Abunai colt
A little over two hours after watching Al Shaqab Racing’s Sandiva (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) post serious Classic claims in the G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S., Sheikh Joaan Al Thani’s Racing Advisor Harry Herbert sent several of the organization’s trusted lieutenants into battle in the sales ring to secure the next generation of potential stars. With 20 of the 45 lots sold during the first evening of trade reaching six-figure sums, the average rocketed to 117,457gns, up by 49%, while the median also rose significantly, by 46% to 76,000gns. Turnover of 5,403,000gns was a 35% improvement on the corresponding session of
2013. Ross Doyle engaged in a prolonged tussle with the Coolmore team to ensure that Lot 44, a High Chaparral (Ire) colt out of a Pivotal (GB) half-sister to GI E.P. Taylor S. winner Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), will race in the Al Shaqab livery after setting a new European breeze-up record at 800,000gns.
“He did the best breeze of any in the sale and he’s a beautiful horse by the right stallion,” said Doyle, standing alongside Richard Hannon, who trains another High Chaparral colt, the G1 Sussex S. winner Toronado (Ire), for Al Shaqab and will now take charge of Sheikh Joaan’s expensive new purchase.
Herbert added, “He’s a very similar stamp to Toronado with a beautiful head and outlook. Coolmore wanted the horse as much as Sheikh Joaan does and this is what happens when they clash.”
The sale-topper was a welcome touch for Jim McCartan of Gaybrook Lodge Stud, who bought the colt for 41,000gns in the same ring less than six months ago, just a week before his dam, the multiple winner Abunai (GB), was sold for just 15,500gns to Jocelyn Targett of Black Type. Abunai foaled a colt by Bated Breath (GB) last week and is set to be covered by first-season sire Cityscape (GB).
Abunai colt
McCartan said: “I thought he’d sell well, though I wasn’t expecting that–but this is what we’re all in the game for. The day I bought him I thought he was a very nice colt but he’s just done everything right since. The first day I worked him I knew he was something special and we’ve just kept him ticking over. It’s very much a team thing–you can’t do anything in this business without good staff and Cian Hughes broke him in for me while Gerry Kerins has been riding him and looking after him.
“The lads were mad about him at home and I just hope he turns out to be really special for his new owner,” McCartan added. McCartan’s good evening didn’t end there. Dick O’Gorman went to 210,000gns to buy Lot 65, Gaybrook Lodge’s Invincible Spirit (Ire) half-sister to Group 3 winner Distinctive (GB) (Tobougg) after she had been picked up at the October Sale for just 25,000gns.
Source: Thoroughbred Daily News, Thursday, April 17, 2014 | by Emma Berry
