WH Bloodstock raring to go for round two at the Premier Yearling Sale

Almost a year ago to the day WH Bloodstock arrived at the Goffs UK Premier Sale to present its first yearling for auction.

The operation, run by Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh, could barely have dreamt of a brighter start when their 35,000gns pinhook, a colt by the dependable Tamayuz, was knocked down to Shadwell's Angus Gold for £110,000.

Some 12 months on and the WH Bloodstock team are back in Doncaster with a souped up seven-strong draft and are brimming with anticipation ahead of the two-day event, which starts on Tuesday at 10am.

"It was great to get off to such a good start, you just need one or two really good results to get your name noticed and we were fortunate to have that with the Tamayuz we sold at Goffs UK and then with the Showcasing colt we sold at Book 1 [to Phoenix Thoroughbreds for 650,000gns]," reflects Wadham.

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"We're also pleased that we've already had results on the track," says Hesketh, referencing He's A Keeper, a son of Brazen Beau who ran out an impressive winner at Haydock on his second outing for Tom Dascombe. "I think he'll be going for a black type race next too, so it's nice to start the yearling sales with a decent winner on the board."

The pedigrees and profiles of this year's Goffs UK draft suggest more smart winners might not be too far away. So too does the relentless enthusiasm with which the pair speak about their Premier Sale consignment.

"We've got an eclectic bunch of horses here, we haven't just got the typical two-year-old types which this sale used to be known for," says Hesketh. "The sale has progressed and therefore we wanted to send more quality horses here."

One of the horses responsible for the Premier Sale's evolution is six-time Group 1 winner Laurens, who was acquired by John Dance and the Salcey Forest Stud team for £220,000 in 2016. And front and centre of the WH Bloodstock draft is another striking daughter of Siyouni (lot 395), who was bred the year her sire's fee hit €45,000.

Lot 395: the Siyouni filly strikes a pose

"The Siyouni is a very elegant filly, she's got plenty of size and scope and walks really well; she strides out and puts her head down and has a fantastic attitude. She's very much stamped by her sire," says Wadham.

"She's a queen in our eyes," interjects Hesketh before her colleague continues: "Her nickname at home is Queenie! She's got a fantastic pedigree too, she's from the family of String Quartet, Meeznah, Mirsaale, it's a really strong page.

"We wanted her to be a standout here and she's not just a two-year-old, she's that and a lot more."

The pair are similarly sweet on a strapping son of Acclamation (424), another stallion whose progeny have an affinity with Doncaster with the likes of Dark Angel, Lilbourne Lad and Tabarrak having sold in South Yorkshire.

"We pinhooked the Acclamation colt for €68,000, which was a big throw for us, but he's progressed very nicely and we're really looking forward to selling him," says Wadham.

"He's a tank, an incredibly impressive colt with such a strong hindquarter," adds Hesketh. "To back that up he's got an unbelievable walk, he's got such a stretch.

"His temperament is to die for too; he's so relaxed and has taken everything in his stride. He looks ready to rock and roll and he's a big, strong boy.

Lot 424: the Acclamation colt is a 'tank' says Violet Hesketh

"Acclamation crosses very well with pedigree too, as under the second dam there's a horse by him called Justice Good who was fourth in the Coventry."

The WH Bloodstock draft was open for inspection on Sunday, a scorcher of a day that pushed the mercury a little beyond the usual 'sunny Donny' territory, and the pair's optimism has only increased after experiencing heavy footfall from potential purchasers.

Wadham says: "In 30 degree heat the resilience of the horses and the staff has been amazing - and of course that of the people coming around looking at the horses."

Hesketh adds: "We've been flat out. Goffs UK have done a great job, there are a lot of people here, which is what we want to see. The market seemed strong at Arqana so long may that continue."

After some sizeable results during their first year consigning, the WH Bloodstock team could almost be forgiven for thinking selling young thoroughbreds was simple. However, their answer contains a level of maturity beyond their relatively tender years when asked if they have done anything differently this time around.

"I think we're a bit more relaxed, the first year was all about finding our feet," starts Hesketh, before Wadham joins in detailing the intricacies of exercise, feeding and husbandry that go into preparing yearlings for public auction.

"We've fine-tuned the preparation as well, now we have a routine that works really well for both horses and staff," she says. "We've got a really good team at home who care so much about these horses. When the Siyouni filly left, her groom, Morris Feane, actually shed a tear!"

Violet Hesketh (centre) and Mimi Wadham (right) at Goffs, where they pinhooked their Acclamation coltCredit: Peter Mooney

Hesketh and Wadham's enthusiasm for the two days of selling that lay ahead is mirrored in their desire to ensure last year's successes are merely the foundations for much bigger things, as the pair have a lengthy list of goals lined up for the medium and long term.

"Building up our drafts at the premier sales is our main ambition, although we also want to break into consigning broodmares and horses-in-training too," says Wadham, before Hesketh chimes in: "We pinhook too, so to get better results than last year would be good.

"We're also consigning in Ireland for the first time this year, which we're really looking forward to, we have a really nice Australia filly going to the Orby Sale. We're open to consigning anywhere, it doesn't have to be in England."

The calendar for broodmare, foal and yearling sales accounts for only half of the year, however, and Wadham says they are planning on consigning stores in the future with the aim of staying busy all year round.

"It helps extend our season a bit, once we've sold our yearlings and done all our breaking and pre-training it can go quite quiet in the spring, so there's an opportunity there," she says.

'We call him the pocket rocket!'

The Siyouni filly and Acclamation colt may be the more obvious types among the WH Bloodstock draft, but they are by no means the only offerings with plenty going for them. Their first lot is a colt by the ever-popular Showcasing (lot 9).

"We call him the pocket rocket! He looks very quick," says Wadham, whose view is shared by Hesketh, who adds: "He's not overly big but the best Showcasings often aren't, horses like Soldier's Call and Tasleet. He's a fantastic mover, he can really nip around the lunge ring at home. He's a cool customer."

That colt is followed by a daughter of Night Of Thunder (49), whose first two-year-olds have made quite an impression thanks to the likes of Princess Margaret Stakes winner Under The Stars and the Listed scorer Thunderous.

"She's a very sweet filly with a brilliant walk and an adorable attitude. The vibes around her have been good," says Hesketh, before Wadham adds: "She looks a runner and the stallion is obviously throwing hardy racehorses and that's exactly what she looks like."

A colt from the debut crop of Bobby's Kitten (216) is described by Wadham as "a nice horse who has really pleased us at home", while their son of Elzaam (375) is another to receive a glowing report. Hesketh says: "He's racy and very straightforward, solid, a proper runner." Wadham adds: "He's a full-brother to a good horse in Hong Kong called Vincy. He moves well and is a proper trainer's horse."

The draft is completed by a colt from the debut crop of Haydock Sprint Cup and Diamond Jubilee winner Twilight Son (388). "He's a horse with plenty of size and scope and a good walk," says Wadham. "He should tick plenty of boxes."

More Goffs UK news:

Kingman colt can be 'one of the stars of the show' for Hillwood Stud

Oakgrove Stud hoping to sell a third stakes winner in as many years