Walsh Sells €520,000 Record-Breaking Saxon Warrior Filly

[Wandering Eyes]

The sale ring can be a magical place, full of hope and expectation, and when an opening bid of €100,000 was struck for Katie Walsh's Saxon Warrior (Jpn) filly (lot 151) at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale on Thursday, those in attendance knew something special was on the cards.

What started as a trickle soon became a flood of people packing into the arena to see the Greenhills Farm-consigned and James Hanly-bred filly set a new record at this sale with the hammer falling at €520,000 to Stephen Hillen. 

Of course, Hillen has history with Walsh, as it was at this sale in 2018 where he gave €315,000 for the leading consignor's East (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who went on to finish runner-up in the 2018 G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Like East, this Saxon Warrior filly will be trained on behalf of an unnamed client by Kevin Ryan, who could barely hide his delight when embracing Walsh shortly after the hammer fell his way. 

“I'm hoping she could turn out to be a freak,” said a deadpan Hillen. “She's a completely different shape to East but [she] kind of reminded me of her the way she breezed. That filly [the Saxon Warrior] is bred to go a mile plus and, with that pedigree, she shouldn't be able to do what she's doing. She's a big, raw individual.”

He added, “She's for a new client and goes to Kevin Ryan. It's the horses who clock a good time but don't look like they're going fast that I like. They're big-striding. They're the ones. I don't think I've bought many horses off Katie down through the years. East might be the only one. Hopefully this one is another [East].”

That pedigree Hillen referenced is a big one. The Saxon Warrior filly is out of the unraced Causeway Queen (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), the dam of three winners, including the Italian black-type performer Surbett (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), while the second dam Ask For The Moon (Fr) (Dr Fong) won the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp. 

She is also a proven producer of top-notch talent with brothers Astrology (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sandro Botticelli (Ire) achieving black type for the mare. 

Walsh was in celebratory mode after her filly became the third-most expensive breeze-up filly sold in Europe this year. 

She said, “I think everyone was quite surprised with the time that she did with the physical that she is. I was lucky enough to sell East to Stephen at this sale in 2018 and I hope this filly turns out as lucky.

“I knew coming here that she was going to clock well, I had a fair idea that she was a tasty filly—all she had done is please me since I have had her. She has always been a straightforward filly with a great galloping stride and a great attitude.”

The new record price helped to increase the sale's average by 3% on last year to €38,155, while the median was down by 4% at €22,000. The clearance dropped from a bumper 91% in 2021 to 85% this time, with 174 horses sold from 204 offered, bring an improved aggregate of €6,639,000, the highest in the sale's history.

American-breds Prove Popular

There has been a growing presence of international clients on the breeze-up scene in Ireland but this was the year where it really clicked for vendors with American-breds. 

Jono Mills and Rabbah Bloodstock were particularly keen on some of the stock on offer and came away with lot 135, a Bernadini colt for €160,000 and lot 156, a Super Saver filly who fetched €130,000. 

The Bernadini colt was consigned by Thomond O'Mara's Knockanglass Stables and was picked up for just $20,000 as a yearling while the Super Saver filly was similarly well bought at Keeneland in October for just $12,000 by John Bourke of Cachet (Ire) fame at Hyde Park Stud.

Of the Bernadini colt, Mills said, “He is by a wonderful stallion. He is going to Dubai and will head out in July. There are lots more opportunities developing in Dubai with the extended racing programme.”

Night Of Thunder For Foley

There were some terrific duels on the day, none more so than the tussle between Paddy Twomey and Joe Foley over lot 189, a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly. Foley eventually prevailed at €270,000 on behalf of Clipper Logistics, and she will be trained by Karl Burke. 
Sold by Grove Stud, the Night Of Thunder fillywas one Foley admitted he simply couldn't leave behind for a second time, after he fell in love with her first when he set eyes on her as a foal.
He recalled, “I loved her as a foal and regretted not buying her that day.”
Foley added, “I saw her on video three nights ago and said 'I am buying her this time. I loved her breeze and she is a beautiful filly, and it is the lovely Night Of Thunder and Green Desert Cross.
“Dancing Brave features three times in the pedigree. She is a beautifully-bred filly, it is a deep family and she is gorgeous.” Out of the unraced Oasis Dream (GB) mare Gadwa (GB), a half-sister to Listed winner Lady Of Dubai (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the filly was originally bought for 72,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2020. 

 

Power-Packed Pinhook

Look no further than Shane and Alex Power of Tradewinds Bloodstock when drawing up a list of the best pinhook results from the sale. The young brothers turned their US Navy Flag filly, an 11,000gns purchase at the October Book 3 Sale under the banner of Interactive Bloodstock, into a €100,000 breezer, with Jamie Lloyd buying on behalf of the Sarkar family. The result was sugar-coated by the fact that Shane turned 29 on the day.

“She looks a steal now, but I don't think you can ever get them cheap enough,” said younger brother Alex. “We were very keen on getting one by the stallion, we had seen her before and she was just at the right level. We mainly buy foals to sell as yearlings, but we had sold everything that year and had the El Kabeir [lot 84] and we wanted to get another filly to go with her. She has a super temperament, you couldn't ask for much more.”

Lloyd revealed that the filly will go into training with Newmarket-based trainer Henry Spiller and will carry the colours of Jonathan Sarkar and his family. The Sarkar family owns Mashaaer (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), who finished second in the Listed Pretty Polly S. for Spiller earlier this month. 

