Along with some of the major farms in Ireland–your Glenvales, Camas Parks, Barodas, Tally-Hos, Ballylinches and more–Philip Stauffenberg is here. Consigning at the Orby Sale for the first time, Stauffenberg Bloodstock will offer the Kingman (GB) half-brother to Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy), who lit up the foal sales here in November when selling to the German native for €550,000. 

But it's not all about the Kingman colt. Stauffenberg will also offer a Masar (Ire) filly out of his beloved mare Frangipani (Ger), producer of the brilliant German Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). 

Already named Fire And Ice (Ger), the presence of that Masar filly and the Kingman colt, along with the Sottsass (Fr) filly Stauffenberg has brought to the Orby, can be viewed as a major vote of confidence to Goffs. 

As far as Stauffenberg is concerned, he has no doubt that, given the right horses, Goffs is as equipped as anyone at selling yearlings of the highest standard. 

Speaking alongside his wife Marion at their base in Barn C, he said, “Our connection with Goffs goes back many years and we have been very lucky here. It was a special wish of Marion's to bring the sister to Fantastic Moon here. The family has been wonderful to us and Marion said that, if the filly is to go to a sale, then it would be at Goffs. They have proven they can sell the horses when they get the right ammunition.”

Marion Stauffenberg added, “I know Goffs very well and I love it here. I have bought my best horses here and have sold very good horses here through Eimear Mulhern. I have just spoken to two agents and they have said that the quality of the horses here is really up.”

Beeby shared that the feedback he was receiving from the buyers and sellers on the ground to be similarly positive, which is good, given he went on to explain how he couldn't remember a stronger book of yearlings assembled for the Orby Sale in over four decades working for the company.

He said, “When you get somebody like Philip Stauffenberg coming here for the first time, and coming here with his best horse, that's a huge vote of confidence. It's a huge trust but it's also a huge responsibility. Then there's Dermot Cantillon of Tinnakill House with his Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to State Of Rest (Ire). He's here with the best horse he's ever bred–by his own admission. 

“You've also got the sister to Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) from Ballylinch Stud belonging to the China Horse Club and they've also chosen Goffs. Those are only three horses and, on paper, it's as good an Orby Sale that I can remember. All of that is for better judges than me to say but the feedback has been very, very consistent that we have assembled a solid bunch of horses.”

“The most exciting pedigree in the catalogue is matched by the physical,” – Jeremy Brummit

Beeby added, “It's hard not to keep coming out with the same things on the eve of a sale; you hope for the best and all of that kind of stuff. But, the closer you get to a sale, you do twitch because I do genuinely feel the responsibility. 

“For those two, two-and-a-half minutes, we are handling what could decide some people's year, or maybe even longer. We know there are alternatives and that people could say, 'well, why haven't you gone to other places to sell your horse.' That's a reasonable thing to say. But that's what makes the market in Britain and Ireland so vibrant, that there is strong competition between the sales companies. It's a big deal for us to get the big horses and we take it very seriously.”

And the Orby is jam-packed full of serious horses. The second lot into the ring on Tuesday is an American Pharoah half-sister to Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Lot 8 is a Kodiac (GB) half-brother to The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), 12 a Wootton Bassett (GB) filly out of a sister to Saxon Warrior (Jpn), 16 a brother to California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) while lot 27 is another who has the potential of hitting the heights early on in the session by being a Wootton Bassett filly out of a sister to Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

There are big-ticket lots right throughout the catalogue. From Stauffenberg's duo to the Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) [48] from Tinnakill House and Ballylinch Stud's sister to Saffron Beach [356], there are countless potential headline-makers in the sale. There are also plenty more bubbling with intrigue. 

The Night Of Thunder (Ire) half-sister to Lucky Vega (Ire) [37], Staffordstown's Sea The Moon (Ger) half-brother to Sandrine (GB) [78], the Mehmas (Ire) half-brother to River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett) [150] and the Camelot (GB) half-brother to Poetic Flare (GB) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) [500] could also make waves.

Jeremy Brummit | Goffs

But for esteemed bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummit, there was little doubt in his head about what the best horse he'd seen on the sale ground during inspections was. 

“The most exciting pedigree in the catalogue is matched by the physical,” he said of Saffron Beach's sister, before adding, “it's rare that happens.” Brummit went on to describe the quality of the Orby Sale to be on the rise year after year, to which Beeby later attributed to the confidence placed in the sales house by the Irish breeders. 

He explained, “It's a credit to the Irish breeders. We have very directly said to a whole range of Irish breeders that we are the Irish national yearling sale. Everything is set up right. We have put our heart and soul into it-money, time and effort-and have expanded our team. For example, our recruitment team is significantly bigger than what it was a few years ago. But we can't do it without the horses and, if people back us, we can deliver. Thankfully, we've had a good run in the sales ring and on the racetrack.”

Beeby added, “Success breeds success but it also breeds confidence. It's all down to the breeders. I'm part of the team that goes around looking at the horses and every year we are getting a greater share of the top-tier yearlings in Ireland. I really believe that and, similarly to what Jeremy said, a lot of key figures have come up to me over the past few days to say that we have assembled a better bunch of horses again. When you put all of that together with the number of people on the ground, you would have to be very hopeful of a good sale.

