ACTING on behalf of Godolphin, John Gosden paid 750,000gns for a Dubawi half-sister to his Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs at Tattersalls yesterday evening as the December Foal Sale hit top gear.

Consigned by Willie Carson’s Minster Stud, the February foal was the top lot as of 4.30pm when this report was filed.

Gosden outbid Harriet Jellet and Jamie McCalmont, who were sharing a phone call.

“She was a very cute filly,” said Carson, who was with his wife Elaine. “We’ve been selling more as foals for the last three years - we can cope with foaling down the mares, but we’re getting too old for yearlings.

“I rang Tattersalls in the autumn and asked how many Dubawis they had catalogued here and was told none - so I said, ‘Well you’ve got one now!’

“Swain’s Gold has been very good to us and she is in-foal to Golden Horn. We are not sure who we will go to next spring.”

Earlier in the session saw one of the week’s highlights when a Dark Angel daughter of the stakes winner Indigo Lady strode into the ring.

Offered from Ringfort Stud in Rhode, Co Offaly, she was the subject of a prolonged bidding war between representatives of Godolphin and Capital Bloodstock’s Neil Gilchrist. The latter won the day at 600,000gns, matching the best price obtained last year.

“I am overwhelmed really,” said Derek Veitch. “It is wonderful. The mare Indigo Lady is owned by myself and Paul Hancock - who sadly is in bed after having his appendix out, but is watching online. Paul owned her, and I bought into the mare after she had picked up black-type in France and she then went on to win a listed race for us.

“I just have to thank everyone at home who has worked so hard to keep this foal in one piece and get her here, and all who bid on her today. She was very busy with viewings, and usually you have certain groups on horses - she had everyone.” The filly was one of a number of sale ring highlights for Derek and Gay Veitch and their Ringfort Stud this week.

INVINCIBLE FILLY

The 600,000gns mark was reached again two hours later when the first of the draft from Bernard Cooke’s Bryanstown House Stud entered the ring. This daughter of Invincible Spirit is a full-sister to stakes winners Music Box and Ektihaam and from the family of Snow Bride, Lammtara, Hector Protector and Bosra Sham, and bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson had the final say for her.

“She is a lovely filly,” said Cooke. “I bought the grandam here from the Darley draft and bred this filly’s dam. She has been a good mare and always gets very good-looking stock. Invincible Spirit has been a lucky sire for me. I have five mares at home and I like to sell as foals as there is only myself and another to help -and this is my biggest sale.”

The only Frankel in the catalogue was bought by a Japanese owner, signing under his company name Le Mare, a third purchase for the buyer on Friday and his most expensive at 375,000gns.

"I particularly liked the fact that this colt is by Frankel, but he is a great individual too - he was my pick of the day," said the buyer. "I have not decided upon my plans yet."

Sold by Fittocks Stud, the April colt is out of Contradanse, winner of the Group 2 Oaks d'Italia, runner-up in the Group 3 Prix de la Nonette and fourth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes.

Demand for Dark Angel continued apace and Knocktoran Stud, who enjoyed classic success this year with Precieuse, sold a member of the same family for 325,000gns. He was bought by Capital Bloodstock who shortly afterwards brought their spend to more than two million guineas with the purchase of West Blagdon Stud’s Dansili own-brother to the highly promising two-year-old Jamil at 300,000gns.

LOTS MORE BLOODSTOCK SALES COVERAGE IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND