04 October 2023 , 11:06
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A racehorse owner-breeder has admitted crying in front of Sheikh Mohammed after selling the last colt of a famous mare to Godolphin for 1m guineas.
When Graham Smith-Bernal purchased Newsells Park Stud in 2021, one of the prized mares that was part of the deal was Shastye.
In a stellar broodmare career Shastye had produced five millionaire lots including the Group 1 winners Japan and Mogul and the Oaks runner up Secret Gesture.
She died aged 21 after producing a colt by Dubawi who went through the auction ring at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket on Tuesday.
She fetched the first seven figure bid of the week when he was knocked down to bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin. He is likely to go into training with Charlie Appleby.
'I gave birth in a car stuck in traffic - my baby ended up inside my trousers'
Smith-Bernal had mixed emotions after the hammer came down bringing an end to an era during which Shastye’s offspring had fetched more than £15 million for the stud.
“I’ve already shed tears in front of Sheikh Mohammed,” Smith-Bernal said. "This colt was born early in the morning and I saw Shastye in the paddock with this foal that morning.
“She looked absolutely 100 per cent despite then not having foaled for two years. Everything before had been these amazing Galileos, three of whom sold for more than 3.5m gns and there we were looking at the very first Dubawi.
"Unfortunately she subsequently haemorrhaged and died that night. Julian told me that evening and I went down and bottle fed this colt.
"This means so much to the team who have done an amazing job rearing this colt. He has taken everything in his stride, and he is not an old mare's foal. He is an absolute champ and it has been a pleasure, even though I have come late to be associated with this family."