A roaring foal trade has given confidence to many ahead of the breeding stock
section of the Tattersalls December Sale, which gets underway in Newmarket on
Monday.
With just 981 lots listed, this is the smallest December breeding stock
catalog since 1993 and, despite the absence of some of the high-profile
dispersals seen at recent renewals of the sale, there should be strong
competition for the best lots.
Many of the week’s highlights are expected to come from fillies who still
have or have recently finished on the track. These include a duo from Mick
Channon’s stable — last month’s E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) winner LAHALEEB (Ire) (Redback),
offered as Lot No. 1424, and Premio Lydia Tesio (Ity-G1) heroine EVA’S REQUEST
(Soviet Star), who sells as Lot 1710.
“Lahleeb has got another good year or two in her if they want to race her,
but if it is decided that she goes to stud, well she can do either,” Channon
remarked. “She’s from a good family. She was very good in the Irish One Thousand
Guineas and it was unfortunate that the ground was too firm in the English One
Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1). We should have learnt our lesson after Newmarket, but
we ran on fast ground again, which we shouldn’t have, but you run them for big
money and you have a go. She came right again at the backend in the E.P. Taylor
S., and now we will see how she gets on at the sales.
“The owners are coming over from Kuwait, so I will see them there. I would
have thought they would want a good price for her, they certainly will not let
her go cheap.”
Eva’s Request was bred by Ballylinch Stud and the County Kilkenny farm is
consigning 2006 Canadian Horse of the Year ARRAVALE (Arch) on behalf of Robert
Costigan and family as Lot 1532. The winner of both the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and
E.P. Taylor, she is offered with a Pivotal covering. Trainer Jim Bolger’s draft
should provide further highlights. Three-time Group 1 winner LUSH LASHES
(Galileo [Ire]) is Lot 1389 and she will be followed into the ring by Lot 1390,
Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) third OH GOODNESS ME (Galileo [Ire]).
“I have a partner in Lush Lashes and my partner isn’t interested in breeding,
so she has to be sold,” Bolger revealed. “She was champion Irish filly at a
mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, so her class is there for all
to see. She is also the only horse in the world to win a race worth a million
first time out.”
In what should be a lively hour near the close of play, Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1)
third HIGH HEELED (High Chaparral [Ire]), who most recently won the St. Simon S.
(Eng-G3) by six lengths, is offered by owners Steven and Karen Jenkins from
Barry Hillsable as Lot 1403. Shortly afterward the four-year-old SAN SICHARIA
(Daggers Drawn), Lot 1411, can be expected to show an advance on the 165,000
guineas she cost owner Paddy Twomey at the same sale 12 months ago. She has gone
on to win this season’s Chartwell S. (Eng-G3) at Lingfield while her
half-brother Spin Cycle (Exceed and Excel) is now a listed winner.
Lot 1419, THE MINIVER ROSE (High Chaparral [Ire]), heads from Richard
Hannon’s stable as the winner of this season’s Park Hill S. (Eng-G2). Stablemate
PENNY’S GIFT (Tobougg [Ire]), Lot 1416, won this season’s German One Thousand
Guineas (Ger-G2).
Lot 1613, SONG (Sadler’s Wells), has never raced but the three-year-old, who
was covered by Danehill Dancer in April, can be expected to realize a serious
amount when offered from Mary-Ann Penfold’s Bugley Stud for Premier Bloodstock.
She is a full-sister to five black-type performers, including Irish One Thousand
Guineas (Ire-G1) winner Yesterday (Sadler’s Wells) as well as three-times
classic-placed and Group 1 winner Quarter Moon (Ire), dam of this season’s
Fillies Mile (Eng-G1) third You’ll Be Mine (Kingmambo). Song’s only female
sibling to be previously offered at auction, Because (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells),
sold for $2.8 million at Keeneland November in 2006.
The proven mares include Lot 1676, the 11-year-old Group 2 winner
INDEPENDENCE (Selkirk), who is among Raven’s Pass’s first book of mares. She is
the dam of Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) and Criterium International (Fr-G1) winner Mount
Nelson (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and this season’s Great Voltigeur S.
(Eng-G2) scorer and St Leger (Eng-G1) third Monitor Closely (Oasis Dream [GB]).
She is offered for Philip Freedman’s Cliveden Stud from Kiltinan Castle Stud.
The first book of mares from Duke of Marmalade (Ire) includes LASTING CHANCE
(American Chance), the dam of recent Hong Kong International Cup Trial (HK-G2)
winner Collection (Peintre Celebre). Hailing from the consignment of Peter
Savill from his Ballykilbride Stud, she is offered as Lot 1730. Lot 1366, Aidan
O’Brien’s 2008 Cheshire Oaks winner SAIL (Sadler’s Wells) and a sibling to three
other black-type winners, is another from Duke of Marmalade’s first book.
Lot 1586, Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) winner ASK FOR THE MOON (Fr) (Dr Fong), is
the dam of last week’s 400,000gns December Foal Sale top lot, a Galileo (Ire)
colt bought by Demi O’Byrne. Ask for the Moon, who was covered by Holy Roman
Emperor, is offered from James Hanly’s Ballyhimikin Stud.
Offerings from the Niarchos Family’s Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard always have
a big following, and this year’s pick could be Lot 1384, four-year-old
STRAWBERRY FLEDGE (Kingmambo), who is offered in foal to Pivotal. She is a full
sister to Epsom Oaks winner Light Shift.
“Our 2009 sales have, almost without exception, exceeded expectations, which
has given the industry a real shot in the arm,” Tattersalls Marketing Director
Jimmy George said. “We’ve got a good, solid catalog as ever this week, and the
sales paddocks have been very busy on Sunday with a real cross-section of buyers
from all over the world.”
The sale runs Monday through Thursday.