Soinlovewithyou, in foal to Sea the Stars, topped the Nov. 29 opening day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale when she was purchased by agent Hugo Lascelles for 950,000 guineas ($1,551,100).
Tattersalls, in Newmarket, England, reported that the first of four sessions saw a total of 161 lots sell for 8,880,500 guineas ($14,499,500) at an average of 55,158 guineas ($90,057), and a median of 26,000 ($42,451) guineas.
Soinlovewithyou, a winning daugther of Sadler's Wells and a half-sister to the five-time group I winner Duke of Marmalade, was consigned by Lady Carolyn Warren’s Highclere Stud. The 5-year-old mare, who hails from the family of A.P. Indy and Lemon Drop Kid, drew interest from a range of bidders, including Seamus Burns, Ted Voute, Charlie Gordon-Watson, Australian Tim Stakemire, and Turkish owner/breeder Ibrahim Araci.
"She has been bought for owner-breeders in the U.S.," Lascelles said after outlasting all other breeders. "They are racing people, but the foal could well come back here to race. They have run horses in Britain before. The Sea the Stars covering was very attractive, but she is a lovely mare who is a half-sister to a very good horse who could become a top stallion. I did have to pay a little more than expected to buy her—lots of people were in on her. She will visit a top U.S. stallion next spring."
The session’s second-highest price of 375,000 guineas ($612,277) was paid by Northern Farms’ Fumihiko Nakajima for the Numerous mare Belle Allure. BBA Ireland’s Patrick Cooper was underbidder on the mare, offered in foal to Giant's Causeway as part of the by Islanmore Stud consignment. The 5-year-old mare is a half sister to group I winner Jukebox Jury.
"She will go back to foal in Japan and we do not yet know which stallion she will visit," said Nakajima.
The Tattersalls sale continues Nov. 30.