A European record for a breeze-up sale was broken for the second straight year April 16 when Ross Doyle went to 800,000 guineas to secure a High Chaparral colt during the first day of the Tattersalls Craven breeze-up sale.
The record price helped the turnover soar 35% to 5,403,000 guineas on 46 lots sold, with the average and median up 49% and 46% to 117,457 guineas and 76,000 guineas, respectively.
The previous record at a European breeze-up auction was set at last year's Tattersalls sale when the subsequently named Great White Eagle sold for 760,000 guineas.
That record lasted until the High Chaparral colt consigned from Jim McCarten's Gaybrook Lodge Stud was purchased by Doyle on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing after he saw off the determined efforts of Jamie McCalmont, who stood with Paul Shanahan, Michael Tabor, and M.V. Magnier.
The sale represented a sizeable profit for the vendors who purchased him at the Tattersalls December yearling sale for 41,000 guineas. Following the sale, McCarten said, "I loved the colt from the moment I bought him and he has done everything right since, never missed a day. The first time I worked him, you could see he was special and the lads riding have always been mad about him. I never expected that, but this is what we are all in the game for."
"He was the stand-out here; easily the best in the sale," Doyle said. "He is a lovely, beautiful horse. He could be a superstar."
Doyle struck earlier in the day as well when securing an Arcano colt consigned from Roger Marley's Church Farm Stables for 320,000 guineas, again on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing. Among the underbidders were trainer John Gosden, agent Stephen Hillen, and eventual underbidder Jamie Lloyd, who was accompanied by trainer Marco Botti. The sale represented a major pinhooking success for his owners who purchased him for 36,000 Euros.
"He is a very special horse," said Harry Herbert of Al Shaqab, "and the Sheikh is thrilled. This horse did a great breeze and all in all it's been a good day."
Derrinstown Stud stallion Arcano, a son of Oasis Dream, has his first crop of 2-year-olds running this year and is already sire of an impressive winner from his first starter.
A Speightstown colt out of the Royal Academy mare Sleepytime was another to realize 320,000 guineas when knocked down to Mandore International's Nicholas de Watrigant, also on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing.
"He's the best 2-year-old I ever sat on," enthused vendor John Egan of Friarstown Stud said following the sale. "I don't do a lot with them at home, I don't start asking any questions, but this will be a good horse. I hope he is really lucky for his new owners.