The sales business is not all high days and holidays, however, as most people trying to sell a foal at either of the quieter days last week, or indeed a filly or mare on Thursday, will verify. Polarisation, whether between the top and lower tiers of the market, or in stallion fashion – those two things of course having significant crossover – has rarely felt more pronounced than it has done over the last few weeks. 

Breeders will be finalising their matings for 2024 over the coming weeks and it is easy to envisage that the foal crop of next year, particularly in Britain, will be reduced in size. A number of smaller breeders are undoubtedly feeling the pinch and are no longer able to justify paying nomination fees that may well be higher than the final bid they receive for a resultant foal or yearling, never mind the keep fees.

Readjustment is a constant factor in the breeding industry, and a contraction in foal numbers is not necessarily unwelcome while the BHA conducts its trial of 'Premierisation' over the next two years. It is an experiment that looks certain to drive more breeders, owners and trainers out of the game as the funding for those race meetings identified as 'core' fixtures is either stripped further or stagnates. Core is a good description, and it is worth considering one of the dictionary definitions of that word: 'the part of something that is central to its existence or character.'

Chip away too much at the base of racing's pyramid while ignoring the importance it plays in levy yield, not to mention as a vital part of the sport's broad geographical appeal, and the apex will topple, eventually.

In his closing address, Edmond Mahony, the chairman of Tattersalls, was mindful of all sectors of the marketplace, reflecting on the many high points of Tuesday evening's Sceptre Session in particular, while observing a final day which saw a clearance rate of just 50%. 

“We must also recognise that the appetite for the less commercial mares and fillies has dwindled dramatically,” he said. 

“The international bloodstock market is not immune from global economic pressures and certain sectors are facing a headwind, but we will continue, in association with our extensive network of overseas representatives, to explore every avenue to encourage as wide a participation as possible. In the meantime we extend our sincere thanks to each and every individual who has contributed to a year which has seen our annual turnover exceed 350 million gns for only the second time.

“Figures of this magnitude are a tribute to all involved and to the consistent support from so many British, Irish and European breeders which all of us at Tattersalls are very proud to receive.”

Figures for the closing day usually make for sober reading, but this year's Thursday session proved more challenging than ever. Sixty-eight of the 137 lots offered were sold for turnover of 413,600gns (-19%) at an average of 5,986gns (-8%) and median of 3,000gns (-29%).

For the December Mares Sale as a whole, the aggregate stood at 67,752,000gns (-16%), with an average of 107,544gns (-8%) and median of 30,000gns (-6%). The clearance rate dropped to 75%.

Concluding his view of the week's trade, Mahony said, “International demand is the feature of so many sales at Tattersalls, but few can match the global appeal of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale which annually draws buyers from every continent, united in a quest to acquire some of the finest bloodstock to be found anywhere in the world.

“In only their second year the two showcase Sceptre Sessions again produced some spectacular theatre played out in front of a packed sale ring with the highlight being the outstanding Group 1-winning sale topper Teona who became the third-highest priced broodmare ever sold at the December Sale when selling for 4,500,000gns to Juddmonte Farms. The supporting cast of British-trained Group 1-winning fillies, Cachet, Lezoo, Poptronic, Prosperous Voyage and Via Sistina all also provided memorable sales for their connections averaging almost 2 million gns apiece and adding to a day which produced turnover exceeded only twice in Tattersalls history.”

He continued, “Elite fillies and mares have been in high demand throughout the sale with an unprecedented six selling for more than two million gns and 29 breaking the 500,000gns mark, which is a number bettered only at last year's extraordinary record-breaking sale. American, Australian and Chinese buyers have all made a huge contribution at the top end of the market, as have the impressive number of Japanese buyers who continue to prioritise the Tattersalls December Mares Sale above all other European breeding stock sales. As ever, they have all faced strong competition from British, Irish and French breeders who form the backbone of the December Sale and there has been notable participation from throughout Europe as well as strong contingents of Indian and Turkish buyers who between them have bought more than 60 fillies and mares.”

The post Tattersalls December Concludes: ‘Certain Sectors are Facing a Headwind’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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NEWMARKET, UK – A Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, by one of the world's best stallions and carrying a foal by the dual champion sire. As recipes go, it has all the ingredients necessary to make a special dish, and that is exactly what the Juddmonte team decided she was when buying Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from Rabbah Bloodstock for 4.5 million gns.

Northern Farm, Charlie Gordon-Watson, Jill Lamb and Coolmore all made attempts on the five-year-old G1 Prix Vermeille winner, who is in foal for the first time to Frankel (GB), but it was Simon Mockridge who outlasted them all.

He said of lot 1786, “She is the best mare in the sale – a Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner. That's what they cost you. She's a beautiful addition and she's got a great pedigree. She's by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire. He is already the damsire of four Group 1 winners. She'll fit in very well.”

Mockridge continued, “There were plenty at Goffs and we tried very hard at Goffs but we got beaten on most of the great individuals there. This is a great pedigree and, as I said, a Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, they're hard to find. 

“She's an outcross for Frankel, which is ideal. That's what we are looking for. She'll be going to Frankel [next year].”

Asked if 4.5 million gns was where Mockridge expected to end up for Teona, he replied, “You always have to stretch a little bit further than you really want to but, to buy the best, that's how competitive it is. We're seeing that tonight. I did think she would make around three-and-a-half to four [million] but we had to make that extra stretch. It's something that we've learned. We try to value them but, when it comes to the moment, you've got to be a little stronger.”

Via Sistina Rewards Patience of Hillens

From 5,000 to 2.7 million gns: that's the story of Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) through two December Sales four years apart, and with wins in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races in the interim for Stephen and Becky Hillen when trained by George Boughey. Consigned on their behalf by Grove Stud, the five-year-old, out of a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to top sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire), was sold to an online bidder who later signed as Evergreen Equine.

