Sumora, the dam of Maybe, topped the second day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale which recorded the third-highest turnover in a session at any sale in European auction history and had four lots sell for a million guineas or more. A total of 160 lots were sold for 25,258,800 guineas, a rise of 31% on the corresponding session in 2010, recording a value that sits behind only the record-breaking sessions at the December Sale in 2006 and 2007. The average rose 34% to 157,868 guineas and the median rose 10% to 55,000 guineas.
A packed sale-ring greeted the 9-year-old Danehill mare Sumora, who was consigned to the sale by Croom House Stud carrying a Galileo full-sibling to the group I Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe. The pedigree for Sumora has also received a significant boost this year via her Classic winning three-parts-sister Dancing Rain, who won the group I Oaks.
Sumora was knocked down to MV Magnier for 2,400,000 guineas and is the highest-priced mare to be sold at the December Sale since 2007.
"She is a fantastic mare," said the successful purchaser. "It is rare that a mare such as this comes onto the market, and we were hoping we would not have to go so far to buy her. She will visit Galileo."
Northern Farm , headed by Shunsuke Yoshida, bought the Highest Honor mare Reve D’Iman for 1,700,000 guineas after seeing off the Coolmore pair of Paul Shanahan and MV Magnier. The dam of the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Bethrah was consigned by Jockey Hall Stud on behalf of a London based partnership and offered in foal to Montjeu.
"We have been after this mare for a long time," said Yoshida. "We bred Reve D'essor and her stakes-placed relations. And since Bethrah won the Guineas we have been keen to buy her."
Tony Nerses secured the Storm Cat mare Pearling for 1,300,000 guineas on behalf of Derby winning owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar after seeing off the efforts of agent SF Bloodstock’s Tom Ryan as well as Paul Makin. The 5-year-old mare is a full-sister to the Champion Giant’s Causeway being out of the great matriarch Mariah’s Storm. She was consigned from Lady Carolyn and John Warren’s Highclere Stud with a cover to Galileo.
"She is full of quality, and will be an excellent addition to our stud," said Nerses.
The top-priced filly for the day was the group I Prix Vermeille second Testosterone, who was knocked down to Charlie Gordon-Watson for 1,200,000 guineas on behalf of Nurlan Bizakov of Hesmonds Stud. The 3-year-old filly was secured by Gordon-Watson after he saw off the efforts of Andres Putsch, Tom Ryan and Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock. The group II-winning daughter of Dansili was consigned by European Sales Management and will stay in training and go to Ed Dunlop.
"It is fantastic to have her coming to me - I am very lucky," said Dunlop. "A group I performer, who could go on an improve with age as she looks like she might, its wonderful."
The Tattersalls December Mare Sale continues at 10am on Wednesday, November 30.