Tag Archive for: Tattersalls

Classic tilt first target for Hotazhell, with Harrington weighing up where and when

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Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell is targeting Classic glory on his first start as a three-year-old, but the country of destination is still unclear.

Jessica Harrington’s stable star enjoyed a fine campaign as a juvenile, improving with each run as he claimed three Pattern successes, including the final Group One of 2024 at Doncaster.

“He’s really done well, I think he has furnished well and strengthened up,” Harrington told Tattersalls.

“He’s in the three Guineas, he’s in the English Guineas, the French Guineas and the Irish Guineas, and we’ll just see how he trains and what the ground is like as to which one we go for.

“I’m not certain he’d go on a complete bog if it got really soft.

“He’s got a mile at two. I think a mile and a quarter (will prove to be his optimum) as I’m not certain he’ll get a mile and a half, but then again, he is a very relaxed horse in a race so he might easily – he’ll tell us.

“I don’t think we have to make any big decisions or plans; he’s going to be in all the right races and we’ll just let him dictate.”

The first of Hotazhell’s victories came at Leopardstown in the Tyros Stakes, where he won by a length and half, before trailing Henri Matisse by a length on his next appearance at the Curragh.

Hotazhell returned to the Co. Kildare venue to claim victory in the Beresford Stakes before travelling across the Irish Sea for the Futurity at Doncaster, beating Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix by a nose.

Despite his triumphant end to last season, Hotazhell had only been fourth on his debut at Leopardstown after he got stuck in traffic as Joseph O’Brien’s Scorthy Champ – joint third-favourite for the Newmarket Guineas – scored victory.

Harrington believes that experience was key to his future success.

“We were quite disappointed with his first run because he got beaten – he couldn’t get out,” the Commonstown Stables handler added.

“In a way, it was the making of him because when he couldn’t get out, he had to settle, and he had to then get out and learned much more than if he just cruised around and won.”

Joorabchian considering plans for big-money buy You Got To Me

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Kia Joorabchian has pledged to send Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me back to Ralph Beckett – if Amo Racing’s 4.8million guineas acquisition stays in training.

The daughter of Nathaniel followed up her Curragh Classic success with second place in the Yorkshire Oaks before being below par in the St Leger.

Co-owners Valmont and Newsells Park Stud opted to cash in at the end of that three-year-old campaign and big-spending Joorabchian swooped with what was the third highest price ever realised at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

You Got To at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale
You Got To Me at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale (Tattersalls)

The Amo Racing chief said: “Obviously Ralph Beckett wants her back, and I said as long as he does not injure her, he can have her back!

“I am thinking about plans. If she stays in training, she is not a horse to take away from her current trainer, and Ralph has done a wonderful job with her.”

Joorabchian has been very active in both the yearling and mares’ markets of late, as he tries to take his Amo operation to the next level.

He added: “We are trying to do the right thing. We have to compete, and we have been trying to compete for many years and have probably burnt so much cash by trying to do it, by trying to pick the next one – why try to pick the next one when you have the one here?

“We were getting to a point that we were thinking she was overpriced but she could be very cheap in the long run. At least we know she is proven, she won the Irish Oaks amazingly.”

Believing at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale
Believing at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale (Tattersalls)

Leading sprinter Believing is set to remain with George Boughey after being bought by MV Magnier for 3million guineas.

The four-year-old landed the Group Two Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh in July and will go in search of a first top-tier victory after being placed several times at that level, most recently when third in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

Boughey said: “We have had a few horses lately for Coolmore connections and we are delighted to have a filly to race at a high level for such a great operation. She will be back with us in her own stable, she will have a break now and then we will sit down and make a plan.”

Shirley Anderson-Jolag breaks new ground with auction debut

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Shirley Anderson-Jolag made history on Tuesday morning when becoming the first female auctioneer to ever take to the rostrum in the British bloodstock industry.

Lot 211 at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale was the horse under the hammer in a sale that will now be forever in the record books, as Anderson-Jolag brought the gavel down during her draft of five lots.