“Surreal. It's been tremendous,” said Stephen Hillen of lot 1788. “From the day Jamie Magee broke her in, he has a lot of good stock through his hands and he rang me about February and said, 'She gets up the gallop better than anything else. She's just so big. You could breeze this.' I said, 'No, it would be the wrong thing to do, we'll race her.' 

“She didn't go into training until August just because the pedigree said wait. She's just a strong traveller. She walked round there like a sheep, she's just an amazing horse.”

He continued, “It's a dream. I did think she'd bring two-plus. That cross is sensational. A Group 1 winner, she ran great in the Champion Stakes. She was improving all the time. It's nice now that she's retired sound. I felt that if we didn't get what we wanted for her, we'd race her, so it was going to be a celebration anyway.

“I would have given a lot more for her at the time. She was a foal-share and she wasn't protected by either side. She needed a fair bit of imagination. You buy those things sometimes and most of them turn out useless but she always had something, an unbelievable walker with a big frame. I'm always patient, every trainer who trains for us would always say they're never under pressure. I may have my opinions from time to time but I'll wait and wait and wait.”

VIA SISTINA sells for 2.7million gns at the #TattsDecember Sceptre Sessions

This mare is by Fastnet Rock and is the winner of the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes. She was consigned by Grove Stud and has been bought by Evergreen Equine. pic.twitter.com/l9kNHOuTLB

— TDN (@theTDN) December 5, 2023

Who for Lezoo?

A similar mystery surrounds the purchaser of the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Lezoo (GB), one of two seven-figure fillies from Ralph Beckett's stable. The ring may have been packed with onlookers and potential bidders, but the final bid was made invisibly, online, at 2.2 million gns. It was eventually confirmed under the name of Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International.

He said of the Chasemore-bred filly (lot 1776), who won five of her nine starts, including the G3 Princess Margaret S., for Andrew Rosen and Marc Chan, “She is going to be kept in Europe to be bred. She was a top-class two-year-old, we were looking for two-year-old form, and she is a beautiful type.”

The agent had earlier bought Helenium (GB) (lot 1750), a Frankel half-sister to G2 Coventry S. winner and Coolmore sire Calyx (GB). She sold from the Juddmonte draft for 625,000gns carrying her first foal by Calyx's sire Kingman (GB).

Online bidders signing under the names of Sanctuary Lodge and Mrs A Sullivan respectively secured two more of the night's big names.

Poptronic (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (lot 1784) gave her owner/breeders David and Yvonne Blunt a major thrill when winning the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares S. on Champions' Day at Ascot, and she was sold from Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge Stables for 1.4 million gns.

Crack two-year-old Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 1798), who has won four of her five starts for William Haggas and the ownership duo of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, including the G2 Lowther S., sold for 800,000gns.

Group 1 Winners with a touch of Cachet for Northern Farm

Katsumi Yoshida's Japanese powerhouse Northern Farm has been a steady force at the December Mares Sale in recent years and, after adding last year's 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) to the roster at 2.2 million gns, a private deal was brokered to add Group 1 winner Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to the haul.

Cachet (lot 1799) was famously bought by Jake Warren and Harry Herbert of Highclere Agency for 60,000gns from her breeder John Bourke at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale. The pair, who run the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate which has also campaigned the Irish Oaks winner Petrushka, were naturally delighted with the result. 

“It has been such a journey, the whole thing has been extraordinary,” said Herbert. “From Jake saying, 'Uncle H, I've found this breeze-up filly and I can't wait to show you', through to this whole process.”

Warren added, “We just watched her being prepared to come into the ring and she stood like a rock and didn't turn a hair. She was so cool in the ring and she's been like that from day one. She's been an amazing filly to be part of. She's always had a special something about her and there was so much interest in her; she's been run off her feet all week.

“For her owners, that's special. She was £6,500 a share, and she was such a good two-year-old as well. It's exciting, she was our first domestic Classic winner and the challenge is on, we've got to do it again now.”

He added, “This is how you get access to racing. The dream is real: when you take a share in a syndicate, you can win the Guineas, you can sell a multi-million-pound horse and you can be in it competing with the best in the world. And her share-holders have achieved that.”

CACHET, the first Guineas winner since 1988 to be sold at auction, sells for 2.2million gns at the #TattsDecember Sceptre Sessions.

This daughter of Aclaim was consigned by Highclere Stud and is off to Japan after being bought by Northern Farm. pic.twitter.com/PhB8JRPiR6

— TDN (@theTDN) December 5, 2023

The Northern Farm team had also signed for Galileo Gal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1789) earlier in the session at 500,000gns to bring their total spend to 5,100,000gns on the day. Such visits are viewed as extremely important with a view towards keeping Japanese bloodlines fresh, according to Shingo Hashimoto, who explained how plans were still fluid for the big-name acquisitions. 

He said, “Of course, Cachet is the 1,000 Guineas winner and she really looked gorgeous. We felt something special from her so we are pretty excited to bring her back to Japan. She'll be covered but we haven't decided whether or not she'll be covered in Europe first or in Japan. She definitely has the speed.”

On Prosperous Voyage (lot 1811), he added, “We are happy that we were able to buy her at the end of the day. We'll think about bringing her back to Japan or keeping her in Europe. There are some very good stallions in Europe as well. We always try to diversify the blood that we have and we don't want to put all of the eggs into the one basket. That is part of our plan.”

Prosperous Voyage failed to sell in the ring initially but Northern Farm were quickest off the blocks to get a deal done privately for the G1 Falmouth S. winner. 

Bloodstock agent Jamie McCalmont, who manages the interests of Marc Chan, the joint-owner of Lezoo and Prosperous Voyage, credited Tattersalls for attracting a broad cohort of buyers for the Sceptre Sessions but admitted to finding the experience of selling two top-class mares an emotional one. 

McCalmont said, “We're very fond of both of them as they're lovely girls and have given us some great days out. It's more sad than happy I'd have to say. It's an expensive hobby owning horses in England so you have to do this unless you have stallion income coming in, and we don't have any of that.”

