“Anyone for Hanky Panky?” That was the saucy opening gambit from auctioneer John O'Kelly and as it transpired there were plenty of takers from all over the world for the mare with the cheeky name and a serious pedigree. The regally bred daughter of Galileo (Ire), offered in foal to Dubawi (Ire), quite rightly led allcomers at Tattersalls when reaching a price tag of 2.7 million gns after a tussle between bidders Ibrahim Araci, Justin Casse, Fernando Diaz-Valdes of Don Alberto Corp., and John Warren. Not for the first time, however, it was John Ferguson who came out on top, and the Darley buyer said after signing the ticket, “She's a beautiful mare with a beautiful pedigree. Obviously the Dubawi she is carrying inside her is most attractive, and she's from a beautiful family.” Sold by John Sikura through Lady Carolyn Warren's Highclere Stud, Hanky Panky (Ire) (lot 2011) was always going to be hot property but it's not the first time this season that Sikura has been involved with a sales-topper, as his Hill 'n' Dale Sales operation consigned the $6 million Keeneland November leader Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway). In the case of Hanky Panky, it's hard to imagine a page with more appeal; a young winning mare by the best stallion in Europe, carrying to arguably the second-best stallion in Europe and a half-sister to boot to champion racehorse and top sire Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat), as well as Group 2 winner You'resothrilling, the dam of this season's dual Classic winner Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). As Lady Carolyn Warren said, “She ticked every box”. The consignor, who also sold Hanky Panky's half-sister Pearling (Storm Cat) for Sikura at the same sale in 2011 for 1.3 million gns, added, “We're delighted to represent John Sikura. She's a fantastic mare and she's been wonderful to have. We've had a longstanding friendship with John and it's quite something that he decided to bring this mare here to Tattersalls, rather than to sell her on his home turf.” She continued, “So many people were interested in her but I'm delighted Sheikh Mohammed bought her. He's such a huge supporter of the industry and he deserves to have a real jewel in the crown.”
Hanky Panky wasn't the only enticing addition to Sheikh Mohammed's broodmare band on Tuesday. Two years ago, the Oaks winner Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) made a show-stopping appearance in the ring at Tattersalls when sold in foal to Frankel (GB) for 4 million gns to John Ferguson, and he returned to claim this year's Investec Oaks winner, Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 1987), at 1.6 millions gns. For a while it looked as though the battle for Chantal Regalado Gonzalez's filly would remain between James Wigan and James Delahooke, both placing their bids from the cage, but after Delahooke reached 1.55 million gns, Ferguson entered the fray to seal the deal with a single offer, just as he did for Dancing Rain. “It's always lovely to have an Oaks winner and this is a very good filly – extraordinary on that day,” Ferguson commented. “She's a good, scopey mare and we're delighted to have her. Sheikh Mohammed will now decide which stallion she will visit.”
Just three lots earlier, Ferguson had also signed for another member of The Castlebridge Consignment, going to 600,000gns for lot 1984 the dual Group 3 winner Yellow Rosebud (Ire) (Jeremy) carrying her second foal by Dutch Art (GB). Her first foal, by Teofilo (Ire), sold for 115,000gns last week to Glenvale Stud. He added,” Yellow Rosebud is a lovely mare with plenty going for her. Her first foal was lovely so hopefully the next one will be equally good.”
A raft of high-priced buybacks led to a reduced clearance rate of 71% during Tuesday's headline session at Tattersalls when 162 fillies and mares sold for a total of 27,657,000gns – a reduction of 5% on last year's turnover, though 11 fewer horses were sold. Both the median and average figures improved, however. The average increased by just 1% to 170,722gns but the median posted the most impressive rise, leaping 13% to 79,000gns.