A round of applause followed and after her first stint in command of the ring, Anderson-Jolag will return on Saturday for the final day of the foal sale.

“When I decided that this is what I wanted to do, it has been two years of practising, with a good solid year of practice with Edmond (Mahony, Tattersalls chairman),” she said.

“Harvey Bell (associate director of Tattersalls) has been really helpful, too, and I have sold cattle, antiques, sold after auction races and at charity events.

“About a year and a half ago, it was Hannah Wall and David Redvers (of Tweenhills) who gave me my first charity auction at a hunt ball – they kind of made me do it, which was great, as I would probably have said no.

“It has been nothing but positive from everyone, and I am glad I have finally done it.

“Standing behind Edmond to go up to the front of the rostrum, I felt as sick as a dog, but I knew I had the support of people and, once I saw people coming into the ring, that made me really happy, it was lovely.

“Once I got that first lot under my belt, I was OK.

“Hopefully, in five years it will be the norm, and loads of women will be doing this.

“It did weigh on me a bit coming into today, but only for positive reasons because I wanted to be good for other women coming through.”

Joorabchian secures ‘faultless’ colt for record price on final day of Tattersalls sale

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Kia Joorabchian is now the owner of the most expensive yearling colt ever sold in Europe after parting with 4.3million guineas for a son of Wootton Bassett on the final day of the Tattersalls Book One sale.

Having spent over eight million on the opening day in Newmarket, the man at helm of Amo Racing often found himself the underbidder on day two as Godolphin entered the fray and snapped up the top lots.

On Thursday Joorabchian was back in the stands surrounding the famous Park Paddocks sales ring and stood alongside bloodstock agent Alex Elliott as Lot 332 entered the ring.

The youngster is out of Park Bloom, a Galileo mare who shares a dam with the producer of Oaks winner Was and stakes-level performers Douglas Macarthur, Amhran Na Bhfiann, Al Naama and Janood.

After a long back and forth with Coolmore the winning bid was a record price and just shy of the 4.4m guineas Joorabchian paid for what proved to be a sale-topping Frankel filly on the day one, an afternoon he also secured a Frankel full-sister to Arc heroine Alpinista.

“I think if you wanted to paint a horse, you’d try to paint a physical (specimen) like that,” Elliott told Tattersalls.

“He’s faultless, the horse is faultless, from the top of the page to the bottom of the page. The farm he was reared on (Lodge Park Stud), they’ve had the family for however many generations.

“He was one of the most spectacular horses I’ve ever seen. I said to Kia when I showed him the horse, ‘Kia, you’ve been second in two Derbys. There’s every chance this horse can take you one place more’.

“I suppose you could call him a bullseye, when everybody has the same opinion it doesn’t take much judgement to find horses like that.

“He was a spine-tingling horse, there wasn’t much more to say about it! Hopefully he can get it done.

“He’s (Wootton Bassett) one of the elite sires in the world and that horse has every chance of standing in a stallion shed one day.

“Kia will digest what’s happened today, it’s a colossal price for a horse but he deserved it I’m afraid! There wasn’t a horse on the grounds that could compete with this horse.”

Amo Racing were also the winning bidders of Lot 402, a Camelot filly out of Sense Of Style who is closely related to the Coronation Cup winner Luxembourg.

Joorabchian said: “We have a lot of stock, for us to get to the next level we have to target the best stock. We have targeted this sale and the US. Every member of my team when we saw this colt said we can’t leave without him, and it was him and the two Frankel fillies (purchased on Tuesday) – they were our three main targets and we have managed to get all three, so we are happy.

“To play at the top is very hard, we have run the stats and if you look at all the Group Ones over the last four years, they are either homebreds or extremely well-bred. Of course, you get the odd one come through, but really to get to the next level, the stallions and mares have got to be strong.”

Godolphin – leading buyers over the three days in spending in excess of 22,000,000 guineas, Sheikh Mohammed’s second-highest spend at Book One – had another a fruitful day, buying a Siyouni half-sister to Ylang Ylang for 3.7m guineas, a full-sister to Group One winner Sea Silk Road (Sea The Stars x Oriental Magic) for 1.6m guineas and a Mehmas half-brother to Perfect Power for 1m guineas.

