Alcohol Free headlines frenetic second day at Tattersalls

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Extraordinary numbers

During a frenetic three hours of the Sceptre Session plus a few illustrious wildcards, and with the Tattersalls auditorium at bursting point, 11 elite fillies and mares changed hands for seven-figure sums and alongside Alcohol Free, Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) sold to Najd Stud for 3.6 million gns (AU$6,441,700), and Godolphin picked up Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for 2.7 million gns (AU$4,831,300) to fill the top three.

On a day which saw the highest turnover in a single session at Tattersalls, the aggregate of 54,005,000gns (AU$101,053,800) was up by 29 per cent on last year, with the average shooting up by 50 per cent to 281,276gns (AU$576,615), and the median by seven per cent to 112,500gns (AU$210,500). A clearance rate of 83 per cent was achieved from 192 horses sold.

The Sceptre Sessions, conducted over two consecutive evenings within the main catalogue, brought a total of 45,907,000gns (AU$85,900,900) for 71 sold at an average of 646,577gns (AU$1,209,900).

Saffron Beach to the Saudi Cup

An international bidding duel between Shunsuke Yoshida of Japan's Northern Farm and Saudi Arabia's Najd Stud ended with the latter prevailing at 3.6 million gns (AU$6,736,200). for the dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach. Like top lot Alcohol Free, the 4-year-old will remain in training, and she will stay in Newmarket with Jane Chapple-Hyam to be prepared for the G1 Saudi Cup in February.

“I'm very excited for these gentlemen,” said Chapple-Hyam standing alongside Saud Al Qahtani and Saud Bin Mishref of Najd Stud. “It's a big thrill and a big honour and we've got a good winter to look forward to. She's in good order, she's tough and I believe she'll get the nine furlongs out in Saudi. You never know about the surface but we'll give it a go.

“She'll have a little rest now and then build her up and get her ready. I'll have to do a very good racecourse gallop because when I sent her to Dubai I felt even though we ran fourth the ones who finished in front of her had all had a run.”

Originally bought as a foal by Liam Norris for 55,000gns (AU$98,400), Saffron Beach was an intended pinhook prospect for Ben Sangster and James Wigan, but a minor foot problem as a youngster kept her from returning to the sales. Eventually she was put into training with Sangster's step-sister Chapple-Hyam, for whom she won the G3 Oh So Sharp S. as a juvenile before landing the G1 Sun Chariot and G1 Prix de Rothschild at three and four as well as finishing runner-up in the G1 1000 Guineas.

Tranquil Lady to Godolphin

It has been quite the year for the Quiet American (USA) mare Repose (USA), who changed hands in a private transaction from the Cantillon family's Tinnakill House to the broodmare band of Juddmonte. Her second foal State Of Rest (Ire) added the G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Prince Of Wales's S. to his 2021 victories in the G1 Cox Plate and G1 Saratoga Derby, while his year-younger half-sister Tranquil Lady won two Group 3 races and brought the curtain down on her season by selling for 2.7 million gns (AU$5,052,200) to Godolphin at Tattersalls on Tuesday.

Richard Ryan bought Tranquil Lady for £160,000 (AU$286,300) at the Goffs Orby Sale on behalf of Teme Valley Racing, who also raced State Of Rest during his first two seasons.

He said, “It was a bittersweet situation really. It's so hard to acquire something at this level, with these credentials: that clean, that sound, and her best year is next year. But we knew there was an incredible desire at this moment and you don't know how long those windows stay open. We were pretty brave to quite a long way ourselves to make sure she wasn't going to be undersold, and Joseph had a team very keen to try to retain her, but this is a fabulous result. There's a lot more to come from her.”

Anthony Stroud, who bought the 3-year-old filly on behalf of Godolphin, said, “Joseph O'Brien really recommended her, and he's done a great job with her. Physically, she's a very nice model and you can go two ways: we could keep her in training or she could retire. The decision will be made in due course.

“There's plenty going on in the family and it's a family that seems to improve.”

Ville De Grace in big money transfer to Lordship

Less than 24 hours after her dam Archangel Gabriel (USA) (Arch {USA}) topped the opening session of the December Mare Sale, her Group 3-winning daughter Ville De Grace (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), bred by Hunscote Stud and Chris Humber, fetched 2 million gns (AU$3,742,400) to join the broodmare band at Lordship Stud.

Ville De Grace was signed for under the banner of One Agency and Tom Harris, son of Lordship Stud's Trevor Harris, explained why he felt the three-time winner, who was beaten just a nose to Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), would make a good addition.

Harris said, “We loved her and she was our pick of the sale. She is beautiful, athletic and a good race filly and is an outcross so she can be mated to all of the top stallions. It is very difficult to buy in this market, as owner-breeders we are trying to invest in new blood for the farm and something like her to come and breed for us is a long-term plan and an investment in the future. We are over the moon.

