Trainer Jim Bolger’s dual group I-winning Saoirse Abu was the star of the opening session of the Tattersalls December breeding stock auction in England, selling for 1.95 million guineas (about $3.1 million) to Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock manager, John Ferguson. The 3-year-old daughter of Mr. Greeleyscored in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix (Ire-I) and Moyglare Stud (Ire-I) Stakes in 2007.
Also Dec. 1, this season’s Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-I) runner-up Unsung Heroine (by High Chaparral) sold for 950,000 guineas to agent Hubie de Burgh and will join David Hayes in Australia. The 2007 Stan James One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) runner-up Arch Swing (by Arch) realized 600,000 guineas when selling to Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager Angus Gold.
The 168 horses sold (from 241 offered) grossed 11,469,500 guineas and averaged 68,271 guineas. The median price was 16,750 guineas. During last year's much more robust first session, the 199 horses sold grossed 24,722,000 guineas and averaged 124,231 guineas. The median was 35,000.