Exceptional No Nay Never Colt Brings 2.2million Guineas

No Nay Never was responsible for the highest-priced colt at a blockbuster opening session of the Tattersalls Book 1 October Yearling Sale.

Godolphin’s 2.2million guineas purchase topped strong demand for No Nay Never’s progeny on Monday, with all five offered selling for an average of 693,000gns. The son of Listed winner Bella Estrella (High Chaparral) was a standout, according to John O’Connor of Ballylinch Stud, who consigned the bay.

“I think he’s one of the nicest horses we’ve ever brought to a sale, and we’ve brought some nice ones in the past. Our yearling manager at Casltmartin, Ronan Wade, gave him the highest mark we’ve ever had for a horse.

“He just seemed, to me, to be the perfect yearling, so I hope he’ll be the perfect racehorse. He’s got a wonderful temperament; he’s so consistent in how he shows and he’s got a beautiful action. He vetted very well, obviously, and most of who you think can buy a very good horse wanted to buy him.”

The colt’s appeal was just as clear to the Godolphin team, as Anthony Stroud explained. “Needless to say, he’s a very good-looking horse. We all liked him a lot. He’s got a wonderful pedigree and he’s from a very good stud farm in Ballylinch. He was the one horse we really wanted today.”

Lot 8 had set the tone, with MV Magnier and White Birch Farm stretching to 625,000gns for the No Nay Never colt from Lynn Lodge Stud. The January-born bay is the first foal out of Thar She Blows, an unraced own-sister to Falmouth Stakes winner Prosperous Voyage (Zoffany).