Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin secure Tattersall’s top plot | At The Races

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

Amo set up their stall early when they bought a full brother to the Frankel filly Partying, who they bought at this auction last year for 4.4 milliongns, with the pair out of the Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner Aljazzi.

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

Lot 90, a Sea The Stars colt out of a Crystal Ocean half-sister Crystal Zvezda, entered the ring next, and while Amo wasn’t shy about wooing the auctioneer, it was ultimately Sheikh Mohammed’s outfit that had the final say.

Anthony Stroud, who bid on behalf of Godolphin, told Tattersalls: “He comes from a very good stud. He is by Sea The Stars and comes from a great Rothschild family which is a good fit for the sire.

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

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

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

Anthony Rogers, from breeder Airlie Stud, said: “It’s a great price, he’s a beautiful horse. You can never believe you get a million for a horse. Dane Street has been a great mare for us, and we couldn’t sell her here about 15 years ago! She’s still breeding, but she’s been rested this year.”

Joorabchian said of his previous purchase: “The boys loved him, we couldn’t let him go, we want to keep the family close and see how the family turns out. If he becomes a good horse, he will obviously become a stallion. He will probably go to Freemason (Lodge, with Philippart de Foy).

“We obviously like the filly (Partying), even though she hasn’t run yet. This is a different project – if she doesn’t run she still has huge residual value as a broodmare, and we have five stallions; if he doesn’t then it’s a different matter.

“We paid more than we expected, then we have to face Coolmore and it’s five (partners) against one. It’s an early attack!”

Newsell’s Julian Dollar, breeder of the colt, added: “To be honest, when I made the budget in December I gave him a ‘measly’ half a million; he was a big, raw Frankel, but he’s really come together all year, especially in his preparation.

“When I came in here I thought there was a chance he could make seven figures, it was kind of like last year’s filly. But when two big hitters meet, there’s always a chance they can make incredible amounts of money, and it was.”