He added, “We were looking obviously for a bit more for Prosperous Voyage and debated going to one of the top stallions with her and bringing her back here next year. But then, all the buyers are here, aren't they? Tattersalls has done a great job bringing so many different groups of people here and the market speaks for itself.”

PROSPEROUS VOYAGE sells for 2.4million gns at the #TattsDecember Sceptre Session.

The G1 winner was consigned by her trainer Ralph Beckett and has been bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm. pic.twitter.com/OsIriuQFxP

— TDN (@theTDN) December 5, 2023

Millennium Millionaire

This has been a memorable year for The Rogues Gallery who, not long after selling listed winner Rogue Lightning (Ire) Kodiac {GB}) for £1 million at the Goffs Champions Sale at Ascot, cashed in on Rogue Millenium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1800) on Tuesday for 1.65 million gns.

The two Rogues were trained by Tom Clover and sourced by bloodstock agent Billy Jackson-Stops for a combined figure of less than £100,000. 

Rogue Millennium landed the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot earlier this season and chased home Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown as recently as September. 

She was bought by David Lanigan and Ted Durcan on behalf of owner Scott Heider to be trained by Joseph O'Brien with the distinct aim of winning a Group 1 in 2024. 

Lanigan said, “I thought she was the obvious one in the sale. Mr Heider has a few horses with Joseph this year and a lot of younger horses in training as well. He was looking for a Saturday horse. He has four with Brendan Walsh and three with Steve Asmussen and has had Agartha, Brostaigh and Twilight Spinner with Joseph. We were trying to find a Saturday horse so hopefully she can go on.”

He added, “They've done a great job and they gave a great report on her as well. She has been a very easy filly to train and has a lot of class so hopefully she can go on and step up to pick up a Group 1 next year. She looks like she wants a good surface and I actually thought her Matron Stakes run was one of her best performances, just by how she travelled into the race. If it worked out at some stage, perhaps Joseph could find a race for her in America.”

ROGUE MILLENNIUM sells for 1.65million gns at the #TattsDecember Sceptre Session.

This daughter of Dubawi is a G2 winner and is G1 placed. She was consigned by Barton Sales and will train on after being bought by Lanigan / Durcan Agent Heider Family Stables. pic.twitter.com/pBnIocSoXA

— TDN (@theTDN) December 5, 2023

Woodford Thoroughbreds Sign Classy Trio

American trainer Will Walden has been in action over the first two days of the sale and has signed for three fillies to remain in training and switch to his stable in Kentucky. 

Following the purchase of Aussie Girl (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for 380,000gns on Monday, Walden also bought the Listed winner and Group 2-placed Olivia Maralda (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 1804) for 725,000gns, along with a second Listed-winning daughter of Kodiac, the wild card Pipsy (Ire) (lot 1825B) from Kilcarn Park at 700,000gns. 

All three have been bought in the name of John Sykes's Woodford Thoroughbreds.

“They will come back to the US to be trained,” said Walden, the son of WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden. “Turf is the [European] strength and our weakness so we want to bring some of that strength back. We have plenty of good turf horses, but of course primarily America is known for dirt, so hopefully if these horses can be competitive here they can be competitive there.”

Vigors Gets Ahead With Two Millionaires 

William Haggas signed for Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), the G1 Flying Five S. runner-up, who is a half-sister to 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB), for 2.5 million gns. 

However, Get Ahead will not race on as a five-year-old next season, with Haggas confirming he sourced the filly (lot 1813) on behalf of a new British-based breeding consortium called First Bloodstock.

He explained, “She is for a new syndicate and goes to Hillwood Stud to board. She will be bred this coming spring.”

Charlie Vigors remained tight-lipped on the new consortium but described himself as excited to have Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) (lot 1771) and Get Ahead in the broodmare band at Hillwood Stud. 

He said, “It is very exciting to have such good mares as Primo Bacio and Get Ahead coming to the farm and that these top pedigrees are staying in Britain.”

Get Ahead was trained by Clive Cox to win three races and chase home Moss Tucker (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) in that Curragh Group 1 back in September. 

She boasted one of the finest pedigrees in the sale, being a sister to stallions Chaldean and Alkumait (GB). Indeed, the family was once again in the news here last week when Get Ahead's little brother sold to Alex Elliott for 260,000gns at the December Foal Sale.

Meanwhile, Primo Bacio was sold in foal to Frankel (GB) for 1.1 million gns. She was knocked down to Vigors and offered by owner David Ward through the Castlebridge Consignment.

“She is a beautiful mare, she has lovely movement, and I loved her when I first saw her,” said Vigors. “Hopefully her progeny will be coming back here to sell as well, as she is a commercial purchase.”

GET AHEAD sells for 2.5millions gns at the #TattsDecember Sceptre Session.

This daughter of Showcasing is a half-sister to Chaldean and is G1 placed. She has been bought by First Bloodstock and will go to Hillwood Stud to start her breeding career. pic.twitter.com/r2iJ3nAonA

— TDN (@theTDN) December 5, 2023

Living the Vida

Vida Amorosa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), originally bought for breeder Tom Lacy for €1,200, has struck gold with her first two foals, the Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Gubbass (Ire) and G2 July S. winner Persian Force (Ire). The nine-year-old mare (lot 1793), who is back in foal to the sire of those two, Mehmas (Ire), brought 700,000gns this time around from Charlie Gordon-Watson. The agent bought the mare on behalf of the partnership of Watership Down Stud and Andrew Rosen.

“The first time we saw her we really liked her, and she's got a great breeding record. We thought she'd suit Too Darn Hot so she'll go to him next year,” said Watership Down Stud manager Simon Marsh.

Gordon-Watson later went to 1.2 million gns for the Listed-winning Kodiac (GB) mare Geocentric (Ire) (lot 1797) for the Duchess of Roxburghe, Virginia Wynn-Williams, and her son George Innes-Ker. Their breeding operation was formerly based at the family's Floors Stud in the Scottish Borders but they now keep mares at Watership Down Stud. The four-year-old mare was sold in foal to Frankel.

