'Physically, this horse is perfect' - another powerhouse operation rows in behind Night Of Thunder as well-bred colt brings €450,000

Buyers have barely had chance to catch their breath from a busy fortnight of business at Tattersalls, but Nurlan Bizakov was one of those back on the bridle at Arqana on Tuesday and the Sumbe principal duly went to €450,000 for a well-related son of Night Of Thunder during the opening stanza of the five-day October Yearling Sale. 

The colt was bred by Al Shaqab Racing and is the second foal out of Katara, a homebred daughter of Deep Impact who won the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute. He was presented by Windermere Stud. 

“He was our pick of the day,” said Sumbe’s racing and sales manager Mario Gussago. “Night Of Thunder has, of course, been having an amazing season, and his recent results really show what a great stallion he is. 

“Physically, this horse is perfect. He moves very well and he comes from a very good breeding operation. He’s out of a black-type mare too, so it’s all there. Hopefully he’ll be lucky for the boss. The trainer hasn’t been chosen yet but we’ll take him home and see what the boss would like to do. He’s something to look forward to for next season wherever he goes.” 

Gussago added: “Of course Mr Bizakov thinks about the future, we have a stallion operation, so hopefully we can have the first son of Night Of Thunder standing in France.” 

Mario Gussago: "Hopefully we can have the first son of Night Of Thunder standing in France."Credit: Zuzanna Lupa

The six-figure transaction continued the fine run of form of Windermere Stud. The up-and-coming outfit, which is run by Pierre-Hugues Henry and Janine Gandy, has enjoyed a whole host of noteworthy results throughout its first year in operation across Flat and jumps sales. 

“Night Of Thunder is flying at the moment so this was perfect timing,” said Henry. “He’s a very nice individual, a good walker and a strong horse. We’re delighted. It’s great and we’re lucky to have such supportive clients. To be offering a horse like this in our first year is just fantastic.” 

Kildangan Stud resident Night Of Thunder has enjoyed a remarkable season, on the racecourse and in the sales ring. He is on the cusp of claiming a maiden British and Irish sires’ title, an accolade underpinned by supplying Group 1-winning talents such as Desert Flower, Gewan and Ombudsman. 

He has also sired seven seven-figure yearlings during the latest round of European sales, a list headed by the half-sister to Chicquita, Diamond Necklace and Magic Wand who set an Arqana record at €3,000,000 when bought by Amo Racing during the flagship August Sale. 

Prior to Tuesday’s session, Night Of Thunder’s European yearling average was running at £487,435 for 54 lots sold. His current yearling crop was bred at a fee of €100,000. 

Although there was plenty of action at the top of the market, the final figures suggested there was a deal of huffing and puffing among the buying bench, as the session concluded with a clearance rate just below 70 per cent. 

Despite 17 more lots coming under the hammer than 12 months ago, 21 fewer yearlings changed hands, resulting in a 23 per cent drop in turnover at €13,788,500. 

The average price was also down by 12 per cent to €92,540, while the median was back by five points at €70,000. 

De Watrigant strikes for ‘out of this world’ Wootton Bassett colt

While Night Of Thunder looks to have the British and Irish sires’ championship sewn up, the late, great Wootton Bassett is out clear in the European standings. Four of his progeny occupied a position inside the session’s top ten, including a colt out of the Listed-winning Shamtee who fetched €400,000. 

The colt was offered by Haras du Mont dit Mont and knocked down to Mandore International agent Nicolas de Watrigant, who struck the winning bid on behalf of Coolmore’s MV Magnier. 

Haras du Mont dit Mont's Wootton Bassett colt out of Shamtee sells to Mandore International AgencyCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“Wootton Bassett was out of this world,” said De Watrigant. “He made everyone happy, from breeders to trainers to owners. We will miss him greatly. This colt has inherited a lot of his sire’s quality. I myself was very lucky with Wootton Bassett, resulting in two Group 1 winners being unearthed as yearlings, including Unquestionable, who was bought for Coolmore and Al Shaqab.” 

