the first two sessions of Book 1, Dorman and Ingordo have secured fillies by notable sires No Nay Never, Too Darn Hot, Sea The Stars, Blue Point, and now Frankel.
"We're looking at athletes first and then pages, (and) proven sires," Dorman said. "Once in a while, we'll take a flyer on one that's coming up, but for the most part, they're all going to be by proven sires."
Meanwhile, Mike Ryan and Klaravich Stables have continued their activity from the Oct. 7 opening session. After dropping $704,887 for a pair of colts Tuesday, they spent $1,262,083 on a trio of fillies Wednesday.
The first, a Starman daughter consigned by the Newsells Park Stud, Day 1's top seller, was Lot 235 ($507,518). Starman is Europe's top freshman sire and leads first-crop sires on the continent by nearly every measure. The filly is the first foal of the group 2-placed Charm Spirit mare Like a Charm.
They then went to $437,030 for Lot 256, a filly by Blue Point from the Ballyphilip Stud consignment. The dam is Maria Christina, who is by Kodiac. She has one runner—a winner—of racing age.
Finally, they secured the New Bay filly consigned by Branton Court Stud as Lot 353 for $380,639. She is out of the group 3-winning and group 2-placed Gregorian mare Queen Jo Jo.
Casse Strikes Early in Second Session
Bloodstock agent Justin Casse stayed busy for his buyers. On Tuesday, he promoted the benefits of getting into the action at the sale early. He couldn't have been any earlier Wednesday, signing for the first lot of the session, Lot 180, a Minzaal colt consigned by Mountain View Stud. Casse said the colt will remain in Ireland and train under Joseph O'Brien.
"Most everything I buy goes to Joseph, sometimes to Donnacha, his brother," Casse said. "Big, strong colt. Looked early, he was the first horse in the ring, and he looks like a horse with substance that should be ready to run in the springtime."
Later in the afternoon, Casse struck again, hitting $507,519 for a Wootton Bassett colt consigned as Lot 269 by Hara d'Etreham in France. The filly is out of the Rock of Gibraltar mare Miss Infinity, who was group 3-placed. She is also the dam of two winners among four foals of racing age, including the group 3 winner Make Me King. Casse also signed for Lot 315, an Australia filly that sold for $239,661.
Other purchases made by United States connections:
- BSW/Crow, agent for Blake James, signed for Lot 239, a $422,932 Baaeed colt out of the Barton Stud consignment.
- Joe Moran of MyRacehorse dropped the hammer at $352,443 on Lot 257, a No Nay Never colt from the Highclere Stud consignment. Out of the Invincible Spirit mare Marsh Hawk, he is a full sibling to multiple group winner Trillium and two other stakes horses. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Rockcliffe Stud.
- Repole Stable grabbed a filly by the late Wootton Bassett consigned as Lot 191 by Awbeg Stud in Ireland for $352,443. Repole Stable also added the Lope de Vega filly consigned as Lot 306 with a price tag of $422,932. Lot 306 was consigned by Mount Coote Stud.
- Solis/Litt, who are also representing Repole Stable, signed the ticket for a Night of Thunder filly consigned as Lot 288 on behalf of a different client. The hammer fell at $422,932 for the bay filly. They closed out the session with a $211,466 purchase of a Showcasing filly consigned by Barton Stud as Lot 358.
- Oracle Bloodstock, agent, secured Lot 335, a Lope de Vega colt, for $458,176 consigned by Oakgrove Stud. The colt is out of Poplin, the daughter of multiple group 1 winner Medicean.