“It's like the old Avis advert from years ago, 'when you are number two you try harder.' We know where we are and we know what we have to do and how we can do better. We are always reaching and striving to be better. We have an ambitious team of people here at Goffs. This is my 41st year in this business and I love it.”

One of the major subplots to the Orby Sale in recent years has been the strength of the American buyers and, with familiar faces like Ben McElroy and first-time visitors like Phillip Shelton of Medallion Racing on the ground, that presence is expected to be as strong as ever this week.

Beeby said, “Jacob West [American agent for Goffs] has been an outstanding appointment for us. Tom Taaffe and Hayley O'Connor have also been out to America quite regularly and got around to everybody to promote the sale. Success breeds success and people keep coming back. Happily, the people who have travelled over from America in recent years have spread the word about the sale. We've invested a lot of time and resources in making sure that they are looked after and they play a huge role in this sale.”

Few trainers have exemplified the value on offer at the Goffs Orby Sale quite like Paddy Twomey has in recent times. Twomey ripped up the playbook in sending out One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to win the Goffs Million by a scorching six lengths on debut at the Curragh on Saturday. 

The Golden-based trainer shared how, along with One Look, Leopardstown maiden winner Juxtaposition (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was picked up out of this sale by Kevin Connolly and Cormac McCormack for just €150,000 combined 12 months ago. The pair are worth a whole pile more 12 months on.

Twomey said, “I had never met Kevin before this sale last year. He bought two horses, Juxtaposition, who won the first mile maiden of the year at Leopardstown, and who has since been sold to Hong Kong. The other one was One Look, who won the Million on debut. It was through Cormac McCormack that I was introduced to him and he asked me to train them for him. The Connollys are a very famous racing family and Kevin trained in China, Macau and Australia.”

He added, “We turn up to all of the yearling sales and try to find the horses we'd like to train and buy them at the best value we can. Sales is something I have been around all my life and I have been lucky at Goffs. The job is to try and find the next ones this week.”

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The Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained colt could encounter last year's returning G1 Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in what is shaping up into a mouthwatering renewal of the 10-furlong race.

Chapple-Hyam said: “Claymore is going for the Brigadier Gerard. He just got very jarred up at York. We got him ready to run at the Arc meeting and then it went bog-soft everywhere. It went from one extreme to the other, so we decided to pull the pin and have a lovely 4-year-old for this year.”

Should all go well at Sandown, Chapple-Hyam will likely return to Ascot and raised the possibility of an Arc bid.

“We will see what we do in the Brigadier Gerard, but he is in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot and I don't know, is he a 50-1 shot for the Arc?

“The entries were on Tuesday and we've put him in–there's no harm. You just don't know if he'll make the cut, but better to be there than having to supplement.”

In other news from the yard, the full-brother to Chapple-Hyam's Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who was sold for 3.6 million guineas at the end of last season, arrived with the Newmarket handler on Tuesday morning.

Granger Bay (Ire), who fetched €450,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale, will run in the colours of Fiona Carmichael, having been in pre-training with Malcolm Bastard.

“I am a very lucky lady to be given the honour to train him,” said Chapple-Hyam. “He was bought from the Goffs sales and sent to Malcolm to be broken in.

“We felt we didn't want to rush him into a training yard in January or February as is the normal time slot, we said wait until after the Guineas, so he arrived on Tuesday morning.

“Fiona also has Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) and Aplomb (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the yard. It was really nice to get the call and I'm very happy with the squad I've got this year.”

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Saffron Beach had been earmarked for a tilt at the G1 Saudi Cup after selling to Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz's Najd Stud for 3.6 million at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

However, it was confirmed on Tuesday that the six-time winner, who recorded just shy of £1 million in career-earnings, would embark on a new career as a broodmare rather than take on the Saudi Cup challenge after an unsatisfactory scope.

Runner-up to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 1000 Guineas in 2021, Saffron Beach broke her Group 1 duck when accounting for that rival in the Sun Chariot S. back at Newmarket in October of that same season.

The second of her top-level triumphs came in the Prix Rothschild last summer, where Saffron Beach accounted for a classy field to win in comfortable fashion under William Buick.

Chapple-Hyam tweeted of the daughter of the winning Falling Petals (Ire) (Raven's Pass), “After a routine scope that was unsatisfactory for travel to the Saudi Cup, Saffron Beach has been retired from racing and will now visit Frankel at Juddmonte Farms.

“I wish to think Prince Faisal Bin Khaled and his team for entrusting me with her training and wish her all the best for her breeding career.”

Continua, a Raven's Pass half-sister to Falling Petals is the dam of Group 3 winner and rising sire star Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

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Mahony has described 2022 as the year where every expectation was exceeded and, speaking at the end of the December Mares Sale where over 80 million gns went through the Tattersalls tills, headlined by 5.4 million gns purchase Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), he paid tribute to all key stakeholders for playing a part in the roaring trade.