“It was a little bit more than we were initially going to pay, but it is so competitive and you go so far selecting the ones you like. If the foals are as good-looking and as athletic as she is well then we will be happy. It was nice to see the mum sell yesterday and she is producing very nice foals, and she will help us too.”

Consignor Jenny Norris was responsible for one of the biggest transactions in Tattersalls history when selling the G1 Oaks winner Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) for 4 million gns (AU$7,157,500) nine years ago and, having led the opening session with Archangel Gabriel at 800,000gns (AU$1,431,500), followed up with her daughter.

She said, “It has been amazing, we had so many views, and all the right people are here. All credit to Hunscote Stud, they bred her and raced her and had the courage of their convictions, and she has rewarded their efforts.”

Hunscote's Andy Lloyd added, “Our plan was to buy (out partner Chris Humber for) her mum, and we did. We knew there was phenomenal interest in the daughter from all over the world. I never dreamt in my wildest dreams but, hey, it's the market place at the moment. We had Japanese vetting, Americans, French, English.

“I'm sure Trevor will have big mating plans, which will only help our family.”

Derby winner's dam joins Coolmore

It is a rare moment that the dam of the current year's G1 Derby winner comes up for public auction, and rarer still that she is carrying a full sibling to the Classic hero.

Breeder Gary Robinson of Strawberry Fields Stud decided the time was right to offer Desert Berry (GB) (Green Desert {USA}) in foal to Nathaniel (Ire), the sire of her most illustrious offspring Desert Crown (GB). It is perhaps fitting that the breeding operation which has done more than most to support the Derby in recent years stepped forward to buy the 13-year-old mare, with M.V. Magnier going to 1.9 million gns (AU$3,555,300).

Desert Berry is also the dam of Hong Kong Group 3 winner Archie McKellar (GB) (Archipenko {USA}), as well as his sister Rose Berry (GB), who has been retained by Robinson and is now also in foal to Nathaniel.

Magnier said of the mare, “At the end of the day she has bred a Derby winner, and from my point of view, which doesn't mean it's the right point of view, the Derby is everything. It's the most important stallion-making race. It's the holy grail, the greatest race. She's bred a Derby winner and she's carrying a sibling to the Derby winner.”

On next year's potential mating, he added, “There are plenty of options for her: she could go to any of the sons of Galileo, to Churchill or Australia.”

King and Queen snapped up by Northern Farm

The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) confirmed herself one of the fastest 2-year-olds to grace the turf when storming to G1 Prix de l'Abbaye glory at Longchamp this term and that performance clearly earned international recognition as she was bought by Katsumi Yoshida for 1,200,000gns (AU$2,245,400).

The Tally Ho-bred filly carried the Middleham Park Racing colours with great distinction for Richard Fahey this season, winning four times, including that memorable French triumph, and while she was purchased by Northern Farm in Japan, there is a chance she could carry on racing in Europe next season.

King's Harlequin (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a Group 3 and Listed winner in France as a juvenile for Sam Sangster and Nicolas Clement, joins The Platinum Queen in being Japan-bound with Yoshida's Northern Farm signing for the mare at 600,000gns (AU$1,122,700).

Normandie Stud's au revoir

Phillipa Cooper insisted that there were no regrets after seeing her hugely successful broodmare disbanded for over 4 million gns (AU$7,484,800) and revealed that the Normandie Stud dispersal was made easier by the fact that the majority of the mares were sold to friends.

Godolphin went to 1,400,000gns (AU$2,619,700) to secure Love Is You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a daughter of Cooper's high-class Fallen for You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who is in foal to Coolmore Stud shuttler St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and highlighted the Normandie Stud draft.

All told, Cooper sold 16 mares for a total of 4,265,000gns (AU$7,484,800), and speaking afterwards, said, “It is tinged with emotion but they have all been bought by friends which is so nice. It is bittersweet but the decision was made six months ago and it was the right decision. I have no regrets.”

Cooper added, “I have only got two older mares left. I don't sell them beyond the age of 12. I have a few horses left to run but that's it. I don't want to breed anymore; it's too expensive.”

Twomey's fillies fetch a million apiece

Paddy Twomey's Group 1 winner La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) and Group 1-placed Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) sold for 1,000,000gns (AU$1,871,200) apiece with the leading Irish trainer selling four fillies and mares for a total of 2,480,000gns (AU$4,640,600) under Athassel House Stud.

La Petite Coco gained her Group 1 victory when landing the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh this season while Rosscarbery, controversially demoted from third in that same race when her rider Wayne Lordan weighed in light due to a error on behalf of the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board, went on to finish second in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet.

Rosscarbery was snapped up by Charlie Gordon Watson Bloodstock while La Petite Coco was bought by the Wertheimer family.