After a hectic few months perusing this year's foal and yearling crops, we asked the buyers to share their thoughts on the young stallions with first foals and yearlings.
John Cullinan, pinhooker:
“Everyone loves the new kids on the block and I'm no different. Ghaiyyath is the new exciting stallion and I was delighted to get a colt by him this week for 240,000gns. He's producing fantastic stock but sure he was the outstanding racehorse of his generation and is by a sire of sires in Dubawi (Ire). Look at Night Of Thunder and New Bay for example. Hopefully Ghaiyyath can carry on in that direction because they are a nice bunch of horses.
“I also bid strong on a Pinatubo on Thursday night but I didn't get him unfortunately. I like what I have seen from him. I don't usually buy many foals by sires who have their first runners the following season because, when you are only buying a few every year, you could leave yourself open. It's a huge risk, huge exposure. Having said that, myself and Roger [Marley] had a chat the other evening, and I hope to God that I am not putting the kiss of death on him now, but we both think Blue Point will have a big season next year. For any horse to win twice in the one week at Royal Ascot, they have to be blessed with uncommon talent. We have one very nice colt by him to breeze next year and, on the strength of what he's been doing, we bought a foal by him this week for 72,000gns, but it's not something we'd do normally.
🗣️ "He was our NAP for today so delighted to get him."
— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) November 24, 2022
John Cullinan a happy man having bought @Kellsgrange2010's Ghaiyyath colt for 240,000gns at the #TattsDecember Foal Sale. pic.twitter.com/4mQk5DfTlC
Nancy Sexton, journalist and pinhooker:
“It's no secret that Ghaiyyath has some lovely foals: they have a look of Dubawi about them but they also have scope and the ones I've seen have been good movers. It's easy to see why they were so popular at Goffs and at Tattersalls.
#Ghaiyyath takes his @Tattersalls1766 foal average to 131,000gns with another spectacular sale 💥
— Darley in Europe (@DarleyEurope) November 25, 2022
🐴 Lot 1074, a smart filly by the European Champion is secured by @ShadwellFarm for 375,000gns. Offered by @NorelandsStud, she is a three-parts sister to #Dubawi’s G3w Tanaza pic.twitter.com/PcdqR7J4xt
“I also liked the Earthlight foals: on the whole they were good movers and straightforward."
Eddie O'Leary, Lynn Lodge Stud:
“The Ghaiyyaths are gorgeous. They are big lovely-walking foals and they have plenty of quality about them. I've seen plenty of nice Earthlights and there were a few Arizonas who caught my eye as well."
Clare Manning, Boherguy Stud:
“I'm going to have to nominate two because I have been very impressed by the first foals by Ghaiyyath and Earthlight. They really seem to be stamping their stock. The Ghaiyyaths have plenty of size and are good walkers. He was a brilliant racehorse and is producing fine-bodied individuals. Earthlight is out of a New Approach (IRE) mare, which is obviously a big plus for me, and I have been a fan of what I have seen from him so far.”
Lot 827 - a cracking son of #Earthlight out of multiple winner Duquesa, offered by Northern Bloodstock, is knocked down to J R Bloodstock for 100,000gns @Tattersalls1766 🌟 pic.twitter.com/GFHAnIb1pb
— Darley in Europe (@DarleyEurope) November 24, 2022
Julie Woods, owner:
“Ghaiyyath is putting a nice stamp on his foals,"
Freddy Tylicki, agent:
“I have been very taken by the Ghaiyyaths and the Sergei Prokofievs. Ghaiyyath is producing very good and attractive foals so let's see if they can run."
Joe Foley, Ballyhane Stud:
“Next year is probably one of the most competitive years I can remember for first-season sires but, you know what, the good ones will come through. People are clever nowadays and, with all of the statistics available to everyone, they will be able to spot the good ones at the different price ranges. The likes of Too Darn Hot, who was a very good racehorse, his yearlings look very racey and appear to have plenty of Dubawi about them. I bought a few by him this week so I took a gamble there.
“And, speaking of Dubawi, Ghaiyyath has done well with his first foals. He was the highest-rated horse in the world at one point and is a very good-looking horse with a great attitude and a wonderful pedigree. Not only that, he showed good acceleration for a horse who stayed 10 furlongs. I'd like him as well. There are some very nice horses coming through the ranks which is great because we need some more good stallions. There are very good stallions coming through over the next few years and that's what makes this game so interesting.”
Amy Lynam, agent:
“From the first yearlings I liked the Too Darn Hots. They were probably a bit too expensive for me, but I liked them all the same and I am excited to see what he can do."
Harry Dutfield, pinhooker:
“Over in Ireland, the Earthlights made the list. "
John Bourke, Hyde Park Stud:
“Ghiayyath is the one everyone is raving about and the Earthlights are nice as well. I'm not a big foal buyer but I buy a lot of yearlings and mares, they are my big thing, so I'm always watching the young sires coming through. That's one of the most interesting parts of this game for me. I might try and buy a mare who is in foal to one of the up-and-coming stallions next week."
