'If he’s a very good horse he’s going to be a stallion' - Amo Racing outmuscle Coolmore for 3,600,000gns Frankel colt

It took all of 40 minutes for Amo Racing and Coolmore to lock horns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The result of a protracted round of bidding saw a Frankel brother to last year’s top lot bring the gavel down at a cool 3.6 million guineas.

Whereas Kia Joorabchian stood front and centre of the bidders’ area opposite the rostrum last year, this time the Amo Racing principal delivered his bids while pacing back and forth in front of the spotter’s podium by the parade ring. Just in front of the Amo Racing huddle stood the Coolmore camp, with MV Magnier joined by the likes of Paul Shanahan, Peter Brant and Georg von Opel. 

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After the price vaulted up in 200,000gns increments it was Joorabchian who struck a bid of three million guineas with another determined nod of the head. Magnier took his time to respond before mouthing “one” in the direction of bid spotter Shirley Anderson-Jolag. 

Five more 100,000gns raises were exchanged before, as was so often the case 12 months ago, Joorabchian had the final say. Magnier debated countering again but received a decisive shake of the head from Brant. 

The Amo Racing team know plenty about the pedigree as they paid 4.4 million guineas for this colt’s sister, subsequently named Partying and sent into training with Kevin Philippart de Foy, on the same day in 2024.

Kia Joorabchian was all smiles after signing for the Frankel colt at 3.6 million guineasCredit: Edward Whitaker

“The boys loved him, we have a lot of people around us who really liked him, and we couldn’t really let him go,” said Joorabchian. “We want to keep the family tight and see how it works out. Obviously if he’s a very good horse he’s going to be a stallion, and if he’s not, he’s not going to be a stallion.”

Asked if the seven-figure colt would join his sister at Freemason Lodge Stables, where Philippart de Foy oversees the Amo Racing string, Joorabchian said: “Yeah, probably, although we haven’t decided that yet. Partying is at Freemason. Obviously we like her otherwise we wouldn’t have gone for the brother! 

“Who knows though, she still hasn’t run, although this is a completely different project. If the filly doesn’t run she’s still got a huge residual value. She can be a broodmare, and we have five stallions, so that’s important. But if he doesn’t go, it’s a completely different kettle of fish.” 

He added: “I thought we paid a little bit more than we expected but then we’re up against Coolmore. They make it five versus one! It’s an early strike, hopefully there’s no more.”

The Coolmore team, who were underbidders on the 3,600,000gns Frankel coltCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Frankel colt is the third foal out of Aljazzi, whose five career victories were capped by a wide-margin score in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot. The daughter of Shamardal joined the Newsells Park Stud broodmare band at the end of 2018 when she sold for one million guineas at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale, a record price for the auction at the time. 

That seven-figure investment has been made to look money exceptionally well spent as her offspring have now generated 8,750,000gns in Book 1 receipts. 

“When I did the budget in December last year I put a valuation of half a million on him because I think some of these big, raw Frankels can still make that, even if they’re just legs," said Newsells Park's general manager Julian Dollar. "He really came together through the year, especially during prep. I suppose coming in here I thought there was a chance he might make seven figures, a bit like I felt with the sister last year. When you get two big-hitters locking horns, there’s always a chance they can make unbelievable amounts, which that really was.” 

Asked if that result alleviated any pressure ahead of an important three days, Dollar said: "Yes, a lot! This really helps. These horses we’re producing here, they’re expensive to breed. The nominations are expensive and we’re very fortunate that we sometimes get rewarded. They're expensive though, and sometimes the harvest doesn’t go as well as you’d hope. That was a nice start.”

Although Joorabchian joked that he hoped the Frankel colt would be Amo Racing’s only signing of the day, two more recruits were made later in the session. 

A Lope De Vega filly out of a half-sister to Group 1-winning siblings Forever Together and Together Forever, the latter the dam of City Of Troy, brought 550,000gns when offered by Ballylinch Stud. Another Frankel colt, out of the classy Bocca Baciata, cost 450,000gns when presented by The Castlebridge Consignment, taking Amo’s day one spend to 4,600,000gns.

Juddmonte get in on the action

Juddmonte joined the fray when bidding 1,000,000gns for the Night Of Thunder colt out of Express Way from Lodge Park Stud. 

The youngster hails from the Burns family’s signature pedigree, as the page goes back to Park Express and her Derby winning son New Approach. 

Descendants of second dam Alluring Park have been in high demand in the Park Paddocks ring, with her daughter Al Naamah, a Group 3-placed sister to Oaks heroine Was, bringing the Book 1 record of five million guineas from Al Shaqab in 2013.

