Sires To Watch: First-Crop Sires at Tattersalls October

No Nay Never is the first European-based son of Scat Daddy to have yearlings hit the sales ring.

With the Keeneland September sale wrapping up in mid-September after breaking a few records, attention now turns across the Atlantic to the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Comprised of three Books in 2017, Tattersalls October has 1968 yearlings scheduled to go through the ring before outs. As always, those lots include yearlings by multiple highly regarded first-crop stallions with breeders keeping an eye on their results as they prepare to make breeding decisions for the 2018 season. Here are 11 of the first crop sires standing in Europe it’s worth keeping your eyes on at this year’s sale.

Australia (Galileo)– Royally bred and an accomplished racehorse, it’s no surprise Australia has 32 lots currently entered - including 17 in Book 1. His yearlings have been well received so far with his top lot a $490,000 Keeneland September purchase by Godolphin, followed by a $300,000 purchase by the same operation at the same sale. His yearling average is currently at $143,600 and median at $117,620 according to the Thoroughbred Daily News, off a €50,000 stud fee. Australia’s Book 1 offerings include a half-brother to two-time Group 1 Irish St. Leger winner Order of St. George (Galileo) and a filly out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Toronado (High Chaparral).

A foal from Australia's first crop in 2016

Alhebayeb (Dark Angel) – While not a Group 1 winner, Alhbayeb is an interesting stallion to watch when we get to Book 2. The Group 2 TNT July Stakes winner doesn’t have any horses catalogued in Book 1 but has 11 in Book 2 and eight in Book 3. I wouldn’t expect huge fireworks to go off when his yearlings go through the ring but he’s been averaging $33,530 for his first 35 yearlings sold off a €5,000 stud fee this year so he should reward at least some of the breeders who sent mares to him, especially as a Dark Angel son. He continued to stand for that €5,000 fee in 2017 at Tara Stud in Ireland.

Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) – A three-time Group 1 winner by a hot stallion, Charm Spirit already has an average of $104,649 and median of $82,950 from his 17 yearlings sold. He has six yearlings in Book 1, 26 in Book 2 and three in Book 3 at this sale including a half-sister to a Qipco 2,000 Guineas third place finisher (Lot 42) and a filly out of a sister to Ticker Tape (Lot 1109). Charm Spirit stood for £20,000 at Tweenhills in England in 2017.

Gregorian (Clodovil) – Another Book 2/3 horse to watch is multiple group stakes winner and multiple Group 1-placed Gregorian. At a fee of £4,500, his yearlings so far are averaging over four times his fee at $19,694. He has two yearlings in Book 2, a half-sister to Italian champion Sorella Bella (Lot 1020), and a colt out of a half-sister to a proven producer (Lot 635). Standing in a partnership at The National Stud between Rathasker Stud and The National Stud, Gregorian again stood for £4,500 this year.

Kingman (Invincible Spirit) – Possibly even more anticipated than Australia is Juddmonte’s Kingman, a four-time Group 1 winner out of an Oasis Dream half-sister. From 13 sold so far, Kingman is averaging $321,628 with a median of $282,288 for his yearlings with the most expensive being a €750,000 filly sold in France in August and a €650,000 colt sold at Goffs Orby sale last month. He has 21 entered in Book 1 and 16 between Books 2 and 3 as of Sunday morning. Including in that group is a filly out of a half-sister to two champions (Lot 168), a half-brother to a Group 1 winner (Lot 456), a filly out of a Footstepsinthesand sister (Lot 132) and a half-brother to a multiple Group 1 winner (Lot 246). Kingman stood for £55,000 in 2017 at Juddmonte.

Morpheus (Oasis Dream) – Speaking of Oasis Dream, next up is his son Morpheus. Morpheus won three of his 12 starts but his biggest claim to fame is probably that of being a half-brother to Frankel (Galileo). Morpheus proved popular at stud in his first year, covering 142 mares including 14 stakes horses. Morpheus’ first lot to go through the ring is Lot 798 in Book 2 with three in that book and five in Book 3. Those include a colt out of a half-sister to champion Bushranger (Lot 1056) and a half-sister to the dam of Group 1-placed Faulkner (Lot 1340). Morpheus stands at Tally-Ho Stud and his half-brother’s success at stud should help his first yearlings’ prices here.

Morpheus

No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) – A son of the red-hot Scat Daddy, No Nay Never should be able to capitalize on his sire’s success here with Scat Daddy only having two entries in this sale compared to No Nay Never’s 19, including six in Book 1. No Nay Never was U.S. based with Wesley Ward but his biggest successes came in Europe where he was named champion 2-year-old colt in France after winning the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny in addition to the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. In his first year at stud, he stood for €20,000 and covered 146 mares, including 18 stakes winners. Averaging $123,338 from 39 sold so far, No Nay Never’s most expensive was a €480,000 colt sold in August. Included in his offerings here are a half-brother to champion The Wow Signal (Lot 114) and a colt out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Distant Music (Lot 449). He stood at Coolmore’s Ireland base for €17,500 in 2017.

Olympic Glory (Choisir) – A champion two of the three years he raced, Olympic Glory calls France home for his second career and is represented by a group of 13 yearlings at this sale. Olympic Glory won four Group 1s in his career in two different countries from seven furlongs to a mile with one coming at two and the other three coming at three and four. Included in his offerings are a colt out of a half-sister to German champion Paita (Lot 705) and a half-brother to Group 2 winner Pollyana (Lot 836). He stood at Haras de Bouquetot for €15,000 in 2017.

Sea the Moon (Sea the Stars) – The first Sea the Stars son to stand at stud, classic winner Sea the Moon covered 132 mares in his first season at stud in 2015 for a fee of £15,000. A German-bred, Sea the Moon was Horse of the Year and Champion 3-year-old in the country and won four of his five starts before retiring to stand in England at Lanwades Stud due to injury. He has 21 in this sale with three in the first book, including a half-brother to three stakes winners (Lot 67) and a half-brother to the listed winner Tickle Me Blue out of a half-sister to producer Irresistible (Lot 272). Sea The Moon stood again for £15,000 at Lanwades in 2017.

SEA THE MOON'S GERMAN DERBY VICTORY

Slade Power (Dutch Art) – A fast sprinter, Slade Power won 10 of his 19 starts with five additional placings and was named champion older sprinter in Europe as a 5-year-old. With Godolphin behind him, there was no doubt Slade Power was going to get a lot of support in the shed with the stallion covering 49 stakes mares, including 23 stakes winners and 12 group winners from 148 total mares. Forty of those resulting yearlings are entered at Tattersalls including a granddaughter of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime (Lot 223), a filly out of a half-sister to an Irish 1,000 Guineas winner (Lot 342) and a half-sister to a German 1,000 Guineas winner (Lot 363). Slade Power stood at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland for €20,000 in 2017.

Toronado (High Chaparral) – A Group 2 winner at two years of age, Toronado’s best seasons were at three and four when he won two Group 1s and finished second in two others against some of the best horses of his generation. Standing at The National Stud upon his retirement for £15,000, he attracted 152 mares including 19 stakes winners and eight group stakes winners with 24 of the resulting yearlings from that year's matings going through sales rings so far this year with an average of $55,346. A farther 36 are currently entered at Tattersalls October Sale with nine in Book 1. Included in those nine are a granddaughter of multiple group stakes winner and producer Blue Note (Lot 495), a granddaughter of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Trusted Partner (Lot 116) and a half-brother to three stakes winners (Hip 482). Spending the first few years of his career at The National Stud in England, Toronado is moving to Haras de Bouquetot in 2018.