Siyouni colt takes Tim and Gill Bostwick to new heights at Book 2

Tim and Gill Bostwick have less of a hands-on association with their horses nowadays but their joy at a career-best result in the ring was unfettered as a Siyouni colt jumped to the top of the board on the final session of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

For many years, the couple consigned under Biddestone Stud, the Cotswold base which they vacated several years ago when deciding to switch their broodmares across the country to Tom Blain at Barton Stud near Bury St Edmunds.

They could hardly have showered the young manager with more praise as the result of the 600,000gns purchase by Shadwell of lot 1192, the third-highest price of this three-day chapter of the auction, began to sink in.

The windfall's dam, the winning Exceed And Excel mare Moonlit Garden, was bought for 80,000gns and her son was almost jumping up in increments of that same sum as firm interest was shown by the likes of Alex Elliott and the Hong Kong Jockey Club before Angus Gold submitted the final successful bid.

"The biggest (result) by some way," said Tim Bostwick.

"We sold one for 450,000gns here last year and that was pretty special but you don't dare to dream of 600,000.

"Two years ago we decided to sell Biddestone and move the mares to Barton. It has meant we can relax a bit, but it is turning out to be the best move we ever made. Whatever you send - foals, yearlings or mares - Tom treats them as if they're his own and has fantastic staff."

The Bostwicks continue to live near to their old farm and have 20 acres in north Wiltshire for keeping mares out of active service.

Tim and Gill Bostwick had their best ever result at Tattersalls with their Siyouni colt

Gill, who had briefly been reduced to tears, added: "We bought her in foal to Dream Ahead and she's had three winners from three runners, two with black type, and we're so pleased to see Shadwell come back for him, as they bought (half-brother) Mokaatil.

"You can just trust she that will always throw to the stallion. We have a breeding right in Siyouni and we thought his body, walk and speed would superimpose well on a foal from the mare. Moonlit Garden had a Muhaarar foal this year and her daughter Dream Dreamer had a super Showcasing, who will come here next year."

Blain was quick to repay the compliments.

"Just a beautiful colt, our horse of the year," he said. "I'm just delighted for Tim and Gill. They've been in the game for a long time and put in a lot of time and effort. It's just great to see good people rewarded.

Foley takes pinhook in his stride

If John Foley was elated about consigning the colt knocked off the head of the day three standings then there were no outward signs.

The principal of Ballyvolane Stud in Limerick was calmness personified after the 325,000gns pinhook of a No Nay Never colt (lot 1105) to Rabbah Bloodstock.

His youngster had been claimed for just €54,000 at Goffs last November but - according to onlookers - had been the subject of covetous glances all week and was further evidence of the appetite for progeny of his sire, whose son Ten Sovereigns will shortly attempt to reach the cash-laden summit of The Everest.

"It's a difficult business - I'm very grateful to Jono Mills, who bought him for Rabbah, I believe he's going to Sir Michael Stoute," he said.

"He was a very nice foal, a very good mover, and has grown into an equally nice yearling. He’s owned with the Flannerys of Egmont Stud."

Foley is not from a racing background and began a few years ago when buying a couple of mares. His business has grown considerably and he sold a Lope De Vega for the same sum last year.

"The current climate makes it very difficult, but you keep trying to survive," he said. "Thankfully we’ve had a couple of good years, we’ve been very lucky."

The No Nay Never colt was a major pinhook success for John Foley's Ballyvolane StudCredit: Laura Green

Never say Never for Doyle

Sustained patronage throughout both books by the Maktoum family is welcomed unequivocally by the industry, even if it can be hard for others to get a look-in.

This even extends as far as the voluminous buying operation of Ross Doyle and Richard Hannon, with relief etched on the face of the former when Anthony Stroud called time on his bidding on another No Nay Never filly (1143) at 270,000gns.

She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed filly Maid To Remember, from the family of renowned producer Maid For The Hills.

"I just said to Anthony Stroud, that's the first time in eight days that I have beaten him!" Doyle said.

"It's been extremely tough. She's by a good stallion and being out of a Galileo mare is a huge plus for her to be a broodmare in time. She's for an established client who hopes to get into breeding."

Lot 1160, a Siyouni colt, should be back for the breeze-upsCredit: Laura Green

Others decided to take the 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' approach in order to take something useful home from Newmarket.

Two breeze-up practitioners teamed up for the Siyouni-sired first foal of Dick Poole Stakes runner-up Marsh Hawk (1160), with Byron Rogers of Star Bloodstock splitting the 220,000gns with Mick Murphy's Longways Stables.

"It's been a challenging week," Rogers admitted. "We loved the horse and so did Mick, so it just made sense to pool resources."

Juddmonte keep Frankel in the family

With the luxury of being one of the world's foremost breeding operations, Juddmonte has little need to be active at the sales unless attempting to diversify its broodmare band.

However, a rare exception was made for a 270,000gns daughter of its very own stallion titan Frankel (1106), a chestnut filly from The Castlebridge Consignment out of the ultra-consistent miler Ladys First, a daughter of Dutch Art. She joined Lady Bamford's stock after her racing career and had a notable update only a week ago when three-year-old daughter To The Moon shed her maiden tag at Chelmsford.

"We like Frankels," said Juddmonte racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe with a wry smile. "We were looking for one last week and had to let a few pass. The cross is a good one."

Although this filly's possible debut in 2020 will be one bright spot for Prince Khalid Abdullah's team, it is rather dwarfed in comparison by the clamour to see Enable race on in another quest for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Reflecting on the decision to keep her in training, Grimthorpe said: "The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. There was the incentive to go for a third Arc and Prince Khalid likes to race his horses. She came out of the race well, she passed her MOT."

That same team later supported its other bastion, Kingman, when sealing a 220,000gns bid for a Gestut Fahrhof-bred colt from a superior German family.

Final figures

The stats have ebbed and flowed during the week despite an eye-catching first ever seven-figure lot but the final few through the ring created both a narrow new record turnover of 48,499,000gns and record median of 55,500gns (up 1 per cent on 2018) for the event.

The average was also up 2 per cent to 78,224gns from 76,796.

In his concluding statement, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "Yet again Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has achieved turnover in excess of all other European yearling sales except last week’s October Book 1.

"In addition, the sale has averaged more than 75,000 guineas and grossed in excess of 48 million guineas for the third consecutive year.

"The obvious highlights have been Croom House Stud’s exceptional 900,000gns No Nay Never colt, who is the highest-priced colt ever sold at this fixture, followed swiftly by Trevor Stewart’s beautifully bred record-breaking Dark Angel filly, presented by Ballyhimikin Stud, whose 1,050,000gns sale broke new ground for Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale.

"Individual records always make good reading, but the real Book 2 story has been the sustained demand from start to finish.

"It is a pretty extraordinary statistic that as recently as 2012 there were 48 Book 2 yearlings sold for 100,000gns or more and this year we have had more than 160 reach that level.

"The support of the Maktoum family and their associates has, of course, played a huge part in the success of the sale and their continued enthusiasm and commitment should never be underestimated, but they have been joined by buyers from the wider Gulf region and from throughout the world including Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and the USA, all of whom have made a significant impact on a sale which has produced an impressive clearance rate of 85 per cent.

"Equally importantly, the British and Irish trainers have also been out in force. The combination of a strong catalogue featuring so many quality British, Irish and French yearlings and the sale’s reputation for producing champions year upon year, makes October Book 2 a sale which everybody wants to attend."

More from Book 2:

Shadwell land seven-figure Dark Angel filly to smash Book 2 record

Coolmore on top again as MV Magnier lands 900,000gns No Nay Never colt