Tattersalls

Tattersalls could not have chosen a better name than 'Sceptre' for the elite sessions of the mares' section of the December Sale, the first of which takes place today. The word 'Sceptre' is redolent of majesty but Sceptre the horse was even more special. Furthermore, hers was a story in which Tattersalls plays a prominent part. Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster, was one of the most successful owners of the Victorian era. He raced some magnificent homebreds including the mighty Ormonde, whom John Porter trained to win the Triple...

NEWMARKET, UK-Classic contender Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) has been described by Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud as the most exciting horse the 29-year-old has ever had the chance to consign ahead of the eagerly-anticipated Sceptre Session at Tattersalls on Tuesday. Trained by her grandad Jim Bolger, Gan Teorainn advertised her Classic credentials when second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp in October and can be backed at odds of 25-1 for next year's Oaks.  The Ennistown Stud-owned filly also boasts a rock-solid pedigree to match her...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry   After a hectic few months perusing this year's foal and yearling crops, we asked the buyers to share their thoughts on the young stallions with first foals and yearlings.  Dermot Farrington, agent: "If you look at the list of people who have bought yearlings and foals by Advertise, it's a long time since a young stallion has attracted the who's who of the bloodstock world, and that's exactly what he has done. Whether it be yearlings to breeze, yearlings to race or foals...

Lot 1063, a bay daughter of Frankel (GB)--Sunny Again (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), caught the eye of Fiona Craig, who shelled out 550,000 gns on behalf of Moyglare Stud Farm at Tattersalls on Friday. The second-highest lot of the day so far, the Apr. 4 foal from the Mount Coote Stud draft, is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Elisa Again (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), stakes winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}), and the G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB})....

Heatherwold Stud's lot 1041 proved popular at Tattersalls on Friday, making 500,000 gns to Juddmonte, once again. Already responsible for acquiring a 500,000gns Lope De Vega (Ire) filly (lot 928) and a 1 million gns Kingman (GB) filly (lot 1025), the operation extended their support for their resident stallion Frankel (GB), whose filly is out of dual listed winner and GI Beverly D. S. runner-up Awesometank (GB) (Intense Focus). Third dam Slip Dance (Ire) (Celtic Swing {GB}), a stakes winner and Group 3-placed, is related to G1 Irish St Leger...

Taking the lead at Tattersalls on Friday, was a bay filly by Kingman (GB) (lot 1025), who sold for 1 million gns to Juddmonte Farms. That outfit had already struck for Friday's previous top lot, lot 928, a filly by Lope De Vega (Ire), for 500,000gns earlier in the session. Offered by breeder Whitsbury Manor Stud, the daughter of the winning Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 Dewhurst S. hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and G2 Mill Reef S. victor-turned-sire Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), as well...

Lot 928, a daughter of Lope De Vega (Ire) and the Poet's Voice (GB) mare Poet's Vanity (GB) who won the G3 Oh So Sharp S., was the first foal to break the 500,000gns barrier when selling for exactly that amount to Juddmonte Farms. Consigned by Langton Stud, the bay is kin to G3 Ballyogan S. heroine and G1 Golden Jubilee S. third Lesson In Humility (Ire) (Mujadil). She, in turn, has two stakes winners to her name, including the Group 3 winner and G1 Irish Derby second Tiger Moth...

A special addition to the Tattersalls December Sale will come under the hammer on Monday when a maquette of Her Late Majesty the Queen is auctioned for charity prior to the first of the two Sceptre Sessions. The maquette is a study for the life-size bronze close to the Rowley Mile Racecourse in Newmarket which depicts the Queen, who was the long-term patron of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, with a mare and a foal. The bronze of the Queen is by Etienne Milner and the two horses by Charlie Langton....

Less than a week after his owner Kia Joorabchian announced that leading juvenile Persian Force (Ire) would be retired to stud, Roger O'Callaghan confirmed that the Group 2-winning speedster would be heading back home to Tally-Ho Stud, where he will stand alongside his father Mehmas (Ire) in 2023.  Tally-Ho snapped up Persian Force at the November Foal Sales at Goffs in 2020 for €75,000 from Ringfort Stud before selling the colt the following year at the Orby Sale to Peter and Ross Doyle for €225,000. Last seen finishing a gallant...

Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), an outstanding racemare with seven wins, including the G1 Matron S. and over £500,000 in career-earnings to her name, has rightly earned her billing as one of the star attractions at next week's Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls. Trained by Paddy Twomey for the majority of her career, the Haras de Saint Pair homebred raced with great distinction in Ireland across four seasons and 17 starts, culminating with that top-flight triumph in September. Her story is one of fortune favouring the brave, as connections resisted...

The insatiable demand for foals was evident in the figures recorded at Goffs last week with turnover rising 16% to €29,561,000 and the average climbing 16% to €40,110. At the top end of the market, Kingman (GB) dominated with three foals by the Juddmonte-based stallion selling for a combined €1,540,000 and one of Europe's leading pinhookers Philipp Stauffenberg signing for the €550,000 top lot by the sire.  Tally-Ho Stud may be best known for being sellers but they pipped Stauffenberg for the biggest spenders title by signing for 19 foals...

Group 1 winner La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), who boasts a 50% strike-rate on the racetrack and almost £400,000 in career earnings, will be one of the star attractions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Bred by Bernd and Ute Schone in County Offaly, La Petite Coco provided Paddy Twomey with his first Group 1 winner when landing a memorable Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh in June. She carried the colours of Barry Irwin's Team Valor for the majority of her racing career, including her...