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3.
Giant's
Causeway and Montjeu First Season Stars
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01/12/2002 |
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A
giant on the racetrack and a giant in the sales ring, Coolmore Stud’s
Giant’s Causeway continued on his record breaking way on the final day of the
Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
Following on from the world record-breaking sale of Galileo’s half sister the
previous day it was another daughter of Giant’s Causeway that topped the final
session. It was Coolmore Stud’s John Mangier that outlasted Irish bloodstock
agents John McCormack and Peter Doyle and Cheveley Park Stud owner David
Thompson, to claim the half sister to St James Palace Stakes and Queen Elizabeth
II placegetter Gold Academy (Royal Academy) for 400,000 guineas.
Consigned from Tom Gaffney's Churchtown House Stud, the session topping filly is
a daughter of the non-winning Dancing Brave mare Soha a daughter of Oaks
D’italia winner Paris Royal (Mill Reef). Paris Royal is a half sister to Irish
2000 Guineas winner Northern Treasure, a former Newhaven Park stallion, and the
Athsai Stakes (G3) winner Etoile De Paris (Crowned Prince) who produced the
outstanding duel Yorkshire Oaks (G1) winner Only Royale (Caerleon) before being
imported to Australia. Bluebell Dancer (Alleged) an unraced daughter of Only
Royale produced the Adelaide Guineas (G3) winner Torezal (Danzatore).
Second highest price for session was the 320,000 guinea Green Desert x Krisalya
colt purchased by Seamus Burns' Lodge Park Stud. Burns consigned last year's
2,300,000 guineas Houghton Yearling Sale topping Desert Prince colt and this
year's second high priced Sadler’s Wells filly for 1,100,000 guineas, also at
the Houghton. Consigned by Collin Stud on behalf of Haydock Park Stud, the colt
is a full brother to the Aiden O’Brien-trained Rose Gypsy, which defeated
banks Hill in the 2001Dubai Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp. Krisalya
(Kris) had herself been purchased for just 16,000 guineas at the Tattersalls
December Mares Sale in 1998. A winner of one of her 7 starts Krisalya is a half
sister to four stakes winners and four stakes placed winners including Prix
D’Ispahan (G1) winner Sasuru (Most Welcome) and Challenge Stakes (G2) winner
Sally Rous (Rousillion).
The majority of first season shuttle stallions experienced mixed fortunes at the
sale. While Giant’s Causeway was an obvious standout, Sadler’s Wells
champion son Montjeu, which shuttles to Windsor Park Stud in N.Z., also had an
exceptional sale. The former Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner had foals sell
for 140,000, 130,000, 115,000, 105,000, 95,000, 72,000, 64,000, 50,000 and
46,000.
Indian Lodge (Grand Lodge), Indian Danehill (Danehill), Lujain (Seeking The
Gold), Mujahid (Danzig), Xaar (Zafonic) and King’s Best (Kingmambo) all had
their moments albeit inconsistently. The latter had a filly sell for 135,000
guineas on the final day. Interestingly the filly’s dam Sweetest Thing is a
half sister to Peach Sundae, dam of Emancipation Stakes (LR) and Tristarc Stakes
(LR) winner Ice Cream Sundae (Sovereign Red) who is the dam of the old marvel
Flavour (Rubiton), winner of the 1998 Salinger Stakes (G1).
The fourth day's aggregate rose 34% to 4,998,100 guineas, at an average of
34,469 guineas and a median of 20,000 guineas, rises of 9% and 23% respectively
on last year's corresponding session. Overall the Tattersalls December Foal Sale
finished with 585 lots sold for a new record aggregate of 17,247,700 guineas, a
rise of 27% on last year's figures, whilst the average and median of 29,483
guineas and 14,000 guineas also set new records for the foal sale.
At the conclusion of the first week of the 2002 Tattersalls December Sale,
Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
"The success or otherwise of the December Foal Sale is always heavily
influenced by what has gone before at the yearling sales, and we had certainly
received plenty of encouragement from all of our yearling sales including the
hugely successful December Yearling Sale at the beginning of this week. In
particular the pinhookers have enjoyed a good year and this has been very
apparent throughout the four days of foals, with intense competition at all
levels of the market from start to finish.
"Obviously the highlight was the world record 1,800,000 guineas paid by
Charlotte Weber's Florida based Live Oak Stud for the Giant’s Causeway filly
out of Urban Sea, but there was a lot more to this Sale than just one
spectacular transaction, with 25 foals breaking the six figure barrier and 85
making 50,000 guineas or more. In addition we have had new records for turnover,
average and median, and while the December Foal Sale is often regarded as very
much a domestic Irish and British affair, we have also seen widespread
participation from buyers from throughout the world including a significant
contribution from our party of Russian buyers who have purchased 27 lots this
week.
"Sales at Tattersalls this year have consistently outperformed 2001, and
although last year's December Sale was exceptionally strong, the foal trade has
suggested that we can expect a good solid breeding stock sale next week."
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