Six-Figure Sums For Coolmore Coverings And Daughters At Tattersalls

While Galileo topped the sire table at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, his Coolmore colleagues enjoyed their fair share of six-figure sales.

Gleneagles’ first crop of juveniles yielded two Group 2 winners in Royal Dornoch and Royal Lytham and coverings to the son of Galileo proved popular. On the second day of selling, Blue Diamond Stud went to 130,000gns to secure multiple Stakes winner Mince, while the following day, three mares offered in foal to Gleneagles fetched six-figure sums.

Dual Guineas winner Churchill enjoyed a smart start in the sales ring, as his first foals sold for an impressive average of 108,000gns and for up to 220,000gns. It then came as no surprise to see buyers keen to purchase mares in foal to the son of Galileo, and on the second day, Mascalls Stud went to 110,000gns for the twice Listed-placed Luire. Damselfly boasted a similar profile as a black-type mare carrying her first covering and sold for 150,000gns to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock.

2,000 Guineas victor Saxon Warrior began his stallion career at €30,000 this season and among the mares offered in foal to him was the unraced four-year-old Wildrose. A half-sister to Group 1 performer Wild Coco, she was sold by Tullamaine Castle Stud to Henri-Alex Pantall for 110,000gns.

US Navy Flag was another who rewarded breeders who used him in his first season, when he commanded €25,000. Edelline, a half-sister to multiple Stakes winner Emerald Commander, returned a fine profit when selling from Baroda Stud to Margaret O’Toole for 110,000gns.

No Nay Never has gone from strength to strength since retiring to stud and buyers clamoured for mares offered in foal to the son of Scat Daddy. Salamah, a winning own-sister to Gimcrack Stakes victor Emaraaty Ana, was offered as a wildcard by the Castlebridge Consignment and fetched 350,000gns from Stephen Hillen. The same consignor saw Listed winner Detailed knocked down to Triermore Stud for 250,000gns and black-type performer Harvestfortheworld sell for 185,000gns to Ballysax Bloodstock, acting as agent for Grantley Acres.

Zoffany has enjoyed a successful season that included the Niarchos family’s Albigna gaining Group 1 glory. Another one of his daughters, Architecture, was placed at the highest level on three occasions and is now destined for Japan after selling from New England Stud to Katsumi Yoshida for 600,000gns. Modern Love could not achieve the same success on the track, but offered in foal to Zoffany, fetched 180,000gns from Ballphilip Stud.

Mares in foal to dual Derby hero Australia also boasted high returns, with Charlie Gordon-Watson going to 300,000gns for Listed winner Gale Force. The Stakes-placed Baroness was another popular with buyers and was knocked down to Margaret O’Toole and Plantation Stud at 250,000gns. Daughters of Australia also proved their worth, as the unraced Semillon sold for 130,000gns, while the talented Elisheba sold for 100,000gns.

Mares and coverings by Camelot also breached the 100,000gns mark, with Blue Diamond Stud parting with 140,000gns for black-type winner Sweet Gentle Kiss in foal to the top sire. Good Will Bloodstock, meanwhile, went to 110,000gns for dual winner Arctic Ocean (Camelot), a half-sister to dual Listed winner Brother Bear.

National hunt stock are seldom sold at Park Paddocks, bar a handful of foals, so Verdana Blue (Getaway) proved a standout offering from owners Crimbourne Bloodstock. Trained by Nicky Henderson, she proved talented on the flat and over obstacles, sensationally lowering the colours of Buveur D’Air in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle, as well as scoring at Listed level on the flat. Sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 370,000gns, she will continue her racing career in the colours of Michael Tabor.

After outbidding the likes of Geoffrey Howson and Anthony Bromley, Blandford’s Tom Goff commented, “He [Michael Tabor] loves the mare and obviously he loves the stallion, who stands at Coolmore's Grange Stud. She's one of the most beautiful National Hunt fillies I've seen in recent years, I don't think that's any exaggeration. She'll obviously make a fantastic broodmare for the National Hunt ranks in due course.”