Shadwell draft dominates opening day on Thursday

The Tattersalls February Sale got off to a strong start at Park Paddocks on Thursday, with rises seen across the board.

The day was topped by a yearling by former Darley shuttler Night Of Thunder (Dubai) who was bought from the draft of Shadwell Estate by Ballyhimikin Stud for 175,000gns. It was the second highest price ever achieved at the sale. 

Offered as Lot 111, the colt is a half-brother to Listed winner Moqtarreb (Kingman) and Listed scorer Khaloosy (Dubawi) being out of the Dalakhani (Darshaan) mare Elshaadin. 

"Night Of Thunder has done incredibly well, the dam has produced two stakes winners, we like the individual, and he heads to Ireland," said bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud, speaking on behalf of Ballyhimikin Stud.

"He has a fantastic back pedigree and we hope he comes back next October and makes money!"

The most expensive mare sold on Thursday was Anasheed, a daughter of Juddmonte Farm's Frankel (Galileo), another offering from the Shadwell Estate draft, who was bought by Blandford Bloodstock for 130,000.

Sold as Lot 55, the mare, who was a winner at three, was sold not in foal. She is a half-sister to Listed winner and Group One placed Hadaatha (Sea The Stars) being out of fellow Listed winner Hayhrah (Linamix). 

"I bought her for a partnership," said Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. "She was highly rated, despite only racing three times. I spoke to her trainer Owen Burrows who said there was no doubt she was a stakes-calibre filly.

"She is by the newly crowned Champion sire, she has got a nice page, the first two out of her look really nice, they look like good types, and she was the mare I really wanted today." 

Overall on Thursday, 170 lots sold for 3,112,800gns at an average of 18,311gns and median of 9,000gns. Five lots sold for 100,000gns or more. At the 2021 renewal, which was held as an online sale, 118 lots sold during the opening day for 1,163,600gns at an average over 9,861gns and median of 5,750gns.