Figures Up At Tatts February Opener

NEWMARKET, UK—The February Sale may present a relatively low-key start to the sales year at Tattersalls but it has nevertheless drawn a decent crowd of potential buyers from many countries and trade during the first session was well ahead of that produced 12 months ago in only the third time that the sale has been extended to two days.

The major boost came predominantly from the former Mark Johnston trainee and listed winner I'll Have Another (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), who led the first day of trade when sold to agent Cormac McCormack for 200,000gns. The 4-year-old, who was also Group 3-placed in Germany and runner-up in the Zetland S., was sold through the National Stud for owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

“We sold horses for the Rooneys in December and they very kindly let us consign this mare too,” said National Stud director Tim Lane.

The winner of four of her 18 starts and bought as a yearling by Kevin Ross for £32,000, I'll Have Another is a daughter of Jessie Jane (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), a winning half-sister to the G3 Chester Vase runner-up Icon Dream (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). The family has served breeder Manister House Stud well over the years, especially through another of the dam's half-sisters, Starfish (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose offspring include dual Group 1 winner La Collina (Ire) and listed winner Fox Chairman (Ire).

McCormack didn't name his client but said. “She has a pedigree and is a lovely scopey mare, a queen. She will be covered by Ten Sovereigns this season.”

The median for the session was close to double last year's mark at 5,000gns, while the average was up 79% at 12,712gns. In total, 138 horses sold for 1,754,300gns, a rise of 90%, bringing an improved clearance rate of 83%.

Also reaching the six-figure mark was the gelding Power Link (Data Link), sold from James Tate's Jamesfield Stables on behalf of Rabbah Bloodstock for 100,000gns. Paul Murphy signed the ticket for lot 159 and was acting for Paul Harley, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, where the 4-year-old will continue his racing career from Abdul Rahman Fahd Al Bawardi's Emblem Stables.

Murphy said, “This horse has a good rating and looks as though he will be a great fit for racing in Saudi.”

The 96-rated four-time winner is a three-parts brother to Lane's End Farm's Grade I winner and accomplished young sire The Factor and has won at three of Britain's all-weather tracks as well as finishing runner-up last February at Meydan.

The 20-strong Godolphin draft provided two of the day's leading lots headed by 156, Memphis (Ire), a daughter of Dubawi (Ire) and a half-sister to G1 Fillies' Mile winner Lyric Of Light (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}). Matt Houldsworth secured the unraced 3-year-old for a bid of 62,000gns and she will be heading to the southern hemisphere.

“She's been bought as a breeding prospect and is off to a good farm in Australia,” said the agent. “Her sister is a Group 1 winner who is breeding now and she's from a really good family.”

That family is one made famous over the last four decades by Meon Valley Stud as Memphis's third dam is the famed Reprocolor (GB) (Jimmy Reppin {GB}), whose Group 1-winning descendants include Colorspin (GB) (High Top {GB}), Kayf Tara (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic).

British-based Australian agent Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock stepped in for another member of the Godolphin draft, Dubrava (GB) (Dansili {GB}), for an unnamed client at 55,000gns.

A 78-rated winner for owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid when trained by Roger Varian, the 4-year-old is a half-sister to GIIIRebert G Dick Memorial S. winner Real Smart (Smart Strike) and a grand-daughter of the Group 1-winning sprinter Tante Rose (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}).

“She was one we selected in the catalogue and we loved her when we saw her so we're delighted,” Boman said of lot 154. “It doesn't often happen that a horse matches the pedigree physically. She is a beautiful filly and is by a good broodmare sire in Dansili.”

From a small selection of just-turned yearlings, the top price was paid for the sole offering by the dual 2000 Guineas winner Churchill (Ire) in the catalogue. The April-born filly has joined the team at Tally-Ho Stud after Roger and Henry O'Callaghan outbid Paul McCarthy at 56,000gns.

Sold by the Castlebridge Consignment for Italian breeder Azienda Agricola Gennaro Stimola, lot 109 is out of the unraced Hussonet mare Miss Mariduff, the dam of G2 Premio Ribot winner Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and listed winner Basileus (Ire) (Dream Ahead). The 15-year-old mare has also produced another two black-type performers among her seven winners.

Members of the first crop of the Coolmore stallion proved popular at the foal sales in November, with 13 sold for an average price of 108,000gns.

The February Sale concludes on Friday with trade getting underway at 10am.