Momentum sustained as Tattersalls December Mares Sale concludes on a high

The concluding day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale ended on a positive note when the Shadwell-consigned Adaalah became the highest-priced mare or filly to sell on the final day of the sale since 2012.

The session saw 105 lots sell from 163 offered for turnover of 845,700gns (up 57 per cent from last year at 538,200gns), with an average of 8,054gns (an increase of 59 per cent) and median of 5,000gns (up 67 per cent), bringing the end to a sale which saw total turnover 45 per cent higher than 12 months' previously at 62,412,700gns.

Shadwell's draft again came to the fore when Adaalah, a daughter of Oasis Dream and Sandringham Handicap winner Muteela, sold to Saud Al Qahtani on behalf of Prince Faisal Bin Khalid Bin Abdulaziz's increasingly prolific Najd Stud for 82,000gns.

The attractive bay has a page filled with black type winners as under the second dam is Middle Park Stakes hero Awzaan and Sweet Solera Stakes winner Muraaqaba. Further back in the pedigree is the stakes-winning Prix Jean Romanet second Princess Loulou.

The five-year-old produced a filly by Eqtidaar this year and returned to the Nunnery Stud resident this term. She could either remain in Britain or be shipped to Saudi Arabia.

Saud Al Qahtani (left): 'She has had a very nice foal this year.'Credit: Laura Green

Al Qahtani said: "I need to call Saudi [to discuss plans]. She may stay here with other mares or she could ship to Saudi. We've also bought lot 1790, Under The Stars, who is in foal to Frankel. They may stay with Ted Voute."

On his purchase, he added: "This mare is by Oasis Dream, which was very attractive for us. He is a good broodmare sire. She has had a very nice foal this year by the same stallion [Eqtidaar]."

Another highlight of Shadwell's popular consignment came when the once-raced Shamardal filly Sareeha was hammered down to JD Moore for 52,000gns.

The two-year-old is out of a winning daughter of Prix Charles Laffitte scorer Kareemah, a Peintre Celebre half-sister to Lahudood, winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and the granddam of this season's unbeaten Queen Elizabeth II Stakes hero Baaeed.

Mickley Stud's Richard Kent has an exciting new stallion recruit in Ubettabelieveit, a son of Kodiac who struck in last year's Flying Childers Stakes, and the County Cork native won the bidding battle when going to 27,000gns for Houghton Bloodstock's well-related Lilbourne Lass.

The stakes-placed daughter of Pastoral Pursuits is a full-sister to Princess Margaret Stakes runner-up Pastoral Girl, the dam of Prix Morny third Rhythm Master, as well as a half-sibling to Flirtinaskirt, the dam of Temple Stakes scorer and King's Stand Stakes third Liberty Beach.

Lilbourne Lass is knocked down to Richard Kent for 27,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Kent said: "That's a sixth [mare bought at the sale] now. His owner Martin Webb has bought some mares to support the stallion, who is his first horse - he had a great thrill to end up at the Breeders' Cup."

"He's a lovely horse with lots of speed, while we're hoping these fast sons of Kodiac will follow on from Ardad. We are trying to buy speed mares for him.

"Gay O'Callaghan has one half-sister who has bred a good Dark Angel horse [Rhythm Master], Tony and Roger have another sister, who they gave 280,000gns last year so there is a lot going on. It's a proper fast family."

Kent continued: "We have this mare's half-sister, Flirtinaskirt, who bred Liberty Beach. We couldn't sell her as a yearling and her owner turned down an awful lot of money for her. She is going to Frankel next year, she has pride of place on the farm."

Statement

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “Beginning with Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the 2021 Tattersalls sales season has consistently outperformed expectation and the global demand throughout this week’s December Mares Sale has seen the momentum sustained to the very end.

“Record medians at both the December Yearling Sale and December Foal Sale demonstrated the extraordinary depth in all sectors of the market and we have seen that replicated over the past four days with buyers from throughout the world all contributing to a sale which has not only comfortably surpassed last year’s returns but also the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

“The 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale has produced turnover well in excess of 60 million guineas, 45 per cent higher than last year, wide-margin gains in average and median, an impressive clearance rate above 80 per cent and an unprecedented 164 fillies and mares which have sold for 100,000 guineas or more.

"Annual turnover at Tattersalls has leapt from 260 million guineas in 2020 to more than 320 million guineas this year, a figure bettered only twice and a clear demonstration of a wider industry which has quickly regained confidence and vibrance after the rigours of last year.

He continued: “The four outstanding seven-figure lots all paid tribute to the consistent demand for bloodstock of the highest quality which has been the feature of the 2021 Tattersalls sales season, but the real highlight has been the opportunity to welcome back so many international buyers to Park Paddocks.

"The Tattersalls December Mares Sale showcases the very best breeding stock to be found in Europe, and the easing of travel restrictions has seen the return of the uniquely international atmosphere to this historic fixture with international buyers competing at all levels of the market. Buyers from America, Australia, France and Japan have been particularly prominent and the throng of overseas participants have faced strong competition throughout from their British and Irish counterparts.

“As well as recognising the massive contribution from the buyers we must also pay tribute to the consignors who every year make the Tattersalls December Sale a highlight of the international bloodstock sales calendar.

"The major consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates, as well as the dispersal of Sir Robert Ogden’s fillies and mares, proved to be hugely popular and the support of the top consignors from Britain, Ireland and France has yet again been rewarded with the unrelenting global demand which has long been the hallmark of Europe’s premier sale of breeding stock."

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