Dubawi Fillies Dominate Fourth Day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale
It was a spectacular day of trade on the fourth day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale that saw a trio of DUBAWI fillies fill the podium with the best of those making 800,000 guineas, becoming the highest priced foal to be sold in Europe at public auction this year. An impressive 22 lots sold for more than 200,000 guineas up from 17 last year. The fourth day saw a total of 191 lots sell for 18,423,000 guineas, at an average of 96,455 guineas and a median of 62,000 guineas.
The sale-topping daughter of DUBAWI is out of the Group 3 St Simon Stakes winner HIGH HEELED and was bought by John Ferguson for 800,000 guineas. The HIGH CHAPPARAL mare is also a Classic performer, placing third in The Oaks in 2009, and a daughter of the dual Group 2 winner in America, UNCHARTED HEAVEN.
The February-born foal is from the family of Group 1 Irish Guineas winner JUST THE JUDGE who was sold at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale last year for a record-breaking 4.5 million guineas.
The beautifully bred filly is a product of James Wigan’s West Blagdon Stud and is the highest priced filly to sell at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale since 2002; only surpassed by own-sisters to GALILEO - ALL TOO BEAUTIFUL and MY TYPHOON - who sold for 1.1 million and 1.8 million guineas respectively.
James Wigan commented:
"We are obviously thrilled. She is a beautiful filly, and she is certainly the nicest we have had. We knew that there were a lot of the 'right' names interested in her, and she had been viewed a couple of times at home by the Darley team. She has done nothing but improve.
"I have to thank the wonderful team at home - it is small family stud and it makes sense to sell as foals, there is less risk!"
Receiving the attention she deserved in the sales ring, there were various parties involved in the bidding at different stages including the Lordship Stud’s Libby Harris, Badgers Bloodstock’s Grant Pritchard-Gordon, Newsells Park Stud’s Julian Dollar and Turkish owner Ibrahim Araci.
| Year | Catalogued | Offered | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 302 | 245 | 191 | 18,423,000 | 96,455 | 62,000 |
| 2014 | 288 | 240 | 195 | 16,717,000 | 85,728 | 65,000 |
John Ferguson, who had a busy day buying a total of 15 foals for a total of 3,552,000 guineas, also secured the third highest priced DUBAWI filly for 625,000 guineas.
Competition for the first foal out of dual Group 1 winner LA COLLINA came from Dermot Farrington, as well as, David Redvers who was standing outside with Sheikh Fahad but it was Ferguson’s persistence that won the day.
Ferguson said of his purchase from Kenilworth House Stud:
"She is a lovely filly and by a sire who needs no introduction. She has a lot of the Dubawi look about her - she is very athletic. Breeders who produce horses who look like her deserve reward."
There were fireworks aplenty when the chesnut DUBAWI filly out of HIT THE SKY went through the ring and become the second highest priced foal of the day. She was bought by South African-based Michael Jooste for 720,000 guineas, on behalf his father Markus’ Mayfair Speculators.
The Knocktoran Stud graduate filled the gangway with a number of potential purchasers but it was Ibrahim Araci who came closest, bowing out with a final bid of 710,000 guineas.
The February born filly is a half-sister to three Group winners including the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein winner ROYAL BENCH, Group 3 Prix Allez France winner MAYHEM and Group 3 Ormonde Stakes winner MEMPHIS TENNESSEE and hails from the family of Irish Oaks winner MOONSTONE and Irish Oaks runner-up L’ANCRESSE.
Jooste, who was stood between Peter and Ross Doyle, commented:
"I am just glad that the figure in Rand was not up on the board - it probably wouldn't have fitted on, but if I saw it, I might have run away!
"She is a lovely horse and a very good walker. Future plans will be up to our racing manager Derek Brugman," added Jooste.
It was a son of SHAMARDAL who realised the fourth highest price of the day when selling to Peter and Ross Doyle for 550,000 guineas, becoming the highest priced colt sold at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale since World record-breaking PADUA’S PRIDE, who made 2.5 million guineas in 1997.
Consigned by Airlie Stud, the son of the Group-placed DANEHILL mare DANELETA is a three-parts sister to the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes winner and sire INTENSE FOCUS.
"He was an exceptional foal, we are very pleased. It is always nice to have two good judges on one," said Anthony Rogers of Airlie Stud referring to Peter Doyle and John Ferguson the eventual underbidder.
Doyle commented:
"I am delighted to have got him, I have been looking forward to him all day. He is for an established client - he is from a great family and by a very good sire."
The fifth and final day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale takes place on Saturday, November 28 with 224 lots catalogued and the action set to start at 9.30am.