Godolphin splash out on full-sister to Charyn at Tattersalls

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A full-sister to dual Group One winner Charyn will join the Godolphin team after Sheikh Mohammed’s operation paid 2.9million guineas for her on day two of the Book One sale at Tattersalls.

Tuesday’s sale was lit up by a number of big-money purchases for Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian, including the 4.4m guineas daughter of Frankel out of Aljazzi, with the owner splashing out more than 12m guineas across 13 lots.

Joorabchian was in the mix for Grangemore Stud’s daughter of Dark Angel out of Futon, with Charyn’s owner Nurlan Bizkov also bidding along with Anthony Stroud for Godolphin.

It developed into a match between Stroud and Amo, with the Godolphin bid eventually prevailing – much to the delight of Grangemore’s Guy O’Callaghan.

He told Tattersalls: “It is the stuff of dreams and as a breeder it is what you always hope could happen, two buyers such as Amo and Godolphin going head to head, then it can go anywhere.

“She has been flat out since she got here, but she has never turned a hair and showed exactly the same every time – it takes a very special horse to do that.

“I was not at Royal Ascot when Charyn won as I could not get away from home, but it is so very difficult for a horse to win there, it takes a great performance and that was special day – and days like this can’t happen without that first.”

Godolphin further bolstered the ranks with the 1.5m guineas purchases of a Too Darn Hot half-brother to American Grade Two winner Idea Generation and a Dubawi colt out of Group One winner Molly Malone, plus a 2m guineas colt by Dubawi out of Lady Bowthorpe.

The mare was a top-class performer, winning the 2021 Nassau Stakes, and owner Emma Banks could not have been happier with the result for her first foal.

She said: “It feels bonkers, to be honest. You dream about these things, then you have to give yourself a slap and go ‘don’t be ridiculous’ but standing in that ring today it was just surreal.

“Once we got to the million – I said I would probably keep him at 800 or a little bit more – but you can’t argue with two million guineas. He’s a lovely, lovely horse and I’m so proud of him and Lady Bowthorpe.

“She is the one who has done this, it’s her baby. I pay the bills and the guys at (consignors) Fittocks have done an amazing job looking after him and her

“He’s going to a great racing operation with an incredible history. Charlie Appleby is a brilliant trainer, I’m very happy Will (Buick) is going to ride him – all of that.”

Godolphin also swooped for an 800,000 guineas half-brother to Classic winner Mac Swiney, while a full-brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Hurricane Lane was sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 850,000 guineas.

There was one other seven-figure lot on Wednesday, as Yulong paid 1.1m guineas for a Dubawi colt out of Group One winner Loving Dream.

Joorabchian swoops for Frankel yearlings to make waves at Tattersalls

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Kia Joorabchian was extremely busy on day one of the Tattersalls Book One sale as he signed for a trio of Frankel yearlings costing a staggering eight million guineas.

The businessman, who runs his racing interests under the Amo Racing banner, was the successful bidder after a prolonged battle to acquire Lot 68, a Frankel filly out Aljazzi bred by Newsells Park Stud.

With the dam a five-time winner with a Group Two victory to her name and the sire needing no introduction, the hammer dropped at extraordinary 4,400,000 guineas – the second-highest lot ever sold at the Book One sale. And Joorabchian showed he was not quite finished when Lot 72 hit the ring soon after.

Another filly by Frankel, this time the yearling in question was by Alwilda and therefore a full-sister to Kirsten Rausing exceptional mare Alpinista, winner of the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Joorabchian went to 2,500,000 guineas for the bay, before returning to the ring to purchase a Frankel colt out of Atone for 1,100,000 guineas and a Sea The Stars colt out of Zahratty for 750,000 guineas.

