Banimpire Tops Staggering Day at December Mare Sale
The last few years have seen some memorable days at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, especially during the heady days of 2006 and 2007 where turnover on the ‘Tuesday’ topped £30m on both occasions, fuelled by the high-profile dispersals of Britton House and Swettenham Studs. Whilst most would have agreed that the catalogue for the 2012 renewal of the sale wasn’t a vintage one, most have been in agreement that the ‘physicals’ of many of those present were outstanding which goes some way towards explaining the phenomenal trade taking place at Tattersalls. Turnover for the day was 23.8m guineas, bettered only three times in history on this day, twice in the aforementioned years and last year when four topped 1 million guineas. Today’s trade saw 184 lots sell for 23,792,500 guineas, at an average of 129,307 guineas and a median of 66,000 guineas.
The top lot on the second day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale was the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner BANIMPIRE, who was knocked down to Eaton Sales’ Reiley McDonald for 1,500,000 guineas. Consigned from European Sales Management, the four-year-old daughter of HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, out of the KRIS S mare MY RENEE is a great granddaughter of the Champion European filly and Arc winner DETROIT, dam of another Arc winner in CARNEGIE.
"She is the prettiest mare," smiled Reiley after he saw off Haras de Saint Pair’s Andreas Putsch and Japanese buyers KI Farm. "She has been bought on behalf of a very good client.
"We are keen to buy European pedigrees to bring in more versatility, stamina and strength to our US pedigrees.
"We will send her to Galileo - he is the pre-eminent stallion in the world and we want to get ahead of the curve by using him. She might spend a couple of years in Europe - we will see."
| Catalogued | Offered | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 269 | 227 | 184 | 23,792,500 | 129,307 | 66,000 |
| 2011 | 263 | 216 | 160 | 25,258,800 | 157,868 | 55,000 |
BLUE SYMPHONY, dam of the Group 3 Nell Gwyn winner FANTASIA, and the Group 3 winner PINK SYMPHONY, was knocked down to Coolmore’s MV Magnier for 1,000,000 guineas after he saw off Ecurie des Monceaux’s Henri Bozo. Consigned by Sara and Luca Cumani’s Fittocks Stud, the daughter of the European Champion 2yo BLUE DUSTER, was offered with a covering to DUBAWI.
"She is a nice mare, with plenty before her, let's hope it continues," said Magnier. "We obviously know many of her previous stock well, and the Cumanis have been great supporters. The mare will go back to Galileo"
Sara Cumani, though obviously delighted with the sale, said: "It is sad to see her go, but you have to keep turning stock around. She will be difficult to replace, but we do have her Pivotal yearling in training at home."
Lot 1770, the Listed winning PIVOTAL mare SEEHARN was knocked down to Mandore International’s Nicolas de Watrigant for 950,000 guineas after he saw off the BBA Ireland’s Adrian Nicoll. The Group-placed mare was offered in foal to DUBAWI from James Hanly’s Ballyhimikin Stud.
"She is a beautiful mare," said de Watrigant. "I believe she is the most beautiful mare in the sale.
"It is a great family, she is a young mare and her own dam is a young mare too - she has a Pivotal foal and is in-foal to Galileo.
"Dubawi is getting great statistics too. She has been bought for a great owner!"
Hugo Lascelles went to 900,000 guineas to secure SECRET GARDEN, dam of the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas winner RODERIC O’CONNOR, who was consigned from The National Stud.
"She's been bought for an owner-breeder based in England," said Lascelles. "A Danehill mare, who has produced a Classic winner - what more can you ask for? She will go to Ireland from here and back to 'the horse'."
The 'horse' referenced to is, of course, GALILEO, the sire of her Classic winner, and her current covering.
Rob Speers, bloodstock advisor to prominent owner and breeder Ibrahim Araci, had a day to remember on the second day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale when DESERT CLASSIC was knocked down to Greg Goodman of Mount Brilliant Farm and Ranch for 875,000 guineas.
The dam of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner WROTE was bought by Speers in 2006 for 24,000 Euros and offered carrying a full-sibling to that horse by HIGH CHAPARRAL.
"She has been absolutely amazing to me," said Speers. "Wrote gave me my best day in racing and I have retained a two-year-filly out of the mare.
"There is always a time to sell, and that was today," he added.
Goodman, who bought the Highclere Stud consigned mare, saw off Ibrahim Araci, James Wigan and Adrian Nicoll to secure the daughter of GREEN DESERT after some prompting from his wife Beccy.
"We selected four or five mares," explained Goodman, "but she was the pick of them. Luckily, she was the first to come through.
"She is a beautiful mare and we are very pleased. She will foal here and may stay here for a couple of years. She is carrying a colt."
DIARA ANGEL, a daughter of DESERT CLASSIC and a half-sister to WROTE will be offered as lot 2122A.
Speers, acting in his role as advisor to Ibrahim Araci, later signed for lot 1778, the SADLER’S WELLS mare who was knocked down to him for 525,000 guineas. The Group placed daughter of the Listed winner MOMENTS OF JOY (the sale topping lot at this sale in 2005 at 1.65m guineas), was offered carrying to SEA THE STARS.
"She has been bought to visit Native Khan, whom Ibrahim raced and owns," said Speers. "He is currently at Ibrahim's farm in Turkey, but moves shortly to one of the Jockey Club's studs.
"Ibrahim is very keen to support Native Khan and we are interested in buying further mares, the market is tough though.
"Unity will foal and then will probably ship her and the Sea The Stars colt foal back to Europe."
The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continues at 9.30am on Wednesday, December 5.