Humam To Join Williams After Topping Opening July Sale Session At 190k

[Wandering Eyes]

NEWMARKET, UK – Stuart Williams, rightly regarded as one of the finest practitioners of his craft, will train the top lot from the opening session of the Tattersalls July Sale after a new owner, TY Equine, went to 190,000gns to secure the 92-rated three-year-old Humam (Kodiac). 

A three-time winner for Andrew Balding, Humam's latest performance was arguably his best, given he landed a seven-furlong York handicap in comfortable fashion. 

That performance earned the Al Shaqab Racing-owned colt a career-high rating of 92 and Williams, best known for managing the career of Quinault, fast becoming one of the most likable horses in training, would appear to have added another hugely exciting prospect to his Newmarket stable.

Williams said, “He's for a new owner to the yard who wanted to have a horse to run at the big tracks. We'll target some of the big meetings and try to replicate what Andrew has done with him by winning at places like York. 

“He won well last time and looks a solid horse. He's one we'd hope would carry on improving with age and in line with what his family has done. I don't know what he's done lately, he hasn't run for three or four weeks, but we'll get him back to the yard and assess him before settling on a target.”

Quinault has been a star for Williams and there is plenty more left to come from the five-year-old given how impressively he dismantled an up-to-scratch Group 3 field at York last time. That took TJE Racing's gelding, who was sourced for just 25,000gns at the autumn horses-in-training sale here in October 2022, to 11 wins and over £413,411 in career earnings. 

Williams has consistently sent out 30 winners or more for at least a decade now and Humam is just the type to add to those numbers.

Williams concluded, “Whatever the price is, there's that many people around the sale and whoever buys the horse is the maddest person on the day because you're the one who bid the most! That sort of price was what we were expecting to pay, though.”

Humam headlined trade that saw 192 horses selling for 4,427,200gns, which was down 13% on last year's turnover. The average was down 15% to 23,058gns while the median was up 10% at 11,000gns. Meanwhile, the clearance rate stood at 82% – down 4% from last year. 

Talking points 

• The eagerly-anticipated Godolphin draft did not disappoint with 30 lots selling for a combined 1,242,500gns, headed by the 170,000gns Frankel filly Rose Arbour. A daughter of the Group 1-placed Crown Walk, the unraced Frankel filly was sold to Anthony Stroud on behalf of an existing client in Ireland. He said, “Frankel is not only a fantastic stallion, but is an outstanding broodmare sire too – as is Dubawi. She has got the genetics to have a very good chance at stud.”
• Sumbe ramped up its support for young stallion Charyn with Frankel mare Spring Lantern bought by the French-based stud for 150,000gns. A winner in France for Godolphin, she was sold in foal to Pinatubo. “She looks perfect for Charyn – she will be a lovely mare for him,” said Sumbe's Tony Fry. “She was quick and is strong. We are pleased to have got her.”
• De Luain (Lope De Vega), another unraced maiden mare, was the third filly from Godolphin's draft to break the six-figure barrier when selling to Mark McStay for 110,000gns. The agent said, “She is from a family I know well from my time working for Sheikh Mohammed. Her half-sister Usherette was very good – I think she was rated 117 and her sire Lope De Vega has every attribute you need to make a fantastic broodmare sire.”
• Last seen finishing fifth at Royal Ascot, the Ger Lyons-trained Jorge Alvares (Cotai Glory) did not go unloved, with Qatari-based trainer Gassim Ghazali securing the gelding for 150,000gns. He said, “He is a smart horse and will suit the sprint races we have in Qatar. My son tried to buy the horse last year – we have had to pay more now!” Jorge Alvares was another shrewd piece of business from David Spratt of Gaelic Bloodstock, who sourced the then 82-rated juvenile at the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale.
• It was a day for the ladies at Tattersalls with fillies accounting for eight of the most expensive lots sold on Tuesday. 

Buy of the day

The team at Tally-Ho Stud might well have unearthed a bargain in Romantic Opera at 40,000gns. A Ghaiyyath half-sister to Craven Stakes winner Indestructible (Kodiac), a horse the O'Callaghan family knows well given that colt was raced in partnership with Amo Racing and Roger's wife Rachael, the three-year-old maiden mare would appear a good addition to any broodmare band. With the horses who were bought to race, it's hard to see a scenario where Smart Hero (Shamardal) doesn't do a job for Gassim Ghazali in Qatar. At 65,000gns, he looks fairly bought. 

Thought for the day

Luckily there are no dress codes at the sales. Tuesday was hot, but temperatures are expected to soar in Newmarket over the next few days. Like the weather, this sale can be expected to heat up on Wednesday and Thursday. 

 

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