Sheikh Mohammed tops German Sale with Teofilo colt

Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock adviser John Ferguson bought four lots at the BBAG Yearling Sale at Baden-Baden on Friday.

Among the quartet was a colt by Darley shuttler Teofilo from Boccassini that topped the one-day sale at 220,000 euros.  Ferguson had the last say in a duel with trainer Andreas Löwe for the colt who is from a stakes winning Artan mare.

The sale topper was consigned by Gestut Westerberg, a traditional breeding operation which has been through many ups and downs over the years.  They sold German Derby winner Lebos in 1985 and Boccassini in 2005.

Boccassini was Germany’s Champion 2YO and a year later she landed the G2 Prix Robert Papin in France.

Ferguson ended the day as the second leading buyer while Dirk Eisele’s BBA Germany accounted for 13 purchases to lead that division.  He paid 200,000 euros for a Sholokhov – Night Wish colt who is a brother to the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and German Oaks winner Night Magic.

Eisele was acting for Stall Salzburg, the owners of Night Magic, who is due to run in the G1 Grosser Preis Von Baden on Sunday.

Leading owner Eckhard Sauren, president of the Cologne race club, paid 190,000 euros for a High Chaparral colt that will be trained by Waldemar Hickst.  He also paid 140,000 euros for a Galileo colt out of G2 winner Nordtanzerin (Danehill Dancer).

A Montjeu filly out of the G2 winner Avanti Polonia (Polish Precedent) made 190,000 euros.  She was knocked down to Munich-based agent Barry Olsson acting on behalf of consignor Gestüt Ebbesloh.  They were buying out the other partners in the filly.

Barry Irwin’s Team Valor, who bought the dam of Kentucky Derby hero Animal Kingdom at a BBAG Sale in October 2005, purchased three yearlings.  The trio was headed by a 155,000 euros Shamardal – Lazeyma filly.  Second dam Zahrat Dubai was a G1 winner of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and she has produced the stakes winning Shamardal filly Modeyra.

Despite the sweltering heat in the sale hall, the general feeling was that reducing the catalogue by around 50 lots, and the decision to hold the whole sale on just one day, had reaped rewards.

Turnover reached 5.47 million euros and the average increased by over 7,000 euros to 33,356 euros.