AN impressive 90% of lots offered for sale on day one of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale found buyers on Monday.

Although the average and median prices were down 31% and 14% on the corresponding day last year, much of this discrepancy is explained by the Rothschild family's Waddesdon Stud dispersal, which realised almost three million guineas on the opening day in 2019.

Topping the trade was the two-year-old filly Aunty Bridy, trained this year by Jim Bolger to win a Curragh maiden and finish second to Elysium in the Group 3 Weld Stakes at the same venue.

The daughter of Camacho raced in the colours of David Granville and was consigned to the sale by Ballylinch Stud.

Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock and Andreas Putsch of Haras de Saint Pair tried to buy her. However, it was young bloodstock agent Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock, in a black wooly hat and facemask and sat on his own opposite the rostrum, who came out on top at 410,000gns.

"She will stay in the UK for the short time. She may go on to the US, it is undecided as yet, a plan will be made," said Haggas. "She is a good-looking, lightly raced filly, her form is good and there should be more racing in her. She has run to a good level, and she is by a prolific sire of fillies – fingers crossed there is more to come from her."

BBA Ireland were the top buyers on the day, spending over 800,000gns on 11 lots. Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock (five lots) and the O'Callaghan family's Yeomanstown Stud (four lots) were also very active.

Late in the session, the 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling was offered out of training as a stallion prospect but was led out unsold when bidding stopped at 95,000gns. The three-year-old Group 2 winner Royal Lytham was withdrawn.

The four-day sale continues on Tuesday.

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COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY ONE OF MARE SALE

CURRENT YEAR PREVIOUS YEAR CHANGE %

Lots Catalogued 325 297 +9%

Lots Withdrawn 55 48 +15%

Lots Offered 270 249 +8%

Lots Unsold 27 34 -21%

Lots Sold 243 215 +13%

Total Value (gns) 12,292,200 15,762,800 -22%

Median Value (gns) 30,000 35,000 -14%

Average Value (gns) 50,585 73,315 -31%

% Offered Lots Sold 90% 86% +5%