Courtesy of Racing Post.
After the theatrics witnessed the evening of Dec. 5, when Marsha went the way of M.V. Magnier for a European auction record 6 million guineas, the Dec. 6 session of the Tattersalls December mares sale had a tough act to follow. However, thanks in no small part to the annual draft of Juddmonte fillies, there was still plenty for buyers to get stuck into.
The session generated turnover of 6,519,200gns ($9,201,264)—a 9% year-on-year decline, an average of 35,625gns ($50,280)—an 8% drop, and a median of 19,000gns ($26,817)—up from 18,000gns in 2016. In total 183 of 229 offered lots sold for a clearance rate of 80%.
The session topper took her turn in the ring as evening began to set in around Park Paddocks, with James Delahooke, acting on behalf of the Pursuit of Success syndicate, going to 325,000gns ($458,708) for Presiding Officer.
The 3-year-old daughter of Beat Hollow is a sister to 2008 Total Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1) heroine Proportional and Lodge Park Stud E.B.F. Park Express Stakes winner Vote Often, and is out of the group 3-placed Minority, who is herself a half sister to Galileo's first ever stakes winner Innocent Air.
Perhaps of equal importance, however, is the fact that Proportional is also the dam of exciting Frankel 2-year-old Contingent, who justified strong support to make an impressive winning debut in a Leopardstown maiden in late October.
"I should think she'll stay here," said Delahooke. "The 2-year-old with Dermot Weld, Contingent, looks good and we're hopeful of her coming out and giving us a nice update."
The Weld-trained Contingent is around a 25-1 shot for both the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas and the Investec Oaks (both G1).
A few lots earlier, Reiley McDonald dipped into the Juddmonte draft when securing Media Mischief on behalf of Mercer Bloodstock for 250,000gns ($352,853). Media Mischief was the only daughter of leading U.S. stallion Into Mischief in the catalog. Having made two starts for Andre Fabre, Media Mischief hails from one of Khalid Abdullah's most decorated families.
The 3-year-old is a half sister to Prix de Diane Hermes (G1) winner Nebraska Tornado, group 2 Prix Eugene Adam winner Burning Sun, and grade 3 winner Mirabilis, whose name appeared among the headlines during the most recent turf campaign as the dam of Frankel's group 3-winning 3-year-old Monarchs Glen.
"The plan will be to take her back to America, breed her well, and hopefully get runners," said McDonald. "I don't quite know who she'll be covered by yet. She's a very pretty mare and has an all American pedigree. In fact, I thought she was kind of inexpensive, which in this market is incredible."
The Juddmonte draft, comprised of 30 fillies either in or out of training, grossed 2,380,800gns ($3,363,108) for an average of 70,770gns ($112,104). Among the keenest to secure the coveted lots was Paul Makin, who stocked up on mares to visit Marcel, his group 1-winning son of Lawman who resides at the National Stud. The owner made seven acquisitions and signed the dockets with Dermot Farrington, whose Aclaim has joined Marcel on the National Stud's roster for 2018.
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