Mahony said, “Every so often we experience sales at Tattersalls which defy all expectations, but in 2022 it is probably fair to say that each successive sale here at Park Paddocks has achieved levels of trade which even the most optimistic observers would have deemed unlikely, culminating in a Tattersalls December Mares Sale which at times has been truly astonishing.”

The 80,831,200gns traded at Tattersalls this week represents a 30% rise on last year's figure. The average rose by 48% to 117,147gns, the median jumped 23% to 32,000gns and the clearance rate stayed the same at 82%.

But the major success story to emerge from the sale was the strength of the inaugural Sceptre Sessions which accounted for over half of the turnover with 71 lots selling for a combined total of 45,907,000gns.

Mahony commented, “There can be no doubt that the eagerly anticipated inaugural Sceptre Sessions have added a new dimension to what was already Europe's premier sale of breeding stock. When we launched the Sceptre Sessions back in the summer our goal was to create a format which would allow us to showcase elite fillies and mares to the global audience which defines the Tattersalls December Sale. The response from breeders and consignors to the new initiative was overwhelmingly positive, and this was widely recognised as an exceptional catalogue, but we could not have predicted the extraordinary atmosphere which enveloped Park Paddocks throughout a sale which has seen the record books completely rewritten.”

A staggering 11 fillies and mares sold for seven figures at Tattersalls in a week where BBA Ireland dominated by snapping up 39 lots for 14,567,000gns. Featuring among the haul was the overall top lot Alcohol Free while BBA Ireland also paid 1,000,000gns for Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

Mahony reflected, “Turnover, average and median have all soared past the previous record levels and to see the packed sale ring as the succession of outstanding fillies and mares took to the stage will live long in the memories of all those present. The huge number of overseas buyers here at Park Paddocks for the duration of the December Sale reflects the incredible support we have received from the vendors who entrusted us with such an illustrious cast of race fillies and broodmares. Every one of the 11 fillies and mares who sold for one million guineas or more was special and the 5.4 million gns sale of the gorgeous Alcohol Free was not only the highest auction price in the world this year for a filly in training, but also a wonderful reward for her owner Jeff Smith, her trainer Andrew Balding and all associated with one of the great race fillies of recent years. We all look forward to seeing Alcohol Free race on in Australia and to dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach, who sold for 3.6 million guineas, who looks set to target the $20-million [G1] Saudi Cup in February.”

He added, “While the individual highlights will leave lasting memories, we must express our deep gratitude to all who have made 2022 such an extraordinary year at Tattersalls. Sale after sale has attracted buyers from all over the world in overwhelming numbers, and we are enormously grateful for the support we receive from purchasers and vendors alike, all of whom have contributed to a year which has seen our annual turnover exceed 400 million gns, comfortably exceeding the previous high of 331 million guineas set in 2017. These remarkable figures are a massive tribute to the professionalism and commitment of all involved in the bloodstock industry in Britain, Ireland, France and further afield. It is their consistent support which makes Newmarket such a focal point of the global bloodstock industry and makes the uniquely international Tattersalls December Sale the pre-eminent sale of its type in Europe.”

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NEWMARKET, UK–Widely tipped for the top, Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) duly shone brightest in a galaxy of stars on display at Park Paddocks, bringing the second-highest price ever recorded at a European auction when the hammer fell at 5.4 million gns.

Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments, acting through BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, has flexed some serious fiscal muscle at the breeding stock sales this season and that reached a new high at Tattersalls on Tuesday when Donohoe outlasted Coolmore's MV Magnier in the race for the four-time Group 1 winner. The four-year-old Alcohol Free, who is set to race on in Australia, led the operation's mammoth haul.

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, with Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) sold to Najd Stud for 3.6 million gns, and Godolphin picking up Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for 2.7 million gns 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 was up by 29% on last year, with the average shooting up by 50% to 281,276gns, and the median by 7% to 112,500gns. A clearance rate of 83% 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 for 71 sold at an average of 646,577gns. 

Donohoe, confirming that Alcohol Free would remain in training for a partnership, said, “She vetted extremely well for a filly who has plenty of miles on the clock, her reports were exemplary. The partners already have horses in training and breeding interests in Australia and obviously she'll make a fantastic broodmare at the end of her racing career. 

“I think there's 87 races in Australia next year worth a million-plus, so the prize-money on offer there is big, and she's that type of filly. She's won the July Cup over six furlongs then she stays a mile too so there'll be a lot of options for her. Fair play to Andrew Balding and the guys, they did a great job with her.”

He added, “I bought the dam last year for Yulong Investments at Goffs and she's got a lovely Lope De Vega foal at foot and she's back in foal to Lucky Vega.

“It's impossible to value those blue-chip fillies off the track, they're collectors' items because they don't come on the market very often. They're like Picassos, they're a rare commodity. I had a figure in my head though and I was bidding pretty strongly, so that might've indicated I had some petrol left in the tank.”

