Hazelwood team unlikely to forget this year's Book 1 in a hurry

Having enjoyed two gargantuan results in the ring, it's safe to say the Hazelwood Bloodstock team, led by husband and wife Adrian and Philippa O'Brien, won't forget this year's renewal of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in a hurry.

The Exning-based operation topped and tailed the three-day auction with seven-figure lots, having sold the sale-topping Dubawi half-brother to Barney Roy, who went the way of Godolphin for 3,600,000gns, on day one and the 1,800,000gns Kingman colt bought by MV Magnier on Thursday.

Hazelwood also saw a Dubawi filly go the way of Mike Ryan, acting on behalf of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, for 475,000gns, meaning total sales stood at 5,875,000gns, with an average of 1,958,335gns, for three lots sold.

"I don't think I could have possibly anticipated a week as successful as this," said a beaming Adrian O'Brien in the aftermath of the Kingman colt's sale. "I was delighted with the way this colt has been received over the last couple of days. Everybody was very complimentary about him and he vetted very well. I expected him to sell well, but 1,800,000gns is a tremendous result."

View Book 1 sale results and buyers

Many consignors can wait years to offer a sales-topper, but team Hazelwood have now sold two in as many years, despite being in the midst of just their third season.

The outfit topped last year's Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when the Godolphin buying squad went to 750,000gns for a Kingman colt, who has since been named King Leonidas and placed under the care of John Gosden.

"This is just our fifth sale, it's ridiculous, isn't it, it's crazy," O'Brien said of the bright start. "It's great to be so competitive at Europe's premier sale, especially as there are no penalty kicks.

"It's a testament to the quality of stock our clients have given us. John Camilleri [breeder of the Kingman colt] has to be one of the leading independent breeders in the world and has been an absolute pleasure to deal with."

O'Brien also paid tribute to Hazelwood's seven-strong group of staff, whose hard yards on the sales ground and back at the 120-acre farm have fuelled such stunning results in the ring.

He said: "We have a staff of seven very hard workers, led by stud groom Tom Hughes. It's a very experienced team who do an amazing job and make my life very easy.”

Kim Geary leads the 3.6m gns Dubawi half-brother to Barney Roy around the ringCredit: Laura Green

Among those seven full-time employees is Kim Geary, who has had a week to remember having led up both seven-figure youngsters.

"It's unbelievable, I'm so happy for the whole team as it's an amazing achievement," she said. "It's been great to see these horses at the stud and then watch them progress from being foals."

Asked what was going through her mind as she led the two hugely valuable yearlings around the famous Park Paddocks ring, she replied: "Don't let go of the horse!"

If you liked this, you should read:

Etreham and Cambridge Stud team up to acquire Hello Youmzain

Scalo to relocate to Yorton Farm for 2020 breeding season

Study Of Man retired to stand at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket