BEACH Frolic, the dam of top miler Palace Pier, was the star turn on the second day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, selling for 2.2 million guineas to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier.

Turnover fell just short of 25 million during the session with seven lots selling for 500,000gns or more. Both the average and median prices were down over 30% on the corresponding day last year.

Beach Frolic had been expected by many to top the sale and, though there are two days of selling still to go, she did not disappoint.

Newsells Park Stud’s Julian Dollar kicked off bidding at one million guineas, with agents Alex Elliott and Rob Speers both joining in the battle to secure the daughter of Nayef, along with online bidders, but it was M.V. Magnier, standing outside, who prevailed.

"She is a lovely mare and she has already bred an exceptional racehorse, the yearling by Highland Reel that Jamie McCalmont bought is a very nice horse too," said Magnier.

"She is a special mare; they don't come up very often. Palace Pier is a very special horse, an exceptional horse – she is a good producer. I would say that we will cover her with Galileo.

Beach Frolic was sold by part-owners Highclere Stud and Floors Farming and was offered in foal to champion sprinter Blue Point.

MOYGLARE PURCHASE

The listed winning and Group 1 placed four-year-old filly Sonaiyla attracted the attention of a multitude of bidders including agent Demi O’Byrne and trainer Joseph O’Brien but both were unable to match Fiona Craig who secured the Dark Angel filly for 900,000gns on behalf of Moyglare Stud.

"It is basically a need for speed, that is why everybody else was bidding on her too," said Craig. "She has something that we find hard to breed, and there is that Group 1 placing. She is a pretty filly too, and she is an outcross, she can go to anything. She can go to Galileo, Frankel, Dubawi, Kingman, Sea The Stars – she can go to all of those."

Sonaiyla was originally trained by Michael Halford for the Aga Khan before being sold a year ago for €110,000 at Goffs to BBA Ireland on behalf of Ruairí Ó Coileáin's Ennistown Stud.

Put into training with Paddy Twomey, the filly appeared to benefit from being dropped in trip and won twice before finishing a close second to Glen Shiel in a Group 3 and third to Glass Slippers in the Group 1 Flying Five.

KURIOUS COUP

The Group 3 winning sprinter Kurious was another star attraction, the half-sister to the Group 1 winners Tangerine Trees and Alpha Delphini selling to Hillwood Bloodstock’s Charlie Vigors for 900,000gns.

Consigned to the sale by Whitsbury Manor Stud, the 106-rated four-year-old daughter of Kuroshio out of the Cozzene mare Easy To Imagine won the Group 3 Coral Charge and Listed Scurry Stakes, both at Sandown Park.

Vigors revealed he bought the mare on behalf of clients who sold the Lope De Vega colt out of Moi Meme for 900,000gns at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale.

The sale continues on Wednesday when the draft of fillies from Juddmonte Farms is sure to attract plenty of attention.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY 2

Current Year Previous Year Change %

Lots Catalogued 295 286 +3%

Lots Withdrawn 60 61 -2%

Lots Offered 235 225 +4%

Lots Unsold 49 42 +17%

Lots Sold 186 183 +2%

Total Value (gns) 24,969,000 35,759,500 -30%

Median Value (gns) 60,000 90,000 -33%

Average Value (gns) 134,242 195,407 -31%

% Offered Lots Sold 79% 81% -2%