Bred by Churchtown House Stud, Alcohol Free was a rare non-homebred to race in the famous colours of Jeff Smith of Littleton Stud, who has campaigned such great names as Lochsong (GB), Arabian Queen (GB) and Persian Punch (Ire) during his long association with the turf. Littleton Stud manager David Bowe selected the daughter of No Nay Never and the Hard Spun mare Plying at the Goffs November Sale of 2018, signing for her at €40,000.

He said, “It's the end of a wonderful, wonderful journey that we have been on, a wonderful dream. 

“She walked in and looked beautiful. If it had been five years earlier with Jeff we might not have brought her to the sale ring. We have enough broodmares, she was not bred by us, but it is really to do with the timescale. She will make a beautiful mare in time and it is time for someone else.”

Bowe continued, “We have had so much luck. Everyone involved with her, the team at home on the farm, the Gaffneys whom we bought her from, all of her jockeys. I can't thank everyone enough.

“It has been emotional. Jeff is not here tonight, but it is all down to him: he let us buy her, let us all get involved in the whole dream. I am absolutely delighted, it is a beautiful end to our chapter, and we wish her new connections all the luck.”

Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) was the first filly to break the million mark and, like Alcohol Free, was snapped up by the BBA Ireland to head down under.

The Prix Marcel Boussac-runner up was trained by Jim Bolger and consigned by his grand-daughter Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud who described the filly as the “highest-profile horse” she has ever sold.

The 29-year-old said, “In one sense I'm not surprised that she made what she did but, in another, for her to go in there and make 1,000,000gns, it's unbelievable. Things like this don't happen too often. Everything just fell into place and it all went to plan.”

Manning added, “I was talking to Grandad. I said 'well done,' but he told me to go and congratulate the people who foaled her and all the team at Ennistown Stud, not him. Everyone played a part and we're all delighted. How could you not be?

“I spoke to Michael Donohoe briefly as he was running back into the ring. I don't know where she will go back into training but I hope she is very lucky wherever she goes. She is a Classic prospect and we are looking forward to following her career wherever she goes. I hope she is as lucky for him as she was for us.”

Donohoe, who purchased over 30 fillies and mares this week, described the catalogue as being exceptionally strong as well as explaining why he feels Gan Teorainn is a good fit for racing in Australia.

He said, “Gan Teorainn is going to Australia as well. She's a big two-year-old and what she did this year is extraordinary for a big filly. Again, she vetted exceptionally well and we'll give her a little bit of time to acclimatise in Australia. We'll decide on a trainer after that and she's for the same syndicate of people who bought Alcohol Free.”

He added, “Saxon Warrior has the makings of becoming a top-class Classic-type sire. He had a lot of maiden winners towards the back end of the season and they are hard to win. She is going to be a lovely miler, maybe even a mile-and-a-quarter filly in time, and she has a lovely pedigree as well so she should make a broodmare. We're delighted to get her as well. It's been an exceptional catalogue. It's rare that you get a catalogue so strong.”

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 for the dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}). Like top lot Alcohol Free, the four-year-old will remain in training, and she will stay in Newmarket with Jane Chapple-Hyam to be prepared for the $20 million 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, 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 1,000 Guineas.

Lucy Sangster, who raced Saffron Beach with her son Ollie and James Wigan, added, “We've had just the best time ever. She's amazing. We've had a journey, from a foal and keeping her, to this. It's a story that has involved all of our family. When we broke her in at home during Covid our daughter Eliza rode her hunter alongside her. Our son Ollie owned a share and Jane is a family member too so it has been a great story for all of us.”

Tranquil Lady to Godolphin

It has been quite the year for the Quiet American mare Repose, 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) (Straspangledbanner {Aus}) added the G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Prince of Wales's S. to his 2021 victories in the G1 Cox Plate and GI Saratoga Derby, while his year-younger half-sister  Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}) won two Group 3 races and brought the curtain down on her season by selling for 2.7 million gns to Godolphin at Tattersalls on Tuesday. 

Richard Ryan bought Tranquil Lady for £160,000 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 three-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 (Arch) topped the opening session of the December Mares Sale, her Group 3-winning daughter Ville De Grace (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), bred by Hunscote Stud and Chris Humber, fetched 2 million gns 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 Oaks winner Dancing Rain for 4 million gns nine years ago and, having led the opening session with Archangel Gabriel at 800,000gns, 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 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) 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 MV Magnier going to 1.9 million gns. 

Desert Berry is also the dam of Hong Kong Group 3 winner Archie McKellar (GB) (Archipenko), as well as his full-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 full-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.”

In celebratory mood, Newmarket-based Robinson said, “Merry Christmas! We are going to have a good party in a minute, job done.

“Definitely it is a problem losing one like that, but we have all the family back at home. It's a bit  like losing a beautiful woman, they leave you, but she has left me with her children.”

That brood includes a two-year-old filly by Al Kazeem (GB), a yearling colt from the first crop of Study Of Man (Ire), and a weanling full-brother to Desert Crown.

Robinson said, “The full-brother is very similar to Desert Crown, spot on, same character. She is a good mare, she teaches that character, she's an individual. That's what we all want to see.”

King And Queen Snapped Up By Northern Farm 

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

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. 

