Tatts October Book 3 closes with record returns

Demand for the progeny of Time Test and Ardad continued unabated at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Sale in Newmarket on Friday.

Two of the most exciting young stallions of their generation, the British-based pair accounted for the day’s top lots – Time Test as the sire of a colt who sold for 95,000gns to Montgomery Motto and Ardad as the sire of a colt who realised 85,000gns to Robin O’Ryan.

In keeping with Books 1 and 2, a strong trade underpinned Book 3 from start to finish, so much so that the sale ended it’s two-day run on a record aggregate of 10,593,150gns for 471 yearlings sold. The average and median also reached record levels, rising by 40% and 64% to 22,491gns and 18,000gns respectively.

Motto on a mission

Former Florida-based trainer Montgomery Motto came out best over Amanda Skiffington at 95,000gns for the session-topping Time Test colt.

Sold by Whatton Manor Stud, the colt was bred by Sussex-based Nicky Welby out of the unraced Purest, a Shamardal half-sister to the Hong Kong Derby third Champions Gallery from the family of the 1992 Oaks and St Leger heroine User Friendly.

Motto explained that having left the training game in Calder, Florida, around seven years ago, he is busy restocking with a view to racing a select string of horses in Europe. He also struck at the Goffs Orby Sale as the purchaser of two yearlings worth €110,000.

“This is one of the best athletes I have seen here and he has a lovely temperament to match,” said Motto. “It’s hard to go wrong with a Shamardal mare and she has produced a useful runner abroad. I went a bit higher than planned, but the money nearly always finds the horse. He will go to Richard Brabazon for breaking and we will make plans from there.”

Ed Player of Whatton Manor Stud was understandably delighted with the result. 

“All the credit has to go to Nicky and her team at home,” he said. “Her head man has been off with injury so they have been doing all the work. This colt got here looking fantastic, he has been incredibly well-behaved.”

Richard Fahey’s right hand man Robin O’Ryan saw off an assortment of breeze-up interest to secure the Ardad colt from Throckmorton Court Stud at 85,000gns.

Out of the winning Night Affair, the colt was bred by Peter Balding and Lady Whent, the latter of whom campaigned his talented damsire Bold Edge with great success. In turn, Night Affair is a half-sister to top sprinter Twilight Son.

The Fahey team have particular reason to look fondly upon the progeny of Ardad given that Musley Bank houses two of his first crop highlights in the dual Group 1 winner Perfect Power and Coventry Stakes third Vintage Clarets. 

“The Ardads all look racy and he has done so well,” said O’Ryan. “We’ve had three this year and they have all won. 

O’Ryan added: “Perfect Power is absolutely fine and is on holiday now. We will probably run him in one of the Classic trials next spring, and that will tell us whether he will stay the Guineas trip. He is a relaxed horse so he has every chance.”

The new acquisition is set to carry the colours of Steve Bradley, who was on hand to sign for his new purchase.

“I think the breeze-up boys were in competition with us,” he said. “This colt looks a nice early type, these boys recommended him and there is Twilight Son on the page. Hopefully he turns out to be lucky for us.”

Options remain open, meanwhile, for a Zoustar filly bought for 77,000gns by Tally-Ho Stud through Hamish Macauley.

Bred and sold by Chasemore Farm, the filly already boasts one connection to Tally-Ho being out of the Firth Of Clyde Stakes winner Roger Sez, one of the best left behind by the stud’s short-lived stallion Red Clubs.

“She has been bought on behalf of Tally-Ho Stud to breeze or race,” said Macauley. “I thought she was stand-out today by a long way. I tried to buy a couple by Zoustar in Book 2. The stallion has obviously done very well in Australia so hopefully he can do the same here.”

The Tattersalls October Sale concludes tomorrow with a single session of Book 4.