Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin secure Tattersalls top lot

Godolphin saw off Amo Racing to secure a 3.7million guineas top lot on the opening day of the Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sale.

Amo set out their stall early when purchasing a full-brother to the Frankel filly Partying, who they purchased 4.4m gns at this sale last year, with the pair being out of Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner Aljazzi.

Godolphin clearly had no intention of going home empty-handed, however, and went to 1m gns for a Blue Point colt out of Boston Rocker as their fifth and at that stage most expensive purchase of the day.

Lot 90, a Sea The Stars colt out of a Crystal Ocean half-sister Crystal Zvezda, then entered the ring, and although Amo were not shy in courting the auctioneer it was ultimately Sheikh Mohammed’s outfit who had the final say.

Anthony Stroud, bidding on behalf of Godolphin, told Tattersalls: “He is from a very good stud farm. He is by Sea The Stars and from a great Rothschild family that goes well with the sire.

“This colt is majestic, the way he moves and walks, he is a lovely horse. He stood out for us and is the one we really wanted.

“You have to pay for the ones you really want, and he was that horse. You always have to pay more than you want!”

Godolphin then returned quickly to the ring to raise 1m gns for a colt son of Too Darn Hot, who is out of a mare named Dane Street – dam of several winners including Skitter Skatter, Victory Dance, Skellet and Aspen Grove.

Anthony Rogers, from breeders Airlie Stud, said, “It is a great price, he is a lovely horse. You can never believe that you are going to get a million for a horse. Dane Street has been an amazing mare for us, and we failed to sell her here about 15 years go! She is still breeding, but she has had a rest this year.”

Joorabchian said of his earlier purchase:”The boys loved him, we could not let him go, we want to keep the family tight and see how the family works out – obviously if he becomes a good horse, he is going to be a stallion. He probably goes to Freemason (Lodge, with Philippart de Foy).

“Obviously, we like the filly (Partying), though she has not run yet. This is a different project – if she does not run she still has a huge residual value as a broodmare, and we have five stallions; if he does not, then it is a different kettle of fish.

“We paid more than (we were) expecting, then we are up against Coolmore and it is five (partners) against one. It is an early strike!”

Newsell’s Julian Dollar, breeder of the colt, added: “Honestly, when I did the budget in December, I put a ‘measly’ half a million to him; he was a big, raw Frankel, but he has really come together through the year, especially in his prep.

“Coming in here, I thought there was a chance he might make seven figures, it was a bit like the filly last year. But, when two big hitters lock horns, there is always a chance they can make unbelievable amounts, which that was.”