2010 December Foal Sale Day 3 Press Release

Foals form the dispersal of Bloomsbury Stud were the highlight on the third day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, providing two of top four lots on a day where 134 lots were sold for 7,992,800 guineas, at an average of 59,648 guineas and a median of 40,000 guineas.

The dispersal of the stock of the historic Bloomsbury Stud’s yearlings, foals and breeding stock marks the end of an era that was started more than 45 years ago by Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford. The highlight of the foals on offer was clearly the SINGSPIEL colt out of the HIGHEST HONOR mare FIRST who glided around the ring as bids rained in. Paddy Twomey and Ted Voute made much of the early running, before a rare head-to-head battle between Darley’s John Ferguson and the Coolmore pair of Paul Shanahan and MV Magnier saw the price soar to 320,000 guineas with the latter duo successful. The half-brother to the Listed winning pair of PERFECT STRIDE and LAW LORD is a direct descendant of the legendary MRS MOSS who was responsible for so many of Bloomsbury’s successes over the decades.

"He is a very nice horse," said Magnier following the purchase. "All the lads liked him and he has been bought to race."

Three lots later Jockey Hall Stud’s Jacqueline Norris fought off Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold to secure the NAYEF filly out of the GREEN DESERT mare ARTFUL. The half-sister to the Listed winner DUPLICITY was knocked down to Norris for 220,000 guineas and following her purchase she commented;

"I had instructions from a client to buy this filly. She will come back to the farm and will more than likely be kept to race - my client was very keen to get hold of this bloodline."

The dispersal of foals from Bloomsbury Stud realised a total of 912,000 guineas for the nine lots sold. Both FIRST and ARTFUL are amongst eighteen fillies and mares to be offered next week during the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in what promises to be an eventful final chapter in the dispersal of the great nursery.

Earlier in the day the sale of the DUBAWI filly out of the Listed placed HALLING mare CRESTA GOLD provided a great result for her breeders Sylvia and Peter Tellwright of Tyrley Castle Stud in Shropshire. Early action on the filly came from Ger Morrin and John Ferguson before Tweenhills’ David Redvers took up the running, but he was eventually beaten to the prize by locally based agent Rochard Frisby who bought her for 270,000 guineas. Frisby was acting on behalf of a partnership who intend to race her and indicated that she would head to Whitsbury Manor in the interim. Her breeders were naturally thrilled by the sale and commented;

"This is the nicest foal we have ever bred," smiled Sylvia. "It is sad to see her go, but we are a commercial operation and we had no other choice. At least the bank manager will be happy now!"

"I am delighted for the Tellwrights," said David Brown of the Furnace Mill Stud who consigned the filly. "They have bred some fantastic horses over the years, horses such as ROCK CITY and REBELLINE. They will be over the moon!

"This is a lovely filly. She was never in her box so we knew she was popular, but we did not think she would quite get to that."

It was certainly an eventful day for Jockey Hall Stud’s Jacqueline Norris as both a buyer and a seller, and it was in the role of the latter that she figured late in the evening when consigning the DANSILI colt out of the Listed winning HIGHEST HONOR mare MISS HONORINE. Juddmonte Stud’s DANSILI has been represented on the racecourse in 2010 by HARBINGER, the World’s highest rated racehorse, as well as multiple Grade 1 winner PROVISO and Group 1 winning juvenile ZOFFANY and interest in the colt came from Camas Park Stud’s Timmy Hyde as well as Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold, and it was the latter who proved successful with a bid of 240,000 guineas.