Last of the Galileos provides stunning 1,000,000gns return for Glending Stables as Godolphin win superpower bout

Pinhooking triumphs don’t come much more stunning than what transpired at Tattersalls on Wednesday evening as Glending Stables’ Galileo colt completed his transformation from 125,000gns yearling to 1,000,000gns two-year-old. 

Once bidding commenced it wasn’t long before the price sailed beyond the half a million mark, with Chris Wall, racing manager to Vandeek’s owner KHK Racing, Amo Racing principal Kia Joorabchian and the Godolphin buying team all still seemingly full of running. Wall was the first to check out but Joorabchian appeared in no mood to back down. 

When Godolphin representative Anthony Stroud indicated a bid of 900,000gns it seemed like Joorabchian, huddled by the doorway with a team including agent Alex Elliott, may have reached his limit. 

Auctioneer Edmond Mahony tried to tempt one last increase from the group by saying: “You might never get the opportunity again.” The prompt plainly had the desired effect as they duly indicated a raise of 50,000gns.

However, Stroud soon returned a 50,000gns bid of his own to move matters into seven-figure territory, at which point a frustrated-looking Joorabchian shook his head and exited the ring. 

Roderic Kavanagh is no stranger to success at the Craven Sale, having sold Vandeek for 625,000gns 12 months ago. However, the magnitude of this transaction plainly wasn’t lost on the Glending Stables man.  

“You do start to dream and the last month has been tense because you know you have something special,” he said. “We were disciplined all year and didn’t lose the run of ourselves, but when this horse came up [as a yearling] you could feel there was a possibility to get something unique.” 

He continued: “It does help that you’ve sold a horse like Vandeek but I didn’t think this would happen. I have other horses coming here and it didn’t happen for them. But maybe that’s just the attributes of this horse, he just doesn’t disappoint. Hopefully he won’t disappoint anyone where he goes next.” 

Roderic Kavanagh, right, with Rory Fox-Scott after his spectacular pinhookCredit: Laura Green

Asked about his expectations heading into the ring, Kavanagh said: “I thought there was a chance he’d make half [a million]. Just because lots of people like a horse doesn’t mean they’ll all turn up. If half of them turned up he might have made only half of what he did, but they all turned up. Everybody could see what I used to see every day. There are no blemishes, so hopefully he’s as good as the last one.” 

The Coolmore-bred colt is one of just a dozen foals from the final crop of the 12-time champion sire and is out of the Listed-placed Manderley. This lineage makes the colt a close relation to the Listed winner Hidden Dimples, while the dam, who was also fourth in Miss France’s 1,000 Guineas, is a sister to Gregorian. 

“You start looking around and wondering what you’re missing, and maybe that’s why we were able to buy him because people thought there was something missing from the puzzle,” said Kavanagh as he reflected on finding the colt at last year’s December Yearling Sale. 

“But there wasn’t, so when the vet gave us the green light we were like, ‘Wow, this is a unique opportunity’. It’s a lot of money to give on day one, but you’re always dreaming of the bigger picture. Everybody’s here and it’s a unique place. You don’t know what’s going to happen until you walk into that ring. At a live auction anything can happen.” 

The Galileo colt out of Manderley breezes at the Tattersalls Craven Sale on MondayCredit: Laura Green

When it was put to Kavanagh that Wednesday’s success might not have been possible without the exploits of Vandeek, he said: “Probably not. He’s been a life changing horse. But that’s selling horses. We’re privileged to be able to get our hands on a horse like this.” 

After signing the docket, Stroud said: “We all thought he was a very nice horse. He’s the last son of Galileo going through a public auction and he breezed very well. He comes from the same hotel that Vandeek came from. He deserved to do well and he did. When two people want a horse it can make any price. It’s good for the breeze-up business that a horse can go and make that kind of money. Fingers crossed he’s a very good racehorse.” 

The colt's upgraded value was, at least in part, underpinned by clocking a notably fast time during the breeze, especially for a son of a renowned Classic influence. When Stroud was asked whether he expected the colt to prove as precocious as his breeze suggested, he said: “Charlie Appleby and the boss will make those calls.” 

