Galashiels Tops Opening Day of Tattersalls February Sale at 220,000 Guineas

The Tattersalls February Sale got off to a strong start with rises across the board on the opening day and Listed winner GALASHIELS heading proceedings at 220,000 guineas. The median and average soared 107% and 56% respectively from the equivalent session last year with the clearance rate a solid 87%. 

Listed Winner Galashiels Bound for Australia at 220,000 Guineas  

The top lot on the opening day of the February Sale was Godolphin’s dual Listed winner GALASHIELS who was knocked down for 220,000 guineas to Jamie Spencer, standing with bloodstock agent Colm Sharkey at the top of the stairs. The six-year-old son of AUSTRALIA is aptly set to head Down Under with the duo acting on behalf of Ciaron Maher Racing.  

Previously trained by Andre Fabre, GALASHIELS was second in the Listed Grand Prix de Nantes on his most recent start in November and has been Group 3 placed in addition to his two Listed victories over a mile and a half.  

"The horse fits the profile for Australia, he has the form and pedigree, and Ciaron picked the horse out," revealed Sharkey. "He will be let down and will probably head out on the next flight. He made more than we expected, but Ciaron was keen to get him and has been lucky buying from Andre Fabre before."  

GALASHIELS is out of the Listed placed DUKE OF MARMALADE mare GLENMAYNE, a half-sister to European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly MILLISLE and to GINO SEVERINI, a multiple Group winner in New Zealand.

Godolphin’s Scarlet Princess to Marconi for 130,000 Guineas  

Bloodstock agent Alessandro Marconi was the leading purchaser on the opening day securing 16 lots, including three of the session’s highest priced offerings led by the Godolphin consigned filly SCARLET PRINCESS. The daughter of KINGMAN has been third on her two starts to date for Charlie Appleby and is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner LOXLEY.  

"The horses will be assessed and we will go from there," revealed Marconi. "We were lucky buying here in July, I recommended this sale as I felt it offered good value - that is why we are here."  

He added: "My client operates a large, emerging syndicate and is based in the Middle East. There are some big plans and horses will be based both in Europe and the Middle East. Once the purchases have finished racing, they could be breeding prospects. My client has been very loyal to me."  

SCARLET PRINCESS is out of Champion German filly LADY MARIAN, winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera and runner up in both the Preis der Diana and the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet.  

Marconi Secures Juddmonte’s Modernise for 90,000 Guineas  

Alessandro Marconi’s buying spree continued with the Juddmonte consigned MODERNISE at 90,000 guineas with bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath, underbidder on the session’s top lot GALASHIELS, again a frustrated runner up. The three-year-old FRANKEL colt was a promising third over a mile at Southwell on his second start subsequent to catalogue publication.  

A smiling Marconi said; "I have to thank the Tattersalls marketing department for putting Metropolitan and Facteur Cheval on the back of the catalogue. And results from horses bought at the July Sale, it may have helped with getting a new client!"  

The dams of both METROPOLITAN and FACTEUR CHEVAL were bought at the Tattersalls February Sale for 800 guineas and 18,000 guineas respectively and their offspring subsequently purchased by Marconi prior to their 2024 Group 1 victories.  

Of plans for MODERNISE, he outlined: "I will take this horse to France and see how he is. He will run in France and we have a couple of trainers in mind, but it needs a little thinking about. I am very keen on having horses in the Emirates and in Europe.  

"He is by a great sire, he is unexposed, he is from a Classic trainer, he seems as though he will develop into a very nice three-year-old over a Classic trip. Hopefully the ground and racing in France will suit."  

MODERNISE is out of the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham winner MODERN LOOK, the dam of Grade 3 winner and dual Grade 1 placed GRAND JETE and the Listed placed DIDEROT, from the family of successful sires SHOWCASING and CAMACHO. 

Helen Keller Another for Marconi at 90,000 Guineas  

The joint third highest priced lot of the day was also knocked down to Alessandro Marconi for 90,000 guineas, seeing off French bloodstock agent Laurent Benoit to secure the Godolphin consigned filly HELEN KELLER.  

The unraced three-year-old is by NIGHT OF THUNDER out of the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes winner DISCOURSE, the dam of Group winner BLOWN BY WIND and Listed winning fillies DISCURSUS and HADITH. DISCOURSE herself is a STREET CRY half-sister to Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes winner BANDINI and to NAJOUM, the dam of multiple Group 1 winner LORD NORTH.  

The Tattersalls February Sale continues at 10am on Friday, 31st January.