The sales season continues in the racing world. Following Coolmore’s €1.9 million sales-topping buy at the Goffs Orby Sale, attention turned to the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket.
MV Magnier was once again in attendance as part of the Coolmore conglomerate. However, on the opening day at least, the Irish operation was upstaged by perennial rivals Godolphin and Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing.
3.7m Guineas Purchase Tops Godolphin Splurge
The boys in blue of Godolphin were the biggest spenders on the opening day. With Sheikh Mohammed in attendance, the international powerhouse shelled out 9.3 million guineas across 10 lots.
Topping the bill was a Sea The Stars colt who fetched 3.7 million guineas. That price made him the most expensive yearling sold anywhere in the world this year, and the most expensive son of Sea The Stars ever to go through the sales ring.
Good Looking in the Ring and on the Page
Having edged out Kia Joorabchian to strike the winning bid on behalf of Godolphin, Anthony Stroud was effusive in his praise of the new purchase: “He’s by Sea The Stars, it’s a very good Rothschild family, and he was majestic in the way he moved. He’s an extremely lovely horse.”
Those impressive looks in the ring were more than backed up on the colt’s breeding page. By now, the racing world knows all about the brilliant Sea The Stars and his ability to instil talent into his offspring. On the dam side, the record-setting yearling is the fifth foal of the Dubawi mare Crystal Zvezda. While unable to match the six-time Group 1-winning exploits of Sea The Stars, Crystal Zvezda displayed a useful level of ability during her time with Sir Michael Stoute. Reaching a rating of 107, her career-best effort came when winning the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes at Newbury in 2015.
A Winning Recipe
Crystal Zvezda’s appeal as a broodmare is enhanced by the exploits of her siblings. Hillstar claimed the Grade 1 Canadian International in 2014; Crystal Capella struck four times in Group company; and Crystal Ocean powered to a famous success in the 2019 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Having retired from the track in 2016, Crystal Zvezda has found success as a broodmare. Three of her four previous foals have managed to win at least once, including the Sea The Stars colt Crystal Mariner.
Pairing Sea The Stars with a Dubawi mare has also proved a winning formula in the past, producing the stakes winners Map Of Stars, See The Fire, Desert Hero, Spirited Style, Flying Honours, and Bharani Star.
Joorabchian Breaks Bank to Secure Frankel Colt
Kia Joorabchian narrowly lost out to Godolphin for the coveted Sea The Stars colt. However, the Amo Racing supremo was not to be denied in his pursuit of a Frankel brother to the 2024 top lot at this sale.
Following a protracted battle with MV Magnier, a pacing Joorabchian finally saw off his rival with a bid of 3.6 million guineas – only 100,000 guineas below the day one sale-topper.
A Family Kia Knows Well
Something about the mating of the mighty Frankel with the Group 2-winning Shamardal dam Aljazzi seems to catch Kia’s eye. The same combination saw Joorabchian go all the way up to 4.4 million guineas to purchase the headline act at this sale in 2024.
Subsequently named Partying and taking up residence at Kevin Philippart de Foy’s Freemason Lodge operation, the 4.4 million-guinea filly is yet to hit the track. However, the fact that Joorabchian paid such an astronomical sum for her sibling suggests she is showing all the right signs.
Reflecting on his purchase, the 54-year-old Joorabchian stated, “I thought we paid a little bit more than we expected, but then we’re up against Coolmore. They make it five versus one! It’s an early strike; hopefully there’s no more.”
Kia’s stated hope of ending his spending spree lasted barely 24 hours. After his multimillion-guineas buy on day one, the football adviser turned racing owner was at it again on day two. Unable to resist an opportunity, Joorabchian snapped up a Wootton Bassett-sired half-brother to Crypto Force – the colt who won the Group 2 Beresford Stakes for Amo Racing in 2022. The price on the docket this time was a mere 2.2 million guineas.
With Coolmore, Godolphin, and Amo Racing investing small fortunes at the yearling sales, the 2026 juvenile division looks set to be stacked with exciting prospects. Will a superstar emerge from the latest batch of seven-figure recruits?