Study of Man Colt Tops Tattersalls September Sale Day 2

Auctioneer Alastair Pim introduced Forenaghts Stud's well-bred Study of Man (IRE) colt as "the star of the show" when he entered the Tattersalls Ireland ring close to 7 p.m. local time Sept. 23 on Day 2 of the Tattersalls September Yearling Sale. The youngster duly lived up to that billing by bringing €330,000 (US$375,704, €1=US$1.14) from Paddy Twomey, bidding online on behalf of Bond Thoroughbreds. A whole host of players had a go at landing the sought-after colt, but when the digital bids kept coming, Pim almost taunted those present in Fairyhouse, telling the crowd that the online man held the advantage despite being "at home on the chaise lounge!" Jason Walsh, taking instructions on the phone, ultimately filled the role of underbidder. "I'm a bit shocked!" said Forenaghts Stud manager Caoimhe Doherty. "This has been a dream week. First with Nabati winning the Mill Reef and now this, I'm actually shocked. I'm so thrilled as Tony (Smurfit) and his wife Sharon (Forenaghts Stud's owners) have been in the game a long time and have worked really hard at this. It's so good for them that they're finally being rewarded. I'm thrilled for the farm and all the team; we're only a small team, but everyone works so hard." The colt is out of Luceita, who ran out a comfortable winner of a Curragh maiden on her debut but shaped as if amiss on her only other racecourse outing, which came in the 2019 Athasi Stakes (G3). Luceita was trained by Jim Bolger, as was her sire Dawn Approach (IRE). She is a half sister to 2014 Rockfel Stakes (G2) scorer Lucida (IRE), who also reached the podium in four group 1 races. Luceita joined the Forenaghts broodmare band in 2022, having been purchased from the Godolphin draft at the Tattesalls February Sale that year at a cost of 90,000 guineas. Her 2-year-old daughter Minkaas provided a timely update when breaking her maiden toward the end of August at Newmarket Racecourse. Rabbah Wins the Rally Rabbah Bloodstock's Jono Mills and Billy Jackson-Stops engaged in a sustained bidding rally when the Sioux Nation filly out of Impeachd Alexander was presented by Mountarmstrong Stud. The rivals batted €5,000 increases back and forth from opposite sides of the ring, until Mills eventually signaled the decisive raise to €245,000. The youngster became the most expensive filly in September Yearling sale history. The dam is a half sister to 2023 Marble Hill Stakes (G3) second Noche Magica (IRE), while Mountarmstrong-bred celebrities such as Anthem Alexander and Dandy Man appear beneath the filly's third dam. "She's a lovely filly by a very good stallion and has been bought for a current member of Rabbah," Mills said. "We'll ship her to England and training plans will be decided in the future. Nice horses cost a lot of money, and she was a very nice horse from a very good farm. "We've had a huge amount of success buying from the farm, but we haven't had anything directly from this family. She's out of a Starspangledbanner mare and by Sioux Nation, who has had a fantastic year; it all just makes sense. Let's hope she's the next Sun Goddess!" Over the course of two days, 440 yearlings changed hands for a total of €18,759,500 (US$21,357,659). The average price was €42,635 (US$48,534), with a median of €37,000 (US$42,124). Part II of the sale begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 24.