Trade was strong on the opening day of the Tattersalls December, which featured the last yearlings to be sold at auction this year. The session saw a total of 2,120,300 guineas spent at an average of 14,724 guineas, an increase of 7%. The drop in the gross value can be attributed to Tattersalls new policy encouraging Vendors to declare their buy-backs. The feature of the day was the strong interest from the Hong Kong Jockey Club via their agents, Adrian Nicoll of the BBA (Ireland) and John McCormack Bloodstock.The top lot for the day was Lot 198, a bay colt by Danehill out of the Pleasant Tap mare Mythical Creek sold for 190,000 guineas to John McCormack Bloodstock on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Mythical Creek is a half-sister to the dam of the Hong Kong Derby winner Johan Cruyff and is related to group 1 winner and stallion Conquistarose. McCormack, acting for the HKJC, also purchased Lot 159, the full brother to Irish Oaks winner Pure Grain. The bay colt by Polish Precedent out of the Mill Reef mare Mill Line was purchased for 80,000 guineas. McCormack also purchased Lot 202, a chestnut colt by Spectrum out of the Tap On Wood mare Alice en Ballade for 60,000 guineas.Adrian Nicoll, from the BBA (Ireland) also purchased on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, buying the second highest priced lot for the day. Lot 197, a chestnut colt by Polish Precedent out of the Ela-Mana-Mou mare Gaily Grecian was purchased for 100,000 guineas with Hugo Merry the underbidder. Gaily Grecian is a half-sister to Cocotte, dam of the Champion Pilsudski as well as Stakes winners Glowing Ardour and Peach Out Of Reach. Nicoll also purchased Lot 208, a bay colt by Barathea out of the Woodman mare Wedgewood to go to Hong Kong.The session also saw the first horse purchased by a client from Bulgaria. Lot 220, a bay filly by Singspiel out of the High Top mare Warning Light was purchased by Ilko Nikolov Peichev for 11,000 guineas. The filly is well related, with group 1 winner Fly to the Stars and champion broodmare Height of Fashion featuring in her pedigree.
Corduff Studs' James Egan had a spectacular pinhooking success late in the day when he sold Lot 226, a Mister Baileys colt out of Lady Di Pomadora for 46,000 guineas to Amanda Skiffington. The colt had been purchased only 10 weeks earlier at the Keeneland September yearling sale for $5,000.
