Esentepe The Star Again

TRADE SOLID AT TATTS MARE OPENER
By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley
The Tattersalls December Mare Sale kicked off its four-day stand in Newmarket yesterday, and while the opening session lacked the ammunition of last year, when the 4 million-guineas Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) led a parade of six 500,000gns-plus transactions–compared to one this year–trade was nonetheless solid, with the median of 40,000gns nearly on par with last year’s session, when it was 42,000gns (down 5%). The average dipped 35% to 59,643gns, and a total of 189 horses changed hands for 11,272,500gns, down 40% on last year’s aggregate of 18,693,000gns. The buyback rate of 22% was up five points from last year’s opening session.

Esentepe The Star Again… 
Esentepe (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) (lot 1542) had already taken a memorable turn in the Tattersalls ring when topping the July Sale at 220,000gns in 2012, just three months after winning the G3 Nell Gwyn S., and she was the star package yet again during Monday’s opening session of the December Mares’ Sale when offered by John Troy in foal to Frankel (GB). 

A battle between Northern Farm manager Dr Fumihiko Nakajima and Florida-based agent Justin Casse saw her price driven beyond the half-million mark, with Casse holding sway at 525,000gns. He was unable to name his client but said, “She’ll stay here to foal down and then a decision will be made about who to breed her to next year. She was the prettiest mare of the day and is a proven performer. Obviously the fact that she’s in foal to Frankel is of huge appeal.” 

Casse, who is making his third successive visit to the December Sale, added, “The first year I was really finding my feet and then last year I was outbid on a number of horses. This year my girlfriend and I decided to make a proper trip of it, starting at Goffs, and we’ll be going on to France after this.” 

Having originally been trained in the UK by Richard Hannon senior, Esentepe resumed her career in Ireland under the guidance of David Wachman after her last sales-ring appearance before switching to Jerry Hollendorfer’s stable in California, where she won an optional claimer at Hollywood Park.