Cover Image courtesy of Racingfotos
Touted by Tattersalls as “regarded as an unmissable event and buyers from every continent in the world year on year illustrate that the finest European bloodstock continues to be held in the very highest esteem” the December Mare Sale is headlined by the Sceptre Sessions which compare to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in terms of depth.
G1 King Charles III S. winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ})’s dam Las Brisas (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) was bought by Cambridge Stud at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2018 for 50,000gns (AU$102,400), while the dams of Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}), Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) and Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) were all sold at the Tattersalls Mare Sale to European breeders.
Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock)’s dam Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was purchased by the Lucky Vega syndicate at last year’s sale for 200,000gns (AU$409,000).
The Sceptre Sessions
Named for the brilliant filly Sceptre (GB) (Persimmon{GB}), a full sister to Triple Crown champion Ormonde (GB), who sold for a world record price of 10,000gns in 1900 at Tattersalls as a yearling, the sessions feature elite quality mares.
Her price equates to 1.039 million gns in 2024 (AU$2.12 million). She went on to win four of the five English Classic races, being the One Thousand Guineas, Two Thousand Guineas, Oaks, and St. Leger and was fourth in the Derby.
Sceptre (GB) | Image courtesy of QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame
Being run for the third time in 2024, there are 87 lots in the Sceptre Sessions, led by G1 Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).
All up, there are 34 group winners among the 87 Sceptre Session mares and there are also Group 1 producers like Frangipani (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}), the dam of Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), is carrying a full sibling to the Champion German colt.
You Got To Me has Via Sistina vibes
You Got To Me will be consigned for the Sceptre Session by part-owner Newsells Park. “I’ve managed her all the way through, and she’ll sell through her part-owner,” said Imperium Sales’ Alex Elliott.
“She’s a Classic winner and a filly of this profile will be suited to Australia as an older mare. You’ve got to think this filly has a similar profile to Via Sistina. It’s very rare to sell a horse of her class and calibre with racing left.
“She’s (You Got To Me) a Classic winner and will be suited to Australia as an older mare. You’ve got to think this filly has a similar profile to Via Sistina.” - Alex Elliott
“She’s bred to get better next year, has been learning her craft, and is very sound. Now Bluestocking has retired, I think You Got To Me can replace her (among the older mares ranks). These owners always sell horses at the end of their 3-year-old year as that’s when they are most valuable, so this partnership was always going to end up selling. It’s their business decision to do that at this time.”
You Got To Me won on debut at two, and this year at three has won twice, the G1 Irish Oaks and Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial Fillies' S. and all six of her starts this year have been in black type company. She also ran second in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks.
“It’s interesting to see the huge money Via Sistina has won in Australia, and you have to think that this filly could do the same thing.”
By Nathaniel, who has 36 stakes winners including nine at Group 1 level, led by dual G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Enable (GB), You Got To Me is one of two winners for Listed winner Brushing (GB) (Medicean {GB}) from the family of globe-trotting Aussie sprinter Buffering (Mossman).
Who is Imperium Sales?
Imperium Sales debuted with their first consignment at the 2023 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and made an instant mark, selling Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for 575,000gns (AU$1.2 million) to Johnny McKeever, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and He's A Monster (Ire) (No Nay Never{USA}) wasn't far behind at 450,000gns (AU$921,000) to Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown on behalf of Wathnan Racing.
Elliott is described as currently the busiest agent in Europe, something he is coy about claiming. “As of yesterday, I’ve bought 140 yearlings for clients in 2024. It’s been a spectacular year. Winning the Oaks with You Got To Me was a pinch me moment, and I feel very privileged to work for clients like Valmont and Amo Racing,” said Elliott.
Gallery: Some of the horses sold by Imperium Sales at the 2023 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale
It’s an interesting story with Elliott starting out in the Godolphin Flying Start program. “When I finished in 2008, I wanted to be a horse trainer and went to the states to work there. I came back (to England) in 2012 and decided I didn’t want to be an assistant trainer, and I didn’t have the contacts to go out on my own as a trainer. I set myself up as an agent in around 2014, starting out buying horses for Ralph Beckett, mostly around the 10,000 mark, and built towards this year. It’s been a slow burn, building over ten years.
“If we continue on the same trajectory over the next ten years, then we’ll be in a good place.”
And the move from bloodstock agent into consigning as Imperium Sales? “I’d always wanted to do consigning as I thought it would help build more contacts, especially getting in front of buyers from Japan, America, and Australia which has been great.
“If we continue on the same trajectory over the next ten years, then we’ll be in a good place.” - Alex Elliott
“We topped the Horses In Training Sale last year with a horse bought by Gai Waterhouse, and we sold Mr Monaco to Ciaron Maher this year. Australia is thriving, prizemoney wise, and I’d like to come and visit sometime.”
Ciaron Maher and Astute Bloodstock purchased Mr Monaco (GB) (Territories {Ire}) for 410,000gns (AU$840,000), while three other horses in Imperium Sales’ draft went to Australia. Chris Waller bought Hutchence (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for 460,000gns (AU$942,000), Annabel Neasham and Blandford Bloodstock bought Black Run (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) for 260,000gns (AU$532,000) and Badgers Bloodstock and Freedman Racing purchased Aysgarth (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) for 70,000gns (AU$144,000).
“We’ve been great buying better and better horses and managing them through their career and now I can offer clients the full package by consigning them for sale. It’s all due to clients believing in me in the first place and now we are in a strong position. I’ve had some great people show faith in me.”
Alex Elliot | Image courtesy of Elliot Bloodstock Services
Imperium Sales’ other draft highlights
Wildcard entry Moraless (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) is in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time.
“Her half-brother Hunting Horn did well in Australia and she’s out of a half-sister to High Chaparral, so she makes a lot of sense for an Australian breeder. It’s a well-trodden path, and with Too Darn Hot doing well down there, it’s nice to have one in foal to him to get in front of Australian breeders.”
An unraced 4-year-old mare Moraless is a half-sister to G2 Moonee Valley Cup winner Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and G2 Beresford S. winner David Livingstone (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
“She's a Group-winning daughter of Sea The Moon,” Elliott said of Term Of Endearment (GB). "She won the Lillie Langtry. I bought her as a yearling here at Tattersalls, and she’ll come back for Tuesday night in the Sceptre Session. She can race on too. An attractive proposition." The 5-year-old mare has won four of her 12 starts including the G2 Lillie Langtry S. and she's a daughter of Listed winner Miss You Too (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Term Of Endearment (GB) winning the G2 Lillie Langtry S. | Image courtesy of Elliott Bloodstock Services
Listed-winning 4-year-old mare Empress Of Beauty (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is Lot 1744. “She’s a Listed-winning daughter of Le Havre with racing left in her.” Winner of two of her seven starts including the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. she is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Wally (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}).
Another one that Elliott picked out as suitable for Australia is 3-year-old filly Queen Of Mougins (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}). “She’s a seven furlong filly with racing still to come, who should be able to run a mile.” A winner from eight starts, she has placed in the G3 Sceptre S. and is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Pretty Baby (Ire) (Orpen {USA}).
“We got some good stock and I’m excited to sell them.”
“We got some good stock and I’m excited to sell them.” - Alex Elliott
Elliott is sure to make a splash as a buyer as well at Tattersalls next week. One of his principal clients, Amo Racing will be on the hunt for fillies and mares to support a group of stallions they have retired to stud for 2025.