He told Tattersalls: “We need strong-pedigreed fillies, and we have a lot of horses going to stud in the next year, such as Bucanero (Fuerte) and King Of Steel, it will be this year or next year we will have to make a decision soon, and we have Persian Force already at stud. We need to back them, otherwise we are just going to get left behind – we have to back our stallions to have a chance of winning.

“It is very difficult to buy such mares because the likes of Juddmonte, Coolmores, Shadwells, all the big guys own all the big mares. So we have to come out here and hope that what we are buying in terms of pedigrees will make us competitive.

“It is very hard to buy (such pedigrees) after the yearling stage – once a filly has won a Group One you are in very high prices, so you have got to try to get them earlier and hope that they go on well.”

He added: “Frankel has had huge success, and he just keeps on producing – the Matron Stakes was a real eye-opener, four of the field were by Frankels and one Too Darn Hot. You look at all the Frankels and what they are doing, these amazing mares and fillies, you just have to back him.”

Bloodstock agent Alex Elliott accompanied Joorabchian and said: “Kia is ready for the operation to prove itself at the next echelon and that is where we are trying to get to and that is why we need to get into these families. The fact that these horses are staying here is huge for British racing and we should all be huge cheerleaders for it.”

Of the sale-topper, Elliott added: “All the teams select the best horse and it is who blinks first, and fair play to Kia he certainly did not blink, I think I did!

“This filly has got through most of the hoops – she is by the right stallion, she is out of a good Shamardal mare, she is from a great farm, she has come to a sale, she has shown she is in the top echelon of horses, now she has got to keep going!”

And of Lot 72, he said: “That pedigree, a sister to an Arc winner, there is not a lot to tell you that we don’t all know!

“Kia has been in the game for a certain amount of years now, and to compete at the top table you have to have the best pedigrees – it is the only way to compete consistently.

“Amo has got to a level now that it is ready to try to do that, and that filly has just about the best pedigree in the book. It doesn’t get any better than that. She is a fine, big, scopey filly, she is worth a hell of a lot of money residually. We will see how she goes, we will take our time, it is very much a late-developing family and she looks that physically.”

Caldwell Potter heading to pastures new after record-breaking sale

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Caldwell Potter will join British champion trainer Paul Nicholls and count Sir Alex Ferguson as one of his new owners after being sold for a record €740,000 at an enthralling Tattersalls Ireland sale on Monday.

Andy and Gemma Brown, who run their horses under the Caldwell Construction banner, shocked the racing world late last month when announcing they were to sell their entire string.

Caldwell Potter was the star attraction among 29 lots to go under the hammer at Fairyhouse, having already shown top-level form over obstacles for Gordon Elliott to go with his excellent pedigree.

Following a slow start the bidding eventually got under way at €100,000 before ultimately ending up in a tense straight shootout between two parties.

The packed sales ring fell silent after the auctioneer confirmed a €700,000 bid, and while a counter offer of €720,000 was made by Elliott, the hammer eventually went down at €740,000, ensuring Caldwell Potter became the most expensive National Hunt horse ever sold at public auction.

Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley was immediately announced as the successful bidder and he confirmed Caldwell Potter will now move across the Irish Sea.

Paul Nicholls and Sir Alex Ferguson watch the action at Cheltenham last year
Paul Nicholls and Sir Alex Ferguson watch the action at Cheltenham last year (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Bromley told Tattersalls: “I don’t feel great about taking the horse out of Gordon Elliott’s yard, he’s done so well with the horse, but this is business and you’ve got to do your best for your clients.

“When I saw this horse was coming up for sale there was only one call I made and it was to John Hales. He’s been a client of mine for many years, since back in the time of Azertyuiop, and we’ve had Neptune Collonges and Politologue in between.

“I bought him for a little partnership they’ve got together, four guys – John Hales, Ged Mason, Sir Alex Ferguson and Peter Done.

“I’m thrilled to get the horse, but it is a little bittersweet because I could see how much Gordon was trying to get the horse back when he was bidding.”

