'Dad and Aidan were saying he's the Danzig of the modern day'

Few stallions have run hotter in 2022 than No Nay Never, with the son of Scat Daddy represented by a fourth Group 1 winner of the year when the Australian-bred Madame Pommery claimed the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Coolmore resident has also enjoyed a banner season with his European juveniles, headed by Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny hero Blackbeard and Phoenix Stakes scorer Little Big Bear. Those results have helped put No Nay Never in pole position in the two-year-old sires’ table by progeny earnings.

His current juveniles are the first crop bred after Coolmore quadrupled No Nay Never’s fee to €100,000 in 2019 after his debut two-year-olds included Middle Park Stakes winner Ten Sovereigns, Richmond Stakes victor Land Force and Listed scorers All The King's Men, Mae Never No, No Needs Never and Servalan.

As well as the Group 1-winning Blackbeard and Little Big Bear, his current juvenile squad includes the Group 2 winners Meditate, who struck in the Debutante Stakes and was also runner-up in Group 1 company on her last two starts, Flying Childers Stakes victress Trillium and Futurity Stakes winner Aesop's Fables.

Blackbeard romps away with the Middle Park StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

He sired his sixth European two-year-old Group winner of the year when Midnight Mile, the miracle filly born by caesarean section, overcame trouble in running to win the Oh So Sharp Stakes.

Not only is his juvenile crop running at a black-type performers-to-runners ratio of 17 per cent but his five crops of racing age have thrown up 82 stakes performers and five top-level winners, with Blackbeard and Little Big Bear joined by this year’s July Cup heroine Alcohol Free.

“No Nay Never is going really well, it’s been incredible really,” said Coolmore’s MV Magnier. “I was actually talking to Dad and Aidan [O'Brien] about him and they were saying he’s the Danzig of the modern day. What he’s doing with his two-year-olds this year is incredible and they all look like they’re going to go on to bigger and better things next year.

"He’s just had the Guineas winner in Australia this morning too so he really could be the modern-day Danzig at the rate he’s going.”

No Nay Never: sire of five Group 1 winners and 82 stakes performersCredit: Coolmore

No Nay Never is an important stallion for the Coolmore operation as he represents a valuable outcross option for their many high-achieving Galileo mares. The nick has already produced Midnight Mile, Listed scorer Tango and the Group 2-placed Queen Olly among ten winners and five black-type performers.

Coolmore’s faith in the cross was reaffirmed during the early stages of Wednesday’s session of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when Magnier went to 360,000gns for the No Nay Never colt out of Bright Sapphire offered by Church Farm and Horse Park Stud.

Bred by Charlie Brooks, the colt is a sibling to six winners including the Group 2-placed Wall Of Fire and his full-sister Nope. The transaction rewarded a bold pinhook by JR Bloodstock, who sourced the youngster as a foal at 110,000gns.

Lot 1,113: No Nay Never colt out of Bright Sapphire sells for 360,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

“He’s out of a Galileo mare and is a very good mover,” Magnier said of his purchase. “When we were down there during the week John Cullinan was always very high on the horse, and he’s sold plenty of good ones in the past.”

Magnier and the Coolmore buying team have been typically active at yearling sales on both sides of the Irish Sea in recent weeks, with their eye-catching purchases including the Frankel three-parts brother to Broome, a 2,400,000gns buy who was signed for in conjunction with Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm.

Magnier reflected on their recent activities by saying: “We’ve got plenty of horses and this sale [Tattersalls October] has been incredible. There are plenty of nice horses here and there were plenty of nice ones in Goffs too.

"We try to keep a spread [of different stallions yearlings] and we like to support people who have supported us a lot. The dreams are always still alive at this time of year.”

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