By Brian Sheerin
Connections of Moqadama (Ire), a winning sister to back-to-back Royal Ascot scorer Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), say that they want to “strike while the iron is still hot” with the broodmare in the upcoming Tattersalls Online Sale.
Consigned by Castleton Lyons, Moqadama will become the first US-based horse to sell on the Tattersalls Online platform. Bidding opens on Wednesday with the sister to the dual Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes scorer being sold in foal to American Pharoah.
Kerry native Pat Hayes, who is the farm manager at the Kentucky-based Castleton Lyons operation, commented, “The owner wanted to strike while the iron was still hot. With Khaadem winning again at Royal Ascot and the mare being in foal to American Pharoah, you can't beat that.
“American Pharoah is a very popular sire worldwide–he's not just popular over here, so it's a very good cross. We believe that she is carrying a colt foal. The first foal is a really good filly by Mendelssohn. The mare is a super mover herself and this is a very good first foal out of her. The foal is a great mover, very light on her feet and correct.”
The online arm of the Tattersalls platform has grown exponentially since it was launched during Covid. Katherine Sheridan and Ross Birkett are the driving forces behind the online section of the sales company, which sets out to stage a sale every month and in June managed the selling of Royal Ascot-bound juvenile Hot Darling (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who changed hands for 460,000gns.
In Moqadama, Tattersalls will break even further ground, given the six-year-old will become the first American-based horse to sell on the platform, but Hayes was keen to stress that there has been plenty of interest in the filly from buyers at home in the US as well.
He explained, “Moqadama is owned by a long-standing client of the farm and it was his idea to try and sell the mare through the Tattersalls Online platform. He thought it was the best place to put her on show. Online sales have become hugely popular. Even over here in America, Fasig-Tipton has become very strong in that area of the market since Covid.
“Putting this mare in at Tattersalls made more appeal to the owner, given the pedigree, but I have to say we have had plenty of interest from American-based clients as well. Her two-year-old full-sister is in training with Clive Cox and I understand he likes her a lot.”
Moqadama began her career in Britain with trainer Charlie Hills, for whom she carried the colours of Shadwell. Like Khaadem, she was bred by Yeomanstown Stud, who also stand her sire Dark Angel.
As well as being a sister to the star sprinter Khaadem, Moqadama can also call on the 2015 Norfolk Stakes runner-up Log Out Island (Ire) as being another extremely-speedy full-sibling. All told, her dam White Daffodil (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) has produced four winners from six runners.
Hayes concluded, “It's all very exciting and she's a very appealing mare. I think we will become the first people in the States to sell a horse online with Tattersalls so that's exciting as well. It has been very easy to deal with Tattersalls–a very simple process–and we're hoping it goes well.”
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