Seven Top A Million on Second Day of Tattersalls December Mares Sale
The Tattersalls December Mares Sale exploded into life on Tuesday evening with seven fillies and mares realising one million guineas or more and a further 14 selling above 500,000 guineas. The turnover on the second day reached a remarkable 42,534,600 guineas at an average of 218,126 guineas and a median of 110,000 guineas.
2,400,000 Guineas for Pearling
The headline act on the Tuesday of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale was PEARLING, sold in foal to GALILEO for 2.4 million guineas to the bid of Tony Nerses of Blue Diamond Stud. Underbidders on the sale-topper included David Hanley of WinStar Farm and ultimately, Australian-based agent Dean Hawthorne.
Offered by New England Stud, the regally-bred mare is an own sister to Champion sire and racehorse GIANT’S CAUSEWAY and the dam of three-time Group 1 winner DECORATED KNIGHT.
Imad Al Sagar, who was the successful purchaser and previous part-owner of the mare with Saleh Al Homaizi, said;
"She is very special to us and has an exceptional pedigree. I could not let her go. Saleh has some serious business commitments coming up and has needed to reduce his interests, but he is a very good friend. We have had some great times with the horses together, but things change.
"I am delighted to be able to take this mare home - and she is carrying a filly by Galileo."
Lordship Stud Secure Bound for 2,200,000 Guineas
The other lot to top the 2 million guineas mark was the Listed winning GALILEO mare BOUND who was knocked down to Lordship Stud’s Ben Harris for 2,200,000 guineas. US agent Lincoln Collins had initially opened the bidding at 1 million guineas before Henri Bozo, standing alongside Bertrand Le Metayer, took things along before the Lordship team standing with agent Luke Lillingston took control to secure the regally bred mare.
Following the sale, Trevor Harris of Lordship said;
"Luke helped us right from the start and bought La Sky for us who was the dam of Love Divine and Swiss Lake, the dam of Swiss Spirit. This the most expensive horse we have bought, and we'd would love to send her to Dubawi."
Luke Lillingston said: "Sometimes you have throw the kitchen sink at it to get a reward. She is a very special looking mare and is by Galileo."
BOUND is an own sister to the Group 1 Nassau Stakes second WEDDING VOW and to BYE BYE BABY, a Group 3 winner and third in the Group 1 Oaks. She hails from the family of ‘Arc’ winner DYLAN THOMAS as well as 1,000 Guineas winner HOMECOMING QUEEN and was offered in foal to DARK ANGEL by consignor John Troy.
Beautiful Morning to Lascelles for 1,400,000 Guineas
The Group-winning GALILEO mare BEAUTIFUL MORNING was another to break seven figures when selling to agent Hugo Lascelles for 1,400,000 guineas. Victorious in the Group 3 Royal Whip at The Curragh, the mare is out of the Listed-placed mare DATE WITH DESTINY who was the only offspring of the ill-fated 2,000 Guineas winner GEORGE WASHINGTON. Trained by Jessica Harrington, BEAUTIFUL MORNING was raced by Jon Kelly and James Wiltz.
"Beautiful Morning will be staying in the UK and we'd hope she'll be able to go to Dubawi," said Lascelles of the mare sold by Newsells Park Stud.
"She is for a different client than this morning's purchase of Lot 1805."
Queen Mary Winner Heartache to MV Magnier for 1,300,000 Guineas
The Royal Ascot winning filly HEARTACHE who scored an authoritative win in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes as well as the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes was secured by Coolmore Stud’s MV Magnier for 1,300,000 Guineas. The daughter of the Listed winning filly PLACE IN MY HEART was consigned by her owners Whitsbury Manor Stud and Ed Harper commented;
"The family goes back to Hollow Heart, who was bought by Dad in the 1970s - this is a testament to his skill.
"We have changed our minds about ten times as to whether to sell or keep her - but at the end of the day a stallion can cover 100 mares and a mare can only be covered once and we run a commercial operation.
"We have a superb team at home and it allows us to keep pushing forward."
Purchaser MV Magnier said;
"She is a very fast filly, very good-looking and she'll be one for Galileo - she will not race on. She comes from a great nursery and farm."
WinStar Farm go to 1,300,000 Guineas for Ambrosia
Shortly after David Hanley of WinStar Farm had missed out on buying PEARLING he struck successfully on her daughter AMBROSIA with a winning bid of 1.3 million guineas.
The Highclere Stud consigned daughter of FRANKEL is a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner DECORATED KNIGHT, from the family of multiple Group 1 winners GLENEAGLES and HAPPILY, and was offered in foal to SIYOUNI.
Hanley commented after the sale;
"We went a long way into the bidding on her dam, but did not get her. We said if we missed on her, we would try for her daughter.
"It is the most exceptional pedigree and most amazing family that works on both sides of the Atlantic - you could get a Dirt horse or a Turf horse. We are thrilled that we have secured her," he added.
"She is on an early cover, and we have discussed stallions, but as yet have made no plans."
Erdenheim Farm Secure Off Limits for 1,200,000 Guineas
James Wigan’s London Thoroughbred Services went to 1,200,000 guineas to secure the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes winner OFF LIMITS on behalf of Florida-based Peter and Bonnie McCausland’s Erdenheim Farm in Pennsylvania.
The six-year-old daughter of MASTERCRAFTSMAN out of the EFISIO mare RAVISH was consigned to the sale by European Sales Management on behalf of owner Martin Schwartz.
"She is the only lot here with Grade 1-winning form," said Wigan.
"The farm is an old American stud farm that has a great history. It is now being bought back into equine use again. It has been empty for a time and these are the first mares going back onto the farm.
"The mare should suit the US and she is from a lovely family."
Phoenix Buy Pocketfullofdreams for 1,000,000 Guineas
Phoenix Thoroughbreds had to withstand a determined effort by Yulong Investments to secure the four-year-old mare POCKETFULLOFDREAMS for 1,000,000 guineas. The Listed-placed daughter of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT, who was offered with a covering to GALILEO by her consignors Baroda & Colbinstown Studs, is a half-sister to the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu winner THE JULIET ROSE.
Tom Ludt, the vice president of equine operations for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, said;
"We are building a top-level broodmare band and both mares are carrying their first foals. We are looking to play at the top of the business.”
Phoenix later bought out their partners Zen Racing in the filly SIGNORA CABELLO for 900,000 guineas and indicated that she will return to trainer John Quinn for a three-year-old campaign.
The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continues at 9.30am on Wednesday, 5th December.