The 3-year-old Sadler's Wells filly Kylemore, who is in foal to Giant's Causeway, brought the top price on Tuesday 650,000 guineas. Winless in two career races, she is a full sister to group I winners Aristotle and Ballingarry, and a half-sister to another group I winner, Starborough. Kylemore's dam, Flamenco Wave (by Desert Wine) captured the 1988 Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I). Consigned by agent John Troy, Kylemore was purchased by Swordlestown Stud's Cathal Ryan. Ryan's father, Dr. Tony Ryan, is the founder of the budget airline Ryanair and recently purchased Castleton Farm in Kentucky.The English champion Pipalong (Pips Pride--Limpopo) brought a bid of 600,000 guineas from British bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud, who said he was representing a new client. The immediate underbidder was Katsumi Yoshida of Japan. The 5-year-old mare was consigned by Tim Easterby;'s Habton Grange Stables. She won the 2000 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup (Eng-I) and four other added-money events. In her most recent start, she finished third in the Oct. 5 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Majestic Barriere (Fr-I).The sale continues through Thursday.
The Tattersalls December mares sale continued its strong run during its second session on Tuesday, recording increases in gross revenue, average price, and median price. The 202 horses sold grossed 13,308,500 guineas and averaged 65,883 guineas. The median was 30,000 guineas. The gross and average were up by 15.8% and 16.3%, respectively from the comparable session in 2000. The median was up by 20.0%. Last year during the second session, 203 horses were sold for a gross of 11,497,500 guineas, an average of 56,637 guineas, and a median of 25,000 guineas.This year's buy-back rate was 20.5%, a decrease from last year's figure of 22.5%.During Monday's first session, the number sold, gross, and average all increased from the previous year while the median suffered a minor setback.