After a subdued opening day, trade stepped up a gear at Saturday’s closing
session of BBAG Yearling Sale at the Iffezheim complex with nine lots breaking
through the six-figure barrier.
Gestut Brummerhof’s Hip No. 225, already named SALVADOR, earned top-lot
honors when knocked down to Jurgen Albrecht, acting on behalf of R & B
International, for €240,000. A full brother to the 2004 Preis der Winterkonigin
(Ger-G3) heroine Sorrent (Monsun), he replaced Gestut Auenquelle’s Hip 150 at
the top of the sheets, beating that filly’s €180,000 tag. Salvador is out of the
unraced Salka (Doyoun)
Hip 150, by Lando (Ger), was purchased by trainer Mirce Rulec and is a
half-sister to 2006 Maurice-Lacroix Trophy (Ger-G2) winner Global Dream (Seattle
Dancer). A daughter of Goonda (Darshaan), she also hails from the family of this
term’s Irish Derby (Ire-G1) victor Fame and Glory (Montjeu [GB]), who chased
home Sea the Stars (Cape Cross [Ire]) in Saturday’s Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1)
at Leopardstown.
The second-highest price was matched less than three hours later when Gestut
Hof Vesterberg’s Hip 229 also went the way of Jurgen Albrecht, again acting for
R & B International. The February-foaled colt, already named SANOGO (Shirocco
[Ger]), is a half-brother to 2005 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German Two Thousand
Guineas) (Ger-G2) hero Santiago (Highest Honor [Fr]), who also garnered the 2007
Premio Ribot (Ity-G2). Sanogo is out of listed winner Serenata (Lomitas [Ger]).
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Company was also active
and laid out €150,000 for Hip 117, a March-foaled Tertullian colt consigned by
Ronald Rauscher who is a son of the unraced Birthday Night (Southern Halo).
That price was equaled by Rupert Plersch, owner of last week’s Goldene
Peitsche (Ger-G2) winner War Artist (Orpen), for Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof’s Hip
260, an April-foaled Konigstiger colt. He is out of 1999 German highweight Win
For Us (Ger) (Surumu), who garnered the Deutsches St Leger (Ger-G2) in her
banner year and is herself a daughter of 1993 German highweight juvenile filly
Wild Romance (Alkalde).
“The top end of the market was there, but the middle market went completely
amiss,” BBAG’s Managing Director Carola Ortlieb said. “This was to be expected
and most of the vendors were very realistic, which paid off for the buyers.”