Barney Roy's half-sister dominates at December Yearling Sale

A Kodiac half-sister to St James's Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy became the second-highest priced yearling to change hands at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale in Newmarket when selling to David Redvers for 400,000gns during Monday's session.

As the last major European yearling auction of the year, the December Yearling Sale offers vendors another welcome chance to move their yearlings on, and indeed three of Monday's top six lots were making their second trip through a ring this year.

The sale-topping filly, however, was not one of them. Out of the Galileo mare Alina, whose first foal Barney Roy lit up the past season with a series of creditable performances at the top level, she was widely expected to play a leading role during Monday's trade and lived up to her billing to provide a feather in the cap of vendor Hazelwood Bloodstock, who offered the filly on behalf of Australian-based breeder Sun Kingdom, an affiliate of Eliza Park International.

Eliza Park International paid 65,000gns for Alina while she was carrying Barney Roy at Tattersalls in 2013.

"It will be Sheikh Fahad's decision as to who will train her," said Redvers after outbidding Alastair Donald. "It will be partly based on who we think this filly might suit. Obviously now we have a very good and condensed group of trainers.

"She seemed to be an uncomplicated type of filly. And she's out of an exciting young mare."

The sale record is held by the 2008 Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone, who sold for 700,000gns in 2006 to Demi O'Byrne as part of the Britton House Stud dispersal.

David Redvers, who signed the docket at 400,000gns for the sale-topping Kodiac fillyCredit: Laura Green

McStay lands half to Rosdhu Queen

On a day that featured good trade for well-connected fillies, a Sea The Stars half-sister to Cheveley Park Stakes winner Rosdhu Queen found favour with buyers, eventually selling for 160,000gns to agent Mark McStay.

"She's for an Irish client who will decide where she'll go into training," said McStay of the filly, who was bred by Old Carhue and Graeng out of Group 3 winner Green Minstrel and sold through Grove Stud.

"She's a half-sister to a very good filly and by a supersire of a stallion - she speaks for herself."

Japan beckons for Trading Leather relation

New Japanese racing club DMM.com made their presence felt at the Tattersalls October Sale several weeks ago with the purchase of a 1,400,000gns Frankel filly, and yesterday ensured that their return trip was worthwhile when coming away with a pair of six-figure yearlings.

The dearest of the pair was a Dawn Approach half-brother to Irish Derby hero Trading Leather, for whom they paid 150,000gns out of the Norris Bloodstock consignment.

The colt boasts an interesting history having arrived at the sale via a turn through the ring at the ACPSIE Yearling Sale in Madrid, where he was bought back for €110,000. Yesterday's happier outcome means that the colt will most be likely be back on his travels, this time to pursue a racing career in Japan.

"We bought a beautiful filly here a few weeks ago," said DMM.com's international representative Yohann Gainche. "We've found that there are many good opportunities for us at Tattersalls.

"The filly will head to Japan in a few weeks and I think this one will race in Japan eventually too. He has a good physique and he walked well when he came up to the ring."

DMM.com also went to 130,000gns for an Australia colt out of Al Kazeem's half-sister Azeema. A half-brother to four winners, he was sold by his breeder Oakgrove Stud.

The club has approximately 30 horses under its ownership, according to Gainche, and could be back in action at Tattersalls over the next few days.

Australia to the fore

Australia also came to the fore as the sire of a colt out of Listed winner Sweepstake who was snapped up for 150,000gns by MV Magnier. He was the only lot to be offered on Monday by Croom House Stud, also the source of former Ballydoyle standouts Zoffany and Maybe, and Magnier is hopeful that this colt might one day follow suit.

"He comes from a very good nursery in Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud," said Magnier. "Let's hope he is as good as some of those we've bought from the farm in the past.”

Nick Littmoden, meanwhile, is set to train a Dark Angel relation to Gregorian after paying 130,000gns for the youngster out of the Mountarmstrong Stud draft.

"He's for one of my clients to stay with me in Newmarket," said Littmoden of the colt, who is the first foal out of the winning Khalice. "He's a really good model by a fashionable sire - he ticks all the boxes."

Busy day for Godolphin

Godolphin took the opportunity to continue stocking up for next year, with members of the buying team signing for 432,000gns worth of stock. Their purchases were led by a Leroidesanimaux grandson of Kirsten Rausing’s excellent mare Alouette that commanded 125,000gns.

Figures

In total 124 of the 160 offered lots sold for turnover of 4,271,500gns - a decline of just two per cent from eight fewer offered lots than in 2016, an average of 34,450gns - a 12 point increase, and a median of 25,000gns - up from 21,500gns 12 months ago. The clearance rate dropped from 85 per cent to 78 per cent.

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