Tattersalls December Mares Sale: Australasian buyers active, Juddmonte goes to 4.5 million gns for Teona

Cover image courtesy of Tattersals

Group 1 winner in foal to Frankel steals the show

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 (AU$9,060,600) at the Sceptre Sessions.

Northern Farm, Charlie Gordon-Watson, Jill Lamb and Coolmore all made attempts on the 5-year-old, who is in foal for the first time to Frankel (GB), but it was Simon Mockridge who outlasted them all.

Offered by Barton Sales, Teona is from the 2021 G1 Prix Vermeille winner Ambivalent (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), making her a half-sister to the Group 2 scorer Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubwai {Ire}).

Teona is closely related to Total Gallery (Ire) - the Champion 3YO Sprinter in Europe in 2009 and the Champion 3YO Sprinter in France in 2009. He won six races, including the 2009 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye.

He said of Lot 1786, “She is the best mare in the sale - a Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner. That’s what they cost you. She’s a beautiful addition and she’s got a great pedigree. She’s by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire. He is already the damsire of four Group 1 winners. She’ll fit in very well.”

Mockridge continued, “There were plenty at Goffs and we tried very hard at Goffs but we got beaten on most of the great individuals there. This is a great pedigree and, as I said, a Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, they’re hard to find.

“She’s an outcross for Frankel, which is ideal. That's what we are looking for. She’ll be going to Frankel (next year).”

Asked if 4.5 million gns was where Mockridge expected to end up for Teona, he replied, “You always have to stretch a little bit further than you really want to but, to buy the best, that's how competitive it is. We’re seeing that tonight. I did think she would make around three-and-a-half to four (million) but we had to make that extra stretch. It’s something that we’ve learned. We try to value them but, when it comes to the moment, you've got to be a little stronger.”

Price/Kent Jnr go to 250,000 gns for lightly raced Kodiac 3-year-old

The Group 1-winning training combination of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, in conjunction with bloodstock agent Dermot Farrington, landed a blow on Day 2, parting with 250,000 gns (AU$504,400) for the winning Kodiac (GB) filly Le Mans (Ire).

The 3-year-old was consigned as Lot 1671 by WH Bloodstock.

Le Mans had four starts with Richard Hannon, winning twice and finishing second on one occasion. She scored on debut at Newmarket in June, before adding a second victory at Salisbury in September.

Originally purchased by Westerberg for 470,000 gns (AU$946,100) from the Tally-Ho Stud draft at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1), Le Mans is out of the winning Diamond Green (Fr) mare Diaminda (Ire), making the filly a half-sister to Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) - a dual Group 2 scorer and Group 1 placegetter who stands at Haras de Bouquetot (in France). Lusail also finished runner-up in the 2022 G1 St James’s Palace S. behind the ill-fated Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and third in the 2022 G1 Prix Jean Prat which was won by Tenebrism (USA) (Caravaggio {USA}).

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report, Kent Jnr said Le Mans, by all reports “is a standout on type” and has enormous upside.

“We analysed the whole catalogue from an Australian racing perspective. We had a relatively small shortlist of fillies we thought could adapt here to our racing,” Kent Jnr said.

“As I began to do more work, this filly became extremely obvious to us.

“Dermot Farrington was our eyes on the ground and he said he hadn’t seen a better type in the entire sale, and since we bought her, Dermot said he has been inundated with people telling him what a lovely filly she is.

“I think at that money, I think she is a really lovely buy, given what she was worth as a yearling.

“We want to buy racehorses and fillies that can come out here and compete in Group races and we feel she can.”

Gallery: Micheal Kent Jnr and Mick Price, landed a blow on Day 2, parting with 250,000 gns (AU$504,400) for the winning filly Le Mans (Ire)

Le Mans is also closely related to Fayr Jag (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}). He won 11 races, including the G1 Golden Jubilee S. in 2004, and was named Joint Champion Older Male Sprinter in Ireland in 2003.

