SANDS Of Mali, one of Europe's most promising young stallions, is for sale through the offices of Tattersalls Ireland.

The sales company issued a brief statement on Thursday evening to say: "Sands Of Mali is to be sold through Tattersalls Ireland on a sealed bids basis under the direction of Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland.

"The deadline for receipt of the first round of sealed bids to Simon Kerins, shall be 5pm, Monday 10 November.

"Interested parties can submit their bids confidentially to skerins@tattersalls.ie"

Sands Of Mali currently stands at Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud in Co Carlow but his ownership is the subject of a legal dispute.

Earlier this year lawyers for racehorse owner Steve Parkin, who had a 20-year business relationship with Foley, claimed in the High Court that Parkin was the sole owner of the stallion, having paid £225,000 for the stallion at the sales.

Foley claims he owns 50% of the horse, his share credited against fees charged to Parkin for horses boarding at Ballyhane Stud.

In February the High Court ruled that the stallion should remain at Ballyhane Stud while the case continues.

In the meantime Sands Of Mali has enhanced his reputation as a sire. His daughter Time For Sandals won the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup and he finished seventh in the European leading second season sires table, having had far fewer runners than any of the six stallions ranked above him.

Sands Of Mali's stud fee was private this year but had been steady at €5,000 for the previous three years. According to the latest Return of Mares, the horse covered approximately 200 mares this year.

A filly by him fetched 220,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1 last month and just this week a yearling by Sands Of Mali fetched €58,000 at Goffs. Purchaser Adam Potts of BBA Ireland said: “I was very keen all year to get one by Sands Of Mali. He has 24 yearlings and they are going to be maybe a collectors’ item, going forward."