Normandie Stud's Au Revoir 

Phillipa Cooper insisted that there were no regrets after seeing her hugely successful broodmare disbanded for over four million gns 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 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 St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and highlighted the Normandie Stud draft. 

All told, Cooper sold 16 mares for a total of 4,265,000, 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 apiece with the leading Irish trainer selling four fillies and mares for a total of 2,480,000gns under Athassel House Stud. 

La Petite Coco gained her Group 1 victory when landing the 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. 

Twomey also sold Show Of Stars (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) for 300,000gns to Clarke Bloodstock/Sheralee Estate while Tally-Ho Stud bought Limit Di Greccio (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) for 180,000gns. 

Prosperous Business

The four-year-old Thar She Blows (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) never made it to the racecourse but she has been dealt a significant update this year by her Group 1-winning sister Prosperous Voyage, and with an early cover by No Nay Never, the young descendant of Best In Show provided an early highlight ahead of the second Sceptre Session. 

Sold to Mags O'Toole on behalf of the O'Leary family's Plantation Stud for 400,000gns, Thar She Blows, out of the Juddmonte-bred Mizzen Mast mare Seatone, is also a half-sister to the stakes-placed Romanesque (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and to the juvenile Tenerife (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is in training with Aidan O'Brien.

Magic Result For Duffy

You would think that with all of the glitz and glamour that went with the Sceptre Session later in the evening, there would be no place for a rags-to-riches story to emerge at Tattersalls but Magic Chegaga fitted that bill when knocked down to Yeomanstown Stud for 185,000gns early in the day. 

Picked up by small-time trainer Brian Duffy for €12,500 out of Dermot Weld's stable at the Goffs February online sale last year, the Moyglare Stud-bred daughter of Teofilo (Ire) climbed through ranks for her new connections in Ireland. 

Magic Chegega was rated just 70 by the time Duffy got his hands on her but she improved 27lbs for the trainer and bagged valuable black-type when second in the Group 3 Snow Fairy S. at the Curragh in August before selling for six figures on Tuesday. 

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What a journey it has been for team Saffron Beach. She has been bought by Najd Stud and she was consigned by @JaneChappleHyam. Her rider Abbie and Ollie led her up at #TattsDecember pic.twitter.com/zsm0AmXfyS

— TDN (@theTDN) November 29, 2022

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The Monday and particularly the Tuesday evening sessions of the mares' sale are always frenetic and this year Tattersalls has branded a portion of those days as the Sceptre Sessions, for which an elite collections of fillies and mares have been gathered. That star-studded focus aside, there is still strength in depth to be found across the four days of that catalogue, not to mention two significant warm-up acts in the December Yearling Sale which kickstarts the December-in-November action this Monday, followed by four days of foal action from Wednesday to Saturday.

Last Chance For A Yearling

A last chance to buy a yearling at auction in Europe is provided when around 160 youngsters take to the ring for Monday's solo session. Britain's leading sires Dubawi (Ire) and Frankel (GB) hogged the limelight during Book 1 of the October Sale, and while they are sparsely represented here, there are still yearlings to note, including lot 31, the Dubawi daughter of the Wildenstein-bred G1 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), and lot 154, Shadwell's colt out of the listed winner and G2 Rockwell S. runner-up Fadhayyil (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) who has already produced Australian Group 2 winner Turaath (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Frankel meanwhile features towards the end of the session as the sire of lot 178, from Glenvale Stud, the half-brother to Group 3 winners Peace Envoy (Fr) (Power {GB}) and Our Last Summer (Ire) (Zamindar).

A quartet of yearlings by Invincible Spirit (Ire) features the Voute Sales-consigned half-sister to recent juvenile winner Bedazzling (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Offered as lot 43, she is inbred 3×3 to Invincible Spirit's granddam Eljazzi (GB) (Artaius), while Norris Bloodstock offers lot 112, an Invincible Spirit colt out of the young Frankel mare Aspirer (GB), a Juddmonte-bred daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) from the family of this year's G1 Irish Derby winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Not Just a Pinhookers' Paradise

Tuesday may be considered a dark day at Tattersalls, but it is only in the ring itself that the lights will be out. Around the grounds prospective foal buyers will be hard at it before daylight has even appeared as they assess those on offer during the four sessions of weanlings, with the strongest pedigrees slated for Friday.

Many opinions will already have been formed during a strong opener to the foal sales season at Goffs last week, and this is especially so when it comes to the first glimpses of the stock of the new sires.

Among those already finding favour with buyers at Goffs was the Darley duo of Ghaiyyath (Ire) and Earthlight (Ire), sons of the operation's flagship sires Dubawi and Shamardal, respectively. Former Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath has another 14 on offer at Tattersalls, including lot 685 from Yellowford Farm who is interestingly inbred to Dubai Millennium's dam Colorado Dancer (GB) (Shareef Dancer).