GEOCENTRIC sells for 1.2million gns at the #TattsDecember Sceptre Session

This daughter of Kodiac is a L. winner. She is in-foal to Frankel and has been bought by @cgwbloodstock. She was consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment. pic.twitter.com/2mIepym3QS

— TDN (@theTDN) December 5, 2023

Golden Returns for Mare and Foal

Golden Pelican (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a sibling to Group 3 winners Ernest Hemingway (Ire) and Toulifaut (Ire), was bought for the American-based Pursuit Of Success for 600,000gns and will remain in Britain. The six-year-old (Lot 1729) was sold carrying her second foal by Lope De Vega (Ire). Her first foal by Kingman (GB) was sold for 350,000gns last week to Juddmonte, with both mare and foal having been consigned by Hazelwood Bloodstock on behalf of Sun Bloodstock.

Unraced herself, Golden Pelican's first three dams are all group winners, with her dam Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) having won the GIII Hillsborough S. in Florida as well as the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial. The mare will board at Chris Budgett's Kirtlington Stud.

He said, “Roger [O'Callaghan] recommended her to the team especially after he saw her Kingman colt foal, who was bought last week by Juddmonte and is a lovely sort. We are very happy to have her.”

Talking Points

• Eight different Japanese buyers have so far purchased 16 horses for almost 8 million gns during the first two days of the sale.
• The Australian contingent has also been busy. At least six different entities have signed for 12 fillies and mares for 3,350,000gns. 
• How about some love for Awtaad? Based at Derrinstown Stud, the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner must be one of the best value stallions at €5,000. Not only did Awtaad produce another marvellous result when Primo Bacio sold for 1.1 million gns at Tattersalls on Tuesday, but who could forget the marvellous Sceptre Sessions he enjoyed here 12 months ago. Three mares by Awtaad sold on this day last year for a combined sum of 1.1 million gns, led by the 600,000gns Mags O'Toole spent on behalf of Plantation Stud for Mohjatty (Ire). 
• Bobby Flay returned to the buying bench at Tattersalls, signing up Final Gesture (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1787) at 850,000gns and Jaaizah (GB) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 1794) for 270,000gns. The former is a daughter of the Group 2 winner Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a sister to the Group 1 winners Japan (GB) and Mogul (GB), all three out of the late Newsells Park Stud matriarch Shastye (Ire) (Danehill).
• There were 12 millionaires at this sale 12 months ago compared to 10 this week.
• Tuesday marked the third-highest grossing day of trade ever recorded in Europe.
• Sea The Stars is proving to be an outstanding broodmare sire, which was evident once again this season through the achievements of Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Therefore, it was little wonder that well-bred mares by the stallion were in high demand on Tuesday with Sea The Stars coming out on top with 12 lots selling for 5,203,000gns.
• Online bidding, understandably introduced during Covid when international buyers were prevented from travelling, now serves to muddy the waters at live auctions  as well as reducing the previous drama of some of the tense bidding wars in the ring. 
• Of the 221 lots offered on Tuesday, 175 were sold, which represented a clearance rate of 79% [down 5% on last year]. The aggregate fell 11% to 48,167,000gns, the average dropped 2% to 275,240gns and the median fell 18% to 92,000gns.

Buy of the Day

Lot 1718, Malakoot (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Ambivalent {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire})
Buyer: Tinnakill, 52,000gns
Vendor: Barton Sales

Credit to the Cantillons of Tinnakill House Stud for sniffing out the bargain of the day, if not the entire sale. 

A Dubawi (Ire) half-sister to Teona, who would later go on to top the sale on 4.5 million gns, sold in foal to Baaeed (GB) to Tinnakill for 52,000gns. Given that Baaeed stands for £80,000, it's hard to see a scenario where the sister to Teona does not work out to be value at just over half that covering fee. 

There's every chance the Cantillons could pay for the mare with the first foal, be it a filly or a colt, and they have a lovely family to work with for the coming years with lot 1718 still a young prospect at just six years of age. 

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VIA SISTINA sells for 2.7million gns at the #TattsDecember Sceptre Sessions

This mare is by Fastnet Rock and is the winner of the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes. She was consigned by Grove Stud and has been bought by Evergreen Equine. pic.twitter.com/l9kNHOuTLB

— TDN (@theTDN) December 5, 2023

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NEWMARKET, UK — As expected, an international cast of buyers swept into action at Park Paddocks for the opening day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, with some of the leading lights heading to Japan, Australia and America after more than 15 million gns was spent on breeding prospects.

It was the aptly-named Callisto Star who lit up the first of two Sceptre Sessions when selling from Ballybin Stud in Ireland to Badgers Bloodstock for 675,000gns.

The dam of American Oaks winner Rhea Moon (Ire) and Cheshire Oaks runner-up There's The Door (Ire), Callisto Star was sold in foal to Starspangledbanner (Aus), the sire of those high-class performers.

Callisto Star was owned by Kevin Molloy, a long-time supporter of Paddy Kelly of Ballybin Stud, with the latter summing up the sale-topping performance in one word.

“Smashing,” Kelly beamed outside the ring. “She had the looks, the temperament and the pedigree. She'll be a prolific breeder–just like her grandmother [Mohican Princess (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB})], who produced six black-type horses. I think this one is going to follow suit. I hope so anyway.”

Molloy spoke to TDN Europe earlier this year after Rhea Moon stormed to that American Oaks triumph with the breeder describing the result as his best moment in racing.

Rhea Moon, the first produce out of Molloy's homebred mare Callisto Star, was sold through Ballybin Stud for £24,000 to BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale in 2020.

She subsequently changed hands privately from trainer Ken Condon, where she showed plenty of promise, to join Phil D'Amato in America. The rest, as they say, is history.

Monday's sale is by no means the closing of the Callisto Star chapter for Molloy and Ballybin Stud, with Kelly revealing that there is still plenty left of the family on the farm.

Kelly added, “I'm a bit in shock. This is a big one for us. It's nice to be involved at the top end and to have a go at it. I'm delighted with the price. Kevin Molloy owns her. He has been a long-time client and still has a good bit of the family at home.