The colt became the third-most expensive breezer sold in Europe and the second-most expensive to change hands at the Craven Sale. The pricier purchases were General Marshall, who sold to Joseph Allen and the Coolmore partners through McCalmont Bloodstock for 1,150,000gns at the Craven in 2014. The son of War Front showed smart form at two but remained a maiden after 17 starts. The other is the €1.4 million Walk In The Sun, who sold to Kerri Radcliffe at Arqana in 2017. The son of Street Sense won a Lingfield novice in the colours of Phoenix Thoroughbreds.

Dream debut for Station Yard

Stroud’s presence meant few other buyers got a look in at the top of the market, with the agent signing for the top three lots on behalf of Godolphin. The first of two 800,000gns juveniles was presented by Charlie and Francesca Poste of Station Yard, who enjoyed a sensational first foray into the breeze-up market. 

The couple, who made their name producing point-to-pointers from their Stratford-upon-Avon base, worked with Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock to source their debut draft of breezers, and among the bunch was the Blue Point colt out of Platinum Coast who was pinhooked for just €78,000 from the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale. 

“I don’t know if we’ll ever surpass this but Francesca and I are absolutely over the moon,” said an elated Poste. “We can’t believe it, to be honest. I’ve said this about the point-to-pointers before, but this is far more of a kick than I ever got riding! 

The Blue Point colt out of Platinum Coast who proved a smash hitCredit: Laura Green

“The whole team at home has done a tremendous job and we’ve had some amazing support. Whether it’s the people in the syndicate who backed us when we had no pedigree for doing this, the horse has been a star, and Tom Biggs, who helped us buy him, deserves enormous credit. Mark Grant and Roderic Kavanagh, who had an unbelievable evening as well, have been nothing but helpful throughout the whole process.” 

He continued: “I was more nervous before they breezed because I didn’t want to be embarrassed doing this. We’re all competitive people and Francesca and I pride ourselves on doing these horses right. The fact he pitched up and did what he did in really bad conditions was unbelievable. He was as straight as a gun barrel and seriously quick, and that backed up what we’d seen at home. 

“The truth of the matter is, we’re used to training point-to-pointers and me thinking he’s fast might not mean a whole heap because it’s completely different. It’s been a long time since I was riding at Richard Fahey’s as an apprentice, so maybe I’d lost my ability to judge speed, but he showed we were spot on. I didn’t think in my wildest dreams it would end up like this with our first go.” 

O’Leary plays the long game

Just a few moments later Stroud was back in position and delivered his second 800,000gns bid on Godolphin's behalf to secure the Kingman colt out of Pure Excellence from Eddie O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud. 

The brother to the Group 3 scorer Parent’s Prayer rewarded O’Leary’s faith at the second attempt as the youngster was retained at 140,000gns when coming under the hammer at last year’s Book 1. On his first visit to a public auction the colt was pinhooked for 230,000gns from the Hazelwood Bloodstock draft at the December Foal Sale in 2022. 

The Kingman colt out of Pure Excellence who was also on Godolphin's shopping listCredit: Laura Green

“I think he’s a very, very talented horse and the mare’s already produced a stakes winner by the stallion,” said O’Leary. “I knew he was very popular, he vetted well and he has a temperament that you just can’t buy. He’s unflappable. 

"I hope he’s half as talented as I think he is because I think he’s a very, very good horse. I wish the new owners the very best of luck.”

Walsh doubles up 

And Stroud wasn’t only on duty for Godolphin as the Stroud Coleman Bloodstock agent also made two eyecatching purchases on behalf of KHK Racing.

The first of those cost 525,000gns as he secured the Havana Grey filly out of Lady Macduff. The filly not only fetched the same price as day one’s top lot but also came from the same vendor, namely Katie Walsh’s Greenhills Farm. 

“I’m emotional tonight, unbelievable,” said Walsh. “It’s just been a great couple of days, it’s been really special. I understand how hard it is to find horses like this. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been saying, ‘Jesus, I can’t have two of them, can I?’ It’s so hard to get one, never mind two. I didn’t really say it aloud but we all quietly thought it at home as the lads were doing the work with them that these two had something special about them.” 

The Havana Grey filly out of Lady MacDuff equalled the 525,000gns sum which Greenhills Farm had realised already on TuesdayCredit: Laura Green

The filly was making her second appearance at the sales after she fetched 80,000gns from Norman Williamson and Mags O’Toole at last year’s Somerville Sale.

