KINGSTON, Jamaica - It hasn't been easy to get the better of Godolphin at Tattersalls this week, but Coolmore gained some ground Oct. 10, denying Sheikh Mohammed's buying team at 1.8 million guineas (US$2,306,355) to secure the Kingman colt during the concluding session of Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale.
The two teams clashed over the previous days' session toppers, with the 3.6 million-guinea half-brother to Barney Roy and the 3.1 million-guinea Frankel sibling to Golden Horn both going the way of Godolphin after some heady sales-ring showdowns.
Sheikh Mohammed may have remained with his entourage by the parade ring as the strapping Hazelwood Bloodstock-consigned Kingman colt entered the Park Paddocks ring, but the gangway quickly filled with other interested parties.
None were more interested than Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, who was joined by Paul Shanahan in the doorway, and Anthony Stroud, who again hid away behind the partition just yards from his rivals.
Olympic gold medal-winning event rider Mark Todd, who also oversees a string of racehorses on the edge of the Marlborough Downs, showed an interest, too, but dropped out of contention once it became clear the price was racing toward seven-figure territory.
A sense of déja vu descended as the opposing bidders traded increasingly expensive blows, with Magnier's every raise almost instantly bested by Stroud, just as had been the case during the past two sessions, but this time Magnier was the one who came out on top.
Bred under the Fairway Thoroughbreds banner by John Camilleri, the breeder who gave the world the mighty Winx, the Kingman colt is out of One Last Dance, a daughter of Encosta de Lago who won the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude (G3) in her native Australia.
A whole host of black-type names appear farther back in the pedigree, including champion sire Storm Cat, Racing Post Trophy (G1) winner Crowded House, and group 1-winning sprinters Brando and Reckless Abandon.
There could be plenty more to come from this illustrious family, too. One Last Dance also has a 2019 Frankel colt and visited Kingman again this year.
"He's a lovely horse, and Kingman is obviously doing very well," Magnier said. "This horse was bred by John Camilleri, who's one of the best breeders in Australia. He brought the mare up from Australia, and she's produced a very nice colt."
Thursday's seven-figure transaction is not the first major vote of confidence Coolmore has given Kingman. The operation also secured Calyx for stallion duty, and the classy Cormorant, a 1.05 million-guinea ($1,443,504) purchase at Book 1 last year, carried Coolmore partner Michael Tabor's silks this season.
"Calyx was exceptionally impressive when he won the Coventry and was equally impressive this year," Magnier said. "He's clearly an exceptionally fast horse, and we're very happy to have a horse like that at Coolmore. I'm sure he'll be very popular."
That sale may have provided the most excitement during the final session, but it was not responsible for the highest price. That honor belongs to the Galileo filly out of Quiet Oasis whom Magnier stretched to 2.1 million guineas ($2,690,747) to secure in partnership with George von Opel's Westerberg.
Bred by David and Diane Nagle of Barronstown Stud, the April-born filly is a full sister to Lancaster House, who was listed as unraced in the catalog but has since won three races, including the Listowel Stakes, for the Coolmore partners.
"She's a lovely filly, and Aidan (O'Brien) has always felt that Lancaster House is a very good horse," said Magnier, who was joined by Westerberg's representative Jamie McCalmont.
"We raced the mare with Paul Reddam before she was sold to the Nagles," McCalmont said. "This filly was the one horse we really wanted in the sale, and it isn't a shock that she made so much money."