“We actually have another client who bought Callisto Star's full-sister a couple of years ago so we have her at home as well. Kevin is here-he's in the bar in fact. I'm going to join him now in a minute!”

Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock could not divulge the name of the mare's new owner. He said, “She's to stay here in Europe.

“Fastnet Rock is as good a broodmare sire as there is and her dam is by Galileo so it's all the bloodlines you want. She's the whole package. I haven't decided who she'll be covered by next year but Starspangledbanner is an obvious target. Fastnet mares work with so many different bloodlines that she could go anywhere.”

All of the key figures were down on last year's corresponding day's trade. The trimmed down catalogue — 29 fewer mares offered — saw the aggregate fall by 30% to 15,477,300gns. The median and the average fell by 22% to 43,000gns and 78,168gns respectively, while the clearance rate stayed the same at 82%.

Wowie! She's Off to Japan

Eleonora Kennedy's distinctively marked Mauwiewowie (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was a Listed winner at the Curragh in her juvenile season and was Listed-placed again this year for Ger Lyons before selling on Monday for 625,000gns from the draft of Norris Bloodstock.

Offered as Lot 1535, the flashy chestnut owns an enticing pedigree that piqued the interest of buyer Yoshihisa Iwasaki, manager of Lake Villa Farm, which bred the dual G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

“She is going to Japan and will go straight to stud,” he said. “She is a strong mare, we love her conformation and we love her attitude.”

Mauiewowie, who was bred by Trebles Holford Farm Thoroughbreds, is out of La Chapelle (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a half-sister to Group 1 winners Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), their dam being the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). A full-brother to Ghaiyyath topped last month's Goffs November Foal Sale at €700,000.

Authoritative Performance 

Ballymore Thoroughbreds' regally-bred Authoritaire (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who was offered in foal for the first time to Night Of Thunder (Ire), brought the hammer down at 525,000gns and will be off to Ireland, according to buyer Charlie Gordon-Watson.

“It is one of the great families, she is in foal to Night Of Thunder and she is a mare who will suit him, and it all makes good sense,” he said.

That great family has been a cornerstone of the Wildenstein family's breeding operation for generations. Auhoritaire's dam is the champion racemare Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill), whose Group 1 wins include the Prix de Diane, while her offspring include the stakes winners Ame Bleue (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Any Time Soon (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Timed to Perfection

The Golden Horn four-year-old Wonderful Times (Ire) returned to the ring a year after being bought by Billy Jackson-Stops and Barton Stud for 85,000gns to sell for more than five times that amount at 460,000gns to Australian-based Kia Ora Stud. Having won her maiden easily at Newcastle in October 2022 for John and Thady Gosden, the filly was transferred to France and the yard of Mario Baratti, for whom she won the Listed Prix Urban Sea in May.

With stakes winners for her first three dams, Wonderful Times is a daughter of the G3 Silver Flash victrix Wonderfully (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself a grand-daughter of the influential Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), whose offspring include the stallions Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB).

Shane Wright, manager of Kia Ora Stud, said, “She was a beautiful filly from a really lovely family. When you come to sales like this it's really the families that draw you in. She was also a black-type filly as well – a little bit stouter than we would usually buy at home but it's good to come over here and find different lines and different things we can take advantage of. She's our first purchase of the sale and we're very happy.”

Bozo's “Safe Bet”

After losing his top-class Galileo (Ire) mare Starlet's Sister (Ire) a fortnight ago, Henri Bozo described himself as happy to have been able to buy into an unraced Galileo filly out of So Mi Dar (GB) on behalf of Ecurie des Monceaux for 300,000gns.

Astrologia (Ire) was consigned by Watership Down Stud and sold in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB), with Bozo lauding the stallion as one of the best around.

He said, “I am happy to get into this family. She is the type of mare that we have tried to buy in the past. To be honest, if they haven't raced, it doesn't really bother me because we have tried from the beginning to get into these types of families. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, so let's hope it does.”

Bozo added, “She's in foal to a very good sire. I mean, I am so impressed by Wootton Bassett. Each foal we have on the farm by him is nice, correct, has good quality and is a good colour. I think he is a very safe bet and he should suit her well.”

Ridgmont Team Strikes Early

The 35-strong broodmare band at the Cunningham family's Ridgmont Farm in Australia will eventually be enhanced by the Showcasing (GB) filly Many Tears (GB), who has enjoyed a major update since the catalogue was published and was bought for 300,000gns on Ridgmont's behalf by agent Jim Clarke.

Winner of the Listed Cooley Fillies' S. at Dundalk last month for Ger Lyons, the half-sister to stakes winner Intello Kiss (GB) (Intello {Ger}) is a great grand-daughter of the Oaks winner Love Divine (GB) (Diesis) and has now won three of her eight starts. She is set to race on under the care of James Ferguson in Newmarket.

“The whole Ridgmont team and Mitch Cunningham have been pounding the pavements and braving the weather and looking at fillies off the track,” said Clarke. “She was our number one pick – she is a gorgeous mare who is now a stakes winner, a three-year-old with racing upside and a pedigree we can't access in Australia.”

The longer-term plan is for Many Tears to be covered by Frankel (GB).

The agent added, “Ridgemont has a lovely broodmare band that has been tailored toward young mares and stakes-performing mares. They are all bred very commercially and we are looking to sell yearlings at the premier end of the market. The opportunity to acquire bloodlines in this part of the world is to get some diversity. To be going home with the one we all loved is very pleasing.”

Japanese Buyers Active Throughout

Mares by Montjeu (Ire) and his son Motivator (GB) have been responsible for some top-notch Japanese runners this year in the G1 Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and the dual Classic winner Sol Oriens (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) respectively. Ahead of the first Sceptre Session, Japan's JS Company signed for Motivator's Group 3-winning daughter Vue Fantastique (Fr), who was also runner-up in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary when in training with Fabrice Chappet. Sold in foal to Showcasing (GB) by Newsells Park Stud as Lot 1464, she was bought for 150,000gns and has colts by Siyouni (Fr), Le Havre (Ire) and Lope De Vega (Ire) to run for her.

