Strong Renewal of Tattersalls December Yearling Sale

The one-day Tattersalls December Yearling Sale saw a filly by SEA THE STARS top proceedings at 260,000 guineas on a day that saw nine lots sell for 100,000 guineas or more, a figure bettered only once in the history of the sale. The sale saw turnover of 4,501,500 guineas for the second smallest catalogue this millennium and a clearance rate of 86%. The results mean that the total value of yearling sales at Tattersalls in 2022 was 211,572,800 guineas, 27% higher than the previous record in 2018. 

Elliott Buys Sea The Stars Filly for 260,000 Guineas

The SEA THE STARS own-sister to Group 1 Australian Cup winner FIFTY STARS was the star turn of the one-day Tattersalls December Yearling Sale when knocked down to agent Alex Elliott for 260,000 guineas. The Whatton Manor Stud consigned filly is out of the SADLER’S WELLS mare SWIZZLE STICK, a half-sister to the Group 2 Park Stakes winner VIZTORIA. 

"She is for Valmont and goes to Ralph Beckett," explained Elliott. "She is a Book 1 filly. She picked up a slight injury then and did not get to the sale in October, so she is a Book 1 filly in December. We had to pay a Book 1 price for her. 

"We have a good Sea The Stars filly called Trust The Stars who won a Newmarket maiden. She is going to be - hopefully - an Oaks type of filly, and it is that middle-distance three-year-old profile we are looking for, the Classic type of horse. 

"Hopefully this filly can develop into one! She has got a pedigree; she was bred by Airlie Stud, a fantastic breeder. I love trying to buy off the farm, I often can't! The farm gets such great results. The mare has been bred back to Sea The Stars, she has a filly foal by him, she is in-foal to him and she is going back to him. There is a lot to happen for us, hopefully she is one we can race and then breed from in time."

Elliott expanded further on Valmont: "We bought 33 yearlings and we have 60 horses in training now. We trade, we have sold a few and we play the game. As regards this filly; there is lots happening in the family, she is sister to a Group 1 winner, she is by Sea The Stars and she has an awful lot going for her."

Yeomanstown Stud Secure Dubawi Colt

The only DUBAWI colt to be offered in the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale was secured by Yeomanstown Stud for 180,000 guineas with a view to returning to the breeze ups next year. Consigned by Shadwell Estate Company, the colt is out of the Listed winner and Group 2 Rockfel Stakes second FADHAYYIL, the dam of Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes winner TURAATH. 

Successful bidder David O'Callaghan said: “We bought him to reoffer at the breeze ups. We liked him a lot and thought he was very fast looking. Obviously he’s by a top stallion and out of a very good mare, and we don’t get too many opportunities to buy this type so we said if he didn’t make a silly price we’d step in. Thankfully he fell just within our range. He’ll come back to one of the breeze ups, maybe the Craven, we’ll just see. I haven’t breezed one by Dubawi before but he looks quick so let’s hope he goes okay.”

Yulong Secure No Nay Never Colt for 155,000 Guineas

The fireworks started early in the day when BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe secured the fifth lot in the ring, a son of NO NAY NEVER out of the GALILEO mare LADY CORSICA, for 155,000 guineas on behalf of Yuesheng Zhang’s Yulong Investments. The colt was consigned by the Castlebridge Consignment and bred by Cregg Castle Stud’s Michael Enright. 

"I had previously bought the dam for client Michael Enright so I know all about her, and I bought her in-foal carrying this colt," reported Donohoe. "I had seen him as a foal and as yearling, he was entered in Book 1 but was going through a growing stage then and was withdrawn." 

Donohoe continued: "I told Mr Zhang about him, and when he saw him this morning he liked him so he said we'd have a go. The colt is going to Karl Burke, we think he is a nice horse and joins a couple we already have with Karl."

The colt is the first foal out of LADY CORSICA, an own-sister to three blacktype performers including the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes winner DEAUVILLE, the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial winner THE CORSICAN and TIDES OF WAR, placed in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay. LADY CORSICA was purchased at the 2020 Tattersalls December Mares Sale for 310,000 guineas by BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe carrying this colt.

Avenue Bloodstock Buys Lope De Vega Half-Brother to Group 3 Winner Azano

Avenue Bloodstock’s Mark McStay struck to secure the LOPE DE VEGA half-brother to the Group 3 Prix Paul de Moussac winner AZANO for 150,000 guineas. 

"He is a very nice colt," reported McStay. "Dick O'Gorman who helps me at the sales identified him and shortlisted him on Saturday. He told me that, in his opinion, he is the nicest horse here and when I saw the horse I agreed. He has been bought for an existing client and is a horse who ticked all the boxes. He is by a proven sire and out of a proven mare. He was recommended by consignor Bill Dwan."

The colt's dam AZANARA is by HURRICANE RUN and is a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Ganay winner ASTARABAD and to Listed winner ASMARA, the dam of Champion and four-time Group 1 winner AZAMOUR and Group 2 Futurity Stakes winner ARAZAN. 

The Castlebridge Consignment sold the colt on behalf of breeder Elysian Bloodstock Ltd.

The four-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale starts at 10.00am on Wednesday, 23rd November.