Images courtesy of Tattersalls

Written by Paul Vettise

A colt by Frankel (GB) out of the two-time Group 1 winner Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) lit up the ring on an electric third day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

As expected, he proved the star attraction and will return to Tweenhills after part-owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who with wife Melissa welcomed baby daughter Najla on Wednesday, bought out his partners with a final say of 600,000 gns (AU$1.14 million).

Those bidding on the colt included Eugene Daly and Philipp Stauffenberg, but it was John Gunther, on behalf of the Sheikh, who had the last laugh.

"John was acting for Sheikh Fahad, who was buying out his partners," Tweenhills’ David Redvers said.

"Sheikh Fahad, his brother Sheikh Suhaim and associate Mohammed al Kubaisi owned the mare in partnership and initially the other two wanted to sell after she finished racing.

"Sheikh Fahad persuaded them to stay involved, but with the agreement to sell all of her progeny as foals.

"The Sheikh did see this colt in the summer, but only got here this evening when he saw him again and finalised his decision to buy his partners out."

Top buyer

The leading buyer of the session was United States businessman John Sykes, of the Florida-based Woodford Thoroughbreds, who purchased five lots through agent Lincoln Collins for 1,390,000 gns (AU$2,641,000).

The top priced of the quintet was the Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly from Bernard Cooke’s Bryanstown House Stud who realised 440,000 gns (AU$836,000). The daughter of the King’s Best (USA) mare Liscune (Ire) is a sister to the G3 Sceptre S. winner Music Box (Ire).

Collins said the Woodford Thoroughbreds purchases would head to Luke Lillingston’s Mount Coote Stud and could either be reoffered next year or retained.

"With a pedigree such as this there are broodmare considerations and she has a pedigree that you would want for your broodmares."

In action again

Collins and Sykes struck again a few lots later when they went to 400,000 gns (AU$760,000) to land the Sea The Stars (Ire) filly out of the Anderflug (Ger) mare Amazone (Ger), consigned by Castletown Stud.

"That was amazing. We bought the mare as a maiden here and she comes from Gestut Schlenderhan bloodlines, which recently celebrated 150 years of breeding horses,” Castletown’s Joe Hernon said.

"I share her with Dr Klaus Schulte and we decided to send her to Sea The Stars because he is crossing so well with German pedigrees."

The filly is a granddaughter of the G1 German Oaks winner Amarette (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).

Shuttlers shine

Coolmore’s young Group 1 winning shuttle stallions Caravaggio (USA), Churchill (Ire) and No Nay Never (USA) were also to the fore with a son of the former selling for 250,000 gns (AU$475,000) to Abbeylands Farm. She was offered by Amy Marnane Bloodstock and was bred by Con Marnane.

"The mare is at home and she had a fine year with her daughter Forever In Dreams picking up two Group 1 placings in the Commonwealth Cup and then the update in the British Champions Sprint Stakes. She is at home too now," said Marnane.

A colt by Churchill consigned by Norman Court Stud was purchased by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock and Baroda Stud for 220,000 gns (AU$418,000). He is a half-brother to the dual Group 2 winner Nancy From Nairobi (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}).

The first-crop sire's three sold so far are averaging 94,600 gns (AU$179,740) and there are another six foals due to be offered, all colts.

Tweenhills’ No Nay Never colt realised 200,000 gns (AU$380,000) when he was knocked down to Hunday Bloodstock. He is out of Great Court (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and is a half-brother to the stakes winner Kalahari Gold (Trans Island {GB}).

During the third session 171 lots sold for 17,102,000 gns (AU$32,493,800), down 19 per cent on 2018, with the average down by an identical amount to 100,012 gns (AU$190,193) while the median dropped seven per cent to 65,000 gns (AU$114,000).