Celebrity chef Bobby Flay to disperse his European breeding stock

It may not constitute the end of an era, but the dispersal of celebrity chef Bobby Flay's European breeding stock represents an exciting opportunity for breeders on both sides of the Atlantic to snap up a number of top-class mares, including Grade 3 winner Cover Song and Auld Alliance, in foal to Frankel.

Cover Song, in foal to Dubawi, will be offered by Elite Sales at Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars sale on November 4.

"The opportunity to offer a mare at public auction with the quality and depth of pedigree of Cover Song is extremely rare," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning.

"Since she was purchased by Bobby Flay at our November Sale in 2016, both of her siblings to race - Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag - have won multiple Grade 1 races.

"Her own dam, the champion and multiple Group 1 winner Misty For Me, has produced two additional foals by War Front and is back in foal to War Front.

"Cover Song is truly a once-in-a-lifetime offering and we are honoured to sell her."

However, the majority of the dispersal will be offered at Tattersalls' December Breeding Stock sales.

Auld Alliance, from one of Ballymacoll's most successful families, and Albisola, in foal to Invincible Spirit, will both go under the hammer in Newmarket.

American Spirit, in foal to Dark Angel, completes the mares on offer, and she will be consigned by Baroda and Colbinstown Studs.

"We're looking forward to selling an exciting draft for Bobby Flay as part of the dispersal of his European breeding stock at the Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sales," said Baroda and Colbinstown's David Cox.

"There are some exceptional mares. Among the top-class pedigrees are Auld Alliance, a Montjeu mare from one of the great Ballymacoll families and she is in foal again to the great Frankel."

Two further racing or broodmare prospects and three foals will also be on offer at Tattersalls.

Flay, who has enjoyed numerous high-profile successes in the US and serves on the Breeders' Cup board of directors, stressed the dispersal was not indicative of a move away from the sport entirely.

"Racing and breeding thoroughbreds in Europe has been a rewarding and fruitful experience for me over the last decade," said Flay. "The people who own the farms, run the sales companies and train the horses have been nothing but great partners in my quest to run a successful business.

"I have decided, however, to disperse my European stock at upcoming sales and they will be offered without a reserve.

"To be clear, I am not leaving the business as a whole. In fact, I will continue to add more robust pedigrees to my American team now and in the future.

"This decision is strictly based on geography and where I spend most of my time. I look forward to seeing these special horses find new homes and at the same time I look forward to a more focused domestic business."

The December Breeding Stock Sales start on November 25.

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