Detroit Lion

Trainer: Richard Hannon Race type: Flat
Age: 2 yr old Description: Bay Colt
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Race entries

Tim “He’s one of those horses, who, when you go in to bid on him, you just know you’re going to have to stretch yourself to buy him. There were so many people bidding on him, including Joseph O’Brien & Blandford Bloodstock, in the latter stages of the auction, and many would be suitors before them. It gave us a real buzz to be able to bring him home for our owners”.

Purchased at the Tattersalls Ireland Yearling Sale, this colt is by AWTAAD. Tattersalls reported: 'Lot 114: the Awtaad colt from Monksland Stables is bought by Peter and Ross Doyle and & Middleham Park Racing for €87,000, the February colt having been purchased for €36,000 last autumn by S & M Bloodstock.

"It is a great result and we are thrilled," said Clodagh Hassett of Monksland. Of the colt, she said: "He just always did very well, he is a very forward type and he had a very good prep. He was very well behaved in the ring; he has a good attitude and is a lovely loose mover and is an uncomplicated horse; he really is what you look for in a yearling. It is a great result"

Asked what stood out for the family team when they went to €36,000 to buy him last year, without hesitation Hassett said: "We bought the walk – they have to have it from day one, it is not something you can give them."

Since the colt's purchase the family has been active and his half-brother Ancient Times (Exceed And Excel) has enjoyed a good 2022 – he has won twice, finished second twice from five starts. He is now BHA rated 93.

And in addition, Free Step (Muhaarar), this colt's 2019 half-sister, won her first race at the beginning of September.

"People like to see something new on the page, and recent updates always help," said Hassett. "It is the best result we have had at this sale. he is a grand horse, but you never know what is going to happen until you go up to the ring and come out the far side."

Of the decision to come to sell at this sale, she said: "We thought he might stand out here as a real commercial type, and I think we have justified giving him the money we did as a foal." 

If you’re looking for the perfect conformation of a racehorse, we’d suggest, look no further. Bred to be a top class 6f-1m horse as a 2yo/3yo, we’re particularly excited by his prospects for the 2023 & 2024 Flat seasons.

He’s by a classic winning sire, who can produce horses rated 121 out of a Champion distaff pedigree and he’s as exciting as yearling as we’ve purchased this season. €87,000 was some stretch to acquire him, but he was our ‘nap’ of the sale on looks and his movement has a real swagger about it.

We wouldn’t swap him, for any of the small number of horses, that sold for more than him, at the 480 catalogued lots of the sale, given their respective pedigrees; he was our nap of the week. The horses in the sale who made more than him had much more obvious pedigrees, where we feel the purchasers have compromised on individual somewhat, whereas we have not. Obviously, it’s a game of opinions but our horse judgement has served us well, over the years. Don’t just take our word for it though, renowned bloodstock agent Ross Doyle commented: “He’s a stand out”.  

Our colt is from one of the deepest Champions’ pedigrees, you simply don’t get better than Height Of Fashion, Queen Elizabeth II, genes and given we’re by a Shadwell, Classic winning stallion, we couldn’t have unearthed a better opportunity for owners.


Contact

info@middlehamparkracing.net

August House
2, Appleyard Drive
Barton-on-Humber
North Lincolnshire
DN18 5TD

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