WRITING last week’s report on the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in mid-afternoon, I predicted that the fireworks were likely still to occur. At that point the leader was Newtown Stud’s Lope De Vega half-brother to Phoenix Of Spain who had been purchased for 300,000gns by Ger Lowry’s Oneliner Stables. When the final hammer fell on Friday night, four foals had surpassed that figure, three of them by Dubawi.

Two sons of Darley’s flagbearer sold within minutes of each other, the first realising 700,000gns, the equal second-highest priced colt foal ever sold at the Tattersalls December Sale behind Padua’s Pride who sold for a staggering 2,500,000gns, with the second colt selling for 600,000gns. Dubawi’s sons and daughters are now responsible for six of the top 10 prices at the December Foal Sale since 2000.