De Watrigant added: “Coolmore will find a worthy replacement at stud; they have extremely promising sons who have shone at the Classic level, like Camille Pissarro.”

The agent also went to €280,000 for the Siyouni half-sister to Prix Jean Prat scorer Intellogent. She was sourced on behalf of a different, undisclosed client when offered by Ecurie des Monceaux. 

Al Shira’aa strike again

Wootton Bassett also supplied the day’s third top lot, with Al Shira’aa Racing bidding €350,000 for the sister to Prix Marcel Boussac winner Zellie from La Motteraye Consignment. The filly is out of the Nathaniel mare Sarai. 

Al Shira’aa already knows plenty about the pedigree, as the backstory has inspired part of the team’s blue-chip mating plans. 

As an individual she’s a lovely filly; good size, a strong shoulder and nice walk,” said Al Shira’aa manager Kieran Lalor. “Wootton Bassett doesn’t need any introduction from me, he’s one of the best sires of our time. His loss has been brutal, not only for Coolmore but for the whole industry. Stallions like him only come around once in a generation. This filly is sister to a Group 1 winner in Zellie. We have a Grade 1 winner by Nathaniel at home [Mutamakina] and Zellie is actually the reason we bred her to Wootton Bassett twice. She’s a lovely filly and deserved to make that price.” 

Al Shira'aa Racing snaps up the Wootton Bassett sister to Zellie at ArqanaCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

The Al Shira’aa buying team have been busy throughout the sales season, with their recruits headed by the Wootton Bassett half-sister to Listed scorer Audubon Park who brought €1.2 million during the Arqana August Sale. 

“We’ve bought 12 yearlings now this sales season,” said Lalor. “Arqana August was very strong and we got a lot of good business done at Goffs, including a couple of Wootton Bassetts and a lovely Mehmas filly. Tattersalls was a bit different as we got kicked out on a few, went strong on a couple of others and came away with four, which we’re really happy about. This is our one for this sale. As soon as we opened the book, she was the highlight on paper, among the fillies at least.” 

The October Yearling Sale continues on Wednesday, with the second installment of part one beginning at 2pm local time (1pm GMT). 

Stroud show rolls on

Anthony Stroud was the day’s biggest buyer, both in terms of number of purchases and combined outlay. The Stroud Coleman Bloodstock brand appeared on the docket of nine lots for receipts totalling €1.362m. 

The priciest of the haul was the Siyouni colt out of Creedmoor, a winning daughter of Invincible Spirit and Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Vorda, who fetched €320,000 when presented by The Channel Consignment early in the day. 

“He’s by Siyouni, who needs no introduction, and he’s bred by Al Shahania, who are dispersing,” said Stroud. “I thought he was a very nice horse. He’s very light on his feet and a very good mover. He’s a May foal so I think he’ll develop and mature. I thought I better get in early because there are only so many horses of that calibre today. He’s going into training with Andre Fabre.” 

Stroud also went to €210,000 for the Palace Pier half-brother to the Listed-placed Afogado, who was offered by Haras d’Etreham on behalf of Haras Voltaire. 

Anthony Stroud signs for The Channel Consignment's Siyouni colt at ArqanaCredit: ZUZANNA LUPA

“Palace Pier is another of the Godolphin stallions who’s had a very good start at stud,” said Stroud. “This horse was meant to go to the August Sale. The first foal has done well and he’s a very strong, imposing, well-made horse. Again, he’ll go to Andre Fabre.” 

Stroud’s other purchases included a €180,000 son of Palace Pier, a €120,000 Hello Youmzain colt and a filly by Dark Angel, who cost €55,000. This trio were bought on behalf of Peter Harris, owner of July Cup hero Mill Stream. 