Kent Jnr added that Le Mans, given her pedigree, offers great residual value.

“If we achieve black type with her, which our date indicates we can, then she’s going to be very valuable walking back through a sales ring in the next couple of years down here,” he said.

“Her half-brother (Lusail) won two proper Group 2 and was second in the St James’s Palace, which is one of the best Group 1s of the year for 3-year-olds.”

Le Mans’ wins have been over 1600 metres and 2000 metres respectively and Kent Jnr believes the filly will be incredibly versatile in her new environment.

“Our data indicates she has a lot of pace, she’s a fast filly,” Kent Jnr explained.

“She’s going to be very versatile in terms of distance. She’s going to be competitive down here from 1200 metres, and she’s already down over 2000 metres. I feel she has one of those profiles where she is very versatile, she seems to jump well, relax early, then finish off strong. She’s got a beautiful big stride.”

Kent Jnr said the stable would look to syndicate Le Mans, who will arrive in Australia as soon as possible.

A handful for Lucky Vega

It was a busy day for the Australian-based Lucky Vega; it spent 1,620,000gns (AU3,255,200) on five horses.

During the Sceptre Sessions, Lucky Vega went to 540,000gns (AU$1,089,000) for Lot 1801, the well-related Tierra (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was consigned by Voute Sales Ltd. and is believed to be in foal to Frankel.

Tierra was unraced and is a half-sister to the elite-level hero and Group 1-producing sire Zoffany (GB), as well as the Group 2 victor Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the Group 3 winner Wilshire Boulevard (Ire).

Lucky Vega paid 400,000gns (AU$807,200) each for Lots 1778 and 1814. The former, the winless Alina (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was consigned by Hazelwood Bloodstock and is the dam of the Group 1 winner Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {GB}). She is in foal to Kingman (GB). The latter, Hooked On You (Ire) (Starspangledbanner), won one race. She was offered, in foal to No Nay Never (USA), by Manister House Stud, Ireland, and is the dam of the stakes winners Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) and Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Lot 1823 - Night (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB), and Lot 1687 - Bint Almatar (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), in foal to Zoustar, were also signed for by Lucky Vega for 200,000gns (AU$403,600) and 80,000gns (AU$161,500) respectively.

Another Mastercraftsman for Tulloch Lodge

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have enjoyed a good deal of success with the progeny of Mastercraftsman (Ire), most notably Military Mission (Ire), who has won four stakes races in Australia, including last week’s G2 Zipping Classic.

And they, in partnership with bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, went to 240,000 gns (AU$484,200) for his lightly raced daughter Alalcance (GB). She was offered as Lot 1678 by Lanwades Stud.

The 3-year-old has had just four starts and shed her maiden tag at her most recent outing - at the Curragh on October 31.

Gallery: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Johnny McKeever purchase Alalcance (GB) for 240,000gns (AU$484,200)

Alalcance is from the stakes performer Albamara (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and she herself is a three-quarter sister to the Listed winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) - the dam of the multiple Group 1 hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“First and foremost, she’s (Alalcance) by Mastercraftsman, a sire that has done so well for the stable with the likes of Military Mission and White Marlin,” McKeever told TTR AusNZ.

“Furthermore, she’s from Kirsten Rausing’s stunning ‘A’ family who are absolutely top-class stayers of many generations including last years Arc heroine Alpinista.

“Lastly, she’s a stunning grey filly who’s just won a Curragh maiden in great style. Paddy Twomey obviously rated that form as he was the underbidder.”

Three for Kia Ora Stud

After parting with with 460,000gns (AU$927,000) to secure the Listed-winning 4-year-old mare Wonderful Times (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) on Monday, Kia Ora Stud purchased three horses on Day 2, spending 930,000gns (AU$1,868,500).

Lot 1809 is the Listed-winner and Group 3 placegetter Secret Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Offered by Spigot Lodge Stables, she made 420,000gns (AU$847,200).

Lot 1820, Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), is a winner of three races, including a Group 2. She was consigned by Barton Sales and realised 260,000gns (AU$524,500).

