Sea The Stars Filly Heads Tattersalls December Foal Sale As Prices Soar

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale stepped up a gear on the second day with the SEA THE STARS sister to SPINNING QUEEN selling for 320,000 guineas and the major indicators all up on the corresponding session last year. The turnover was up 24% to 6,825,700 guineas for the 202 lots sold whilst the average and median rose 27% and 35% to 33,791 guineas and 27,000 guineas respectively.

The SEA THE STARS sister to the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes winner SPINNING QUEEN became the top priced filly foal in Europe this year when knocked down to Charlie Gordon-Watson for 320,000 guineas.

"This is one for the long-term," said Gordon-Watson. "She is a beautiful filly, one of my picks of the week, a great mover and there is everything to like about her.

"It's a lovely family - the half-sister Spinning World is in good hands, as is Gallipot. I also really believe in Sea The Stars and feel that he will come good."

Underbidders included Hugo Lascelles, Philipp von Stauffenberg and John Clarke, who was taking instructions over the telephone and who provided the final opposition to Gordon-Watson.

The filly was sold by Newsells Park Stud who also consigned the EXCEED AND EXCEL colt out of the Listed winner JANE AUSTEN that was knocked down to John Ferguson for 130,000 guineas.         

It was in this ring in 2007 that Charlie Gordon-Watson secured the CADEAUX GENEREUX colt out of ARTISIA for 55,000 guineas. Subsequently named RED CADEAUX, he is now the winner of almost £4 million in prizemoney in an International career that has seen him victorious in the Hong Kong Vase as well as runner-up in the Melbourne Cup twice as well as the Dubai World Cup. So it was no surprise to see Gordon-Watson secure that colt’s TEOFILO half-brother offered here by Drumachon Stud for 220,000 guineas after seeing off a determined John Ferguson.

"He's for Ronald Arculli, Red Cadeaux's owner," said Gordon-Watson. "Red Cadeaux has paid for him - after all he's won £4 million! I also feel that Teofilo is a top sire."

The colt is also closely related to the top class Hong Kong star MILITARY ATTACK.

On the racecourse the DANSILI colt ZOFFANY got closer to the legendary FRANKEL than any of his contemporaries when second in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and his first crop of foals have been very well received in the sale ring. None more so that the colt out of the MONTJEU mare MOUNT CRYSTAL who was knocked down to Camas Park Stud’s Timmy Hyde for 130,000 guineas. The sale represented a great result for her consignors Stringston Farm who bought the daughter of the Group 1 performer STATE CRYSTAL for 24,000 guineas carrying this foal at the 2012 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.

Early in the evening Timmy Hyde secured a daughter of ZOFFANY when he secured the Trickledown Stud consigned sister to LESSON IN HUMILITY for 120,000 guineas. LESSON IN HUMILITY is the dam of this year’s Group 2 Norfolk Stakes second COACH HOUSE at Royal Ascot.

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale continues at 9.30am on Friday, November 29.