Darley a potential strong presence at Craven sale

The sight of Sheikh Mohammed at Newmarket's Rowley Mile racecourse Tuesday

morning likely heartened vendors ahead of Wednesday night's Tattersalls Craven

Breeze-Up Sale. The sheikh accompanied advisor John Ferguson as they watched the

two-year-olds work and consignors will be hoping that the Darley team, which has

dominated the event for the past two years while buying through a multitude of

different agents and trainers, will make a big splash again.

Last year's purchases who raced for the Godolphin stable included Breeders'

Cup Juvenile (G1) hero Vale Of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit), who was bought

privately after not selling in the ring, and Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1)

victor Passion for Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), who cost 260,000 guineas. Subsequent

ownership registrations suggest that the Maktoums and associated entities

accounted for as much as 40 percent of last year's 8.56 million guineas turnover

although, with reports of economic problems in Dubai, vendors have

understandably been cautious ahead of the sale.

There are certainly no shortage of Maktoum-friendly sires on show, with

around 40 percent of the 166-lot catalog either by Darley sires or those such as

Invincible Spirit and Pivotal, in which Sheikh Mohammed has a share.

"It's going to be an interesting week," said Luke Lillingston, who has been

one of the agents used by Darley at past Craven Breeze-Up Sales. "So far this

year, the Darley group have bought only two horses at Calder, the top

two-year-old sale in America and they bought two yearlings last week at Sydney

at Australia's top sale. I don't have any insight, but perhaps for the first

time in many years, people can come here and buy some really good horses without

spending a fortune. I might be wrong, but if I'm right then people need to wake

up."

There was a cosmopolitan crowd watching Tuesday's breeze, including parties

from Hong Kong and Japan, and there were many impressive workouts. U.S. sires

are well-represented and the only Speightstown juvenile on show, Lot No. 126,

moved well under his vendor Norman Williamson. Out of Affordability (Unbridled),

he cost $160,000 at Keeneland last September. The only offering by in-form Candy

Ride (Arg), Lot 29, has a rather a cheaper price tag. The daughter of Spark of

Success (Topsider) was bought for just €25,000

at Tattersalls Ireland in September. She breezed in good style under her

locally- based consignor, Emma O'Gorman.

Hennessy is responsible for this season's One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1)

favorite Special Duty and he should make an early impact with Lot 5. She is a

Barronstown Stud-bred filly who was bought in utero inside Group 1-placed

Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan) for $1.35 million at the 2007 Keeneland November Sale.

She is consigned by Willie Browne's Mocklershill operation as is the dearest

yearling sold on offer, Lot 34, a Pivotal colt out of dual Group 1-placed

Musicanna (Cape Cross [GB]). He cost 140,000 guineas at Tattersalls last year.

A Swordlestown Stud-bred Pivotal half-sister to Group 1-winning sprinter

Pipalong (Pips Pride), Lot 138, moved well and will have appeal to breeders when

offered from the Fitzpatrick family's Kilminfoyle House Stud. Similar comments

apply to Lot 143, a Galileo (Ire) filly out of a half-sister to Epsom Oaks

(Eng-G1) winner Light Shift (Kingmambo), bred by Breeding Capital and Charlie

Gordon-Watson and sold from Paddy Twomey's Hawthorn Villa Stud. Galileo's other

representatives include Lot 4, a colt from the Flame of Tara (Ire) family who

cost €130,000 at Deauville in August.

Others with an expensive sale history include Lot 151, a First Samurai colt

who was a $100,000 Keeneland foal and $220,000 RNA yearling.

Tattersalls marketing director Jimmy George said Tuesday that he hoped the

success of graduates from the 2009 Craven Sale would hearten potential buyers

this week.

"The fact that last year's Craven Breeze-Up Sale produced four of the best

two-year-olds in Europe has definitely captured the attention of buyers," George

said. "And without doubt we saw some smart two-year-olds breezing this morning

in front of a large international audience."