Last year's December Foal Sale was responsible for the highest price for a European weanling for the last 20 years when Genesis Green Stud's Dubawi colt out of Madonna Dell'Orto (GB) was sold for 1.8 million gns. The year prior to that Dubawi had featured as the sire of three of the four top lots but in among them was a Frankel colt from the Dutch Art (GB) mare Suelita (GB) offered by his breeder Whitsbury Manor Stud. Back then he was already a half-brother to juvenile Group 2 winner Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), but boy look at him now. Bought for 550,000gns by Juddmonte, named Chaldean (GB), and sent into training with Andrew Balding, the colt is now one of the best in his generation in Europe as the winner of four of his five starts this year including the G1 Dewhurst, G2 Champagne and G3 Acomb S.

This year Whitsbury Manor returns with his half-brother, slated as lot 1025 and by Kingman (GB), who provided the top three lots at the Goffs November Foal Sale, but he is far from the only weanling with enticing updates this year as there are also half-siblings to two of this season's British Classic winners on offer. Kirsten Rausing's St Simon Stud offers a Lope De Vega (Ire) half-brother to G1 St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) as lot 1027, while breeder John Bourke of Hyde Park Stud brings a Mehmas (Ire) half-brother to the G1 1000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) who has been catalogued as lot 1033 in what is bound to be a hectic Friday session.

“Obviously the foal sale is the primary target of the pinhookers, but it's a sale that has had a huge amount of success on the racecourse this year with the likes of Chaldean, Saffron Beach (Ire) and Blackbeard (Ire),” said Tattersalls' marketing director Jimmy George. “And I think, again, it reflects how lucky we are to have the stallions that we have at our disposal at the moment, and I don't think that goes unnoticed. I think with the way the yearling market has gone, the strength of the October yearling sales, which defied gravity to a degree, that gives a great backdrop with which to go into the December Foal Sale.”

Western Super Mares

As if the aforementioned mares weren't enough to whet the appetite for four days of trade for breeding prospects, since the catalogue was published some extra big names have been added, including Group 1 winners The Platinum Queen (Ire) and Princess Zoe (Ger). Five years ago the crack sprinter Marsha (Ire) set a new European thoroughbred auction record when selling from Heath House Stables for 6 million gns. Whether that record will be bettered next Monday or Tuesday remains to be seen, but it seems likely, during a run of strong sales around the world, that at least one mare or filly will come close.

“We've got six Group 1-winning race fillies in what is a very strong December Mares catalogue,” George said. “We announced the Sceptre Sessions back in the summer this year. It's clearly struck a chord, the support has been fantastic, and it's great to see the quality of the fillies and mares that have been earmarked for the Sceptre Sessions by the consignors.

“But they're not alone in terms of quality offerings, because there's a plethora of Group 2, Group 3, and stakes-winning fillies as well, and of course a huge number of well-covered, very well-bred mares. It's fantastic to have this sort of quality when we are launching something like the Sceptre Sessions, which are named in tribute to one of the most remarkable race fillies ever, who also had a rich Tattersalls history herself, as a record-breaking yearling way back in the mists of time.”

Among the mares in foal to be offered during the Sceptre Sessions, which collectively number around 90 individuals, is High Heels (Ire), a young stakes-placed daughter of Galileo (Ire) who is in foal for the first time to Siyouni (Fr), representing a cross that has been utilised with notable success in recent years. The 4-year-old is slated as lot 1868 from the Castlebridge Consignment.

In the same Tuesday evening session, Tweenhills Stud, which is selling a bumper draft of 44 mares, offers Qatar Racing's G1 St Leger and G1 QIPCO Champion Fillies and Mares S. winner Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), who is in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) on a May 3 cover and is in the book as lot 1886. There is also a decent draft of 18 fillies and mares from The Royal Studs, and while it is not an uncommon name to find on the list of consignors, there is extra poignancy to their presence in the months immediately following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

George continued, “I think we've got some real collectors' items in the catalogue this year and there's been a huge amount of interest from throughout the world ever since we released details of some of the stars that were coming to the sale. It's for a good reason, because the Tattersalls December Mares Sale is widely regarded as the most international sale of its type in the world, and you'd expect a very international crew to descend upon Newmarket in the coming days.”

Dispersals are fairly regular features of the December Sale and this year Philippa Cooper will disperse the stock of her successful Normandie Stud through Newsells Park Stud, with six mares forming part of the second Sceptre Session, including the G3 Prix de Flore winner Loving Things (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who is offered as lot 1899 in foal to Sea The Stars (Ire).

Poignantly, a partial dispersal is being conducted through New England Stud and Freemason Lodge on behalf of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's Southcourt Stud. Sir Evelyn, the breeder of a host of good horses topped by Horse of the Year Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), died on Nov. 7 at the age of 91.

“We've got two smallish, but nonetheless very good dispersals,” George noted. “It is with sadness that we offer the dispersal from Southcourt Stud, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's famous nursery. Dispersals are always tinged with sadness, and obviously, with his recent death, it is now even more so. But these families pay a tribute to decades of breeding top-class horses. The great Crystal Ocean, arguably the best horse Sir Evelyn ever bred, will be fresh in everybody's minds as some of these wonderful fillies and mares from his family go through the ring.”

