Alastair Pim charmed Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian into buying Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me for 4,800,000gns, the new top price at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
“They said we had a bit of a bromance going last night!” Pim claimed from the rostrum, after Joorabchian turned his back on the auctioneer. The characterful owner responded with a nod, and after unsuccessfully urging the underbidder to retort, Pim dropped the hammer with a quip: “The bromance is still alive!”
The role of underbidder was filled by Graham Smith-Bernal of Newsells Park Stud, who consigned and co-owned the filly, a daughter of the stud’s stallion Nathaniel. It was her third appearance at Tattersalls, selling to BBA Ireland for 60,000gns as a foal, and to Alex Elliott for 200,000gns at Book 1. Elliott is now the main agent for Amo Racing and stood alongside Joorabchian during the bidding.
Trainer Ralph Beckett left notes at the rostrum that his charge would be an even better four-year-old, and on whether she is to return in training, Joorabchian commented: “If she stays in training obviously Ralph Beckett wants her back and I said as long as he does not injure her, he can have her back! I am thinking about plans.
“If she stays in training, she is not a horse to take away from her current trainer, and Ralph has done a wonderful job with her.” Beckett earlier sold multiple stakes winner and Group 1 runner-up River Of Stars to Oakley Creek for 1,650,000gns.
Unbelievable price for Believing
One of Tuesday’s highlights that will stay in training is this season’s multiple Group 1-placed sprinter Believing. It was confirmed by MV Magnier after seeing off the attentions of Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown and an online bidder, with a final bid of 3,000,000gns. The daughter of Mehmas will return to George Boughey, who trained her for Highclere Racing.
“It is unbelievable,” Highclere’s racing manager Harry Herbert commented, with no pun intended. “She is staying with George, which is fantastic and is a wonderful bonus. It is so incredible to have a filly looking like that, she has an incredible will to win, consistent, with speed, she is dream down the road. We look forward to following her future career.”
Future plans for another Mehmas filly, Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue, remain unclear after the penultimate lot of Tuesday’s Sceptre Sessions sold to John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for 3,200,000gns.
The Francis Graffard-trained bay was underbid by a frustrated Graham Smith-Bernal.
Irish millionaires
Perhaps the most incredible result achieved by a consignor on the night was the 1,500,000gns sale of Kevin Coleman’s once-raced juvenile The Palace Girl to US-based owner Woodford Thoroughbreds.
She will continue her career with 34-year-old Kentucky-based trained Will Walden, son of WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden.
Coolmore underbid the daughter of Areion, whose promising debut second at the Curragh was complimented by the Group 1 success of her half-sister Tamfana. She was bought by her trainer with O’Byrne and Grassick for €30,000 at last year’s BBAG September Sale.
Paddy Twomey’s A Lilac Rolla became the first millionaire of the day when bringing an even million from an online bidder, later revealed as John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock. Stewart later secured Jessica Harrington’s Village Voice for 1,300,000gns.
The same price was paid by Narvick International and Grand Stud for another Irish filly in Joseph O’Brien’s dual group winner Lumiere Rock. The trend continued, as Henry de Bromhead’s three-time group winner Term Of Endearment sold for 1,300,000gns to online bidder Red Bank.