Mastery Colt 'Could Be Anything'

Breaking the clock doesn't always translate to achieving a big price in the ring but the Mastery colt (lot 82) that Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud brought to the sale did both and was knocked down to Ross Doyle for €100,000 after coming out best on times in the breeze.

It looked as though Stephen Hillen, standing at the entrance to the ring, had done enough to close the deal but in swooped Ross Doyle for what proved yet another popular American-bred and snared the colt late on. 

The Mastery colt is the first foal out of the unraced Spinworthy (Gio Ponti), who is a daughter of Spinnette (Ire) (Spinning World), the dam of the Listed winner Green Lyons and the Grade 3-placed Tarrip (Green Desert). 

He said, “Lovely horse with a lovely action. He breezed well and did a good time. He has a good pedigree and could be anything really.”

Doyle added, “He is a good-looking horse and has a good pedigree. He's a first foal and we've had a good bit of luck buying first foals so hopefully it continues.”

The Mastery colt was the only horse Lynn Lodge Stud consigned at the sale and, according to Doyle, a decision had yet to be reached about who will train him. 

Seemar Strikes At 'Lucky Sale'

Bhupat Seemar, champion trainer in his first season in Dubai, has been on a European tour of the breeze-ups in recent months and added another three juveniles, all of which were by American sires. 

Seemar went to €125,000 to secure lot 139, the Powerstown Stud-consigned Cairo Prince filly after picking up a Caravaggio colt (lot 31) from Ballinahulla Stables earlier in the afternoon for €80,000.

His business was completed when lot 200, an El Kabeir filly from Yeomanstown, went his way for €25,000. 

Speaking after securing the Caravaggio, Seemar shared how he has turned to leading a nomadic lifestyle whilst bolstering his string.

He explained, “I have been living out of my suitcase and have not been home for a month. But it is all work, hopefully we have bought some good horses.

It was not Seemar's first trip to Tattersalls Ireland, a place he described as being lucky for him in the past, and the trainer is hoping that his latest additions will cope well with the demands of dirt racing in Dubai.

Seemar said of lot 31, “He is by Caravaggio [who is] by Scat Daddy and he has a lovely action. He did a beautiful breeze, is a good-looking horse and he looks like he will go on the dirt. He has all the attributes we are looking for.”

The colt, who is a half-brother to the Listed winner and Group 3-placed Sirici (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), was a €35,000 yearling purchase and was sold here by Ballinahulla Stables.

Seemar added, “We came to Fairyhouse a couple of years ago and bought two. They were lucky as one was placed in the Guineas. It has been lucky for us to come here, hopefully it will stay that way.”

The Cairo Prince filly was out of Beyond Our Reach (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at the Curragh in 2008 for Tommy Stack.

O'Callaghan Continues Recruitment Drive

Few trainers have concentrated on stocking their stable full of breeze-up graduates quite like Michael O'Callaghan has, with last weekend's G3 Lacken S. winner Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) yet another example, and he continued his recruitment drive by adding four speedily-bred colts to his string. 

O'Callaghan went to €72,000 to secure lot 55, a Galileo Gold (GB) colt consigned by Tally-Ho Stud, the same nursery Twilight Jet came through, before snapping up a Dutch Art (GB) colt consigned by Brown Island Stables just five lots later for €78,000. 

The Galileo Gold colt is a first foal out of Providence (Ire) (Acclamation{GB}), a daughter of the Listed winner Innocent Air (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and from the family of the top-class runners Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}), while the Dutch Art is out of the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde S. winner Rosebride (GB) (Mayson {GB}).

“They are two nice horses with plenty of size and did a professional breezes,” the trainer said. “I really liked the look of Johnny Collins' horse, he has a lovely shape to him and a bit of a pedigree, too. The Galileo Gold colt did a solid breeze, looks a seven-furlong horse and he is the first I have had by the sire.”

O'Callaghan returned to Tally-Ho Stud soon afterwards to buy lot 88, a Kodiac (GB) (Danehill) colt for 65,000 and also snapped up Dolmen Bloodstock's New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) colt (lot 15) at the beginning of the day for €40,000, edging his total spend to €255,000.

Patience Pays Off For Jackson-Stops

Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire} will carry Michael Blencowe's colours in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday and the owner added lot 196, the Tally-Ho consigned Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt, to his string with Andrew Balding. 

A half-brother to Group 3 winners Dibajj (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Black Sea (Fr) (Dubai Destination), the colt was knocked down to Billy Jackson-Stops for €200,000.

“We have waited a while to fill the order,” Jackson-Stops said. 

He added, “We have been to three breeze-up sales and haven't really got there, but Michael and Andrew really liked this colt. He ticks the boxes, he is from a good consignor, he is a decent horse and has a decent pedigree.”

Big Sale For Blandford Bloodstock

Blandford Bloodstock went big on two Coolmore-sired offerings; the first, a Gleneagles filly from Hyde Park Stud for €210,000 and the second, a €130,000 Sioux Nation colt from Folistown Farm.

The Gleneagles filly (lot 201) was a 12,500gns pinhook, having been picked up by the farm at the October Book 3, while the Sioux Nation colt (lot 174) was out of Dorothy Parker (Ire) (Mujadil), a winner for Kevin Prendergast.

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