Godolphin bought a full-sister to Charyn © Photo Healy Racing
A full-sister to dual Group One winner Charyn will join the Godolphin team after Sheikh Mohammed’s operation paid 2.9million guineas for her on day two of the Book One sale at Tattersalls.
Tuesday’s sale was lit up by a number of big-money purchases for Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian, including the 4.4m guineas daughter of Frankel out of Aljazzi, with the owner splashing out more than 12m guineas across 13 lots.
Joorabchian was in the mix for Grangemore Stud’s daughter of Dark Angel out of Futon, with Charyn’s owner Nurlan Bizkov also bidding along with Anthony Stroud for Godolphin.
It developed into a match between Stroud and Amo, with the Godolphin bid eventually prevailing – much to the delight of Grangemore’s Guy O’Callaghan.
He told Tattersalls: “It is the stuff of dreams and as a breeder it is what you always hope could happen, two buyers such as Amo and Godolphin going head to head, then it can go anywhere.
“She has been flat out since she got here, but she has never turned a hair and showed exactly the same every time – it takes a very special horse to do that.
“I was not at Royal Ascot when Charyn won as I could not get away from home, but it is so very difficult for a horse to win there, it takes a great performance and that was special day – and days like this can’t happen without that first.”
Godolphin further bolstered the ranks with the 1.5m guineas purchases of a Too Darn Hot half-brother to American Grade Two winner Idea Generation and a Dubawi colt out of Group One winner Molly Malone, plus a 2m guineas colt by Dubawi out of Lady Bowthorpe.
The mare was a top-class performer, winning the 2021 Nassau Stakes, and owner Emma Banks could not have been happier with the result for her first foal.
She said: “It feels bonkers, to be honest. You dream about these things, then you have to give yourself a slap and go ‘don’t be ridiculous’ but standing in that ring today it was just surreal.
“Once we got to the million – I said I would probably keep him at 800 or a little bit more – but you can’t argue with two million guineas. He’s a lovely, lovely horse and I’m so proud of him and Lady Bowthorpe.
“She is the one who has done this, it’s her baby. I pay the bills and the guys at (consignors) Fittocks have done an amazing job looking after him and her
“He’s going to a great racing operation with an incredible history. Charlie Appleby is a brilliant trainer, I’m very happy Will (Buick) is going to ride him – all of that.”
Godolphin also swooped for an 800,000 guineas half-brother to Classic winner Mac Swiney, while a full-brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Hurricane Lane was sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 850,000 guineas.
There was one other seven-figure lot on Wednesday, as Yulong paid 1.1m guineas for a Dubawi colt out of Group One winner Loving Dream.