Europe's 2-year-old in training record price was passed twice at the Tattersalls Breeze-Up Sale Wednesday, most dramatically by a 500,000 guineas Fusaichi Pegasus colt out of champion 2-year-old Lyric Fantasy bought by Fusao Sekiguchi.
The Japanese owner's daughter, Yukari, flew into London straight from Keeneland Tuesday specifically to buy the colt consigned from Con Marnane's Bansha House Stables in County Tipperary.
Sekiguchi faced opposition first from Japanese agent Noriyuki Arakawa and finally Irish agent Bobby O'Ryan, who reported he was acting for a foreign client.
"Our boss got the $4.5 million colt at Calder, who will go to Neil Drysdale in America so we needed something to run in Japan, although we haven't decided who will train him," said Yukari Sekiguchi.
"The boss saw the DVD of the horse working sent by the vendor and he loved him. He was clean on all the vetting and we look forward to him coming to Japan. Let's hope he'll go for our Derby next year. This horse was the purpose of my visit here."
Marnane had bought the colt for 80,000 euros at Goffs as a yearling. His Bansha House Stables also set the previous European breeze-up record when selling a Danehill colt for 260,000gns at Tattersalls 12 months ago.
There were a total of five six-figure lots. A Montjeu colt out of Classic Park was bought for 270,000gns by Patrick Cooper of BBA Ireland with Japanese agent Taki Murayama coming off second best.
"He is going to John Hammond and I thought he was a grand, big strong horse," said Cooper.
Murayama, buying for owner Tetsu Takashima and trainer Kenji Yamauchi, landed an athletic
Machiavellian colt out of Curragh Listed winner Artistic Blue (Diesis) for 190,000gns.
"This market seems as strong as in America and the quality has improved a lot at Tattersalls, especially this year when we can find all the horses we want," said Murayama.
The night's average of 50,656gns rose by 52% over last year, the 3,242,000gns increased by 37% and the 32,500gns median was up 35%.
COMPARATIVE FIGURESYR/CAT/OFF/SOLD/AGG/AVE/MED
2004/95/86/64/3,242,000/50,656/32,500
2003/96/87/71/2,362,500/33,274/24,000