Explaining how she came to consign a filly signed for by WillIamson, Walsh said: “Myself and Ross [O'Sullivan, husband] were here and Mags and Norman were here as well. I liked her, they liked her and we decided we wouldn’t take each other on. Norman bought her and she’s been with me since the fall of the hammer. He used to do fillies back in the day but hasn’t done them for a long time, so I said I’m better with the girls so I’ll take her. It’s a dream and I really appreciate it.” 

Stroud said: “She was bought by KHK Racing. Obviously they did very well last year [with Vandeek] and she’s a very nice filly who breezed very well and there’s the connection with Havana Grey. It was a great deal of money but sometimes you have to stretch for the ones you really like. He’ll go into training with the Crisfords.” 

Later in the piece Stroud went to 600,000gns for the Persian King half-brother to French Listed winner Ritournelle who was presented by Tally-Ho Stud.

“Class horse,” said Tally-Ho’s Roger O’Callaghan, who signed for the colt as a foal at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale at €80,000. “We really like Persian King as a sire; we tried to buy him ourselves but they wouldn't sell. This is a cracking horse.”

The Persian King colt out of Robanne snapped up by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 600,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Persian King, whose three Group 1s included the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, stands at Haras d'Etreham at a fee of €25,000. His debut two-year-olds are among this year’s juvenile crop. Stroud said the colt was another bought on behalf of KHK Racing and would be heading into training with Richard Fahey.  

“We’re very lucky to have these sorts of owners who spend this sort of money to race in this country,” said Stroud. “It’s all about the owners who want to make this commitment. It’s the people who give us the orders that need congratulating.” 

Stroud’s irresistible bidding performance drew some good-natured ribbing from his fellow agents. 

“I’ve been in their shoes and it’s frustrating,” he said. “But there are a lot of horse sales and you never know where the good ones might come from. You just have to keep going.” 

Selectivity on show as figures deliver mixed messages

Day two proved notably stronger than the opening session, although it was clearly a selective market, as evidenced by the whole-sale clearance rate of 72 per cent. 

Over the two sessions 147 lots were offered and 106 sold, which generated receipts totalling 14,584,500gns. That figure is a five per cent year-on-year drop from 20 (16 per cent) fewer sold lots. The average price increased by 13 per cent to 137,590gns, while the median remained at 80,000gns, as it was 12 months ago. 

At the conclusion of the 2024 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “Above all we would like to congratulate every single consignor and all associated with the way in which they coped with the extreme weather conditions which we encountered on the morning of the breeze. The professionalism, both human and equine, shone through the persistent wind and rain and it has been wonderful to see some memorable pinhooking triumphs despite the adversity.

Edmond Mahony: praised the 'outstanding professionalism of the consignors' Credit: Laura Green

“The Craven Breeze-Up Sale has produced the best British two-year-olds of their generation in two of the last three years as well as two Guineas winners, and the global participation this week reflects the sale’s reputation as a prolific source of Group 1 performers. Domestic British and Irish buyers have been joined by a strong contingent from throughout the Gulf region, with Saudi connections particularly prominent, and American participation, which has been such a feature of Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale in recent years, has also been notable.

“Obviously the outstanding Galileo colt selling for one million guineas, the second highest price ever for a Craven Breeze-Up two-year-old and the third highest in Europe, was the highlight of the sale and the second consecutive year that Roderic Kavanagh’s Glending Stables has topped the sale, which is a remarkable achievement. As a 125,000gns yearling purchase only five months ago the colt was a truly spectacular pinhooking achievement and there were numerous other notable successes which reflect the outstanding professionalism of the consignors. 

“It should be noted, however, that while the key metrics of average and median compare well with last year’s record-breaking sale, the clearance rate has fallen short and there has been a selectivity to the trade which should not be overlooked. There has been no shortage of competition, both domestic and international, at the top of the market and a record number of lots selling for 500,000gns or more, but the lower levels of the market have not matched the robust demand at the higher end. 

"Nevertheless, we are confident that this year’s Craven Breeze-Up Sale will prove to be an abundant source of high-class racehorses to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Cachet, Native Trail and Vandeek.”

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