NEWMARKET, UK – December Mare Sale Wednesday may have become quieter than it used to be, but there are still plenty of tempting prospects for broodmares, not least through the Godolphin draft. It delivered five of the day's top ten lots, including session topper Bridestones (Ire), a listed filly by Teofilo (Ire) out of G1 Fillies' Mile winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer).
The four-year-old was selected by agent Alex Elliott, who assisted the Amo Racing team in purchasing the all-time best-seller, the 4.8 million gns You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), and that was the case The Irish Oaks winner's former partner Anthony Ramsdens Valmont is to chair the purchase of Bridestones. Elliott was supported in the bid by Ramsden's nephew Charlie Spencer, son of former champion jockey Jamie.
“She will return to Whatton Manor [Stud] to be looked after by the players,” said Elliott. “Teofilo is a very good broodmare sire and he works very well with Lope De Vega, one of Anthony’s favorite stallions.”
Elliott also signed with Instinction (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), a five-year-old half-sister to G3 Prix Eclipse winner Eddie's Boy (GB) (Havana Gray {GB}), who was sold by Houghton Bloodstock for 120,000gns. The two-time youth winner was in foal for the second time to Havana Gray's stallion Sergei Prokofiev and comes from the powerful black family of Swiss Lake (Indian Ridge).
“It made a lot of sense – it’s the vintage Lordship Stud family, a very quick family,” he told Elliott. “She's perfect for Havana Gray and if we can get a good-looking Sergei out of her it will pay us good for today. She’s there for me and a few others.”
In line with previous sales days, the numbers in this third and penultimate session were higher than last year – notably an improvement in the clearance rate from 79% to 86%. This resulted in an overall augment to 4,618,000gns (+25%), while the average increased by 29% to 24,962gns and the median improved to 16,000gns (+14%).
With a smaller meeting scheduled for Thursday morning, the December Mares Sale is already at record levels. Sales in the first three days are 82,742,000 gns, surpassing the record 2022.
Sands of Mali is still a friend of the Frigid Silk team
Ellaria Sand (GB) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), winner of the Listed Radley Stakes for Ollie Sangster and owner-breeder The Frigid Silk Partnership, was the standout in-training purchase of the day. The two-year-old was bought for 200,000 grams from Sam Haggas and will remain with Sangster's team of horses in Manton.
She is one of two stakes winners from the Ballyhane-based Sands Of Mali's inaugural season, alongside Royal Ascot winner Ain't Nobody (Ire). The stallion also competed for Frigid Silk and is now the sire of G2 Lowther Stakes runner-up Time For Sandals (Ire) among 19 winners.
Matt Coleman, advisor to the Frigid Silk Partnership, said: “When Sands Of Mali wanted to become a stud stallion, I bought her mother Ellaria to join a group of broodmares to support the stallion. Ellaria Sand was born and raised in Culworth Grounds. She went into training and thanks to Peter, Karin and Chris Swann from Frigid Silk they supported their own offspring and sent them all into training. It’s great to see them get such a great price for them.”
He added: “It is a great honor for the Frigid Silk team to have a home-bred breed win a listed race and then sell it for 200,000 grams. They raced the stallion and bred this filly, so that's a large achievement. Hopefully she continues – Frigid Silk still has the mare and has a full sister to race with.”
That's basic for you to say
Barry Lynch for Ballylinch was the eye-catching buying partnership of the day as the agent stepped in to sign G3 Pinnacle Stakes winner Miss Marjurie (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) to the powerful Irish stud at 140,000gns.
The mare, offered by Baroda Stud, is now 14 years vintage and carries Darley newcomer Triple Time (Ire). She comes from the family of Group 1 winners Soviet Song (Ire), Marsha (Ire) and Ribbons (GB).
Her two-year-old son Smoken (GB) (Too Darn Balmy {GB}), whose name had not been released at the time the catalog was published, provided a major update to her side when he won the Listed Montrose Stakes at Newmarket in early November.
Lynch said: “Marju mares are very strenuous to come by, she's the foal of an engaging stallion and she's a horse that's very basic to cover. “It's pretty invigorating, we're thrilled and she's for Ballylinch Stud. Could be one for Look De Vega.”
Purchase of the day
John Bourke of Hyde Park Stud, breeder of 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Irish) and Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up and Jersey Stakes winner Haatem (Irish), picked up a bargain over time in lot 1896, Frolova (GB). ). The non-racing mare was purchased for 10,000 grams from Cheveley Park Stud and is descended from her up-and-coming broodmare sire Dutch Art (GB).
Admittedly, she hasn't had a polished breeding run yet, having been barren in two of her five seasons and has yet to produce a winner. However, there is reason for hope as she has a yearling filly Korbut (GB) by Study Of Man (Ire) competing for her and has been offered as foal Ulysses (Ire).
Frolova is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess (GB), who now stands alongside his father Zodiac (GB) at Tally-Ho Stud and her second dam is the great Russian Rhythm.
