Sceptre Sessions

Tamfana, who won the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes a year ago this weekend, is to be offered during the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which begins its four-day run on Monday, December 1. Prior to that, she is set to race in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp. Trained by David Menuisier for Quantum Leap Racing, the four-year-old daughter of former German champion sire Soldier Hollow broke her maiden at two, winning a Kempton maiden by nine and a half lengths before landing the G3 Prix...

Four-time Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna is set to headline this year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She will be consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency and will head the fourth edition of the Sceptre Sessions, which will be held on Monday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 2. Trained by Donnacha O'Brien for a partnership consisting of Taylor Made's Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Dean Reeves and Barry Fowler, the daughter of Caravaggio will be offered as the winner of eight of her 13 starts and nearly £1.3 in total prize-money. A...

The racing Gods looked down and smiled on us at Royal Ascot last week in delivering one of the greatest results imaginable when Joe Murphy and his son - also Joe - landed a breakthrough Group 1 triumph in the Coronation Stakes with Cercene.  It was a triumph for the grass roots operators and one that many thought was impossible in this day and age. The Murphys run a high-class but humble outfit on the outskirts of Fethard in County Tipperary. Success over the might of Francis Graffard and Aidan...

When Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac she led home a one-two for her trainer Francis Graffard as she pipped the Aga Khan Studs' Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}) on the line.  The runner-up, who went into the race unbeaten, including a victory in the G3 Prix d'Aumale, had started odds-on favourite with Vertical Blue as one of the outsiders of the field, but the latter's success came as no surprise to Graffard, who had held her in high regard from the outset.  "She's a big...

The Tattersalls December Sale is played out, akin to panto season, over two weeks, matinees and evening performances, incorporating almost every facet of the bloodstock sales business, from foals to yearlings, horses in training, broodmares, and sometimes the odd stallion or two. The Sceptre Sessions are only in their third year but they are already embedded as an integral part of the annual finale at Park Paddocks. And there is little doubt that the theatrical highlights come on the Monday and Tuesday of the second week, as dusk settles in...

Trainer George Boughey has described Group 2 winner Believing (Ire) Mehmas {Ire}) as the "perfect outcross" for breeders ahead of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. The Highclere Racing-owned four-year-old, who has danced every dance this season and reached a career-high rating of 112, is one of the star attractions of the Sceptre Sessions at that sale and Boughey says that his stable star would be a no-brainer for potential buyers. He said, "With her being a Group 1 filly by Mehmas, who has had a record-breaking season and has become...

Zero Gravity (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the dam of this year's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), has been added to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale as a wildcard and will be offered as lot 1485A during the Sceptre Sessions on Monday, December 2. She will be offered in foal to Chaldean (GB) by Ed Player's Whatton Manor Stud, who also consigned her Too Darn Hot (GB) filly at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Shadwell...

Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue (Ire) has been added to the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.  Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for owners Gemini Stud and Argella Racing, the Mehmas (Ire) filly is the highest-rated juvenile in France.  Graffard commented, "I've loved Vertical Blue since she arrived and I was delighted that she was able to show that on the track. Physically she has plenty of scope to improve and her turn of foot, as well as her great attitude, have us all excited about what she...

Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is one of the highlights of the 991-strong Tattersalls December Mares catalogue, which was released on Friday. The third edition of the Sceptre Sessions will take place on Monday, Dec. 2 and Tuesday, Dec. 3. An additional two sessions of the December Mares Sale will continue on Dec. 4-5. The first Irish Oaks winner (lot 1753) to be sold at Tattersalls as a 3-year-old for over 40 years, the filly will be joined by up-and-coming sprinter Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire})...

It was announced on Tuesday that Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) will be offered at the forthcoming Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which takes place from December 2-5. The daughter of Nathaniel (Ire) will feature in the third edition of the Sceptre Sessions, which will be held over the first two days of the sale. Bred by Dullingham Park Stud and Sarabex, You Got To Me first sold for 62,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and was later bought by Alex Elliott for 200,000gns at Book 1...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry NEWMARKET, UK - A Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, by one of the world's best stallions and carrying a foal by the dual champion sire. As recipes go, it has all the ingredients necessary to make a special dish, and that is exactly what the Juddmonte team decided she was when buying Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from Rabbah Bloodstock for 4.5 million gns. Northern Farm, Charlie Gordon-Watson, Jill Lamb and Coolmore all made attempts on the five-year-old G1...

Listed winner Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}--Suelita {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) commanded a 2.5 million guineas final bid from William Haggas signing on behalf of First Bloodstock on the second day of selling at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. Offered as Lot 1813 by Whitsbury Manor Stud, the half-sister to English Champion 2-year-old Chaldean (Frankel) and a full to Group 2-scorer Alkumait also finished runner-up in the G1 Flying Five S.