The six-year-old son of Martaline is not only a full-brother to Mighty Potter, who won four Grade Ones for Elliott and the Browns before suffering a fatal injury last year, but his dam Matnie has also produced three other high-class performers in French Dynamite, Indiana Jones and Brighterdaysahead.

Caldwell Potter has so far lived up to his breeding, winning three times from seven starts in all and two of his first three outings over hurdles, including a Grade One success on his most recent appearance in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

He holds entries in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, but Bromley warned he is not certain to line up in the Cotswolds.

He added: “He’ll go to Paul’s and he doesn’t have to go to Cheltenham, I believe. It’s not the be-all and end-all because it’s only going to be four weeks and he has to settle into his new regime.

“It could be that he needs that bit of time to settle in and go to Aintree, but really we’ve bought him as a steeplechaser because he’s got a pedigree for a Gold Cup in him, I think.

“At the moment he’s only run at two miles and he’s such an exciting horse for the longer term. Realistically that’s why we bought him, not for four weeks’ time.”

Caldwell Potter’s fee eclipses the previous record for a jumps horse sold at auction in Interconnected, who was bought by Darren Yates at Doncaster in 2019 for £620,000.

Pied Piper will remain in training with Gordon Elliott
Pied Piper will remain in training with Gordon Elliott (Brian Lawless/PA)

In total the 29 lots sold for a total of €5,290,000, with the Browns’ primary trainer Elliott managing to keep hold of the second, third and fourth highest lots.

Mags O’Toole brought the hammer down at €620,000 on behalf of Robcour for one-time Triumph Hurdle runner-up Fil Dor, while dual-purpose performer Pied Piper was snapped up for €570,000 by Windgates Stud.

The final horse to command over half a million euros was impressive Down Royal winner Staffordshire Knot who returns to Cullentra House after Eddie O’Leary went to €510,000 for the six-year-old.

Elliott said: “I was disappointed to loose the big horse, but that’s the way it is – hopefully he will be lucky for the new owners. Pied Piper is coming back and we have got all the ones we wanted apart from Caldwell Potter.

“Staffordshire Knot is an exciting six-year-old and we are delighted he is coming back to us. The horses all looked great – we only had a week’s notice for this sale and it is a credit to the staff.

“We can get back to concentrating on the day job now.”

Trainer Gordon Elliott will keep hold of some of the highest-earning lots from the Brown Dispersal
Trainer Gordon Elliott will keep hold of some of the highest-earning lots from the Brown Dispersal (Niall Carson/PA)

It was a bittersweet day for the Browns’ racing manager Joey Logan, who played a key role in sourcing and purchasing many of the horses who went under the hammer.

He said: “It is fantastic, I want to thank Tattersalls for turning this around in such a short time and Andy and Gemma for letting me purchase the horses in the first place and being so trusting.

“I want to thank Gordon for doing such a good job, all the staff that helped here. I am stuck for words really. It is mixed emotions and I’m delighted that it went so well, and it is just fantastic.

“To see such a nice young bunch of horses, and a lot of work has gone into it, many of them bought as foals, two-year-olds and three-year-olds. I am very proud of these horses, hopefully they are very lucky for the new owners. They gave us some exciting times, there is some regret obviously that I won’t be involved, but I will be there to cheer them on.

“Hopefully, Andy and Gemma will be back in at some point, they are a young couple and I hope they had a good time.”

Caldwell Potter goes for record amount in Andy and Gemma Brown dispersal

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Caldwell Potter became the most expensive National Hunt horse ever sold at public auction on Monday after fetching €740,000 at Andy and Gemma Brown’s Tattersalls Ireland dispersal at Fairyhouse.

The couple, who run their horses under the Caldwell Construction banner, shocked the racing world late last month when announcing they were to sell their entire string.

Caldwell Potter was the star attraction among 29 lots to go under the hammer, having already shown top-level form over obstacles for Gordon Elliott to go with his excellent pedigree.

The six-year-old son of Martaline is not only a full-brother to Mighty Potter, who won four Grade Ones for Elliott and the Browns before suffering a fatal injury last year, but his dam Matnie has also produced three other high-class performers in French Dynamite, Indiana Jones and Brighterdaysahead.

