Frankel tops day two of October sale with 2.8 million guineas colt

Yesterday's Tattersalls October Book 1 action saw the highest-grossing day in European sales history, led by a 2,800,000gns Frankel colt, one of four of his offspring in the top six prices.

Taken from the Racing Post, 6th October 2022, by James Thomas:

During a session that bordered on the outrageous, eight lots brought 1,000,000gns or more as turnover reached 49,545,000gns, a massive 65 per cent year-on-year increase. The average price was up by a hefty 49 per cent at 344,062gns and the median rose by 25 per cent to 200,000gns. The clearance rate was 88 per cent as 144 sold from 163 offered. Of the eight lots that broke the million guineas barrier yesterday, four were sired by Frankel.

Watership Down Stud’s Frankel colt out of So Mi Dar bore more than a passing resemblance to his sire and marched into the Park Paddocks ring with an accordingly sizeable reputation. The blue-blooded youngster lived up to his star-billing by drawing a bid of 2,800,000gns from Godolphin, a price that makes him the most expensive yearling sold anywhere in the world this year.

“Obviously he’s got a stallion’s pedigree as he’s by Frankel out of a very good Dubawi mare,” said Anthony Stroud after signing for Godolphin’s fourth seven-figure purchase of the sale. “This is one of Watership Down’s best families so he was the jewel in the crown. Needless to say, he’s an extremely nice horse."

"The price was more than I anticipated but Watership Down do a great job and David Ingordo and Bill Farish are strong opposition. He’s an outstanding horse and he’s very valuable if he’s a good racehorse.”

“It’s an extraordinary thing when you have a horse like that and he fulfils everything you want from him," said Simon Marsh, general manager of Watership Down. "He’s been an exceptional individual all his life, but these things don’t happen by accident."

Expanding on what's in store for the family, Marsh added: “Frankel is the one and So Mi Dar’s got a lovely filly foal by him. She’s back in foal to Frankel, Lah Ti Dar is in foal to Frankel, there’s another mare in the family and she’s called Darlectable You and she’s in foal to Frankel too."