Tiggy Wiggy set for Galileo date
The only other lot to pass 2 million gns on Tuesday was the speedball Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire}) (lot 2019), whose stellar juvenile season culminated in success in the G1 Cheveley Park S. Ferguson placed a few early bids but left the ring after she reached 1.7 million gns, leaving the door open for MV Magnier to buy the diminutive 4-year-old for Coolmore at 2.1 million gns. He said, “She's a very good racehorse from the Danehill line. We'll be sending her to Galileo. It doesn't seem to matter whether you send him Cheveley Park winners or Oaks winners, he always comes up with something good.” Magnier continued, “Richard Hannon did a good job training her and hopefully we can try to do the same in her next career.” Tiggy Wiggy was raced in partnership by Chris Giles, Potensis Bloodstock and Merriebelle Stable, and Merriebelle's representative Peter Bance was among the first to congratulate Magnier on his purchase. He commented, “The filly was all speed and she'll be perfect for Galileo. We wish Coolmore all the luck in the world with her.”
Seta heads west to War Front
An assignation with War Front beckons for the late Sarah Leigh's Seta (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was the first mare the break the million-barrier this week at Tattersalls when selling as lot 1965 for 1.1 million gns to Hugo Lascelles. A number of high-profiles breeders were intent on trying to secure the multiple listed winner from the family of Barathea (Ire) and Gossamer (GB), with Craig Bennett of Merry Fox Stud and Newsells Park Stud among the vanquished bidders. Lascelles, acting on behalf of an unnamed client, said, “She's from a really established English family and there are lots of people trying to get into this pedigree. Her first two foals have sold really well and I think War Front is a very good mating.” Sara Cumani, whose Fittocks Stud is conducting the dispersal of the horses owned by Sarah Leigh, who died in September, commented on a poignant day for all involved with the mare, who was trained by her husband, Luca. She said, “It was very hard to know what to expect. A lot of English breeders came to see her, which was very encouraging. We don't know who has bought her but I'm sure she'll be in good hands. From our perspective we could just sit back an enjoy it as it was a completely transparent sale. I was standing with Alex Scrope [former advisor to Sarah Leigh's father, Gerald] and she said how much Gerald would have loved the theater of the moment. Like everybody, he always liked to sell a big one.”
Cumani added, “For us it's a good day but also a very sad day, especially for Sharon Dukes, who led Seta up today and looked after her when she was in training and I think is now probably very tearful.” Earlier in the day, Seta's half-sister Rivara (GB) (Red Ransom (lot 1893), another member of the Leigh dispersal, was sold in foal to Mastercraftsman (Ire) for 75,000gns. The 7-year-old will join the Chippenham Lodge Stud broodmare band.
Galileo's girl for Golden Horn
Classic-winning owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer paid 700,000gns for lot 1898 Sinnamary (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) with the intention of sending her to his 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn (Cape Cross {IRE}). 4-year-old Sinnamary, a winning half-sister to Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (IRE) (Montjeu {IRE}), was sold by David Redvers' Tweenhills Farm & Stud. Oppenheimer said, “I thought she was the most attractive filly I've seen for a long time. We fell in love with her – she's really beautiful.”
Oppenheimer said he had around 28 mares in Britain at his Hascombe and Valiant Studs, and was planning to send four to Golden Horn, who is standing at Sheikh Mohammed's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. Redvers, who was selling her to dissolve a partnership, said, “I thought she should make that sort of money. She's about as stunning a filly as you could hope for from a current, sexy family.” Sinnamary's dam, Prudenzia (IRE) (Dansili {IRE}), was a listed winner in France and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Pacifique (IRE) (Montjeu) {IRE}) from the illustrious family of Puce (GB) (Daarshan) {GB}). Barry Weisbord was the underbidder, with Hugo Merry, standing with Andrew Rosen, and Laurent Benoit also taking part.
Tweenhills also consigned lot 2008, the dual 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lightning Thunder (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who was knocked down to Adrian Nicoll of BBA Ireland for 420,000gns.
Another major English owner-breeder swung into action when Charlie Gordon-Watson spent 625,000gns on Lady Hawkfield (IRE) (Hawk Wing) (lot 1944) on behalf of Lady Lloyd-Webber. Lady Hawkfield, who has an appealing Shamardal covering, is the dam of G3 bet 365 Classic Trial winner Master Apprentice (IRE) (Mastercraftsman {IRE}). Her own dam, Hoity Toity (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), is the dam of dual Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry (IRE) (Danehill Dancer {IRE}) and Minding (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), who took the G1 Dubai Fillies' Mile this season. Gordon-Watson commented, “The page is all good – Minding could be a champion next year.”
