The Coolmore partners paid £4.2 million to buy a colt described as the 'spitting image of Frankel' on Wednesday. The yearling son of the great Frankel fetched the second highest sum paid at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, book one, when he went through the ring in Newmarket.
Day two belongs to Coolmore
After day one of the sale belonged to Sheikh Mohammed, who spent £15.6 million on ten new recruits for his Godolphin stable, day two belonged to his rivals. The ruler of Dubai had gone to £4.8m to secure a colt by Night Of Thunder on Tuesday, then 24 hours later MV Magnier, with White Birch Farm, made a statement purchase for his operation with the winning bid a colt by the late Sir Henry Cecil's legendary galloper.
Consigned by Newsells Park Stud, the colt became the third progeny out of the mare Shambolic in five years to make seven figures. Her first foal, Ylang Ylang - also snapped up by Coolmore - went on to triumph in the Fillies' Mile after being purchased for £1.5m, while her half-brother Act Of Kindness was bought by Godolphin for £3.8m in 2024.
Breeder hails 'special' colt
Graham Smith-Bernal, owner of Newsells Park, told Tattersalls: "When you have your stud manager, who's been there for 20 years, describe this horse as the finest horse he's ever produced, and you have Juddmonte, who's visited him a couple of times, saying he is the spitting image of Frankel..."
"For me, it was his temperament that was so special. Right from when he was weaned, he was a horse more interested in interacting with humans rather than other horses. You'd click your fingers, he'd come walking over from 400 yards away. You could see he wanted to know what you're all about. He vetted very well, he moves very well and he is just so special."
"He looks like Frankel, and if he's 10 per cent of what Frankel was I think the new owner will have done quite well. I wish them all the best. Of course, they [Coolmore] have already done well with the family through Ylang Ylang. In my book, anyway, this colt is couple of notches up from her. We wish them all the very best."
Magnier: 'All the lads were happy'
Magnier said: "He's a lovely horse and in fairness to Newsells they do a great job. They've bred a lot of good horses, including his sister, who we bought here a few years ago. She was a very good filly, she's in-foal to Justify."
"Aidan (O'Brien) and dad (John Magnier) were here the other day, and they both liked him a lot. All the lads were happy to get him."
