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No Nay Never and Churchill colts sell well on day one of Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale

Adam Driver, signing as Global Equine Group, bought the two most expensive lots on day one of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale on Tuesday. Relocated to Park Paddocks in Newmarket, the session was topped by a son of Coolmore Stud’s No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) who made 130,000gns. 

Offered by Castlehyde Stud as Lot 217, the colt is out of the winning mare Pink Damsel (Galileo), a sister to Group Three winner Say and a daughter of multiple Grade One winner Riskaverse (Dynaformer).

"We brought him here to stand out," said Paddy Fleming, manager at Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud. "The mare has been good to us – Sarsons Risk [2019, Caravaggio] looks quite promising and was third first time out at Newbury since the catalogue was published. He is due to run at Newmarket on Thursday.

"He is a very straightforward horse, he vetted well. He was born and raised at Castlehyde, born and raised on limestone land, and he has grown into a grand yearling. Numerous people viewed him, and he was an easy sell really.

"The mare has a lovely Ten Sovereigns colt foal, and is in-foal to Wootton Bassett."

The next most expensive lot was a son of Coolmore Australia shuttler Churchill (Galileo), who sired his 18th first crop winner earlier in the afternnon, with Driver going to 110,000gns to secure the colt. 

Sold by Grange Hill Stud as Lot 111, the colt is out of winning mare Komedy (Kodiac) who is already the dam of stakes placed Internationaldream (Acclamation). 

The colt was bred by Mark Hanly with his mum Stephanie having bought the mare Komedy at the 2015 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale for 9,000gns.

"He is a very taking individual and I thought to myself that he'd be stand out at this sale. He is a magnificent looking animal and, it is early days, but the sire is ticking all the boxes," said Hanly of Grange Hill Stud.

"It is a very nice fast family, and he is out of a Kodiac mare and they are working very very well at the moment on the track. He is just a magnificent colt and a very good sale to have him in.

"Komedy has already bred Internationaldream, who has black-type, and Jessica Harrington has the full-sister and from what I hear she is promising. The mare is a typical Kodiac and when I first saw Churchill at stud, I absolutely loved him. He has a big physique and would suit a Kodiac mare, and the cross suited, too – Danehill and Galileo. The mare is barren this year, but had an early covering to Saxon Warrior."

Purchaser Driver said: "I loved this horse. We have two Churchills in training with Tom Clover, both of which are really nice. We like what we have got so far."

Three lots sold for six figures, the third being a colt by Ardad (Kodiac) who made 105,000gns when bought by Robson Aguiar and Amo Racing. 

The Castlebridge Consignment finished the day as the leading vendor having sold 21 yearlings for 381,000gns at an average of 18,143gns while Peter and Ross Doyle bought nine lots for 466,000gns to finish the day as the leading buyer. 

The late Darley stallion Fast Company (Danehill Dancer) headed the sires table by aggregate with 15 lots having sold for 367,500gns at an average of 24,500gns. 

Overall, 217 yearlings sold on Tuesday for 5,702,500 at an average of 26,279gns and median of 20,000gns. The 2020 renewal was held in Ireland and lots sold in Euros, however the average this year rose 21 per cent (when converted) and the median was up 26 per cent. 

The aggregate meanwhile rose 50 per cent this year with 23 per cent more yearlings sold.