A brace for Mt Brilliant
Greg Goodman of Mt Brilliant Farm, Kentucky, secured the Smart Strike (Can) daughter Dame Marie (lot 1970) for 500,000gns. A winner at Gulfstream Park in March 2012 and second in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. at Churchill Downs in May 2014 when trained by Eddie Keneally, Dame Marie was sold with an Invincible Spirit (IRE) covering. She is out of listed winner Crystal Crossing (IRE) (Royal Academy), a sister to the dam of Classic winner Rule Of Law (Kingmambo). Goodman said, “We liked the covering, and her as an individual – the whole thing. And being by Smart Strike was a huge plus for us. “We might breed her over here first, but she'll end up at Mt Brilliant.” Later in the session, Goodman went to 450,000gns for lot 2001 Waterway Run (Arch), the winner of the G3 Sakhee Oh So Sharp S. in Britain and the GIII Beaugay S. after her export to the US. She was sold with a first-crop covering by Coolmore's Derby winner Australia (GB).
Highclere leads by average
Highclere Stud's select draft contained not just the sale's leading light but also lot 2014, the well bred Some Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a Group 3 runner-up in Ireland and sister to listed winner One Spirit (Ire). Their dam Recite (Jpn) (Forty Niner) is a half-sister to Diktat (GB) (Warning), while third dam Park Appeal (GB) (Ahonoora {GB}) is responsible for Golden Horn's sire Cape Cross (Ire) (Green Desert). Such illustrious forebears were enough to persuade the partners in Ecurie des Monceaux to part with 460,000gns to add Some Spirit to its Normandy broodmare band. In total, the nine fillies and mares sold by Highclere brought an average price of 377,167gns.
Valeur added to Newsells Park team
The buying partnership of Newsells Park Stud and John Warren struck again during Tuesday's session when going to 370,000gns for Valeur (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) (lot 1909), an 8-year-old half-sister to two of the hottest stallions in Europe, Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (Ire). Adding extra spice to the package is the fact that the Voute Sales consignee is carrying to Shamardal, who is becoming increasingly elusive to outside breeders.
“There's the Shamardal connection again and we'd be delighted with either a filly or a colt,” said Warren who, on Monday bought the Shamardal mare Wittgenstein, also for Newsells Park. “She's a beautiful individual and obviously Newsells Park's aim is to buy deep commercial pedigrees, which this is. She's a nice young mare with her career ahead of her.”
Castlebridge dominates
It was a highly successful day for The Castlebridge Consignment, which has so far sold 32 lots for a total of 5,982,000 gns. As well as Qualify and Yellow Rosebud, the Anglo-Irish consignors also sold Hoyam (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) (lot 1981) for 470,000gns to Hugo Lascelles. The 5-year-old mare, a listed winner and runner-up in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot at two, is a daughter of the Danetime (IRE) mare Christmas Tart (IRE). She was sold with an Australia (GB) covering. Also from the Castlebridge draft was lot 1983, Astonishing (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), who is joining new Gloucestershire operation Apple Tree Stud's broodmare band after selling for 360,000gns.
The listed winner, a full-sister to Group 3 winner Sub Rose (IRE), was signed for by Federico Barberini, standing with Apple Tree's racing manager, former National Hunt jockey Robert Thornton.
Apple Tree Stud, which consists of 120 acres near Stow-on-the-Wold, is owned by Paul Dunkley. Thornton explained, “The pedigree is possibly a little slower than we were looking for, but I'm delighted we've got her. She's a Galileo, we think she was value, and if her Dansili foal comes out looking like her, we'll be very pleased.” At present Dunkley has five well-bred mares at Apple Tree and has plans to expand the operation gradually. “We have yearlings going into training with William Haggas, Luca Cumani and Clive Cox, as well as the horses we have at present with James Fanshawe and Jamie Osborne,” said Thornton. “The majority are fillies, and hopefully they will be bred from in time.”
By Emma Berry and Catherine Austen
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