Classic Updates In Guineas Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

After some fairly traumatic dips last year, the breeze-up sector appears to have steadied the ship somewhat this spring. True, the headline sales recorded at the European circuit’s latest staging posts–the daughter of Kingman (GB) who brought 850,000gns at the Craven Sale, the highest price ever obtained by a filly at that auction; and the £450,000 Siyouni (Fr) filly who became the most expensive Flat horse ever auctioned by Goffs UK at Doncaster the following week–have been viewed by some consignors, as ever, as papering over cracks in the middle market. But the overall indices generally suggest that a more disciplined approach, not least in the size of catalogues, is going some way towards achieving the intended correction.

Latest to tighten up entry to the ring is the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, again staged after an opening session of older Horses-in-Training at Newmarket on Friday. Last year no fewer than 234 breeze-up lots were catalogued here, prior to withdrawals, whereas the initial book of 2-year-olds this time shrank to 171. Assuming the quality has been maintained, in reducing the quantity, then with luck the sale will be able to enhance a record of 30 black-type graduates since 2016.

Regardless, in generally trading a tier below the Craven Sale, we can expect an instructive measure of that much-debated middle market.

The Horses-in-Training section, conversely, has been expanded this time round. It features a pair of wild-card supplements from the Michael O’Callaghan yard, notably lot 134, Geneticist (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), a 3-year-old gelding–actually a graduate of the Doncaster breeze-up last year–who showed plenty of ability in his first two starts last month, beaten a neck at Gowran before a decisive maiden success at Limerick.

Accomplished older animals include lot 72, Executive Force (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}), winner of half a dozen all-weather races for Michael Wigham over the winter and now rated 97; and lot 94, Tangled (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}), who disappointed last year but is as a result leniently handicapped on his two Group 3 placings as a juvenile.

Breeders interested in the family of lot 55, the 3-year-old Colony Queen (GB) (Gregorian {Ire}), will note that the prolific black-type under her second dam has been further enhanced since publication of the catalogue by Kick On (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). A son of Colony Queen’s listed-winning half-sister Marika (GB) (Marju {Ire}), Kick On won the Listed Feilden S. on his reappearance and seeks a pretty sensational update for the page when he lines up for the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas on Saturday. Colony Queen herself is a winner and three-time runner-up in six starts since the turn of the year for James Tate.

There is also the prospect of a Classic update for lot 61, Maid Millie, herself yet to win but already a more attractive prospect this spring after her dam’s half-sister Dandhu (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) won the G3 Fred Darling S. on her reappearance. Dandhu is around 10-1 for the G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas on Sunday.

In terms of racing potential, however, perhaps the standout is lot 131, New King (GB). He represents powerful connections but few others would contemplate discarding a 3-year-old by Frankel (GB) with so few miles on the clock, just a week after he ran so well on his handicap debut off a rating of 88.

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