A number of chances to buy into Southcourt's successful 'Crystal' family are presented through the sale, including through an enticing in-training prospect, Crystal Caprice (Ire), a daughter of Frankel (GB) with three wins, listed black type and a rating of 101 to her name. The 3-year-old is catalogued as lot 1895 by her trainer Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge.

In anticipation of nine days of trade at Tattersalls in the coming fortnight, George concluded, “It has been a spectacular year at Park Paddocks so far and in terms of the strength of the respective catalogues–December Yearlings, December Foals and December Mares–I think we've got all the ingredients to bring the Tattersalls sale season to a fitting close.”

The December Sale action begins on Monday with the yearlings from 11 a.m.

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Four times she was entered for a sale as a young horse. She made the first of those engagements, no problem, when she was sold by Ballylinch Stud at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale on behalf of her breeder China Horse Club. Liam Norris, a man with a noted eye for foals, signed for her at 55,000gns, bought for a partnership headed by Ben Sangster, with the intention of bringing the New Bay filly back to the yearling sales the following October. 

Thereafter, she was scratched from October Book 2, then the December Yearling Sale and, during the following topsy-turvy first year of Covid, she was also withdrawn from the July Sale, in which she would have appeared as an unraced two-year-old. By that stage, however, the minor foot issue which had meant Sangster and Saffron Beach's co-owner James Wigan had to forget the yearling sales, had come good, and Jane Chapple-Hyam had paid a visit to Manton to see the filly and to decide if she would like to train her. Fortunately she did like her. Very much so, in fact, and with a raft of group wins now to her credit, it's easy to imagine that Saffron Beach has shot to the top of the charts of Chapple-Hyam's all-time favourite horses. 

It will, then, be a bittersweet moment for all involved at Abington Place when their stable star returns to Tattersalls for the December Mares' Sale, even though as a full-fledged dual Group 1 winner she reflects much credit on the yard. And there could yet be the opportunity for one last hurrah.

“She's being sold as a horse in training and hopefully the lucky purchaser might enjoy having a trip to Hong Kong,” says Chapple-Hyam. “She's in the $4 million Hong Kong Mile and we've accepted the invitation, so it would be a lovely swansong.”

It would indeed, but then right from the off, the filly from the first crop of New Bay has fuelled the dreams of her trainer and ownership team of Lucy Sangster, Ollie Sangster and James Wigan.  Making her debut at Newmarket on September 26, 2020, the powerful chestnut strode away from her 14 rivals in her maiden race to finish more than four lengths clear of her nearest pursuer. Such an eye-catching start made her fully entitled to step straight into pattern company, which she did just a fortnight later, back at her home track, in the G3 Oh So Sharp S.

“She's just gone from strength to strength,” says Chapple-Hyam. “But in a funny kind of way, her first two runs showed a lot when she won a maiden, and then two weeks later she backed up for the Oh So Sharp. And when Adam Kirby got off her, we knew there and then because he said she felt like a special filly.”

Kirby, a jockey not prone to hyperbole, was spot on. Put away for the winter, Saffron Beach returned to run second in her 1,000 Guineas trial, the G3 Nell Gwyn S., and was then runner-up in the Classic itself, finishing just a length behind the winner Mother Earth (Ire).

Failing to properly see out the mile and a half when contesting the Oaks at Epsom, Saffron Beach had unleashed her true potential by the end of her three-year-old season, winning the G3 Atalanta S. en route to landing her first Group 1 in the Sun Chariot back at her beloved Rowley Mile.

“She did really well in the Nell Gwyn,” her trainer recalls. “We used that as a stepping stone and she was probably only 85% fit, then we waited another two weeks to run in the Guineas. So that was a highlight and then since then she's picked up Group 1s, whether it be at Newmarket or over in Deauville, and she's just proved a tough, consistent filly.”

Returned to training at four, Saffron Beach's warm-up fourth place in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan proved the perfect springboard for another lucrative summer campaign in Europe. At Royal Ascot she waltzed away with the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. before beating dual Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Ire) in the G1 Prix Rothschild in Deauville.  She also had her fellow Sceptre Sessions entrant Pearls Galore (Fr) behind her that day, but the tables were turned when all three classy fillies met again on Irish Champions Weekend, with Pearls Galore landing the G1 Matron S. ahead of Saffron Beach in second, and Tenebrism third, with the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs (Ire) claiming fourth.

Saffron Beach, who hails from the family of the young sire Cotai Glory (GB), was the first Group 1 winner for her upwardly mobile sire, and she has been joined in that category this year by Bay Bridge (GB) and Bayside Boy (Ire), who notched a notable Group 1 double for the Ballylinch Stud resident on British Champions Day.

Chapple-Hyam says of the statuesque trailblazer, “She's feisty, but she's a nice, feisty mare. She's she's got a kind side to her. It's going to be hard when she goes because she's in box one, and so for a couple of years, [we've been] seeing her every morning. But hopefully she'll have a nice career at stud and go to some top stallions.”

She adds, “It will be up to the new purchasers if they would like her to run in Hong Kong in their colours and we will do some quick paperwork, but we're all set at this end.

