A DUBAWI half-brother to a pair of stakes winners became the second highest-priced foal ever sold in Europe when bought by Anthony Stroud for 1,800,000gns at Tattersalls on Friday.

The agent, who was bidding from outside, was taken to the seven-figure sum by Coolmore, with M.V. Magnier stood in the bidders’ area in the sale ring.

Magnier took the price to a million, jumping from 900,000gns. However, he ended up shaking his head when John O’Kelly asked if he would like to top the winning bid.

Emotional

Consignor Michael Swinburn was standing just below the Coolmore team, and was visibly emotional. After shaking hands with the underbidder, and then the successful buyer, Swinburn explained just why the sale had such personal ties to Genesis Green and the Swinburn family. “I just wish Walter was here to see this. He owned the mare and had her in training. I Can Fly was the last one he knew and he was absolutely over the moon.” Walter died in 2016.

Swinburn continued: “She is a mare that I always thought would suit Dubawi, the shape of her. When I Can Fly came up I approached Liam O’Rourke at Darley and asked ‘what was the chances of a foal share to Dubawi’, and he said he would be delighted to have her.

“She is just a pure vessel of a mare; anything she has produced has been a good version of the stallion. She hasn’t had any foal the same as the other one – she just throws to the stallion and a good version of him.”

He added: “It is so hard to get one that is nice, to get it through x-rays, through scopes. I just hope he comes up so lucky for Sheikh Mohammed. I have loved the stallion even since in his early days. I am happy for everyone at the farm, the lads are so loyal, and it is a big effort.”

Genesis Green

Recalling the investment in the family, Swinburn said it didn’t get off on the best footing at home. “I bought the grandam Sabria at a September Sale here years ago with Oliver St Lawrence. I went into the kitchen and Mum and Dad must have got wind that I had bought a mare. It caused an outcry.

“Walter bailed me out at 25,000gns and we have had the family ever since and it has been fantastic for us. It has probably built Genesis Green.

“The mare is in foal to Fastnet Rock, carrying a filly, thank God, I wonder if Liam would be up for another foal share?!”

The sole filly by Dubawi in the sale later sold for 320,000gns.