Rare Jewels On Offer at Tatts December

Tattersalls holds its last round of sales for 2015 Nov. 23 to Dec. 4 when it stages its four-day December Breeding Stock Sale, five-day December Foal Sale and single-session December Yearling Sale at Park Paddocks in Newmarket.

The Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale has been shaping the Thoroughbred breed since it was inaugurated in the late 1800s, and a mark of its legacy is the 54 Group 1 races won by the progeny of its graduates this year alone. As such, the breeding stock sale always boasts a catalogue of the highest quality; however, this year's sale will see some rare jewels, by anyone's standards, go under the hammer.

One of the main attractions will be this year's G1 Investec Oaks winner Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 1987), who becomes the first Oaks winner to be offered at auction in Europe in the year of her Classic win in at least the last 50 years. Campaigned by Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez and trained by Aidan O'Brien, Qualify won last year's G3 Park S. and bested Cartier champion 3-year-old filly Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the Oaks. Qualify has the pedigree to match, too, with Classic winners Workforce (GB) (King's Best), Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and Flute (Seattle Slew) appearing under the third dam. She is also a full-sister to this year's G2 Futurity S. third Shogun (Ire).

“It looks to be an outstanding December mares catalogue, and to have this year's Oaks winner, Qualify, in the sale is icing on the cake,” said Tattersalls' Marketing Director Jimmy George. “It's very rare to have a Classic-winning filly offered at public auction in the year of their Classic win. She's an outstanding race filly and very well-bred as well.”

Qualify is, however, far from the lone attraction. There are more than 130 group and listed winners or producers catalogued, including five Classic or Group 1 winners. Other star offerings with recent top form include last year's Cartier champion 2-year-old filly Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 2019); the last two winners of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet, Ribbons (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) (lot 1985) and Odeliz (Ire) (Falco) (lot 2017) and dual South African Classic winner In The Fast Lane (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) (lot 1774).

The sale also includes 149 mares in foal to the current top 20 active British and Irish sires, including six mares in foal to current number one Dubawi (Ire) and one–Group 2 winner L'Amour De Ma Vie (Dansili {GB}) lot 1990–carrying to multiple champion sire Galileo (Ire).The six mares in foal to Dubawi include two dams of Group 1 winners–Ever Rigg (GB) (Dubai Destination) (lot 2015), the dam of this year's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Postponed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and therefore carrying a full-sibling to that standout; and Time Control (GB) (Sadler's Wells) (lot 1986), the dam of last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor).

Also set to be offered in foal to Dubawi are Grade/Group 1 winners Icon Project (Empire Maker) (lot 1977) and Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), but the star turn could very well come from Hanky Panky (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 2011), who boasts one of the very best pages in the stud book globally. The 5-year-old is out of Mariah's Storm (Rahy) and is therefore a half-sister to champion racehorse and sire Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat) and You'resothrilling (Storm Cat), whose first three foals are Classic winners Marvellous (Ire) Galileo {Ire}) and Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and this year's G3 Park S. winner Coolmore (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Another of Hanky Panky's half-sisters, Love Me Only (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), produced this year's G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner and dual Derby-placed Storm The Stars (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

“There are always highlights in the December catalogue but I think we have some rare jewels this year, including six very good mares in foal to Dubawi,” George said. “Hanky Panky boasts probably one of the better pedigrees in the global stud book.”

Other highlights of the catalogue include New Orchid (Quest For Game {GB}) (lot 1603), the dam of Group 1 winner African Rose (GB) (Observatory) and Arum Lily (Woodman) (lot 1611), who has produced Grade I winner Redwood (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), from the ever-popular Juddmonte draft; a pair of Group 1 producers from Jim Bolger's Redmondstown Stud in Irish Question (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) (lot 1693) and Night Visit (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}) (lot 1694); Sinnamary (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1898), a 4-year-old half-sister to G1 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}); Lady Hawkfield (Ire) (Hawk Wing) (lot 1944), the dam of Group 3 winner Master Apprentice (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who is also ahalf-sister to dual Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})–the dam of this year's Cartier champion 2-year-old filly Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); Ana Luna (GB) (Dream Well {Fr}) (lot 1997), the dam of GI Garden City S. winner Alterite (Fr) (Literato {Fr}); and Group 3 winner and dual Classic-placed Xcellence (Fr) (Champs Elysees {GB}) (lot 1999) in foal to Frankel (GB). The stakes-winning Seta (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 1965) heads a small but select six-horse dispersal of the stock of the late Sarah Leigh.

A Global Impact…

Since 2013, the progeny of mares purchased at Tattersalls December have won Group 1 races in 15 countries. In the last six weeks alone, December mares have produced the winners of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, G1 Qipco Champion S., GI Breeders' Cup Turf, G1 Shuka Sho in Japan and G1 Metropolitan in Australia. What's more is that many of these producers have been purchased for less than exorbitant prices; Fleche d'Or (GB) (Dubai Destination), the dam of this year's G1 Investec Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), hammered for 62,000gns in 2012, while Miss Polaris (GB) (Polar Falcon), who produced this year's Champion S. victor Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), was a 50,000gns purchase in 2006. Demerger (Distant View), the dam of sprint standout Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), was a 4,000gns bargain buy from the Juddmonte draft at this sale in 2000.

“The crucial element to this sale is it's not an exclusive sale; there are fillies and mares to suit every budget in every part of the world,” George explained. “An indication of that is that the sale has produced the dams of Group 1 winners on every single continent this year, from as little as 4,000gns. It's not an exclusive sale, and that's why it attracts such a diverse group of buyers. Every year there will be stories like that.”

