'Happy tears' as Rogue Lightning makes £1,000,000 at Goffs Qipco Champions Day Sale

Rogue Lightning got the inaugural edition of the Goffs Qipco British Champions Day Sale off on the ideal footing when changing hands for £1,000,000 in the Ascot parade ring.

Tom Clover, trainer of the recent Listed winner and Prix de l’Abbaye fifth, was considerate of what would be mixed feelings for his ownership syndicate, The Rogues Gallery, at letting go an incredibly promising three-year-old sprinter.

There was relief in his eyes to the fact that the successful bidder, Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, will ensure Rogue Lightning remains in his care but now in the colours of the Emir of Qatar's emergent Wathnan Racing. Yet there is also simple finance at play; the Kodiac gelding had cost just 42,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Sale in the spring of 2022 and has shot through seven figures while giving connections unabated fun.

Trainer Tom Clover after Rogue Lightning's sale to Richard Brown at the Goffs Qipco British Champions Day SaleCredit: Sarah Farnsworth

"This was a unique initiative by Goffs and it’s quite rare that a horse of his sort of stature comes to a sale like this," Brown said.

"We were very interested in him privately after the Abbaye. I’ve bought him for Wathnan and he'll stay with Tom, hopefully for the rest of his career. Hopefully it’s one of those things that’s good for everyone, we’re delighted to get him.

"He’s got a bags of speed and it’s hard to find a horse who will travel in those races over five furlongs. There’s a good and fairly obvious programme for him next year that we can dream about over the winter."

Clover said: "The Rogues have been massive supporters of ours, I remember buying the horse very clearly with Tony [Elliott, syndicate founder], my wife Jackie and [agent] Billy Jackson-Stops. 

"For a syndicate of people to buy a horse which they can sell for a million is fantastic for them. For me, for him to be staying with a new owner is a terrific result and I’m very grateful to Goffs for promoting the horse and selling him."

Clover turned in the direction of the syndicate members who had come to see their star make a valedictory appearance in the paddock, as he has already been roughed off for the campaign.

Nick Nugent and Henry Beeby on the roster at the Goffs Qipco British Champions Day SaleCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I think they’re happy, obviously it’s a lot of money but at the same time bittersweet as well as being a terrific result. I think there’ll be some tears, but happy tears maybe," he added. 

"He didn’t breeze out particularly well at the Craven but still showed that speed and he was a good physical. We were all on board with him and he’s always shaped up like a nice horse. Hopefully he’ll be a proper Group 1 horse for a few years to come."

Goffs' Henry Beeby had described the event as "a new dawn" in his introduction. Unfortunately the three other members of the catalogue failed to reach their reserves and although there weren't exactly a huge number of obvious bidders, it was viewed by a few hundred spectators in a welcome window of glorious late morning sunshine.

As a sort of industry showcase and a first part of a full day's entertainment, it seemed to hit its brief with Beeby keeping terminology simpler than for a typical sale with newcomers in mind and in Rogue Lightning, presented a result to satisfy.

The crowd watches Rogue Lightning sell at the Goffs Qipco British Champions Day Sale Credit: Sarah Farnsworth

Beeby, the group chief executive, said later: "Ascot is one of the world’s most iconic racecourses so when the opportunity arose to have a sale here, we pounced on it, and we are delighted with the outcome. 

“It could be argued that past sales here have not been in line with what is the one of the most prestigious brands in global racing and we felt there was an opportunity to re-establish sales at Ascot with a quality of horse not seen here before. That was achieved today in emphatic style with a seven-figure top price which represents another amazing result for Goffs boutique, offsite sales, for which we are the market leader. 

“To be a part of Qipco British Champions Day has been a real privilege and we wish to thank the Ascot racecourse executive and trustees as well as the teams at British Champions Series and Qipco for their support and enthusiasm in this new venture. We are also very grateful to our vendors who entrusted their horses to us and this new initiative and we wish Wathnan Racing all the very best with the future endeavours of Rogue Lightning. 

“We believe sales at Ascot have a bright future as a location to sell quality, top-class bloodstock. Today Goffs and Ascot made a statement to that effect, and we hope to be back here again in the near future.”

Read more

Quality Road holds strong at $200,000 and Flightline's fee clipped as Lane's End Farm reveals 2024 fees 

No more living off Dubawi and Shamardal as Darley's superstar squad of younger sires comes good