Caldwell Potter has so far lived up to his breeding, winning three times from seven starts in all and two of his first three outings over hurdles, including a Grade One success on his most recent appearance in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

Following a slow start the bidding eventually got under way at €100,000 before ultimately ending up in a tense straight shootout between two parties.

The packed sales ring fell silent after the auctioneer confirmed a €700,000 bid, and while a counter offer of €720,000 was made, the hammer eventually went down at €740,000, with Highflyer bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley immediately announced as the successful bidder.

Caldwell Potter’s fee eclipses the previous record for a jumps horse sold at auction in Interconnected, who was bought by Darren Yates at Doncaster in 2019 for £620,000.

Teona and Via Sistina star in December Mares Sale

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Teona, Via Sistina and 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet were among the star attractions as several top-class racing and broodmare prospects were sold for seven figures on day two of the December Mares Sale in Newmarket.

The sales ring was unsurprisingly buzzing as the second round of the ‘Sceptre Sessions’ got under way at Tattersalls, with Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lezoo and Qipco Champions Day victor Poptronic also going under the hammer in front of a packed crowd.

Teona won the Prix Vermeille in 2021 and rounded off her career by finishing third behind Yibir in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Not only does the five-year-old possess a blue-blooded pedigree, being a daughter of Sea The Stars out of another Group One-winning mare for trainer Roger Varian in Ambivalent, but she is also in foal to the great Frankel, so it was no surprise she attracted huge interest in the auction.

Following a protracted battle, Teona eventually secured top lot status as she was knocked down to Frankel’s owner-breeders Juddmonte for 4.5million guineas.

“She is the best mare in the sale, she is a Group One winner out of a Group One winner, and they are very difficult to find,” said Juddmonte’s Simon Mockridge.

“She is a beautiful addition for us, she has a great pedigree. She is by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire and has had five Group One winners – she will fit in very well.

“She is an outcross to Frankel, which is ideal and what we are looking for. And, yes, she will be going back to Frankel!”

When asked if the final price was expected, he told Tattersalls: “You always have to stretch when you want to buy the best, it is competitive. It was very strong bidding for her, I did think that around about 3.5 to 4million (might get her).

“You have to make that extra stretch – that is something we have learnt, it is all very well trying to value them before but when you come to the moment you have to be a little stronger.”

Jamie Spencer (left) speaks with owners Stephen Hillen and Rebecca Hillen after ridding Via Sistina to victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes
Jamie Spencer (left) speaks with owners Stephen Hillen and Rebecca Hillen after ridding Via Sistina to victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

Having claimed Group One honours in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland earlier this year, Via Sistina looked set to strike gold in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, only to be mowed down late by King Of Steel under an inspired Frankie Dettori.

The four-year-old, who cost owner Stephen Hillen just 5,000 guineas as a yearling, was sold for 2.7million guineas to Evergreen Equine.

Hillen said: “It was amazing to watch! It has been tremendous from the day one. She was with Jamie Magee to be broken her in and he has a lot of good stock through his hands, he rang me in February and said she is the biggest, but she gets up the gallop better than all anything else!

“It has been a dream! I thought that she’d bring in 2million guineas plus, that cross is sensational. She was Group One winner, but arguably she ran great in the Champion Stakes and she was still improving all the time. It is nice now to see her almost certainly be retired sound and go to stud.

“I was fine watching her sell – I thought that if we don’t get what we want for her, we can still race her so it was a celebration either way.”

Zoustar filly Lezoo, trained by Ralph Beckett, was bought for 2.2million guineas after an online bid from Narvick International, who out-battled two separate parties from Japan.

Poptronic, last seen springing a surprise in the Qipco British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes for Karl Burke, made 1.4million, while Tom Clover’s Matron Stakes runner-up Rogue Millennium made 1.65million and Ed Walker’s talented mare Primo Bacio, in foal to Frankel, went for 1.1million.