Shadai Farm bid 170,000gns for the four-year-old Love You Grandpa (GB), a thrice-placed Frankel half-sister to the G2 Queen Mary S. winner Ceiling Kitty (GB) (Red Clubs {Ire}).

Run Zarak Run (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who had been bought by Colm Sharkey for only 21,000gns in the same ring back in July, returned in Luke Barry's Manister House Stud draft to sell for 180,000gns to Big Red Farm.

Since September, the three-year-old filly has made four starts for Harry Eustace, breaking her maiden by 11 lengths at Redcar in October before finishing runner-up in the Listed Prix Ceres nine days ago.

Share Price In Needle Lace Sky-Rockets

Hard to believe that it is less than a year since Needle Lace (GB) failed to sell at just €24,000 at the Goffs February Sale. In that time, and in no small part aided by the emergence of her Group 1-winning brother Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), the share price in Needle Lace sky-rocketed on Monday to 200,000gns.

It was Blandford Bloodstock, holding off the attention of Yeomanstown Stud, who signed for the winning daughter of Golden Horn (GB). If Needle Lace soaring from buy-back to big-ticket item at the Sceptre Sessions was hard enough to believe, the fact she sold to Hurworth Bloodstock for just 1,000gns from Godolphin back in 2021 makes this story even more remarkable.

Indeed, the Needle Lace pedigree looks a lot different now than it did back then, notably through the exploits of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Rosallion, but also thanks to G1 Queen Anne S. winner Triple Time (Ire), who is the seventh black-type winner under that wonderful second dam Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}).

Trained most recently by Ken Condon on behalf of owner David Kelly, Needle Lace was sold on Monday in foal to Sioux Nation, one of the hottest young prospects in Ireland.

Tally-Ho Stud Lands Sister To Vandeek

A half-sister to the brilliant dual Group 1-winning and unbeaten juvenile Vandeek (GB) was snapped up by Tally-Ho Stud for 90,000gns. Doncaster Rosa (GB) (Alhebayeb (Ire), the champion three-year-old in Switzerland, was one of four mares the stud bought for a total of 427,000gns on the day.

The weanling half-brother to Vandeek, by Starspangledbanner (Aus), was sold for 450,000gns last Friday to Coolmore by breeder Kelly Thomas of Maywood Stud.

US Owner Mike Repole Gets In On The Act

American owner Mike Repole, whose silks have been carried by the likes of Uncle Mo, Forte and Nest, got in on the action at Newmarket when signing for a Siyouni half-sister [Faial (Fr)] to National Defense (GB).

Consigned by Castlebridge, the winner, who hails from the extended family of Derby winner Adayar (Ire), fetched 220,000gns.

Paddington Nomination to Watership Down Stud

A nomination to new sire Paddington (Ire) donated by Coolmore Stud to be auctioned to raise funds for Graham Lee was bought for 72,000gns by Lady Lloyd Webber.

The Group 1 and Grand National-winning jockey was seriously injured in a race fall at Newcastle on November 10. A Just Giving campaign launched to aid Lee's recovery has now raised almost £170,000.

Four-time Group 1 winner Paddington will stand his first season in Ireland at €55,000.

Buy of the Day

Lot 1355, STAGE QUEEN (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB) ex Stage Presence (Ire) (Selkirk)
In foal to Study Of Man (Ire)
Buyer: Raptakos Brett/Gaurav Rampal, 16,000gns
Vendor: The National Stud

There is plenty of value to be found even on the 'big days' as exemplified by the purchase of the 10-year-old mare Stage Queen. Though unraced, she has four black-type earners as siblings, including the G1 Prix de Diane winner Star Of Seville (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), while another two half-sisters are already black-type producers. Stage Queen has been represented by two winners from her three runners to date, and she has a Zoustar (Aus) yearling filly and Sea The Moon (Ger) colt foal on the way through. Her covering sire Study Of Man has made a promising start and more can be expected from his first three-year-old runners in 2024.

All these things considered, the mare looks to have been well bought for 16,000gns and will be a welcome addition to Equus Stud in India.

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G3 Prix Chloe winner Araminta (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) will be offered in training by Barton Sales on the Monday of the sale after the first Sceptre Session.

She is joined by the Group 3-placed Nigiri (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), consigned by Imperium Sales, and the 97-rated Star Girls Almaaal (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}). The half-sister to Group 3 winner Create Belief (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) will be offered by Norelands Stud. 

Two Listed-winning two-year-olds in training have also been added to the catalogue. Graceful Thunder (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will be sold after Tuesday's Sceptre Session from George Boughey's stable, while Legacy S. winner Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), is being consigned directly after her by Kilcarn Park. 

A breeding right to Graceful Thunder's sought-after young sire Havana Grey is one of seven breeding rights among the 154 lots on offer in the forthcoming Tattersalls Online November Sale, which takes place on November 22 and 23. 

The mixed catalogue, which includes broodmares, foals, point-to-pointers, and horses in training, is now available online. 

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Who present, shoulder to shoulder in the packed auditorium over recent years, can forget moments such as the sale of Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) for 6 million gns? Even her trainer Sir Mark Prescott, always ready with a witticism, was for once lost for words in the drama of it all. 

A decade ago the Oaks winner Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was sold for 4 million gns carrying a foal from the first crop of Frankel (GB). Such was the clamour surrounding the Juddmonte superstar's transition to stallion duties that Dancing Rain's appearance at Tattersalls prompted a segment on BBC Radio 5 Live that evening. 

It is anyone's guess as to who will emerge on top at this year's sale. The only thing that is not in doubt is that there is a vast array of contenders to choose from. 

Although this segment of the sales season is collectively referred to as the breeding stock sales, there is a strong element to the December Mares Sale which could just as legitimately have it rebranded as the most elite horses-in-training sale out there. Generally, it is buyer's choice, when being lucky enough to snare one of the fillies on offer, whether or not they race on next season or head straight to the paddocks. 

