Major players circled the Doncaster ring when Tally-Ho Stud presented its highly touted Mehmas colt (Lot 197) during the later stages of the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale April 22. A hush descended as the £120,000 mark was passed, but that was only the beginning.
Michael O'Callaghan and Amo Racing principal Kia Joorabchian were among the early pacesetters, but it wasn't until they fell by the wayside that things really got interesting. The business end saw leading agents Anthony Stroud and Richard Brown square up for the latest in a series of seismic sales ring showdowns.
This seemed like unstoppable force meets immovable object as the pair continued to trade swift increases. Matters eventually reached a dramatic conclusion when Stroud, hidden away in the office opposite the rostrum, signaled the decisive £30,000 nod that took the price to a punchy £880,000 (US$1,187,960, £1=US$1.35).
This price has only been bettered once in Doncaster's storied history. The record was set 12 months ago when Stroud, bidding on behalf of Godolphin, went to £1 million for the unbeaten Rapid Force, another son of Mehmas.
The agent was unable to disclose training plans or ownership details on this occasion, adding: "We just need to come up for some air and I'll be told where he goes into training later."
The colt's second appearance at public auction proved much more successful than his first, as he had been a vendor buyback at 70,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year. The youngster was not only offered by one breeze-up powerhouse but was bred by another, namely Con Marnane of Bansha House Stables.
Stroud also gave £145,000 for a son of Violence offered by Cormac Farrell's CF Bloodstock. The colt, a brother to grade 2-winning Royal Spa, and from the family of grade 1 winners Sippican Harbor and Commandment, was a $60,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale pinhook by Farrell and Blandford Bloodstock.
"He did a very nice breeze, he went very well, and he comes from a good consignor," Stroud said. "I liked him very much, although it was probably a little more than I anticipated paying for him. Royal Ascot is always the hope, but we might have to light a candle in church. There are a lot of steps to get through before then."
Golden Pal Filly Finds Friends in Doncaster
First-crop sire bragging rights belonged to Coolmore's United States-based freshman sire Golden Pal after Charles Shanahan went to £250,000 for a filly offered by Michael Fitzpatrick's Kilminfoyle House Stud. The strapping filly, whose dam is a sister to the grade 1 scorer Yellow Agate, was signed for by Polo Bloodstock at $90,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
"The plan is still up in the air because we only came across her on recommendation of Michael Fitzpatrick, who's done a great job with her," said Shanahan. "Obviously, the sire has got off to a perfect start in America, and we've been getting great rumors from Wesley Ward that he has numerous Golden Pals that are showing all the signs of being good horses.
"We haven't decided where this filly will go, but she's been bought in partnership with M.V. Magnier. She's exciting and a gorgeous physical, and we're very lucky to have her. She did a great breeze, a great time, and ticked all the boxes for us. Being by Golden Pal, we were very happy to support the sire."
Asked if his purchase was a potential Royal Ascot candidate, Shanahan said: "I think she can be, we're hoping that anyway! We all come to Doncaster hoping they'll be Royal Ascot types. Obviously, that's still a bit away, so we'll get her home and come up with a plan and take it from there."
Golden Pal's career highlight came when winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) in 2021. The son of Uncle Mo opened his account at stud April 9 with the impressive Keeneland scorer Skara Brae.
READ: Golden Pal's Skara Brae Victorious at Keeneland
Final Tallies
The Mehmas colt contributed to Tally-Ho being out in splendid isolation at the head of the vendors' charts, with 14 2-year-olds sold for receipts totaling £1,789,000.
Although trade was not without its challenges, a clearance rate of 84% speaks to vendors being prepared to meet the recalibrated market. Some 175 2-year-olds were offered, and 147 found a buyer.
Turnover fell 29% from the heights of last year to £8,389,250 (US$11,325,110). The average price also dropped by 32% to £57,070 (US$77,042), although the median took a more measured slide of just 5% to £35,000 (US$47,248).
