THE MILLIONAIRES

SEVEN fillies and mares sold for a million guineas or more at this year’s Tattersalls December Mare Sale, and while this was down from last year’s total of 11, it represents the joint-third best total at the sale since the turn of the century. All seven were sold on Tuesday. In 2007 10 lots made a million or more, five of which made at least 3,000,000gns, while a year before seven millionaires were headed by the sales of Magical Romance for 4,600,000gns and Spinning Queen for 3,000,000gns.

Best price of the sale this year was achieved when Pearling, an own-sister to Giant’s Causeway and the dam of the Irish National Stud’s triple Group 1 winning Decorated Knight, sold in foal to Galileo for 2,400,000gns. The winning bid was made by Tony Nerses of Blue Diamond Stud, outlasting David Hanley of WinStar Farm and, ultimately, Australian-based agent Dean Hawthorne.

Imad Al Sagar, the successful purchaser and previous part-owner of the mare with Saleh Al Homaizi, said; “She is very special to us and has an exceptional pedigree. I could not let her go. Saleh has some serious business commitments coming up and has needed to reduce his interests, but he is a very good friend. We have had some great times with the horses together but things change. I am delighted to be able to take this mare home - and she is carrying a filly by Galileo.”

Last week Al Sagar also purchased Al Homaizi’s share in Pearling’s filly foal by Galileo, paying 1,700,000gns in the sale ring.

Pearling has made a significant impact on Tattersalls and her Frankel four-year-old daughter Ambrosia, a winner at three and carrying her first foal by Siyouni, was sold to dissolve the Al Sagar/Al Homaizi bloodstock partnership. She provided some compensation for David Hanley who missed out on purchasing her dam.

He paid 1,300,000gns on behalf of WinStar and later commented: “We went a long way into the bidding on her dam but did not get her. We said if we missed on her, we would try for her daughter. It is the most exceptional pedigree and most amazing family that works on both sides of the Atlantic - you could get a dirt horse or a turf horse. We are thrilled that we have secured her. She is on an early cover, and we have discussed stallions, but as yet have made no plans.”

The influence of Galileo on sales such as these is immeasurable and two of his daughters were among the top three lots. It took until her 12th and final start for Bound to visit the winners’ enclosure but what a canny piece of placing it proved to be by Aidan O’Brien. The race was the Listed Trigo Stakes and victory meant that she became the fourth stakes winner by Galileo for her dam Remember When.

The others are Group 2 winner and Group 1 Nassau Stakes runner-up Wedding Vow, Group 3 winner and Group 1 Oaks third Bye Bye Baby, and Group 3 winner Beacon Rock. Their dam Remember When failed to win a race, but she was runner-up in the Oaks to Snow Fairy and fourth in two other classics. In addition, she is a half-sister to three Group 1 winners in Dylan Thomas, Queen’s Logic and Homecoming Queen.

Sold with an early March first covering by Dark Angel, Bound was knocked down to Lordship Stud’s Ben Harris for 2,200,000gns. Lincoln Collins opened the bidding at a million guineas before Henri Bozo took over. Meanwhile a stoic Luke Lillingston looked on as Harris took the bidding along.

Following the sale Ben’s father Trevor Harris said; “Luke helped us right from the start and bought La Sky for us who was the dam of Love Divine and Swiss Lake, the dam of Swiss Spirit. This the most expensive horse we have bought, and we’d would love to send her to Dubawi.”

Lillingston added: “Sometimes you have to throw the kitchen sink at it to get a reward. She is a very special looking mare and is by Galileo.”

In a stellar year for trainer Jessica Harrington, one of her many stars was the five-year-old Galileo mare Beautiful Morning. Raced by Jon Kelly and James Wiltz, she sold to Hugo Lascelles for 1,400,000gns. Winner of the Group 3 Royal Whip at the Curragh and a listed race after her transfer from Luca Cumani, Beautiful Morning is out of the listed-placed Date With Destiny who was the only offspring ever by George Washington.

“Beautiful Morning will be staying in the UK and we’d hope she’ll be able to go to Dubawi,” said Lascelles.

The Coolmore partners will have no difficulty finding a mate for their 1,300,000gns purchase Heartache. Winner of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes and Group 1 Flying Childers Stakes last year, this daughter of Kyllachy is out of a stakes winning daughter of Compton Place. She was sold by the Harpers of Whitsbury Manor Stud.

Ed Harper commented; “The family goes back to Hollow Heart, who was bought by dad in the 1970s - this is a testament to his skill. We have changed our minds about 10 times as to whether to sell or keep her - but at the end of the day a stallion can cover 100 mares and a mare can only be covered once and we run a commercial operation.

“We have a superb team at home and it allows us to keep pushing forward.”

Purchaser MV Magnier said; “She is a very fast filly, very good-looking and she’ll be one for Galileo - she will not race on. She comes from a great nursery and farm.”

Almost a year to the day since she won the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes, the Mastercraftsman six-year-old Off Limits sold for 1,200,000gns to James Wigan’s London Thoroughbred Services on behalf of Peter and Bonnie McCausland’s Erdenheim Farm in Pennsylvania. She was consigned to the sale by European Sales Management on behalf of owner Martin Schwartz.

“She is the only lot here with Grade 1 winning form,” said Wigan. “The farm is an old American stud farm that has a great history. It is now being brought back into equine use again. It has been empty for a time and these are the first mares going back onto the farm. The mare should suit the US and she is from a lovely family.”

Phoenix Thoroughbreds beat Yulong Investments to secure Pocketfullofdreams for 1,000,000gns. The listed-placed daughter of Invincible Spirit, covered by Galileo, is a half-sister to the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu winner The Juliet Rose.

Tom Ludt, the vice-president of equine operations for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, said: “We are building a top-level broodmare band and both mares [also purchased Ballet De La Reine, in foal to Frankel, for 550,000gns] are carrying their first foals. We are looking to play at the top of the business.”