Another Galileo sister, Park Bloom, is the dam of Amo Racing’s Poker, who became the most expensive colt in European sales history at 4,300,000gns last year. 

Tuesday’s seven-figure colt is the first foal out of Express Way, a daughter of Alluring Park and Dark Angel, who carried the colours of Patricia Burns to victory on her sole racecourse appearance in a Dundalk maiden. 

The Night Of Thunder colt hails from the family of Derby hero New Approach and Oaks winner WasCredit: Laura Green

“He’s a super horse, lovely, and that’s what you have to pay for them, I’m afraid,” said Juddmonte’s general manager Simon Mockridge. “It’s very expensive in there. He’s a very good mover, easy going, and showed well all week. It’s an amazing family and the stallion has been fantastic this year. He looks like a fast horse. The [Abdullah] family will make a decision about a trainer in due course.” 

Kildangan Stud resident Night Of Thunder has sired 123 black-type performers, including this year’s Group/Grade 1 winner Choisya, Desert Flower, Dynamic Pricing and the top-class Ombudsman. 

Juddmonte have been among the beneficiaries of the stallion’s talents as the outfit bred the US Grade 3 scorer Pocket Square from his first crop. 

“That exceeded expectations greatly,” said Lodge Park’s Jamie Burns. “He’s going to a great home. I’m delighted to see him going to Juddmonte, he’ll get every opportunity there. The stallion is flying. Galileo has worked so well with his family so we tried a slightly different angle to get him back into the pedigree [as damsire of Night Of Thunder].”

Sumbe strike for familiar family

Away from the headline lots, Group 1-winning owner-breeder Nurlan Bizakov reconnected with a pedigree that has already served his Sumbe operation particularly well. 

Charyn, a 250,000gns signing at Book 2 in 2021, won three Group 1s in Bizakov’s familiar pale blue and yellow silks, namely the Queen Anne Stakes, Prix Jacques le Marois and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. 

Bizakov acknowledged Charyn’s yearling brother has a long way to go to emulate his illustrious older sibling, but was willing to bid 450,000gns in the hope that lightning will strike twice. 

“Obviously he’s a different colour, but let’s hope he’ll be half as good as his older brother,” Bizakov said after signing for the Grangemore Stud-consigned bay. “Apart from the colour he reminded me of Charyn at this age. It’s not easy to compare but I’m happy and we’ll see what happens. 

“This horse will go to Richard Morgan-Evans to be broken in and then he’ll join Roger Varian. It’s not often two brothers would be the same quality but we will see. I’m happy with the price because I was ready to pay a little bit more.” 

Nurlan Bizakov: 'Let’s hope he’ll be half as good as his older brother'Credit: Laura Green

Bizakov also had an update on Charyn, who served his first book of mares at a fee of €35,000 earlier this year. 

“Charyn is enjoying his second career,” he said. “He covered 177 mares, to be precise, and 92 per cent are in foal. Twenty five of those are Sumbe's own mares. I’m going to the Goffs November Sale and I’m keen to visit Futoon, the dam of Charyn, at Grangemore Stud because she’s been such a good producer.” 

Bizakov also owns Charyn’s once-raced three-year-old sister Shinara, while Godolphin went to 2.9 million guineas for another sister at Book 1 last year. All told, the progeny of Futoon, a 100,000gns pick up in 2017, have generated Tattersalls receipts totalling 4,450,000gns.

Brown goes to 700,000gns for 'smashing' Dubawi colt

Blandford Bloodstock made three purchases throughout the day for a spend of 1.3 million guineas. The most notable of the trio was the Dubawi colt out of Elizabethofaragon who brought a final bid of 700,000gns from the agency’s Richard Brown, a key figure in the rapid emergence of Wathnan Racing. 

The dam, who was bred by Annemarie O'Brien, is a Listed-placed Galileo sister to Racing Post Trophy winner Kingsbarns. 

“Dubawi is obviously one of the great stallions of this century and this is a smashing colt,” said Brown, who said his purchase had been made on behalf of an undisclosed client. “The cross with Galileo works as well and he’s come from a very good farm in Newsells Park. He’s everything you’d like to see in a Dubawi, although it’s been a long time since I bought one! He’s well-bred and very good-looking, so hopefully we get a bit of luck.” 

Reflecting on trade at Park Paddocks, the Blandford man said: “He’s the second we’ve got today but I’ve found it tough. I’d say the market is a little bit patchy, but on the good stuff it’s still very strong.” 

The Dubawi colt was one of two lots inside the top ten for the session sold by Newsells Park, who ended the day as the highest-grossing consignor with receipts totalling 5,875,000gns.

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