Kia Ora also paid Voute Sales Ltd 250,000gns (AU$504,4000) for Lot 1802 - Vernichey (SAf) (Vercingetorix {SAf}) - a Group 1 winner at Scottsville in 2020.

Other noteworthy Australasian results

After getting on the board on Monday, Dean Hawthorne of Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) teamed up with Badgers Bloodstock to secure the Frankel mare Fraxinella (GB), who is in foal to Kingman (GB).

Bidding for the 4-year-old, who was consigned as Lot 1752 by Juddmonte, closed at 440,000gns (AU$887,600).

The unraced Fraxinella is a sister to the stakes performer Brivais (GB) and they are from the dual Group 2 scorer Lucky Kristale (GB) (Lucky Story {USA}).

Gallery: Dean Hawthorne of Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) teamed up with Badgers Bloodstock to secure the Frankel mare Fraxinella (GB) for 440,000gns (AU$887,600)

Hawthorne and Badgers Bloodstock also paid 375,000gns (AU$756,500) for Lot 1727 - the unraced Podium (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). She was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB).

Podium is out of the Listed victress Missvinski (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}), making her a sister to the stakes winners Peaceful (Ire) and Easter (Ire).

And Australian Bloodstock again combined with bloodstock agent Ronald Rauscher to buy another horse. They parted with 210,000gns (AU$423,600) for the Windsor novice winner Understated (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).

Via Sistina rewards patience of Hillens

From 5000gns (AU$10,046) to 2.7 million gns (AU$5,425,000): that’s the story of Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) through two December Sales four years apart, and with wins in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races in the interim for Stephen and Becky Hillen when trained by George Boughey. Consigned on their behalf by Grove Stud, the 5-year-old, out of a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to top sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire), was sold to an online bidder who later signed as Evergreen Equine.

“Surreal. It’s been tremendous,” said Stephen Hillen of Lot 1788.

Who for Lezoo?

A similar mystery surrounds the purchaser of the G1 Cheveley Park S. victress Lezoo (GB) - a daughter of former shuttle sire Zoustar. The ring may have been packed with onlookers and potential bidders, but the final bid was made invisibly, online, at 2.2 million gns (AU$4,420,100). It was eventually confirmed under the name of Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International.

Group 1 Winners with a touch of Cachet for Northern Farm

Katsumi Yoshida’s Japanese powerhouse Northern Farm has been a steady force at the December Mares Sale in recent years and, after adding last year’s 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) to the roster at 2.2 million gns (AU$4,420,100), a private deal was brokered to add the Group 1 winner Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to the haul.

Cachet (Lot 1799) was famously bought by Jake Warren and Harry Herbert of Highclere Agency for 60,000gns (AU$120,500) from her breeder John Bourke at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale. The pair, who run the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate which has also campaigned the Irish Oaks winner Petrushka (Ire) (Unfuwain {USA}), were naturally delighted with the result.

The Northern Farm team had also signed for Galileo Gal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Lot 1789) earlier in the Sceptre Session at 500,000gns (AU$1,003,800) to bring their total spend to 5,100,000gns (AU$10,238,100) on the day. Such visits are viewed as extremely important with a view towards keeping Japanese bloodlines fresh, according to Northern Farm’s Shingo Hashimoto, who explained how plans were still fluid for the big-name acquisitions.

He said, “Of course, Cachet is the 1000 Guineas winner and she really looked gorgeous. We felt something special from her so we are pretty excited to bring her back to Japan. She’ll be covered but we haven’t decided whether or not she’ll be covered in Europe first or in Japan. She definitely has the speed.”

On Prosperous Voyage (Lot 1811), he added, “We are happy that we were able to buy her at the end of the day. We’ll think about bringing her back to Japan or keeping her in Europe. There are some very good stallions in Europe as well. We always try to diversify the blood that we have and we don’t want to put all of the eggs into the one basket. That is part of our plan.”