STELLAR trade on the third day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale saw a total of 24 lots make over 200,000 guineas, compared to 16 on the same day last year. The turnover and average increased to 16,986,000 guineas and 101,107 guineas respectively, while the median stayed the same at 65,000 guineas.

The headline act on the day was Minster Stud’s Dubawi half-sister to the Group 1 Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs and she became the fourth highest priced foal in the history of this fixture when selling for 750,000 guineas.

It was John Gosden, acting on behalf of Godolphin, who struck the winning bid; the combination no stranger to the filly’s half-brother having respectively trained and owned Jack Hobbs to classic success.

The striking daughter of Swain's Gold understandably attracted a lot of attention in the ring, including a determined effort by Harriet Jellett, sitting with Jamie McCalmont, who had to settle for the role of underbidder.

Willie Carson of Minster Stud commented after the sale: "She was a very cute filly. We've been selling more as foals for the last three years - we can cope with foaling down the mares, but we're getting too old for yearlings.

"I rang Tattersalls in the autumn and asked how many Dubawis they had catalogued here and was told none - so I said, 'Well you've got one now!'

"Swain's Gold has been very good to us and she is in-foal to Golden Horn."

RINGFORT STUD

A pair of fillies shared the second highest billing on the Friday of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale when selling for 600,000 guineas apiece.

The first of those was Ringfort Stud’s Dark Angel filly out of the listed-winning Sir Percy mare Indigo Lady who caught the eye of Capital Bloodstock’s Neil Gilchrist.

The attractive March-born foal represented the greatest sales ring success for the Veitch family’s Ringfort Stud who have had a good week, selling a total of 12 lots for 1,272,000 guineas.

"I am overwhelmed really," said Derek Veitch. "It is wonderful. The mare Indigo Lady is owned by myself and Paul Hancock - who sadly is in bed after having his appendix out, but is watching online.

"Paul owned her, and I bought into the mare after she had picked up blacktype in France and she then went on to win a listed race for us.

"I just have to thank everyone at home who has worked so hard to keep this foal in one piece and to get her here, and all who bid on her today. She was very busy with viewings, and usually you have certain groups on horses - she had everyone."

Indigo Lady is in-foal to Lope De Vega and her first foal Expensive Liaison – who is by Camelot – has been placed once as a juvenile since the catalogue was published.

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT

Capital Bloodstock, represented by Neil Gilchrist and Peter Vaughan, have had a busy week, buying 10 lots for 2,205,000 guineas so far. The foals are being purchased to race on behalf of British owners.

The second filly to achieve 600,000 guineas was Bryanstown Stud’s daughter of Invincible Spirit out of the winning King's Best mare Liscune who was knocked down to Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock. Chris Richardson of Cheveley Park Stud was the underbidder.

The April-born foal is an own-sister to four winners including the Group 3 Spectre Stakes winner Music Box, as well as the Group 2 Dante Stakes second Ekhihaam.

Bernard Cooke of Bryanstown Stud explained: "She is a lovely filly. I bought the grandam here from the Darley draft and bred this filly's dam. She has been a good mare and always gets very good-looking stock.

"Invincible Spirit has been a lucky sire for me - I have had five, including Ektihaam and Music Box [this filly's full-brother and sister] and they sold as foals for 250,000 guineas and 90,000 guineas. Music Box was resold as a yearling for Camas Park and made 700,000 guineas.

"I have five mares at home and I like to sell as foals as there is only myself and another to help and this is my biggest sale."

Charlie Gordon-Watson said: "She has been bought for a new British client who has not bought a racehorse before. She will go and board at Watership Down Stud and will be a future broodmare prospect.

"The client was going to originally buy two, but we decided to buy a queen rather than two princesses!”

TOP COLT

Sire sensation Frankel was responsible for the highest priced colt of the day when his son out of Group 2 Oaks d'Italia winner Contredanse made 375,000 guineas to the bid of Japanese-based owner Kanji Yagura.

Sara Cumani’s Fittocks Stud consigned the bay colt on behalf of his breeder Stuart Stuckey.

"I particularly liked the fact that this colt is by Frankel, but he is a great individual too – he was my pick of the day," said Yagura. "I have not decided upon my plans yet."

The December Foal Sale also saw the eight sell as part of the dispersal of Ballymacoll Stud.

Consigned by Norelands Stud, the consignment was topped by the Oasis Dream filly out of the champion mare Islington who was knocked down to Cheveley Park Stud for 275,000 guineas.

The remaining fillies and mares will go under the hammer on Tuesday, December 5th during the Tattersalls December Mare Sale.

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale continues at 10am on Saturday, December 2nd.