The third day of the Tattersalls December foal sale Nov. 29 posted the highest one-day financials at a foal sale in European auction history as total receipts soared 35% from last year's corresponding session.
Led by a Dubawi filly that sold for 450,000 guineas ($773,307) in United States funds), total sales on 195 horses stood at 17,731,500 guineas ($30,470,873), smashing the previous European record of 13,181,800 guineas set last year, also on the third day the December foal sale when 182 horses sold.
Additionally, average and median showed healthy gains, rising by 26% and 21% to 90,931 guineas ($156,261) and 60,000 guineas ($103,107), respectively. The day's trading was underscored by 10 horses sold for 300,000 guineas ($515,538) or more, compared with five at the same session last year; 23 horses brought 200,000 guineas ($343,692) or more, versus 10 at the same session in 2012.
The session's 81% clearance rate slid from 83.5% last year.
John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's bloodstock agent, signed for the session-topping Dubawi filly, the second foal out of group III winner and 2009 Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) third-place finisher High Heeled, by High Chaparral.
"She is a filly full of quality," said Ferguson of the Irish-bred chestnut filly, who was co-bred by James Wigan and George Strawbridge, and offered by Wigan's West Blagdon Stud.
"She comes from an outstanding breeder, is by a great sire, and has a pedigree. At the end of the day there are not many foals sold in the world that can boast as much quality as her."
High Heeled is a half sister to Faraday Light, who is the dam of 2013 Etihad Airways Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) winner Just The Judge, who also was runner-up in the English equivalent.
The day's second-highest priced foal was a New Approach filly consigned by Juliet Minton's Mill House Stud and bought for 400,000 guineas ($687,384) by David Ryan on behalf of Qatari Mubarak Al Naemi, who recently purchased Kilfrush Stud in Ireland.
The filly is out of the Irish group-placed Danehill Dancer mare Gee Kel and is from the extended line of 2003 U.S. champion turf female Islington and recent Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) victor Fiorente.
"She's been bought to race and will come back to Kilfrush," said Ryan, who manages Kilfrush Stud. "We are looking to upgrade and improve the quality of our broodmare band and we are targeting well-bred fillies.
"We have 23 mares on the farm, and Mr. Al Naemi is passionate about his breeding and racing."
The Tattersalls December foal sale continues with the fourth and final session Nov. 30.
