Champion sprinter Slade Power enjoys some time in the paddock at Kildangan Stud
A select sale average of nearly five times his stud fee. A buyers list that reads as a who’s who of yearling purchasers, including such names as SackvilleDonald, Peter and Ross Doyle, MV Magnier, Godolphin, Shadwell, Rabbah and the Hong Kong Kong Jockey Club. By all accounts, European Champion sprinter Slade Power enjoyed a sales season to remember with his first yearlings.
We review some of the highlights of his drafts.
Consignors and buyers share their thoughts on their Slade Power yearlings
The first of Slade Power’s yearlings to breach the six-figure mark this autumn was Corduff Stud’s colt out of the Listed-placed Pivotal mare Pivotal’s Princess, offered at the Goffs Orby Sale.
The February-born colt (lot 124), a half-brother to four winners and hailing from the further family of Tap On Wood, was snapped up by Alistair Donald of SackvilleDonald for €110,000.
Donald proved one of Slade Power’s biggest fans at the Orby sale, buying three lots in all for a total of €262,000, averaging more than four times their stud fee.
Slade Power x Silk Trail, purchased for 260,000gns by Charlie Gordon-Watson
Demand for progeny of Slade Power was just as strong during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sales, headlined by two of his yearlings selling for 260,000gns apiece.
The first of these was Glenvale Stud’s colt out of Silk Trail (lot 218), a winning daughter of Dubai Destination, who is of course broodmare sire of two Champions on Darley’s roster in Golden Horn and new recruit Postponed. Silk Trail is herself a half-sister to G1 Middle Park Stakes hero Lujain as well as the smart juvenile Lilium, and her Slade Power colt was purchased by Charlie Gordon-Watson.
Slade Power x Sleeping Beauty, purchased for 260,000gns by Godolphin
Just five lots later, his price tag was matched by a filly from The Castlebridge Consignment, out of the Listed-placed Oasis Dream mare Sleeping Beauty, purchased by Godolphin (lot 223).
Out of Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Nightime, Sleeping Beauty is a half-sister to this year’s G1 Man O’War Stakes winner Zhukova, and the page received a major boost a week after the sale when Nightime’s Dubawi colt Ghaiyyath triumphed in the G3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket for Godolphin.
Other Book 1 highlights included a colt from Mountain View Stud out of the Electra Star (Shamardal) who has already produced three winners from as many runners (lot 442). The colt was bought by William Muir for 120,000gns.
Slade Power’s Book 1 average was a mighty €156,463 for seven lots sold – nearly eight times his stud fee.
Slade Power x Summer In February, purchased at Book 2 for 200,000gns by MV Magnier
That strength in demand rolled straight on in to Book 2, where Slade Power’s top lots were headed by a colt purchased by MV Magnier and Peter and Ross Doyle for 200,000gns.
The colt (lot 886), consigned by Rathbarry Stud, is out of a half-sister to the tough and consistent multiple Group winner Dutch Connection (by Slade Power’s sire Dutch Art) and is likely to go into training with Richard Hannon.
Mountain View Stud enjoyed another great result with Slade Power when their colt out of Keepers Hill, from the family of top performers Arcangues and Agathe, was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 180,000gns (lot 535).
Stephen Hillen snapped up a half-brother to Listed winner Melbourne Memories for 140,000gns (lot 924), while Shadwell went to 120,000gns to secure a Slade Power half-brother to Listed Cathedral Stakes winner Eqtiraan (lot 634).
At the end of Book 2, Slade Power averaged €113,345 for 13 lots sold, nearly six times his stud fee.