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| Staff Writer |
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Godolphin's seven-figure swoop on a well-bred Kameko colt has set tongues wagging at Tattersalls, as the powerhouse in the Middle East continues to flex its financial muscle in the bloodstock market.
The Maktoum family's racing operation secured the most expensive colt ever sold at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, landing a son of first-season sire Kameko from Tweenhills Farm and Stud for a cool 1 million guineas (US$1,370,000).
Standing alongside trainer Charlie Appleby, Godolphin representative Anthony Stroud said: "I think he's a very nice horse and he's a full brother to a Grade One winner. Kameko has had a very good start; (the colt's) a beautiful, quality horse and he'll go to Moulton Paddocks. It's great to have him, although the valuation was on the higher side of what we'd thought."
The youngster's value was bolstered by a significant pedigree update, as he is a full brother to New Century, who became his sire's first top-flight winner when landing the Gr.1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine on 14 September. New Century had also previously claimed the Stonehenge Stakes, further enhancing the family's reputation.
Out of the mare Potent Embrace, the colt's dam joined the Tweenhills-based broodmare band when purchased by David Redvers for €150,000 (US$159,000) at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale in 2016. The daughter of Street Cry has now bred two bold black-type winners, with her first foal being Passion And Glory, an eight-time winner for Godolphin, including the 2021 Gr.3 Glorious Stakes.
Redvers commented on the colt's similarities to his sire: "He's actually more like his dad than his brother. His brother looks a proper 2YO but this horse, I can see him being a bit scopier really. The thing in common with all of the Kamekos though is they have this incredible temperament, which is why the brother was able to go across to Canada and come back and go on to America."
The transaction marks another positive step in Kameko's burgeoning stallion career. His debut juvenile crop contains 10 European winners, two of which have struck in black-type company. New Century is joined by Wimbledon Hawkeye, a comfortable winner of the Gr.2 Royal Lodge Stakes on his latest outing.
The Royal Lodge Stakes has a rich history of producing top-class performers. Notable winners include Frankel (2010), who went on to become one of the greatest racehorses of all time, and Roaring Lion (2017), who claimed four Group One victories as a 3YO.
Despite breaking into seven-figure territory, Godolphin's latest purchase could not quite reach the record price for Book 2, which belongs to the listed-placed filly and four-time winner Tarhib, a 1.05 million guineas (US$1,438,500) signing by Shadwell back in 2019.
A tighter catalogue saw 697 lots offered, 37 fewer than 12 months ago. However, the number of sold lots increased by six, with 632 yearlings finding a buyer at a clip of 91%. Those transactions yielded an aggregate of 68,517,000 guineas (US$93,868,290), up 27% year-on-year, despite the smaller catalogue.
The three days produced a six-figure average for the first time in Book 2's history, closing at 108,415 guineas (US$148,529). The median price was 70,000 guineas (US$95,900), showing a 13% increase to equal the benchmark posted in 2022.
In his regular end-of-sale address, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "The results from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last week were pretty remarkable and certainly instilled some confidence leading into Book 2, but yet again the level of trade has outstripped the most optimistic of presale expectations.
"The extraordinary success of Book 1 has been well and truly replicated in Book 2 and again it is the outstanding quality of the yearlings and the sale's reputation for consistently producing racehorses of the very highest calibre which have brought the buyers to Tattersalls in overwhelming numbers."
He added: "Above all, however, we can reflect on another Tattersalls yearling sale which has exceeded expectations at a time when confidence has sometimes understandably been in short supply. It has not all been plain sailing in recent years, but we work hard to bring as many buyers as possible to Tattersalls for the October Yearling Sale and as we move on to Books 3 and 4 we can look forward with a little more optimism and look back on another Tattersalls sale which has brought a collective smile to the face of the British and Irish Thoroughbred breeding industry."
As the dust settles on another successful Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the industry's attention now turns to the upcoming Books 3 and 4, where hopes are high for continued strong trade and exciting prospects for the future of racing.