Zibilene Sells For More Than $2 Million At Tattersalls

Zibilene, a half-sister to 1994 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Barathea, sold for 1.5 million guineas (approximately $2,239,178) to top the third session of the Tattersalls December mare sales in England. The price was the third highest ever for a mare sold in Europe.

Rory Matthews, representing Barbara Facchino's Barouche Stud, purchased the 4-year-old daughter of Rainbow Quest from Gerald Leigh's Eydon Hall Farm. She was sold in foal to Machiavellian. The immediate underbidder was Adrian Nicole of BBA Ireland. Other bidders included Robert Acton, who represented Klaus Jacobs' Newsells Park Stud.

Zibilene won one of her five career races in England and France. Last year, she finished third in the Grangewood Severals Stakes in England. Barathea, her half-brother, was a champion in England and Ireland. Produced from 1985 Prix de la Foret (Fr-I) winner Brocade (by Habitat), Zibilene also is a half-sister to 2001 Meon Valley Stud Fillies'Mile (Eng-I) winner Gossamer, 1991 Countess Fager Handicap (gr. IIIT) winner Free At Last, and multiple group III winner Zabar. Brocatelle, a half-sister to Zibilene, sold for 1.7 million guineas last year to top the Tattersalls sale.

The 191 horses sold on Wednesday grossed 13,302,000 guineas ($19,857,026) and averaged 69,643 guineas ($103,962). The median was 27,000 guineas ($40,305). The number sold, gross revenue, and average were down by 10.7 percent, 14.1 percent, and 3.7 percent, respectively, from last year's comparable session. The median was up by 8.0 percent.

This year's buy-back rate was 22.0 percent compared to 17.1 percent last year.