An American-bred Gone West colt out of the stakes-winning Sadler's Wells mare Myth to Reality brought a million guineas (approximately $2.05 million) during the second session of the Tattersalls October yearling sale Oct. 10 in England. The colt, bred by Cumbrian-based Gary and Lesley Middlebrook, was offered from John and Lady Carolyn Warren’s Highclere Stud.
Adrian Nicoll of the BBA Ireland agency bid just shy of 600,000 guineas for the yearling, but the eventual buyer, John Ferguson, had to finally fight off Blandford Bloodstock’s Tom Goff to land the prized lot for Sheikh Mohammed. The colt is a half-brother to three stakes winners, including European champions Divine Proportions (by Kingmambo) and Whipper (by Miesque's Son). Ferguson’s seven purchases also included a 425,000-guinea ($867,440) Oasis Dream -- Rubies From Burma colt consigned by Watership Down Stud.
Demi O’Byrne purchased seven lots for Coolmore, led by a 520,000-guinea ($1.06 million) Montjeu colt (from the family of Sleepytime), bred by Charles H Wacker III and sold through Voute Sales. Trainer Marcus Tregoning, who had been underbidder to O’Byrne on the previous day's 500,000-guinea ($1.02 million) session-topping Montjeu colt, again came off second best.
John Magnier earlier outbid representatives of Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm for a 475,000-guinea ($969,500) Pivotal granddaughter of group I winner Rebecca Sharp (by Machiavellian), sold by Anthony Oppenheimer’s Hascombe and Valiant Studs.
In all, 132 yearlings were sold Oct. 10 for 15,801,000 guineas ($32,250,315). Their average was 119,705 guineas ($244,320), and the median 70,000 guineas ($142,870).
