Purr Along Tops Million At Tattersalls December Mare Sale

The William Muir-trained PURR ALONG became the fifth million guineas lot for the Tattersalls December Sale when knocked down to Newsells Park Stud’s Julian Dollar for 1,000,000 guineas. The third day of the sale saw a total of 182 lots sell for 8,863,500 guineas, at an average of 48,701 guineas and a median of 25,000 guineas. As has been the case on the opening two days, the major indicators were all up significantly, with turnover rising 20%, the average up 39% and the median up 47%.

The three-year-old filly PURR ALONG is set to stay in training next year after being purchased for a partnership between Newsells Park Stud and Sheikh Fahad.

"She is for the Secret Gesture partnership," stated Redvers, indicating the involvement of Newsells, after Dollar had been doing the bidding and bought the filly for a million guineas. "We are looking forward to racing another high-class filly in a partnership between Pearl Bloodstock and Newsells Park."

The partnership raced Secret Gesture this year to twice finish second in two Oaks races. PURR ALONG is by MOUNT NELSON, and Sheikh Fahad joked: "He is my favourite stallion!"

PURR ALONG is the winner of the Group 3 Prix Calvados and was placed in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes.

A few lots earlier Bill Dwan had to go to 500,000 guineas to secure the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes winner EUPHRASIA. Consigned from Joe G Murphy’s Crampscastle Stables, the daughter of WINDSOR KNOT was knocked down to Dwan after he saw off the efforts of Paul McCarten.

"She has been bought for an established Irish client. She will be kept in training to try and win a Group 1 and then breed from her," said Dwan, taking a purchasing position rather than his usual vendors' spot.

"She has very good form and the client will look to run her in all the top races."

Underbidders included Paul McCarten, who was standing near to the auctioneers' rostrum.

The triple Group 1 winner AL KAZEEM has attracted plenty of attention ahead of his first season at stud at the Royal Studs next year and another broodmare set to join his roster of mares is the three-year-old filly LIGHT UP MY LIFE. The Group-placed daughter of SHINE LIKE A STAR was knocked down to Nicholas de Watrigant for 425,000 guineas on behalf of Sheikh Joann’s Al Shaqab Racing who own shares in the son of DUBAWI. The daughter of ZAMINDAR is out of a sister to the Group 1 Coronation Stakes winner FALLEN FOR YOU and was knocked down to de Watrigant after he saw off Peter Stanley, standing alongside Luke Lillingston.

The Juddmonte consignment of fillies is always one of the highlights of the Tattersalls December Sale and this year’s offering saw the 23 lots offered reap a total of 1,627,000 guineas with ANEW the highest priced of these at 280,000 guineas. The three-year-old daughter of OASIS DREAM is a sister to the Group 2 winner TREAT GENTLY and out of the IN THE WINGS mare KID GLOVES, a sister to HASILI, dam of the Group 1 winners INTERCONTINENTAL, CACIQUE, HEAT HAZE, CHAMPS ELYSEES and BANKS HILL. ANEW was purchased by Nicholas de Watrigant on behalf of Sheikh Joann Al Thani’s Al Shaqab Racing.

The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continues with the fourth and final session starting at 9.30am on Thursday, December 5.