A Galileo filly that brought 1.2 million guineas ($1,993,173 in U.S. funds) is the early price leader during the opening session of the Book 1 portion of the Tattersalls October yearling sale in England. Coolmore Stud agent Demi O’Byrne purchased the striking bay from her breeder, Seamus Burns’ Lodge Park Stud, Oct. 5.
Grant Pritchard-Gordon and Charlie Gordon-Watson also tried to buy the filly, a half sister to Janood (by Medicean), who captured this year’s Matalan Washington Singer Stakes in England.
Their winning dam, Alluring Park (by Green Desert), finished third in the Aga Khan Studs Blenheim and Rochestown Stakes in 2001 in Ireland. She is out of English and Irish champion and Irish Broodmare of the Year Park Express (by Ahonoora) and is a half sister to European champions New Approach (by Galileo) and Dazzling Park (by Warning). Alluring Park also is a full sister to Japanese group I winner Shinko Forest.
"I only had her reserved at 300,000 guineas ($431,761), and even though I have been in this game a long time, you never quite know what is going happen,” said Burns of the seven-figure yearling filly cataloged as Hip No. 59. “But I have always felt that she is the nicest I have ever bred. It is rare for things to click together so well."