“Everyone's very thrilled with what she's done throughout the last couple of years so I'm sure they'll all miss cheering her on. But we were lucky enough to keep her on as a four-year-old so, especially the last month, we've just been enjoying seeing her every day.”

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Appleby boasts a tremendous record at the meeting, winning six Breeders' Cup races from just 11 attempts and he has some proven travellers bidding to enhance that record this year.

Leading the charge is last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Modern Games, who has secured Classic honours this season and is reported to have bounced out of his British Champions Day assignment well when second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.

“Modern Games has come out of the race in great form–tough as teak he is,” said Appleby. “He put up one hell of a performance on ground that was right against him. William [Buick] said right from the get-go he was up against it, but he's brave as a lion and will head to Keeneland.”

The Godolphin handler landed the GI Breeders' Cup Turf with Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) 12 months ago and although he is siding against asking his Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to line up in Lexington, in Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), he has two horses who have already been and done it on the international stage this term.

He said, “You've got to know your horses and know their characteristics and how they will be travelling and adapting to a different style of training over there.

“We've had a few who haven't done it, like Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) last year, but thankfully a lot of the horses we've chosen in the past have been able to adapt to the change of scenery and training.

“The 2-year-olds will be the ones with the question marks, but the two we are intending to take over in Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) have plenty of experience under their belt now.”

Also entering the equation for Kentucky is Creative Force (Ire), who was a gallant third in defence of his G1 British Champions Sprint crown at Ascot. The son of Dubawi (Ire) has run only three times this season and could take his place in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“Creative Force is a possible,” said Appleby. “He has low mileage this year and as we know, at this time of year the ground can be a bit on the slower side so fingers crossed.

“I was delighted with him [at Ascot], he was just unfortunate they raced in two different groups and he got caught on the wing and perhaps over-raced if anything. William felt he would have been better with a bit of cover.”

Also bound for the Breeders' Cup is dual Group 1 heroine Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {Ire}), who is set to be offered at the Tattersalls December Mares' Sale during the elite Sceptre Sessions in December. She will bid for a third Group 1 win before that when lining up in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Chapple-Hyam said, “She is fine and galloped good at Chelmsford on Tuesday. She went about seven furlongs with William Buick on board. She is going to run in the [GI Breeders' Cup] Filly & Mare [Turf] over about nine and a half [furlongs].

“She scoped dirty after Newmarket and needed a bit of time, like humans, a course of antibiotics and a bit of doctoring, and she has come good.

“She has an entry for Hong Kong but she has got the sales at Tattersalls–the December Mares' Sale–and it all depends on whether the new purchaser will want to run her in the Hong Kong Mile or whether they would want her with me or another trainer.”

The trainer added, “Some people have their own trainer, you never know. If a stud farm got her, I would imagine she will go straight to stud, but if there was a racing partnership and stud got her, they might want to see her run in their colours at Sha Tin. You just never know.

“At least you know she will get fantastic stallions for the rest of her career and go to a fantastic stud farm and be very well looked after. It is great to know that going forward. She will get lovely accommodation. In the meantime, we will start to make arrangements for Keeneland.”

Gary and Linnet Woodward's G2 Challenge S. hero Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) is also pointing for the Breeders' Cup, although it is not certain he will gain a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. A winner of the G3 John Of Gaunt S. at Haydock in May and the G3 Criterion S. at Newmarket in July, the 6-year-old entire does offer pertinent form, as he was only 1 1/4 lengths behind multiple Group 1 winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 City Of York S. in August. That rival is also set to contest the Mile.

“He seems in good form and he is nice and fresh for this time of year,” said trainer Charlie Hills. “He ran well at Newmarket and that form behind Kinross is looking better after he won again on Saturday.

“I think that mile on the turn at that track [Keeneland] will be brilliant for him. James Doyle has been booked to ride.”

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Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, the daughter of New Bay (GB) has been one of the shining lights of the Flat campaign, recording her second Group 1 triumph when running out an impressive winner of the Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August.

However, Saffron Beach ran way below par at Newmarket on Saturday, and the Breeders' Cup trip could be over before it had ever begun following a dirty scope. 

Chapple-Hyam explained, “It is very unfortunate. We got her back to the yard and we scoped her, because she was sound.

“We thought we had better put a scope down her to see if there was anything going on inside, and she scoped dirty, with mucus. She is on a course of antibiotics.

“It was very similar to when she ran a nothing race in last year's Falmouth S. She looked fine on Saturday and got the 'best-turned-out' award, too.

“The frustrating thing is we scoped her after her last gallop, just to check, and everything was clean and she showed no signs of coughing. Yet we put the scope down after the race and she had a dirty lung.”

Owned by Lucy, Ben and Ollie Sangster in partnership with James Wigan, Saffron Beach is due to go under the hammer at Tattersalls in December. Whether Saffron Beach races again before that dat has not been decided. 

Chapple-Hyam added, “We will regroup and I will see the owners at the Tattersalls Sales later in the week. She has a few weeks to recover, but I don't know at this stage how the treatment will go. At least we have got an answer, because you can be left not knowing.”

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