This success builds on the solid foundation laid by the Tattersalls December sale since it was first staged in 1886. Some of the breed-changing broodmares to be offered at the December sale throughout the years include Lady Angela–the second dam of Northern Dancer–a 10,500gns buy in 1952; Allegretta, the dam of Arc winner and legendary producer Urban Sea, a 24,000gns buy in 1981; and La Troienne, who was purchased for 1,025gns in 1930 by Colonel E.R. Bradley and sent to Kentucky the following year.

“The legacy the sale has left throughout the world, and in particular North America, is extraordinary, whether it's a mare like La Troienne back in the pre-second World War years or Lady Angela, or even if you go down the stallion route, Vaguely Noble was sold at the December Sale in 1967,” said George. “The sale is an extraordinary force of outstanding breeding stock. Never does a year go by without the sale having a huge impact on the global breeding scene.”

The participation of the regular cast of American buyers at the sale will surely be boosted this year by the strength of the dollar. As of Nov. 13 the dollar had climbed to $1.52 to the British pound, and that figure has steadily risen in recent months.

“The December Sale has always been a very popular sale for American breeders, and I think the strength of the dollar against the pound at the moment is another big plus,” George said. “There's been a significant swing since last year and that just makes the quality even more affordable. We've had a lot of interest from American buyers and buyers from throughout the world.”

“A strong dollar is definitely an added attraction for buyers targeting the sale,” he continued. “Value is a key part of everybody's buying plans, and when a currency significantly swings in your favor that just makes it even more attractive. You combine that with a catalogue of real quality and diversity and it's an added incentive for people to climb on the airplane and make the trip to Newmarket and Tattersalls.”

Something For Everyone At Foal Sale…

The Tatteralls December Foal sale annually draws a colorful cast of pinhookers and 'end users' to Park Paddocks, and 2015 provided a poignant advertisement for shopping for both purposes. In the pinhooking realm, the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale saw some outstanding results for 'flipped' foal purchases, including an Oasis Dream (GB) colt that cost 160,000gns as a foal selling for 750,000gns, and an Invincible Spirit filly bought for 90,000 as a foal selling for 700,000gns.

On the racetrack this year, Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})–a 100,000gns foal turned 170,000gns yearling–proved one of the best of the juvenile generation with wins in the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S., while another pinhook, Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}), took the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and was a smart fourth in the G1 Melbourne Cup. This year's racetrack stars purchased by end users as foals from Tattersalls December included G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix de la Foret victor Make Believe (GB) (Makfi {GB}) and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Foal sales of this quality provide fantastic opportunities for the pinhookers, but equally this year the likes of Make Believe was bought by Prince Faisal to race and has gone on to win a Classic,” said George. “There are very much two sides to every foal sale; it's the meat and drink for the pinhookers, but also a place where the top owners are out there scouting for racing prospects as well.”

An increase in demand for spaces in this year's Tattersalls December Foal Sale means the sale has been increased to five days this year, and 1,276 lots will be offered between Nov. 24 and 28. The late addition of a Galileo (Ire) colt out of group winner and producer Walzerkoenigin (Kingmambo) (lot 1204A) last week means Europe's two leading sires are both represented, with Dubawi responsible for a trio of well-bred youngsters: lot 1162, a half-sister to group winners Royal Bench (Ire) (Whipper), Mayhem (Ire) (Whipper) and Memphis Tennessee (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}); lot 1172, the first foal out of dual Group 1 winner La Collina (Ire) (Strategic Prince {GB}); and lot 1225, a filly out of Group 3 winner High Heeled (Ire), a half-sister to the dam of Classic winner Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). Other highlights on paper include a Sepoy (Aus) half-sister to this year's G1 Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) (lot 1216), and a High Chaparral (Ire) half-sister to Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 1150).

“The foal catalogue is a very good book, but then you'd expect it to be; it annually attracts the cream of the British and Irish foal crop and this year is no exception,” said George. “I think the key thing is if you look at the current top 10 active British and Irish sires, there are 128 foals by the current top 10, and 260 by the top 20; that's a huge indication of the quality. To have a beautifully bred son of Galileo as well as the three Dubawis and so many foals by the top stallions in Europe, there is plenty to keep the pinhookers and the end-users happy.”

The sale series kicks off Nov. 23 with the one-day Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, which is the final yearling sale on the calendar in Europe and therefore offers shoppers one last chance for the year to fill their orders. The catalogue includes 67 siblings to stakes winners, including siblings to Group 1 winners Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko) and Sans Frontieres (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“The December Yearling Sale is a cracking little sale every year,” George noted. “It's the final yearling sale of the European calendar every year and has a loyal following. It always attracts people who may not have filled all the orders they had at the other sales and it looks to be a catalogue of genuine quality. Nine of the top 10 British and Irish sires have yearlings catalogued this year, including the two stars Galileo and Dubawi.”

A key attraction for shoppers at the yearling sale will be the fact that the majority of the youngsters catalogued are eligible for a prize money scheme, including the £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus; the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes; the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes; French owners' and breeders' premiums; and the Plus 10 scheme.

“There is a lot buyers can latch onto at this sale, and well over half the catalogue has the added attraction of a significant incentive for the buyers,” George said.

For the catalogues for the Tattersalls December sales, visit www.tattersalls.com.