A filly by Darley sire Exceed And Excel brought a sale record price of £340,000 ($571,243 in United States funds) at the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales breeze-up auction April 24.
Bloodstock agent David Redvers secured the German-bred filly for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. Offered by Brendan Holland's Grove Stud, the chestnut filly is out of the Pivotal mare La Pilaya, a half sister to two stakes winners, including 2011 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner La Luna de Miel.
She is from the family of 1991 German Horse of the Year Lomitas, a leading sire in France and Germany; and La Colorada, Germany's champion 2-year-old filly of 1983.
The price for the record-setting filly eclipses the previous record of £300,000 set at the 2012 sale for by Fire Eyes, also by Exceed And Excel and purchased by Redvers.
Overall, Redvers signed for five 2-year-olds at this year's sale, including the second highest horse of the day, a colt by Lope de Vega—El Shamms, by Zafonic, for £260,000 ($436,842). The Irish-bred chestnut was offered by Willie Browne's Mocklershill.
Total receipts on 97 horses sold soared 56% from last year to £4,646,250 ($7,806,504), with six lots selling for more than £100,000 ($168,017), double that of last year. The average price was up 19% to £36,585 ($61,468) and median grew 10% to £22,000 ($36,964).
The clearance rate improved from 80% in 2013 to 85%.