“We’ve been working hard together and Peter’s very instrumental in the selection process,” said Stroud. “We work the sales together, but having said that we’ve worked together for 40 years! In the beginning it was jumpers and now it’s Flat horses. 

“He’s the most wonderful man. One can’t be more full of admiration at his enthusiasm, his brain, he’s so switched on. He’s a fantastic human being and I’m lucky to work with him.” 

Mystery surrounds Wootton Bassett colt connections

Haras des Capucines presented the Coolmore-bred Wootton Bassett colt out of Mean Machine, and the blue-blooded youngster was knocked down to Charles Shanahan at €270,000. The colt’s dam is an unraced Galileo sister to Group 1 winners Ballydoyle and Misty For Me, the latter of whom is also the dam of Roly Poly and US Navy Flag. 

There was an important update under the second dam as Mean Machine is also a sister to April Showers, whose son Puerto Rico was last seen adding more top-level form to the page by winning the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. 

Haras des Capucines' Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo sister to Misty For Me and Ballydoyle is knocked down to Kelly Equine ServicesCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“Obviously he’s by Wootton Bassett, who we sadly lost this year,” said Shanahan, son of Coolmore supremo Paul Shanahan. “That’s a huge loss because he’s been a great servant. This colt caught the eye straight away and he’s got a great pedigree. He’ll more than likely go to Ireland on behalf of a client.

“The horse fitted his profile, he looks like an earlier type, and that’s the price we thought’d he make so we’re happy to have him. I know the pedigree well through my association with Coolmore, and hopefully there’s stallion potential there. He came highly recommended.” 

Shanahan, who signed the docket with the name Kelly Equine Services, was unable to reveal the identity of his client, but teased an intriguing set of clues, saying: “I can’t disclose his identity just yet but we’ll all find out in the near future. 

“It’s somebody that everybody would know, he’s already a big owner and already has a lot of horses in training in Ireland. Most of those are jumpers but he wants to invest more on the Flat and is looking forward to this fella now.” 

Big-money brace for Baaeed

Shadwell’s first-crop sire Baaeed enjoyed another good day with two of his yearlings finding their way inside the sale’s top ten. These included the filly out of the Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed Restiadargent who brought €320,000 when offered by Haras de Colleville. The filly is a sibling to two stakes winners, namely Group 3 Prix Texanita scorer Kingentleman and the Listed victress Restiany. 

Jeremy Para signed the docket under the banner of Le Marais. The agent said: “She's a very pretty filly that I bought for a partnership of owners. Baaeed’s first yearlings were very popular at Tattersalls in particular, and the dam is very proven. She has residual broodmare value, so it’s a less risky investment than a colt. Her future trainer hasn't been decided yet.”

The other Baaeed inside the top ten was knocked down to Ghislain Bozo’s Meridian International and Jeremy Brummitt at €270,000. The Ecurie des Monceaux-consigned youngster is out of the Listed winner Think Of Me, a daughter of the late So You Think, and is therefore a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Think Giant. 

Look De Vega half-brother brings €250,000

Julie Mestrallet’s Haras de l’Aumônerie offered a colt with one of the catalogue’s most eye-catching pages, and the Kameko half-brother to Prix du Jockey Club hero Look De Vega duly brought €250,000. 

Ross Doyle signed the ticket, and afterwards he said: “Obviously he’s got a fantastic pedigree but the most important thing is that we liked the horse a lot. He’s very athletic, an easy mover with a good temperament, and obviously he’s got a stallion’s page. 

Ross Doyle signs for the Kameko half-brother to Look De VegaCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

“He’s for Stall Perlen and will be owned in partnership with Finn Blichfeldt and his wife. He’ll go to Pia Brandt. It’s been a lucky sale for the owners and this is a very exciting horse, so hopefully that luck continues.”

The October Yearling Sale continues on Wednesday, with the second installment of Part 1 beginning at 2pm local time (1pm BST). 

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'A very important outcross' - Delacroix retired to stand at Coolmore