A poster girl for the former strategy is Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), sold for 695,000gns two years ago to Tracy Farmer, for whom she has subsequently raced in America to land the GI EP Taylor and GI Beverly D S., along with another two Grade II wins. Her earnings have increased by more than £800,000 in the interim and she remains an enticing broodmare prospect. 

Similar comments apply to Promise Of Success (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who could hardly have been better named. Still a maiden when sold in 2020 for 27,000gns to David Redvers and Rosemount Stud, she then went on to Australia and won the G2 Emancipation S. plus a $2 million conditions race at Randwick before being sold at Magic Millions in May this year for $1,350,000.

As this example shows, there will doubtless be future success stories to come from all levels of the market, but the introduction last year of the Sceptre Sessions, staged during those first two sessions, naturally shines a spotlight on some particularly high achievers. 

It is hard to look past a particularly well-credentialed pairs of fillies from the same stable and owned by the same partnership. Through Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen enjoyed a particularly noteworthy 2022 season, with a Group 1 win apiece for these two fillies trained by Ralph Beckett.

Describing the four-year-old Prosperous Voyage as “a strong, robust filly with a good walk”, Beckett casts his mind back over the last three seasons.

He says, “She's been an extraordinarily tough and genuine filly. I'm not sure we knew how good she was when we first ran her in the Prestige Stakes. She progressed quickly to finish second tin the May Hill and the Fillies' Mile. Then at three she had a stellar year, with being second in the Guineas and winning the Falmouth Stakes.

“So we've had a terrific time with her, and she backed that up by winning the Princess Elizabeth at four.”

Indeed, in Prosperous Voyage's last two runs as a juvenile she was second to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), recent heroine of the Breeders' Cup. But she had that great filly's measure when beating her the following year in the G1 Falmouth. Prior to that she had finished just a neck behind Cachet, who also features in the Sceptre Sessions, when second in the 1,000 Guineas.

Becket adds, “In terms of performance, I was equally proud of her in the Guineas. I thought she really outperformed all expectation that day.”

As Tattersalls' marketing director, Jimmy George is naturally relishing the prospect of the fillies' appearance at Park Paddocks.

“It's going to be an exciting few hours not only for Ralph Beckett, but also the owners, Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen,” he says. “Prosperous Voyage's finest hour obviously came in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes last year when she beat a very high-class field, including most notably Inspiral.

“She has a huge pedigree too. Her third dam is Monroe. It's a very smart Juddmonte family: fourth dam is Best In Show, one of the most influential broodmares of of the modern era. So she has plenty that should appeal to breeders from every corner of the globe.”

Prosperous Voyage is set to be sold on the Tuesday of the sale as Lot 1811. Prior to that, the three-year-old Lezoo takes to the ring as Lot 1776.

“She took her racing extraordinarily well at two,” says Beckett of the latter. “I think I ran her four times in six weeks, from a maiden to the Empress Stakes, the Cherry Hinton and the Princess Margaret, and she had a break after that and came back strongly to win the Cheveley Park. This year, things haven't gone quite so well but she did win the Hopeful Stakes against the colts, and she's been a sound, genuine filly throughout. And like Prosperous Voyage, she has barely had a sick day, so I think she'll do very well as a racehorse next year or as a broodmare.”

He adds, “Lezoo is a strong filly, deceptively robust, in the sense that you wouldn't have her down as masculine but the scales say that she is. In terms of physique, she's taken it very well throughout her career. She's got bigger and stronger as she's got older. To be able to come back from the last weekend in July to winning a championship race in early October takes a bit of doing. She had had a bit of a dip after winning the Princess Margaret and we had to bring her back gradually. So for her to do that was quite extraordinary, really, and unusual.”

Whether Lezoo races on or not, Jimmy George points to the genetic attributes which make her an attractive broodmare prospect beyond just what she has achieved on the track.

He says, “Lezoo does have a different profile to her stable-mate Prosperous Voyage, but a very attractive profile at that. She's by Zoustar, she's out of a Red Clubs mare, and it's hard to imagine a Group-1 winning filly that would be easier to mate. She can go to any stallion in the world pretty well. And she was top class when she won the Group 1 Cheveley Park. She beat Mawj, who won this year's 1,000 Guineas. She beat Meditate, who went on to win the Breeders' Cup that year. She is very high class and from an all-speed family.”

All sectors of the December Sale have had their notable representatives this year. Via Sistina (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the 5,000gns December yearling who became a Group 1 star, returns this time to the Sceptre Sessions as Lot 1788, as does Rogue Millennium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), bought for 35,000gns two years ago as a two-year-old and now a Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed for Tom Clover and The Rogues Gallery. She is Lot 1800.

A family which has hogged the limelight at the December Foal Sale in recent years is that of Whitsbury Manor Stud's Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), whose Frankel (GB) foal of 2020 was sold for 550,000gns. Later named Chaldean (GB), his juvenile exploits gave a huge boost to his Kingman (GB) half-brother who topped last year's foal sale at 1,000,000gns. This year, their four-year-old half-sister Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) makes an appearance in the Sceptre Sessions. A Listed winner who was second in this year's G1 Flying Five S., she is sold 'in training' and is one of five black-type performers for her dam, led of course by the Classic winner and new Juddmonte sire Chaldean.

Among the young fillies included in the sale are the group-winning juveniles Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Dawn Charger (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}). 

The former (Lot 1798) has only once been headed in five starts when beaten a nose in the G2 Queen Mary S at Royal Ascot. Since then she has won both the Weatherbys Super Sprint and the G2 Lowther S.

Dawn Charger meanwhile is Lot 1766 and has had a similarly productive season, winning three and finishing second in another three of her seven starts. She won the G3 Prix Eclipse and was most recently runner-up in the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte. 

A slightly different format to the foal sale week this year sees the traditional 'dark day' shifted back to Thursday to allow for more viewing time for the last two foal sessions. Trade gets underway on Tuesday straight after Monday's yearling session, which in itself usually provides plenty of gems for the years ahead.

