Immortal Verse Sells For 4.7m Guineas At Tattersalls December Mare Sale

IMMORTAL VERSE set a European record for a broodmare when selling for 4.7m guineas on a day of extraordinary trade at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. Additionally, ROSDHU QUEEN and DREAM PEACE sold for 2.1m guineas and 2.7m guineas respectively, pushing the turnover past 30,000,000 guineas for only the second time in European auction history. In total, 190 lots were sold for 34,478,500 guineas, at an average of 181,466 guineas and at median of 76,500 guineas resulting in rises of 45% for turnover, 40% for average and 16% for median.

For the second time in two days an expectant hush descended over Tattersalls as an in-foal mare, another dual Group 1 winner, this time the PIVOTAL mare IMMORTAL VERSE and sold in-foal to DANSILI, made her way into the sales ring. The bidding was kicked off at 2 million by James Wigan, along with Michael Goodbody and the pair took the price past yesterday’s session topping 4 million guineas, before BBA Ireland’s Adrian Nicoll made the successful bid of 4.7 million with Wigan the underbidder. The price is a new European record for a broodmare sold at auction, the previous best being the sale of Magical Romance for 4.6 million guineas at Tattersalls in 2006, coincidentally purchased by Wigan at the time. IMMORTAL VERSE was purchased by Nicoll on behalf of a new partnership to be established within Coolmore and was sold by Luke Lillingston’s Mount Coote Stud on behalf of US-based owners Merriebelle Stables.

"Everything was right with her," said Nicoll. "It was top whack for her, but she is beautiful."

Peter Bance, spokesperson for US-based owner Merriebelle Stables, which bought all of the stock previously owned by the Irish-based Kilfrush Stud in the summer and took the decision to sell the mare, said: "It is wonderful to be part of this, it is a once in a lifetime chance to be do this and to see this.

"If you want to get to the top of racing in the world, this is the kind of mare to take you there. It is all down to Brendan Hayes of Kilfrush, who has developed the family for such a long time, and Luke [Lillingston] for producing her so well.

"She is a gorgeous mare, she is balanced, is so good-looking, a picture. She has the ability to become anything."

Merriebelle Stables is a partnership of John Moores and Charles Noell.

Vendor Luke Lillingston of Mount Coote Stud was quite emotional after the sale. "It has been a huge honour to have the chance to sell this mare for a new European record.

"The team have done a fabulous job with her and I have been really proud of them this week.

"I said to MV that I hope in 50 years he will still be enjoying all her followers and family - that is what this mare is all about."

The Coolmore team had also struck earlier to secure the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner ROSDHU QUEEN for 2.1m guineas through agent Stephen Hillen despite spirited efforts from John Warren and Barouche Stud’s Rory Matthews.

"She's been bought for Coolmore," said Hillen. "I should imagine she is going to be one for Galileo. She is a beautiful filly, a great physical. She is by Invincible Spirit who is doing so well, she is a Group 1-winning sprinter and won her Group 1 as a two-year-old - you don't get many of those coming onto the market."

ROSDHU QUEEN won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes before going on to take the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes for trainer William Haggas who also trained yesterday’s 4m guineas session topper DANCING RAIN. She is also a graduate of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale - having been bought by David Redvers Bloodstock in April 2012 from Grove Stud for 65,000gns for Steve Parkin, owner of the filly through his company Clipper Logistics.

The sensational trade continued late into the evening when Hugo Lascelles went to 2.7 million guineas to secure the Group 2 winner and Grade 1 placed DREAM PEACE.

"She is for Frankel" said Lascelles. "She will probably be staying in the UK. It is a truly wonderful pedigree, one of the very best.

"We have been underbidders on a few, it meant that we've saved some ammo!"

Those that Lascelles beat for the dual Grade 1-placed filly by Dansili included Badgers Bloodstock’s Grant Pritchard-Gordon, Greg Goodman of Mount Brilliant Farm, Fiona Craig and Reilly McDonald.

The "wonderful pedigree" is that of dam TRULY A DREAM, a multiple Group race winner, grand-dam TRULY SPECIAL, a multiple Group race winner, and great grand-dam ARCTIQUE ROYALE, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Henri Bozo also bought into the family earlier today when purchasing Demurely (Lot 1792) for 600,000gns.

It is another reflection this evening of the strength and depth in the Kilfrush stock - DREAM PEACE was bred by Kilfrush and the family has been developed by the farm for generations.

The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continues at 9.30am on Wednesday, December 4.