Strong International Presence at Tattersalls Breeding Stock Sale Opener

A strong first breeding stock session of the Tattersalls December Sales Monday was headed by Molasses (Machiavellian), a 4-year-old in foal to Mozart offered from Maria Niarchos and family's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard.

The grand-daughter of champion Northern Trick (Northern Dancer) is a half-sister to grade I winner Shiva and was sold to Johnny McKeever, who in turn saw off Charlie Gordon-Watson and Alex Scrope, standing with Fred Seitz.

The mare will join Pat O'Kelly's 12-strong broodmare band at Kilcarn Stud in Ireland after being purchased for 625,000 guineas.

"She was one of the nicest mares in the catalogue and cost a bit more than I planned," said O'Kelly, whose star broodmare Flame Of Tara -- dam of Salsabil and Marju -- has been retired after foaling a Montjeu filly earlier this year.

"I have nothing from this family so this will bring in some new blood. I liked the mare, she had a bit of personality which I think is important, and I will sell her Mozart foal as a yearling."

There was a huge international presence at Tattersalls and Reiley McDonald of Eaton Sales made the highest-profile purchase for the U.S. when paying 440,000 guineas for Fantasy Royale (Pleasant Colony), a 4-year-old in foal to Sadler's Wells, who was stakes-placed for Aidan O'Brien when racing for Linda Shanahan.

McDonald, who outbid John McCormack, was acting for Betty Moran's Brushwood Stable.

"It was a last minute decision to get her, I only just got a fax telling me to bid on her," said McDonald. "We have not had time to discuss what to do with her but I would like to send her back to Coolmore and then take her to America in foal to Danehill next year.

"I know her well as she was raised at Eaton and we sold her at Saratoga as a yearling. Additionally her third dam Ringing Bells was Mrs Moran's first ever broodmare."

The Yoshida family's Shadai Farm in Japan paid 300,000 guineas for French group III winner Acceleration (Acatenango), offered in foal to Galileo while recent French Listed winner Place Rouge (Ire) (Desert King) will race for an unspecified U.S. owner with British trainer John Gosden after selling for 270,000 guineas to Charlie Gordon-Watson.