Nomination to Paddington makes 72,000 guineas in aid of Graham Lee

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A nomination to star colt Paddington was sold for 72,000 guineas at Tattersalls on Monday to raise funds on behalf of injured jockey Graham Lee.

The Grand National and Ascot Gold Cup-winning rider remains in hospital after suffering serious neck and spinal injuries in a fall at Newcastle last month.

A JustGiving page set up by Lee’s daughter Amy for the Injured Jockeys Fund is approaching the £170,000 mark – and the Coolmore team were keen to add their support by auctioning off a nomination to their top-class three-year-old Paddington before the first ‘Sceptre’ lot at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale.

Paddington rattled off four straight Group One victories in the space of 68 days earlier this year, landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The recently-retired son of Siyouni will stand his first season at Coolmore in 2024 with a stallion fee of €55,000.

The winning bid was made by Lady Lloyd Webber of Watership Down Stud.

Frankel filly latest part of ‘long-term project’ for Shadwell

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Sheikha Hissa’s Shadwell operation went to 1,600,000 guineas to purchase a Frankel filly on the final day of the Book 1 sale at Tattersalls in Newmarket.

Consigned by Watership Down Stud, the chestnut is out of the Group One-winning Millisle, who took the Cheveley Park Stakes for Jessica Harrington in 2019.

It is the second-highest figure commanded by a yearling over the three-day sale and the buyers were delighted to get their hands on such regally-bred young stock.

“She is a lovely first foal, I saw her on the farm and loved her, I loved her every time we saw her here as did Sheikha Hissa,” long-standing Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold told Tattersalls.

“We knew she’d make a lot of money, but we need some fillies for the stud and a first foal out of Cheveley Park Stakes winner and by a great stallion, it was sort of fairly self-explanatory.

“She seems very athletic, very well-balanced and has a very good mind, so now she has got to be able to run!”

Shadwell have achieved notable on-track success this season with Hukum, Mostahdaf, Al Husn and Anmaat all registering Group One victories in the famous blue with white silks.

All four of those horses are aged five or six, showing a willingness of Shadwell’s Sheikha Hissa to extend a horse’s career beyond the typical three or four.

Their latest buy is part of the Shadwell rebuilding process and Gold added: “It is a period of rebuilding, it is a long-term project for Sheikha Hissa.

“We have been lucky this year with the older horses, and Sheikha Hissa is happy to take a different route to her father Sheikh Hamdan who did not like to keep the older horses and she is prepared to if we think there is more to come, and she has been rewarded with a Group One winner.

Sheikha Hissa with Mostahdaf and Frankie Dettori at York
Sheikha Hissa with Mostahdaf and Frankie Dettori at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It is exciting times for the stud, but you have to keep regenerating.”

He added of Sheikha Hissa’s ever-growing passion for the sport: “She has loved coming here, she can stand looking at the horses all day if someone did not come and move her!

“She loves coming to see the yearlings, we saw them all Monday and she has been back over the three days to see horses again. She is picking it up very quickly, like her father, and really enjoys the business.

Coolmore land 2,000,000 guineas Frankel colt at Tattersalls

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Coolmore saw off Godolphin and Juddmonte to land a Frankel yearling for 2,000,000 guineas on the second day of the Book 1 sale at Tattersalls in Newmarket.

Standing in the gangway, Coolmore’s MV Magnier was determined to secure the beautifully-bred colt, consigned by Anthony Oppenheimer and Hascombe and Valiant Stud.

“He is lovely horse and from a very successful stud in Hascombe, which has bred very good horses in the past and are very good breeders,” Magnier told Tattersalls.

“This is a well-bred horse; Frankel is flying and everyone (from the Coolmore team) liked him – and he goes to Ballydoyle.”

Oppenheimer, who was sat in the ring to see his colt sell, said: “So far we have done quite well, and sold four, and we have more to sell (over the whole of the October Sale).

“There were no regrets at all when he was going around the ring. I did not think we’d get as much as that; I know he is a very nice horses – refuelling the stud’s finances and it can’t do any harm!”