Winning Melbourne Cup owner tops Tattersalls yearling sale

Pearl Bloodstock owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani topped the Tattersalls December yearling sale on Monday when he paid 150,000 guineas for a Montjeu colt.

The Qatari royal, who races Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, trades under the Pearl Bloodstock banner.  His session topper is out of G3 placed mare Ghurra (War Chant) and was offered by Castledillon Stud.  

“He has a bit of quality about him,” agent David Redvers explained.  “We’ve bought 33 yearlings for Pearl Bloodstock and a handful more privately.  We’re struggling to keep under 50 horses in training and may have to sell a couple!”

Pearl Bloodstock will employ over 20 different trainers for its new acquisitions.

Coolmore agent M V Magnier paid 110,000 guineas for an Acclamation filly that was next best on the leader-board.  She is out of the Machiavellian mare Abington Angel and was consigned by Rathbarry Stud.

Dream Ahead’s owner Khalifa Dasmal paid 80,000 guineas through his racing manager Mark Crossman for an Oasis Dream filly whose second dam is champion filly Three Troikas (Lyphard).

Figures were up all round at Newmarket on Monday for the sole yearling session.  Tattersalls reported 150 lots changed hands and the average was up 36% to 25,109gns.  The median jumped 128% to 20,500gns.

The four-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale begins on Wednesday.