It may have lacked a seven-figure lot, but Tuesday's second breeding stock session of the Tattersalls December Sale at Newmarket, England saw a fantastic trade resulting in figures that just fell short of the same day 12 months ago.
Globetrotting mare Ipi Tombe, who scored in group I company in both South Africa and Dubai as well as enjoying grade III success in the U.S., topped the day when selling for 850,000 guineas to agent James Delahooke, acting for an undisclosed American client. The mare, in foal to Sadlers Wells, was consigned by Craig and Holly Bandoroff's Denali Stud.
Ipi Tombe was raced by Team Valor, Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm, and an African group known as Sunmark Partners. An earner of $1,529,799, she captured eight stakes in three countries. Races won by Ipi Tombe included the Durban July Handicap (SAf-I) and the South African Fillies Guineas (SAf-I) in 2002 and the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) the following year. She took the 2003 Locust Grove Handicap (gr. IIIT) in her only North American outing.
Renashaan, the dam of this year's Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I) heroine Alexander Goldrun, was bought for 650,000 guineas by Timmy Hyde and Paul Shanahan and is likely to covered by Sadler's Wells next year.
Kenmist heads to Roger Baines' Britton House Stud in Somerset after making 775,000 guineas when sold in foal to Rock Of Gibraltar. The stud's manager Anthony Penfold signed for the 10-year-old, who is dam of this year's group I Prix du Moulin winner Grey Lilas.
Group I-placed Time Ahead realized 650,000 guineas when bought by the BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicoll on behalf of an undisclosed British breeder.
On the day, Tattersalls reported 177 horses sold for an aggragate of 14,330,300 guineas, an average of 80,962 guineas and a 42,000 guineas median. At the same session one year ago, 188 head grossed 15,363,000 guineas for an average of 81,718 guineas and a median of 35,500 guineas.
