2010 December Foal Sale Day 1 Press Release

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale saw significant rises in turnover, average and median on the opening day with particularly strong demand for the choice lots. A colt by first season sire SAKHEE’S SECRET was the day’s top price at 42,000 guineas whilst a total of 129 lots sold for 1,230,900 guineas and an average of 9,542 guineas and a median of 5,800 guineas. That represented rises of 7%, 31% and 57% in turnover, average and median respectively when compared with last year’s opening session.

The top lot during the opening session was the SAKHEE’S SECRET colt out of the PRINCE SABO mare MALELANE who was knocked down to locally based bloodstock agent Richard Frisby for 42,000 guineas. The son of the half-sister to the Group and Listed winner pair of BISHOP’S COURT and ASTONISHED was knocked down to Frisby who judged him to be today’s “stand out individual”.

"The colt has been bought for a pin-hooking syndicate," said Frisby. "He is from a very tough family and his dam is a full-sister to CAPE ROYAL, the winner of 12 races and £180,000.

"Clive Cox has the mare's Compton Place yearling."

Consignor Whitsbury Manor, who stand SAKHEE’S SECRET would be pleased with the reception afforded his first foals, with six of his eight foals offered on the opening day selling for 10,000 guineas or more with a further 25 to be offered over the following three days.

There was plenty of interest in the BAHAMIAN BOUNTY colt out of the NIGHT SHIFT mare QUICKSTYX following updates in the month of October which included the win of his DUBAWI half-sister WATNEYA at her only start for William Haggas and the sale of his SINGSPIEL half-brother at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 130,000 guineas. Interest in the colt, who was consigned from Norman Court Stud, came from agent David McGreavy and Rathasker Stud’s Maurice Burns but it was Oaks Farm Stud’s Mark Dwyer, standing alongside Willie Browne who proved successful at 40,000 guineas. "He is a well-related horse," said Browne of the Norman Court-consigned son of BAHAMIAN BOUNTY. "His half-sister [HAIRSPRAY] got to a rating of 94 and there is also a DUBAWI three-year-old to run for us next summer so hopefully that will dig us out. "This was probably as much as we should have spent on this horse, but I am sure that foals will be dear enough by Friday so I think we have bought well," smiled Browne, who added that he will be eligible to collect a pension in 2011! "The plan," continued Browne, "will be to bring this chap back here next autumn."