Four Top Million at Tattersalls December Mare Sale

HANKY PANKY was the star turn on the second day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, selling for 2,700,000 guineas on a day that also included the sale of Champion two-year-old TIGGY WIGGY for 2,100,000 guineas and the Oaks winner QUALIFY for 1,600,000 guineas. The second day of the sale saw a total of 162 lots sell for 27,657,000 guineas, at an average of 170,722 guineas and a median of 79,000 guineas.

The GALILEO mare HANKY PANKY always looked one of the standout lots of the Tattersalls December Mare catalogue as the half-sister to Champion racehorse and sire GIANT’S CAUSEWAY as well as to YOU’RESOTHRILLING, the dam of the dual Guineas winner GLENEAGLES and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner MARVELLOUS. The daughter of MARIAH’S STORM was offered by Lady Carolyn Warren’s Highclere Stud, in foal to DUBAWI on behalf of John Sikura. The Group placed five-year-old mare caught the attention of US agent Justin Casse, Turkish owner/breeder Ibrahim Araci as well as Fernando Diaz Valdez and John Warren, but it was Darley’s John Ferguson who secured the mare with his bid of 2,700,000 guineas.

"It is a huge privilege to sell a mare such as this," said Lady Carolyn Warren, "and we thank John Sikura for entrusting us with her. She is a beautiful mare and ticked every box.

"There were a lot of different parties interested, and a lot of different people bidding. We are very pleased that Sheikh Mohammed bought her, he is such a huge supporter of the industry."

Last year’s Joint European Champion two-year-old filly TIGGY WIGGY was the second highest price for the day when knocked down to MV Magnier for 2,100,000 guineas. The filly lit up the racecourse with her blinding speed, recording successes in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes and Group 2 Lowther Stakes amongst her six victories in her freshman year. The daughter of KODIAC out of the KHELEYF mare KHELEYF’S SISTER, was also placed in the Group 1 1,000 Guineas earlier this year for trainer Richard Hannon.

"She was a great race filly, and she will go to Galileo," said MV Magnier. "She is a lovely mare and the Hannons have done a very good job with her."

MV Magnier secured the filly after seeing off Anthony Stroud and John Ferguson as well as Mandore International’s Nicholas de Watrigant and Japan’s Northern Farm.

QUALIFY, who scored an upset 50-1 win in the Oaks earlier this year, was knocked down to John Ferguson for 1,600,000 guineas after he held off Barry Weisbord, stood alongside agent James Delahooke and London Thoroughbred Services’ James Wigan.

The only Oaks winner in memory to sell in the same year as her victory, QUALIFY is by the Australian Champion sire FASTNET ROCK out of the Group placed GALILEO mare PERIHELION. She was consigned to the sale by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of her owner Chantel Regalado-Gonzalez and hails from the famous Juddmonte family of EVA LUNA, BRIAN BORU and WORKFORCE.

"It is always lovely to have an Oaks winner," Ferguson said afterwards.

"She is a lovely, scopey mare who was a very good racehorse and her Oaks-winning day was extraordinary.

"I have one or two ideas as to covering plans, but the boss will decide."

The fourth lot to break seven figures for the day was the eight-year-old mare SETA, who was knocked down to Hugo Lascelles for 1,100,000 guineas. The daughter of PIVOTAL, out of the GENEROUS mare BOMBAZINE, hails from the great Gerard Leigh family that includes the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner BARATHEA and the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile winner GOSSAMER. The Group 2 May Hill Stakes third SETA was offered by Sara Cumani’s Fittocks Stud on behalf of Gerard Leigh’s daughter, the Late Sarah Leigh.

Lascelles bought SETA on behalf of a US client and commented:

"The client is delighted and very excited to have bought her."

"They are looking for deep European bloodlines, it is a long term plan but this is a wonderful established British family. She was a good racemare herself and her two foals have sold for the best part of 850,000gns.

"She will be bred to War Front - she should suit him physically very well indeed."

Fittocks Stud’s Sara Cumani had mixed emotions.

"It is wonderful price, tinged with sadness, but Gerald Leigh would have loved it - he really enjoyed selling a big one!

"There was obviously lots of interest and all the right people came, but you never know what is going to happen. She showed herself well and Sharon Dukes led her up today - she did her in training and has looked after much of the family."

The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continues on Wednesday, December 2 at 9.30am.