International theme as Curlin and Frankel take the plaudits

Curlin advertised his talents close to the scene of the Meydan winner’s enclosure some 14 years ago when one of the easiest winners in World Cup history at the old Nad Al Sheba track and it was a son of the Hill 'N Dale powerhouse who took leading honours at the inaugural Dubai Breeze-Up Sale.

The final price of €619,808 for the chestnut colt out of a dual-winning Distorted Humor mare named Saucy Dame represented a fine piece of business for Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud.

"I didn’t expect anything like that, it’s nice to get a surprise. We gave $150,000 for him at Keeneland and he was a bit babyish to start with," said Whitehead, who had brought a draft of four from Ireland and also sold the fourth most expensive lot, a Mo Town colt, to Saudi Arabian connections for €495,088. "I think the sale has been a very good idea," he added.

The horse seems likely to remain in the United Arab Emirates, having been knocked down to Mohammed Al Subousi, who owns another World Cup hero Thunder Snow’s half-brother Eastern World, a runner in Saturday’s Golden Shaheen.

Journey to Japan for Frankel colt

Frankel’s name carries such currency that Japanese buyers were prepared to jump through a few logistical hoops to sign the only member of the catalogue for €520,638.

Hirokazu Okada of Big Red Farm secured the half-brother to fine stakes horses Lily’s Angel and Zurigha, much to the relief of John Cullinan of consignors Church Farm and Horse Park Stud.

"He has to spend 60 days in Europe before he goes to Japan," said Okada. "We love Frankel and he’s a very masculine horse, a great walker."

"We’ve had a marvellous night," said Cullinan. "We’ve sold a Tapiture and a Mastery well, so we’ve been very lucky, and then to have this horse. Some friends of ours bought him as a foal and then didn’t sell him as a yearling, so there was a lot of pressure, but he’s a marvellous horse.

"They weren’t expecting a rocket type - these are next year’s horses, and we’ve trained him accordingly. He did very little galloping, Roger Marley looked after all of that, but this horse was just naturally talented and he has improved physically.

The Frankel colt out of Noyelles made the second highest priceCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I’m all for anything that will bring new money into the sport, and fair play to Goffs and the Dubai Racing Club to establish this. It’s another dimension to the whole season and they have been fantastic hosts."

Europe could well be the destination for Aguiar Bloodstock’s Kingman colt, a half-brother to Geoffrey Freer winner Agent Murphy, according to agent Ross Doyle as he signed the docket for €495,846 on behalf of an existing client.

"I’d say there was a strong chance he’ll do that," Doyle said.

Trade from across the globe

There was no benchmark to judge trade upon and it seemed the American-bred members had generally been better received, although there were buyers from right across Europe and the Gulf and private sales still being negotiated late into the night.

Sheikh Mohammed made an appearance before bidding began and David Loder, a long-time associate of Dubai's ruler, signed for two of the top ten lots, an Uncle Mo colt and a Justify filly.

The aggregate tallied at €8,200,409, an average of €157,700 and median €104,128 with 52 of 68 lots registered as sold.

One of the better-known expatriate owners was swiftly in action to support the sale as Dr Jim Hay and wife Fitri selected lot 1, the only son of US sensation Gun Runner.

Sheikh Mohammed was in attendance at the Dubai Breeze-Up SaleCredit: Edward Whitaker

It took a final bid of €347,092 to secure the colt out of Bank Audit, a prolific Graded mare in America who has already produced black type performer Explainable. He had been offered by Micky Cleere of MC Thoroughbreds.

"I think think it’s a brilliant concept, one that’s long overdue and it’s great that Goffs have got together with the folks here to make it happen," said Scottish-born businessman Hay, whose pink and green colours have been carried to great effect by the likes of the international campaigner Cape Blanco.

"We want to buy horses to run here, specifically American-bred dirt horses. This one had a fantastic pedigree and Gun Runner is a stallion with huge potential. I thought he was value and he’ll be going to Bhupat Seemar. We’ve got three with him, including a filly [American Gazelle] who is running in the UAE Derby on Saturday. We bought two for him at Ocala and we were hoping to get one or two here."

Cleere said he had obtained the colt privately for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton. "I had just been looking for any of those fashionable pedigrees but he was certainly bought with this sale in mind," he said. "I was a bit worried being lot 1, you’d have rather been later, but it’s a lot of money."

Hay did get himself another late in the sale and went back to the exact same source, purchasing Cleere's daughter of elite US stallion Into Mischief for €396,677.

Another of the standout pages in the catalogue was the Malcolm Bastard-consigned daughter of Dubawi - Sheikh Mohammed’s hallmark stallion - out of Italian Oaks runner-up Joyful Hope.

She was knocked down to Yousuf Salem for €347,092 and while the filly’s destination is unknown, it is thought she could be back on an aeroplane to Europe to continue her journey.

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