Magnier-purchased Frankel colt tops Tattersalls second day at 4 million guineas

MV Magnier and White Birch Farm paid 4 million guineas (AU$7.97 million) for a Frankel colt from Newsells Park Stud to top the second day of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Seven yearlings sold for at least one million guineas (AU$1.99 million) during the session. The average rose 1 per cent to 355,208 guineas (AU$708,054), while the median climbed 2 per cent to 220,000 guineas (AU$438,537).

Turnover fell 10 per cent to 42.625 million guineas (AU$84.97 million), with 11 per cent fewer lots offered than on the corresponding day last year. The clearance rate held at 85 per cent.

The second-day topper, Lot 237, is out of stakes-placed Shamardal mare Shambolic and is a brother of Ylang Ylang, who won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile. Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud bred him in partnership.

Magnier signed for the colt alongside Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm.

“He’s a lovely horse and Newsells do a great job. They’ve bred a lot of good horses, including his sister, who we bought here a few years ago. She was a very good filly and is in foal to Justify,” Magnier told Tattersalls.

Newsells Park Stud owner Graham Smith-Bernal singled out the colt’s temperament.

“He has always been a horse more interested in interacting with humans rather than other horses. You could see he wanted to know what you’re all about,” he said.

The 4 million guineas (AU$7.97 million) result followed Godolphin’s European yearling colt record purchase on the opening day, when it paid 4.6 million guineas (AU$9.17 million) for a Night Of Thunder colt.

Bond Thoroughbreds joined Paddy Twomey Racing and Jason Kelly Bloodstock to buy Redpender Stud’s Frankel filly out of Swirral Edge for 1.5 million guineas (AU$2.99 million).

The filly is a half-sister to Group 1 July Cup winner Mill Stream, Group 2 Richmond Stakes winner Asymmetric and this year’s Listed Prix Yacowlef winner Crownbreaker.

“Obviously she’s by Frankel and the mare has bred very fast horses. She’s just the type, if you were lucky enough, to become a foundation mare. She’s for a new partnership of existing owners,” Twomey said.

Magnier and White Birch Farm also paid 1.6 million guineas (AU$3.19 million) for Marlhill House Stud’s Justify colt, whose dam is Galileo mare Stars At Night. Among his half-siblings are Poker Face, a dual Group 2 winner with a Group 1 placing, and American stakes winner Star Devine.

Yulong-connected Ace Stud matched that price for New England Stud’s Night Of Thunder colt out of Group 3 Prix Miesque winner Sweety Dream. The Dream Ahead mare has also produced Group 3 winner Romantic Style and stakes winners Town and Country and Are We Dreaming.

“There is a premium on the Night Of Thunders,” Ace Stud’s Paul Curran said. “Those that are here at Book 1 are the best-bred horses in Europe. The price was around what we thought we’d have to spend.”

Curran said the colt would go to Andrew Balding.

Godolphin bought another Night Of Thunder colt, paying 1.5 million guineas (AU$2.99 million) for Hascombe & Valiant Stud’s offering out of Listed-placed Purple Ribbon. The mare is a daughter of Crimson Ribbon, the dam of Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami.

Book 1 continues on Thursday.