Frankel colt sells for two million guineas at Tattersalls

On a day that saw four seven-figure lots pass through the ring, a Frankel colt emerged as the top lot, selling to Coolmore for two million guineas.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 5th October 2023, by Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin:

The ripples of Frankel combined with Hascombe & Valiant Stud were felt on the turf of Longchamp on Sunday when Ace Impact, a son of the Oppenheimers' Frankel-sired star Cracksman waltzed off with the Arc.  This year, with Anthony Oppenheimer selling a large draft of colts at Tattersalls, his stud was represented by a star turn of a different kind with the Frankel colt out of Bizzaria heading Book 1 when sold for 2 million guineas to Coolmore.

The dam of lot 266 hails from a different Hascombe & Valiant family to Cracksman but it is one which has nevertheless provided the stud with much success. Her full-brothers Cannock Chase and Pisco Sour are Grade 1 and Group 2 winners respectively, and they are both former winners of the Gr.3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Their half-sister Star Catcher  was better still, with her hat-trick of Group 1 victories including the Irish Oaks.

With five of his seven-strong Book 1 draft having been sold already for a total of 2.9 million guineas, Oppenheimer was naturally pleased with the week's business. "So far we have done quite well," he said. "I know [the Frankel colt] is a very nice horse. He's refuelled the stud's finances and it can't do any harm."

Oppenheimer's biggest success in recent years came with the 2015 Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn, and he is also the breeder of this year's Gold Cup winner, Courage Mon Ami, who is yet another son of Frankel and was sold to Wathnan Racing just prior to Royal Ascot.

Over at Navan, another Frankel colt bought by Coolmore at Book 1 last year for 1.9 million guineas, Euphoric, broke his maiden on debut and, through various partnerships, the team, headed by M V Magnier, played a more prominent role at Tattersalls on Wednesday while stocking up on next year's juvenile crop. After having the final say over Godolphin and Juddmonte for the session-topper, Magnier said: "They [Hascombe & Valiant Stud] are very good breeders and have bred some very nice horses in the past. Frankel is flying at the moment. He'll go to Ballydoyle and let's hope he's good."