Leading agents Peter Doyle and his son Ross Doyle topped the leader-board during the second session of Book 2 at the Tattersalls October Sale on Wednesday.
The Doyles paid a total of 420,000gns for colts by Shamardal and Acclamation and both youngsters will be trained by Richard Hannon.
Ross Doyle signed for a 220,000gns Shamardal colt who represented a good return on the 75,000gns it cost Pier House Stud to secure him at last year’s Tattersalls December Sale. He is the first foal out of a Montjeu half-sister to G3 winner Strawberry Dale.
“We thought he was the best horse selling on Wednesday,” Doyle said. “Shamardal speaks for himself and he should make a two-year-old. We’ve been lucky buying off Pier House Stud – they sold us Strong Suit.”
Hannon trained String Suit (Rahy) to a G2 victory in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on October 8.
Sire-of-the-moment Acclamation was in demand again when his Acclamation colt out of the winning Mark Of Esteem mare Miss Corinne made 200,000 guineas to the bid of Peter Doyle.
He is a close relation of English Derby winner Sir Percy and will go into training with Richard Hannon. “We thought this colt was one of the nicest Acclamations at the sale,” Doyle claimed. “If he’s not a racehorse, Richard said he will eat one of his hats!
“Acclamation is a wonderful stallion and his stock have always been Richard’s type of horse. But everyone has caught on now!”
Acclamation had dominated Tuesday’s session at Tattersall with three colts at the top of the leader-board. Topping the list at 180,000gns was the colt from Intrepid Queen (Theatrical). He was followed by a 165,000gns colt out of Grand Slam (Anabaa) and a 160,000gns colt from Gold Hush (Seeking The Gold).
“Acclamation gets good horses every year,” Doyle added. “You can get on and train them, you don’t have to molly-coddle them, they’ve got a great attitudes.”
The news out of Newmarket is music to the ears of Swettenham Stud owner Adam Sangster. Swettenham shuttler Equiano is the only son of Acclamation available to broodmare owners in Australia.
Doyle’s comments about the attitude of the Acclamations also struck a chord with Sangster.
“Equiano is typical of the breed and was completely genuine,” Sangster said. “He defeated Takeover Target as a three year-old in the King’s Stand Stakes and came back to win it again as a five year-old.
“Equiano was as tough as they come and that’s what we look for in Australia. Trainers won’t have to keep them in cotton-wool.
“And they will fit the bill for speed. Barry Hills said Equiano was the fastest horse he ever trained.”
Equiano is standing for an introductory service fee of $15,000 (inc gst) at Swettenham.