Sophie Buckley makes rapid impact with 300,000gns Night Of Thunder colt

Just five lots into Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and consignor Sophie Buckley was wearing a smile that will probably last the next couple of weeks of action.

Buckley's Culworth Grounds Farm near Banbury in Oxfordshire has been developed from arable land into a rising star among vendors, having introduced itself as a brand six years ago.

It had just two lots at the showpiece Book 1 section, with the first, a chestnut colt by Night Of Thunder from the family of top stayers Pale Mimosa and Nearly Caught, sold to Peter and Ross Doyle, on behalf of Richard Hannon, for 300,000gns.

While that is not an eyebrow-raising sum given the strength of early trade, it is notable given that Buckley bought him for 75,000gns at this same venue on November 27.

"It’s my highest-priced horse at a sale," said Buckley, whose only more impressive profit to date had been with a Cable Bay yearling now named Ertikaaz, who had been bought for €4,000 and sold to Shadwell for 160,000gns at Book 2 here two years ago.

"I didn’t expect it to go that well but I'm obviously absolutely delighted, it's a great pinhook."

Elaborating on her thinking at last year's December Foal Sale, she said: "I particularly wanted a Night Of Thunder, he’s obviously a very good stallion and he was a nice foal.

"75,000gns is quite a lot for me, I just thought that Night Of Thunder was standing for €75,000 this year and horses by him should be able to make that and more. This one just got better and better and better, he's a very correct yearling and looks like an early two-year-old; maybe that made him stand out a little here.

"He looked speedy, has a fabulous temperament, and he didn’t put a foot wrong throughout. Lots of people liked him, he was popular all the way through. I think a few people followed him in and in the end two people wanted him - that’s the dream result. He’s going to Richard Hannon, they obviously had Night Of Thunder, so hopefully he does well for them."

There was to be a respectable result too for Buckley's other Book 1 offering, a Starspangledbanner half-sister to recent Group 3 winner Dawn Intello whose price rose to 90,000gns from €30,000 as a foal when knocked down to Conrad Allen.

However, next week, the work starts again.

"I've still got five in Book 2 and four in Book 3, so we're only at the beginning," she said. "We do have some very nice horses, it seems a particularly good year and hopefully there'll be a few more good results.

"At the end of the day we're trying to up the quality, but obviously that costs, and some very good people are supporting me."

More from Book 1:

Sheikh Mohammed and John Magnier among those looking forward to a feast

Siblings to Palace Pier and Snow Lantern setting Highclere standard once again

'He's very like Galileo' - blue-chip colt the star of the Cumanis' Book 1 draft

Aughamore Stud's Michael and Laurence Gleeson look ahead to Tattersalls