Demi O’Byrne, acting for Coolmore partners John Magnier, Michael Tabor and
Derrick Smith, set a record at Monday’s Tattersalls December Yearling Sale in Newmarket, going to
700,000 guineas for a filly by Dalakhani.
Offered in the Britton
House Stud dispersal, the bay is a half-sister to Prix
Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) and to Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare
Turf (G1) second L’Ancresse (Ire).
“She was a very good mover and
quite like L’Ancresse to look at,” O’Byrne said. “I’d be
disappointed if she’s not a stakes winner and I’d say she’ll more
than likely be going to Aidan O’Brien.”
Grant Pritchard-Gordon,
accompanied by owner Paul Makin, went past 500,000gns, but
O’Byrne’s final opposition came from agent Brian Grassick.
The
Coolmore agent earlier equaled the December Yearling Sale record
price of 360,000gns when buying a colt by Dalakhani out of Lurina (Lure) offered for Shirley
Taylor’s W Lazy T Ranch from Brian Grassick’s Newtown Stud.
“He was a great mover, a great looker and it’s a very good pedigree,” said
O’Byrne after outbidding trainer John Gosden. “The dam’s by Lure and I loved
that.”
After a roaring foal trade at Goffs last week, a strong market
is anticipated at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, which
begins Tuesday morning.
The sale has been expanded to
five days for the first time, with the catalog graded to improve as the week
progresses. The
dispersal from Roger Baines’ nursery features a handful of
choicely bred foals selling Friday.
Lot 1247 is a Sadler’s Wells
half-brother to Monday’s 700,000gns topper, while Lot 1144, a Pivotal half-sister to Prix du Moulin
(Fr-G1) winner Grey Lilas, is
sure to appeal to those looking for a long-term breeding
prospect.
Top sires represented include Barathea (Ire), Danehill
Dancer, Dansili (GB), Elusive Quality, Fusaichi Pegasus,
Galileo (Ire), Giant’s Causeway, Hennessy, Invincible Spirit, Johannesburg, Linamix, Montjeu (Ire), Mr. Greeley,
Peintre Celebre, Sadler’s Wells, Selkirk and Tale of the Cat.
“The Tattersalls December Sale started on a high note with a record
yearling session and would hope that the momentum and strength of earlier
yearling sales will carry forward to the Foal Sale,” Tattersalls Marketing Manager Jason Singh
said. “Vendors
have provided us with another quality catalog highlighted by
five foals that form part of the Britton House Stud dispersal and
we look forward to a brisk and lively trade.”
The sale runs
through Saturday.