By Sam Turner
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, enjoyed considerable success on day one of the Tattersalls Book 1 October Yearling Sale at Newmarket on Tuesday.
Godolphin dominated the opening exchanges of the prestigious sale, with the headline purchase a gorgeous colt from the first crop of Ghaiyyath which was landed for a closing bid of 1,050,000gns despite considerable interest from Coolmore.
By securing day one’s sale topper, Godolphin have now procured seven of Ghaiyyath’s eight most expensive dealings to date, a strategy explained by the team’s Anthony Stroud.
“This family is second to none, and we also feel very strongly about how good a stallion Ghaiyyath is going to be,” he told the Racing Post.
“He’s an extremely nice horse from Ballyhimikin (Stud) which has produced so many good horses.”
Sheikh Mohammed was present to oversee the purchase firsthand and Stroud added: “It’s great that the boss is here. It’s good for all of us that he’s here.”
The purchase was one of 11 made by Godolphin who also captured the final foal, by Dubawi, out of blue-hen mare Shastye for 1,000,000gns.
The striking colt, consigned by Newsells Park Stud, became the sixth Book 1 millionaire bred by the astounding Shastye, who died aged 21 in May 2022.
Her progeny have now generated more than a staggering 15,000,000gns of Tattersalls yearling receipts and her legacy continues with her six winners at paddocks including five with black type such as Juddmonte International winner Japan and Mogul, like Japan, a winner of the Grand Prix de Paris.
The procurement of a striking colt by Frankel out of Poplin for 900,000gns from Oakgrove Stud – a personal best sale for the stud - and the purchase of an attractive chestnut son of Kingman by Shirocco Star for 750,000gns from Meon Valley Stud ensured that Godolphin snared the top four lots on a fascinating opening day of business at Park Paddocks.
