Magical Romance Brings World Record Price at Tattersalls Sale

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Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) winner Magical Romance set a world auction record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect when purchased by agent James Wigan for 4.6 million guineas (about $9.35 million) at Tattersalls' December Sale in Newmarket on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

The 4-year-old, a half-sister to multiple group I winner and dual classic winner Alexandrova (by Sadler's Wells) and full sister Canadian grade III-placed Saree (by Barathea), was consigned by owner Con Wilson from Stephen and Louise Kemble's Elms Stud.

Seamus Burns of Lodge Park Stud and Anthony Stroud both bid on the mare, covered by and believed to be in foal to Pivotal, but Wigan's penultimate opponent was Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold, who dropped out after 3 million guineas to be replaced by John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed.

The previous world record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect was the $9 million paid by Sheikh Mohammed for champion Ashado at the 2005 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Wigan said the mare -- along with Spinning Queen, purchased for 3 million guineas (about $6.1 million) Monday -- were bought for Lady Rothschild to be based at the historic Waddesdon Stud at her family home in Buckinghamshire.

"She's going to Waddesdon and we thought we'd come here and try to get the pick of the sale and these were the two we wanted most ," said Wigan. "She's a half-sister to not just the best filly in Europe but the best we've seen for a very long time."

A dispersal from Roger Baines' Britton House Stud brought a total of 4,610,000 guineas (about $9,358,300) and included two seven-figure lots.

John Ferguson - buying for Sheikh Mohammed - spent 1.6 million guineas (about $3,248,000) on 13-year-old Mackie (by Summer Squall), the dam of four stakes performers. Lincoln Collins of Kern Lillingston was underbidder.

Four-year-old Carisolo (by Dubai Millennium), a winner at Hollywood Park last year for Neil Drysdale, brought 1 million guineas ($2,030,000) after selling to agent Richard Frisby.

Tuesday's session was the highest grossing day in European auction history, with turnover for the day reaching 29,936,500 guineas (about $60.8 million) for the 221 lots sold, 42% up on the previous auction record, set on this day last year. After two days and with two days remaining, the auction gross is 49,505,000 guineas, just under 3 million guineas ahead of last year's record breaking sale. The average for the day was up 41% to 135,459 guineas (about $274,981) while the median rose 23% to 58,000 guineas ($117,740).

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