‘There’s a lot of horses here who appeal as the types to win a lot of races’ - panning for more Premier gold as buyers descend on Doncaster

Buyers were busy kicking up a dust cloud in the stable yards at the Doncaster complex on Tuesday afternoon as inspections reached a peak ahead of the Premier Yearling Sale. Past form, both recent and historical, points to this being an unmissable annual event. 

The winners of this year’s July Cup and Phoenix Stakes are the latest cases in point, as both graduated from the Doncaster ring – and neither cost the earth. No Half Measures was picked up by trainer Richard Hughes for £34,000 in 2022, while 12 months ago Drumloose Stables signed at £44,000 for Phoenix Stakes scorer Power Blue.

There have been plenty of other success stories of late too, with the likes of Arizona Blaze, Fitzella, Sayidah Dariyan, Tadej and Tropical Island all scooping notable prizes. Top two-year-old Lady Iman, whose four wins include the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, was another who was there to be bought this time last year. 

Another headline graduate is Jm Jungle, who notched his sixth victory in the Group 2 King George Stakes at the start of the month. The son of Bungle Inthejungle was picked up by agent Richard Knight and Sean Quinn, who trains the five-year-old with his father John, for £46,000 in 2021.

View Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale catalogue

“He’s a fantastic advert for the sale and the sort of horse any of us would love to pick up,” said Sean Quinn. 

“In the big picture, he didn’t cost a huge amount of money, but he’s not only done it every year, he’s actually got better every year. He’s just a good, solid horse. They’re the kind of horses we’ve had plenty of success with, and that’s what you’re hoping to see on the Doncaster sales ground.

“There are a lot of horses here who appeal as the types to win a lot of races. There are some very solid horses who are typical of what you get at this sale, and I think there’ll be plenty for trainers to buy. 

"Because it’s quite early in the year a lot of us still have horses we bought last year who haven’t run yet, or horses who haven’t been moved on, so it’s a bit early for some people but, therefore, you can get a bit of value. Every year Dad and I say we wish we’d bought one or two more here.”

Sean Quinn: "Every year Dad and I say we wish we’d bought one or two more here."Credit: SARAH FARNSWORTH

All manner of agents, owners and trainers were out working the sales ground on Tuesday, and Quinn suggested all the signs point towards positive trade. 

“Everybody you’d expect to see has been here over the last couple of days and Deauville looked to be strong enough,” he said. “I don’t see why this would be any different.” 

Those sentiments were echoed by the Coulonces Sales team of Anna and Moa Sundstrom. The France-based outfit’s five-strong draft is stabled in familiar territory in Barn F as, in 2016, Coulonces presented Laurens at this very sale. This year the six-time Group 1 winner’s box is home to the Ardad filly out of Wild Mimosa (Lot 14). 

“We love coming here and it’s been a fantastic sale for us in every way, sales wise and on the racetrack with some super results,” said Anna. “Coming from the Arqana August Sale, we’ve come here and seen some of the same faces, but also a lot of new ones that we didn’t meet last week.” 

Expanding on why the family run operation had brought a draft on the near-500 mile journey from Normandy to South Yorkshire, Moa said: “It’s very important for us, as consignors based in France, that we get to extend ourselves and get to this different group of owners and trainers in Britain. That’s important for us and our name, and also our horses because we want to be involved in as many markets as possible.” 

The Coulonces draft also contains a well-related colt from the debut crop of Naval Crown (191A) and a Muhaarar half-brother to Group 1 winner and upwardly mobile young stallion Sands Of Mali (236).

Anna and Moa Sundstrom: "We love coming here"

Moa added: “They’re all superstars! They’re all very different individuals and that’s exciting because there aren’t two of the same. We’ve got a lot of very positive feedback, including for the wildcard [Lot 191A], who has the French premiums. 

"We got here on Friday so the horses have had loads of time to settle in and get to know their surroundings. We’ve been very busy, new faces have come in today as well for the second day of showing, and that’s just making us more excited for the first day of the sale.” 

Anna added: “I think it’s going to be good. People are here trying to find a racehorse; I don’t think it matters if that’s a racehorse with speed or whatever else. We’re always optimistic.” 

Although the Premier Sale’s make and mark is very much physique over pedigree, there are plenty of pages that resonate. 

Among those that catch the eye are the No Nay Never half-brother to Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed Aloha Star (23); the Minzaal half-sister to Prix Jean Romanet winner Aristia (41); a Dark Angel sister to 2,000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win (185); a son of Mehmas out of a sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic (290); a Wootton Bassett colt out of a sibling to Broome and Diego Velazquez (384); and a Kingman colt out of a Frankel half-sister to Spirit Quartz, Caspian Prince and Tuscan Gaze (404). 

With the addition of two supplementary entries, this year’s Premier Yearling Sale catalogue contains 413 lots, down from 479 at last year’s renewal. Goffs UK’s managing director Tim Kent said the reduction was a combination of design and a sign of the times.

Tim Kent (left): "From what I’ve seen here there are some gorgeous top-end horses."Credit: SARAH FARNSWORTH

“We set out to be tighter on selection,” he said. “There were probably 20 or 30 horses in there last year who shouldn’t have been there, so we wanted to tighten up on that front. We’ve ended up with a few less than we’d anticipated, but, if you look at comparative numbers across the catalogues that are out at the moment, they’re all down, bar Book 1.

“There were fewer horses being bred two years ago and now we’re seeing the result of a reduced foal crop. That’s something we’ll have to deal with for a period of time, but this is a cyclical business. From what I’ve seen here, there are some gorgeous top-end horses. If everyone agrees with me then we’ll be in a good spot.” 

Having spent the day working his way around the stable yard, Kent reported plenty of positive vibes from both buyers and sellers. 

“We’ve got some lovely horses and we’ve been looked after by vendors from both sides of the Irish Sea,” he said. “I’ve been really pleased by what I’ve seen here. The car park is very full and the biggest complaint I’ve had so far is that vendors are very busy and haven’t had time to have a break yet, which is great to hear. 

"We’ve had a very good year on the track with two Group 1 winners recently and with a number of other good horses coming through. We’re hopeful that if it all comes together then everything is in place for a good sale.”

Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale fact-file 

Where Goffs UK sales complex, Doncaster 

When Two-day sale begins on Wednesday, with both sessions starting at 10am 

Last year’s stats From 460 offered lots, 381 sold (83 per cent) for turnover of £15,047,500 (down seven per cent year-on-year), an average price of £39,485 (down 14 per cent) and a median of £30,000 (down 14 per cent)

Notable graduates Arizona Blaze (sold by Glenvale Stud, bought by Rodrigo Goncalves and Aguiar Bloodstock for £82,000); No Half Measures (sold by Marwell Park, bought by Richard Hughes for £34,000); Power Blue (sold by Manister House Stud, bought by Drumloose Stables for £44,000); Tadej (sold by Ard Erin Stud, bought by Blandford Bloodstock and Archie Watson for £65,000)

Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale

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'There's always a buzz around the place' - MG Bloodstock set and ready for the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale 

Kent moves location as young consignor prepares for Doncaster debut 

'Each year we're trying to be a little bit stricter' - Manister House feeling the power with latest Doncaster draft