Godolphin’s £3.26m for Frankel colt
Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin once again grabbed the headlines on day two of Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale in Newmarket yesterday.
The Dubai-based operation beat off Coolmore to secure the most expensive yearling colt sold anywhere in the world on Tuesday – going to 3.6 million guineas (£3.78 million) for a Dubawi halfbrother to St James’s Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy.
And the two went head to head again 24 hours later for Lot 288 – a son of Frankel and a half-brother to the brilliant Golden Horn, who won the Derby, the Coral-eclipse, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe in 2015.
The bidding developed into another intriguing head-to-head between MV Magnier, of Coolmore, and Anthony Stroud, representing Sheikh Mohammed. Others who were involved during the early exchanges – Chad Brown, Alastair Donald and Juddmonte – dropped away once the 1.5 million-guinea mark was passed. The colt was ultimately knocked down to Stroud for 3.1million guineas (£3.26million).
The sale was another excellent result for Irish-based consignors Norelands Stud, with a Siyouni halfbrother to 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia having been knocked down to Magnier for 1.3 million guineas earlier in the day.
Harry Mccalmont, of Norelands Stud, told Tattersalls: “I am not often lost for words, but I think I am now. This is easily the best price we have had in the sales ring, and the second-best we achieved this morning!
“I have to thank my team – they have done a fabulous job, this colt walked around like a king today.
“There has been a lot of interest in him, there were some serious people who liked him, however you never know what is going to happen until you get to the ring.”
A new face will be at the helm when the 2020 Randox Health Grand National is run after it was announced yesterday that Andrew Tulloch will step down after a tenure of 24 years. Tulloch told Racing Post: “I am looking forward to a fresh challenge and working with the team at Bolsworth Estate.”