Trade stepped up a level at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in Newmarket
on Thursday with John Ferguson stealing the show when spending 400,000 guineas on a
colt by Oasis Dream (GB) out of King’s Stand S. (Eng-G2) winner
Dominica (Alhaarth). Consigned by Stowell Hill Stud, Lot No. 1013, who
was purchased as a racing prospect for Sheikh Mohammed, was bred by Bob McCreery
in partnership with Bobby and Helen Kennard.
Among the underbidders on the colt
were Gay O’Callaghan; Paul McCartan of Croom House Stud; Charlie Vigors and
Timmy Hyde; Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Oasis Dream’s owner/breeder
Khalid Abdulla; and finally BBA Ireland’s Adrian Nicoll.
“He’s an outstanding
individual by a proven sire out of a mare that won the King’s Stand S.,” said
Ferguson. “It’s developing into a really classy speed family.”
McCreery’s
Stowell Hill Stud enjoyed a vintage day, also seeking a 200,000gns colt by
Dansili (GB) out of Bandanna (Bandmaster). Purchased on behalf of breeder Rosanne
Dobson, the colt is a half-brother to Gary Moore’s winning juvenile Art Sale
(Compton Place). Pinhooker Willie Browne fought off Paul McCartan, manager
of Denis Brosnan’s Croom House Stud, for Lot 1010.
“That’s the most I’ve ever
given for a foal, but he was a beautiful horse,” Browne explained. “He’ll come
back here, and I think with the way the economy is going, you are going to be
safer with the dearer horses because the big money is never really dangerous,
the middle-to-bottom end is going to be much riskier.”
Lot 1065, a 125,000gns
full-brother to promising juvenile Oarsman by Selkirk out of Felucca
(Green Desert) will be reoffered from Brendan Holland’s Co. Cork-based Grove Stud next
year.
“He’s got a good pedigree and is a horse with a lot of quality and the
full-brother looks very promising,” said Holland. “He’s the fourth I’ve got here
and if I can get another couple that will do for me, I also got six in America
and one at Goffs last week.”
Heading the fillies was Lot 1067, a daughter of
first crop sire Oratorio (Ire) out of Sewards Folly (Rudimentary) who is a half-sister to
Cornwallis S. (Eng-G2) winner Hunter Street (GB) (Compton Place). Bred by Crandon Park
Stud, the filly sold for 130,000gns to a client of Emerald Bloodstock’s Brendan
Gallagher.
The sale continues Thursday. For complete results please visit
www.tattersalls.com.