Darley sire Raven’s Pass kick-started the Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling sale with an 800,000gns colt on Tuesday.

Sheikh Mohammed’s agent John Ferguson delivered the winning bid after a duel with Coolmore Stud’s John Magnier.  The colt is from Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nightime.  “Raven’s Pass has done very well with his first crop and there are plenty more in the pipeline,” Ferguson said.  “We saw this colt as a foal and he has just thrived.”

Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality) defeated Henrythenavigator in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1600m) at Ascot and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m) at Santa Anita.

Standing at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, his first crop includes Sheikh Hamdan’s colt Steeler who won the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket last week.  He has sired 10 juvenile winners from 34 starters this year.

Magnier bought next best on the leader-board when parting with 700,000gns for a Montjeu colt from Lucina (Machiavellian).  The dam is a half-sister to Group winner Blue Monday.  Buying through agent Demi O’Byrne, Coolmore signed for 6 lots for a total of 2.21 million guineas on Tuesday.

Tattersalls reported trade on Day 1 of Book 1 reached 23.01 million guineas.  The average rose 9% to 165,583gns and median climbed 10% to 110,000gns.

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale continues on Wednesday and Thursday.  Book 2 runs from October 15 to 18 and Book 3 will be conducted on October 19.

Currency converter:  1,000gns = AUD 1,658

RAVEN’S PASS
Tattersalls colt by Darley sire Raven’s Pass sold for AUD 1.32 million