Oaks Winner Dancing Rain to Sell at Tattersalls December Sale

Dual Oaks winner DANCING RAIN, in foal to FRANKEL, is to be sold at the 2013 Tattersalls December Sale.

Trained by William Haggas to win both the Oaks and German Oaks in 2011 for owners Martin and Lee Taylor, the regally bred daughter of DANEHILL DANCER will be the first Epsom Oaks winner carrying her first foal to be sold at public auction in more than 50 years.

An outstanding individual, DANCING RAIN's finest hour came at Epsom where she produced a superb front - running display to beat one of the strongest Oaks fields of recent years. With 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks winner BLUE BUNTING, multiple Group 1 winner IZZI TOP and Classic and multiple Group 1 winner MISTY FOR ME all trailing behind her, DANCING RAIN recorded the fastest final three furlongs on record for an Epsom Classic, before comfortably accounting for another high class field in the Group 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks).

Having become the only filly to complete the English/German Oaks double, DANCING RAIN confirmed her star status with another emphatic win in the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Fillies' and Mares Stakes at Ascot on British Champions' Day. A Group 2 contest in its first running, the British Champions Fillies' and Mares Stakes has since been upgraded to Group 1 status and DANCING RAIN's winning time was the fastest ever by a filly over 12 furlongs at Ascot.

Purchased as a yearling by Liam Norris and William Huntingdon for €200,000, DANCING RAIN's ability on the racecourse is matched by a superb Classic pedigree. By Champion sire DANEHILL DANCER, she is out of the INDIAN RIDGE mare RAIN FLOWER, a three parts sister to Derby winner DR DEVIOUS. DANCING RAIN's own three parts sister SUMORA (by DANEHILL) is already a proven Group 1 producer as the dam of 2011 Champion 2 year old filly MAYBE (by GALILEO). SUMORA, in foal to GALILEO, was the highest priced broodmare sold in Europe in 2011 when selling for 2,400,000 guineas as a nine year old at the Tattersalls December Sale.

Tested in foal to the magnificent FRANKEL on a March 2nd cover, DANCING RAIN's first mating replicates the hugely successful GALILEO/DANEHILL cross which has produced FRANKEL himself, as well as MAYBE, RODERIC O'CONNOR, TEOFILO, 2013 Classic winner INTELLO and 2014 Derby ante post favourite INDIAN MAHARAJA who is out of a DANEHILL DANCER mare.

Commenting on DANCING RAIN, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said;

"DANCING RAIN is a real jewel and it is a very rare honour to be entrusted with the sale of a broodmare of such quality. There has not been an Epsom Oaks winner carrying her first foal to be offered at public auction for more than 50 years which puts DANCING RAIN's sale into clear perspective. She is a gorgeous mare, she is a dual Classic winner and she is in foal to the best racehorse most of us will ever see. It is hard to imagine a more complete package and the Tattersalls December Sale will be the perfect stage for such a star."

Liam Norris who purchased DANCING RAIN as a yearling and manages Martin and Lee Taylor's racing and breeding interests added;

"DANCING RAIN has everything you need to be a great broodmare. She was an outstanding racemare from a proven Classic family, by a Champion sire with perfect conformation and temperament. There are not too many like her around."

DANCING RAIN will be consigned from Clairemont Stud  which is managed by Jenny Norris and will be sold on the opening day of the Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale, Monday 2nd December.