Tale of the Cat Colt Brings Record $5.2M at F-T Calder

A son of Tale of the Cat   got Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton selected sale of 2-year-olds in training at Calder Race Course off to a roaring start when Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud Management went to a world-record $5.2 million to purchase the colt from the consignment of Robert Scanlon, agent.

The $5.2 million price tag tops the record price of $4.5 million paid last year for a colt who was later named Fusaichi Samurai (by Fusaichi Pegasus  ).

The Tale of the Cat colt, who was not offered as a yearling, worked an eighth Feb. 20 in :10 3/5.

"He's as good a horse as I've been around," Scanlon told The Blood-Horse before the auction. "He's a typical Tale of the Cat, but he's probably a little scopier than most of them. He's got more length to him. The main thing is that he's got a great mind on him."

Tale of the Cat stands at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. His 2005 fee is $65,000.

Bred in Kentucky by Grade I Bloodstock and Halcyon Farm, the colt is the first foal produced from the winning Devil's Bag mare Carry All, who is a daughter of the Mr. Prospector mare Looking for Gold, a full sister to grade I winner and sire Seeking the Gold.

The third dam of the early session topper, Con Game (a half-sister to champion Queen of the Stage), also produced grade I winner and sire Fast Play, and grade III winner and sire Stacked Pack.