Following the success of Chaldean over the last seasons, the December Foal Sale has had some other notable graduates to its name this year. Dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) may have been most readily associated with topping the Craven Breeze-up Sale in April, but his sales history stretches back to December 2021 when his breeder Kelly Thomas offered him in her Maywood Stud consignment. This year, in Thomas's draft of three, she brings Vandeek's half-brother by Starspangledbanner (Aus), who is sure to be one of the most heavily perused foals on offer on the Friday. 

Vimal Khosla's G2 Beresford S. winner Deepone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) was another to have been offered at that same foal sale as Vandeek, as was the unbeaten G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The Clive Cox trainee runs in the colours of Jeff Smith's Littleton Stud. A notable breeder, Smith doesn't buy many foals but he has done well with recent purchases, particularly Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), who was picked up at the Goffs November Foal Sale for €40,000 and, after winning four Group 1s for Smith and Andrew Balding, topped last year's December Mares Sale at 5.4 million gns. Just another one of those unforgettable moments of Tattersalls' own brand of theatre.

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Offered by James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud during the second day of the Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday, Dec. 5 as lot 1825, the 13-year-old mare is owned and bred by Guy Pariente. She is in foal to rising French sire Zarak (Fr). A listed winner herself, Kensea's four foals to make the racecourse have all won.

Sealiway is also a winner of the G1 Champion S. and was second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and now stands at Haras de Beaumont. Besides his Group 1 win, Sunway reported home second in the G2 Champagne S.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Kensea is a very rare commodity and represents an almost unique opportunity for breeders from throughout the world to acquire the dam of two Group 1 winners at a relatively young age. She is not only a magnificent tribute to the hugely successful breeding operation that Guy Pariente has developed in France, but also in foal to one of Europe's most exciting young sires and can be mated to any of the world's leading stallions. Kensea is the complete package and will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of a Tattersalls December Mares Sale which as ever promises to showcase the finest mares and fillies to a global audience.”

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A big, scopey mare who took some time to fill her statuesque frame, the five-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock (Aus) is bred on what has come to be regarded as a golden cross. Her dam is the Galileo (Ire) mare Nigh (Ire), who, though unraced herself, is a half-sister to the top-class sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil).

“She's a big girl but a very sound horse in training and one who I'm sure is a massive racing prospect as well as a broodmare. She's peaking at five,” says George Boughey, who has trained Via Sistina since the retirement of her initial trainer, Joseph Tuite, and most recently saddled her to finish second in an epic battle with King Of Steel on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot.

Even from her first season, Via Sistina showed plenty of class, rounding out her three-year-old season with two wins from five starts and a rating of 97. Bigger and better was to come, however. 

At four, she landed her first Pattern success, taking the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air in Toulouse after being beaten only a neck in the G3 Pride S. at Newmarket. This season, she picked up the baton again in the spring for a six-length victory in the G2 Dahlia S. on Guineas weekend at Newmarket

“The plan was always when she won in France as a four-year-old to go to the Dahlia, and arguably that was her best performance,” Boughey recalls. “She was pretty devastating that day. The rain obviously helped, but she's very versatile.”

From Newmarket, Via Sistina travelled to Ireland for her first attempt in Group 1 company, this time winning the Pretty Polly S. from Stay Alert (GB) and Above The Curve. In three subsequent runs, in the Falmouth S., the Prix Jean Romanet and the Champion S., she has never been out of the first three, including going down by just a nose to Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) in Deauville.

“She hit every target that we wanted her to, and to a tee,” Boughey says. “I think she very easily could have won in France as well, she just got a bit lonely in front. She's been brilliantly ridden through a career by some world-class jockeys and she needs putting there on the line. She's got a pretty good turn of foot for a big mare over that trip. There are a lot of good horses, but not many have a turn a foot and can sit last and quicken for 300 metres. 

“She's a very consistent Group 1 performer and certainly the best I've trained.”

That's high praise indeed from the trainer who was also represented by his first Classic winner last season in Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}). The winner of the 1,000 Guineas will also be offered in the Sceptre Sessions.

“I'm very proud of that, selling two Group 1 winners at Tattersalls,” Boughey says. 

“I never really dreamed of having a Group I winner, certainly not so early, and to have two selling within half an hour of each other is is pretty cool.”

He adds of Via Sistina, “She came here as a bit of a project and has turned into our star. So it will be a good day but it will be a sad day. It's hard to lose good horses and they do leave a big hole. You've got to go and find another one, but it's hard to find them when they're that good.” 

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Rogue Millennium, who was bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for just 35,000gns from Shadwell at this exact sale in 2021, has carried the colours of The Rogues Gallery with great distinction and brought Clover to some of the biggest meetings in Europe.

Not only did she justify her supplementation fee when landing the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot, but she also ran a gallant second to Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Matron S. at the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown.

She will now embark on her next chapter as a broodmare and Clover says that he is hopeful that the 4-year-old will prove quite an attractive prospect to all the big stud farms come December.

Recapping on that memorable triumph at the Royal meeting, Clover said, “It was just the most incredible day at Royal Ascot. It's the type of result you dream of when you start training. For a syndicate of really good friends and people now, who are such racing enthusiasts, to have a day like that together; we'll remember it for the rest of our lives. We'd a great big picnic in the car park beforehand and had a fantastic day. A day we'll remember forever.”

The trainer added, “She's a filly who we always had in mind to put through the ring at some stage. Being a daughter of Dubawi (Ire) and a Group 2-winning miler at Royal Ascot will hopefully make her quite attractive. Tattersalls has just been fantastic to us and the Rogues. I know Tony Elliott [syndicate manager] really wants to support them. Going there to the Spectre Sessions will be a fantastic way of seeing her off.”

Rogue Millennium reached an official rating of 110 and amassed over £300,000 in career earnings. She has won three times from 14 starts and placed on a further five occasions. She was last seen running fifth behind Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.

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