A remarkable eight yearlings sold for a million guineas or more on the second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, taking the number of seven figure lots to twelve, three more than at last year's sale with tomorrow's session still to come.
The octet was comprised of five DUBAWIs, two GALILEOs and a FRANKEL. The second day saw a total of 114 lots realise 33,724,000 guineas, a rise of 28% on 2016, whilst the average and median rose 47% and 33% to 295,825 guineas and 160,000 guineas.
Leading the way was the first foal of the Champion racemare SKY LANTERN whose Group 1 victories included the 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes.
Her yearling colt by DUBAWI, who was consigned by Highclere Stud on behalf of Rockcliffe Stud's Keswick family, was knocked down to MV Magnier for 2,000,000 guineas after he saw off Qatar Racing's David Redvers, trainer Roger Varian and agent Alastair Donald.
"We are obviously delighted," said Ed Sackville, manager for the Keswick family, and purchaser of SKY LANTERN as a yearling.
"We have a policy of selling the colts and keeping the fillies, and while we'd liked to have raced this horse ourselves, it is wonderful that he has sold so well. Sky Lantern had a Dubawi colt this year and is in-foal to Frankel, so we've plenty to look forward to," said Sackville.
Successful purchaser MV Magnier, who bought the horse on behalf of a partnership including Mayfair Speculators commented;
"He is out of a brilliant racemare who was a champion two-year-old and who went on to win the 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes and become a champion three-year-old. She was a very quick filly.
"We are all about finding the right horse."
One of the most exciting pedigrees in the catalogue was the GALILEO filly out of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner VADAWINA whose foals include the Group 2 winner VADAMAR as well as this season's Group 3 Tyros Stakes winner THE PENTAGON who is the early favourite for next year's Derby at 10-1. Consigned by David & Diane Nagle's Barronstown Stud, the filly caught the attention of Narvick International's Emmanuel de Seroux and Broadhurst Agency's Laurent Benoit but neither of the pair could match US agent Justin Casse whose bid of 1,550,000 guineas secured the prize.
'She is a collector's item," said Casse. "She is for a US client who has had horses in the US for a long time but this is his first foray in to racing in Europe. She will stay in Europe.
"There are four or five sires in the world that everyone wants, and Galileo is top of that list. With her pedigree page she has great residual value and with The Pentagon such a prospect we could have a couple of fun years."
The freakish FRANKEL, who many claim is the best racehorse of modern times, had high expectations when it came to his second career in the breeding barn, and with an impressive 15 Group winners in his first two crops of racing age his progeny have been in high demand. Those group winners include the Grade 1 winner SOUL STIRRING in Japan and so it is no surprise to see Yohann Gainche, representing the Japanese-based DMM.com secure the half-sister to the Grade 1 Canadian International winner SARAH LYNX at 1,400,000 guineas after he saw off underbidder Hugo Lascelles.
Gainche, who had been underbidder on yesterday's 2,500,000 guineas FRANKEL, was delighted to have secured the filly consigned from the Castlebridge Consignment.
"It was a beautiful battle yesterday," said Gainche on his first visit to Tattersalls. "She was a lovely filly, but we are very happy with our purchase today - she is very well put together. She will go back to Japan to race, where my boss already has racehorses."
DMM.com is an online business, selling gaming and online products.
Owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar have enjoyed plenty of success on the racecourse this year courtesy of triple Group 1 winner DECORATED KNIGHT. His dam PEARLING was purchased at the December Mare Sale for 1,300,000 guineas by Tony Nerses and it was another purchase at the same sale two year's later that was to result in success in the sale ring today. Nerses purchased the racemare SOON for 800,000 guineas in 2013 and her daughter by DUBAWI realised 1,300,000 guineas to the bid of SackvilleDonald's Alastair Donald.
The filly was consigned to the sale by Peter and Frances Stanley's New England Stud on behalf of the pair's Blue Diamond Stud and manager Tony Nerses commented;
"While we want to race good horses, we also want to sell the best we too and enjoy success in the sale ring - it is important for the farm to sell well."
"Once we have committed to selling we will do so, and this is the best result in the sale ring that the farm has enjoyed. Blue Diamond Stud has only been in existence for five years, but we've have achieved plenty."
Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 11am on Thursday, October 5th.
