Sceptre Sessions

When Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac she led home a one-two for her trainer Francis Graffard as she pipped the Aga Khan Studs' Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}) on the line.  The runner-up, who went into the race unbeaten, including a victory in the G3 Prix d'Aumale, had started odds-on favourite with Vertical Blue as one of the outsiders of the field, but the latter's success came as no surprise to Graffard, who had held her in high regard from the outset.  "She's a big...

The Tattersalls December Sale is played out, akin to panto season, over two weeks, matinees and evening performances, incorporating almost every facet of the bloodstock sales business, from foals to yearlings, horses in training, broodmares, and sometimes the odd stallion or two. The Sceptre Sessions are only in their third year but they are already embedded as an integral part of the annual finale at Park Paddocks. And there is little doubt that the theatrical highlights come on the Monday and Tuesday of the second week, as dusk settles in...

Trainer George Boughey has described Group 2 winner Believing (Ire) Mehmas {Ire}) as the "perfect outcross" for breeders ahead of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. The Highclere Racing-owned four-year-old, who has danced every dance this season and reached a career-high rating of 112, is one of the star attractions of the Sceptre Sessions at that sale and Boughey says that his stable star would be a no-brainer for potential buyers. He said, "With her being a Group 1 filly by Mehmas, who has had a record-breaking season and has become...

Zero Gravity (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the dam of this year's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), has been added to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale as a wildcard and will be offered as lot 1485A during the Sceptre Sessions on Monday, December 2. She will be offered in foal to Chaldean (GB) by Ed Player's Whatton Manor Stud, who also consigned her Too Darn Hot (GB) filly at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Shadwell...

Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue (Ire) has been added to the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.  Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for owners Gemini Stud and Argella Racing, the Mehmas (Ire) filly is the highest-rated juvenile in France.  Graffard commented, "I've loved Vertical Blue since she arrived and I was delighted that she was able to show that on the track. Physically she has plenty of scope to improve and her turn of foot, as well as her great attitude, have us all excited about what she...

Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is one of the highlights of the 991-strong Tattersalls December Mares catalogue, which was released on Friday. The third edition of the Sceptre Sessions will take place on Monday, Dec. 2 and Tuesday, Dec. 3. An additional two sessions of the December Mares Sale will continue on Dec. 4-5. The first Irish Oaks winner (lot 1753) to be sold at Tattersalls as a 3-year-old for over 40 years, the filly will be joined by up-and-coming sprinter Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire})...

It was announced on Tuesday that Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) will be offered at the forthcoming Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which takes place from December 2-5. The daughter of Nathaniel (Ire) will feature in the third edition of the Sceptre Sessions, which will be held over the first two days of the sale. Bred by Dullingham Park Stud and Sarabex, You Got To Me first sold for 62,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale and was later bought by Alex Elliott for 200,000gns at Book 1...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry NEWMARKET, UK - A Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, by one of the world's best stallions and carrying a foal by the dual champion sire. As recipes go, it has all the ingredients necessary to make a special dish, and that is exactly what the Juddmonte team decided she was when buying Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from Rabbah Bloodstock for 4.5 million gns. Northern Farm, Charlie Gordon-Watson, Jill Lamb and Coolmore all made attempts on the five-year-old G1...

Listed winner Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}--Suelita {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) commanded a 2.5 million guineas final bid from William Haggas signing on behalf of First Bloodstock on the second day of selling at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. Offered as Lot 1813 by Whitsbury Manor Stud, the half-sister to English Champion 2-year-old Chaldean (Frankel) and a full to Group 2-scorer Alkumait also finished runner-up in the G1 Flying Five S.

During a hot run for sire Fastnet Rock at Tattersalls this week, Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}--Nigh {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) reeled in 2.7 million guineas from Evergreen Equine during Tuesday's second session of the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls. Consigned by Grove Stud, the 5-year-old mare, offered as Lot 1788, recorded her most important career victory in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh. The winner of this season's G2 Dahlia S., the bay also finished runner-up in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and third in the G1...

The Castlebridge Consignment's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) (lot 1771) became the first seven-figure lot of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale on Tuesday, when bringing 1.1 million gns in foal to Frankel (GB). Hillwood Bloodstock's Charlie Vigors signed the ticket for the listed-winning mare, who was third in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. This is the family of multiple group winner Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}), who was second in the G1 Pretty Polly S. Bred by Kildaragh Stud, she was picked up for just 100,000gns by...

A significant addition to the Tattersalls December Mares Catalogue is the wild-card entry of Kensea (Fr), the 13-year-old daughter of Kendargent (Fr) who has the rare distinction of being the dam of two Group 1 winners. That notable duo consists of the full-brothers Sealiway (Fr) and Sunway (Fr). One of the sons of Galiway (GB) was the busiest stallion in France this year during his first season at Haras de Beaumont, while the latter is a serious Classic prospect for 2024 on either side of the Channel. Guy Pariente, who...