WALDLIED, the Group 2-winning sibling to the 2019 Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist, returned to familiar surroundings after she was knocked down for 2,200,000gns at Tattersalls on Tuesday. On a day of high drama, she was the standout lot, and one of a quartet to realise a seven-figure sum.

Her sale represented a dissolution of the partnership between Newsells Park Stud and Gestüt Ammerland, and while bids came from all around the ring for the daughter of New Approach, in foal to Kingman, the bidding developed into a match between the two part-owners, bloodstock agent Jill Lamb sitting with Newsells Park Stud’s new owner Graham Smith-Bernal, and bloodstock agent Crispin de Moubray taking instructions on the telephone from Dietrich von Boetticher’s Gestüt Ammerland. The hammer fell in favour of the Newsells Park Stud team.

“She is coming back home, where she belongs. She is a beautiful mare in terms of her demeanour and attitude; she is a very special horse from a very special family,” said Smith-Bernal. “We also own 100% of Waldlerche [Waldlied’s dam] now, as well as her number one daughter so far.”

“It is very exciting, especially as it is for a new partnership,” said Lamb. “Waldlied’s Siyouni filly [foal] is still owned in partnership with Ammerland.” The mare’s first foal, a now yearling colt by Kingman, sold for 425,000gns to bloodstock agent Mike Ryan in Book 1. De Moubray said: “I was bidding on behalf of Ammerland and we are disappointed not to get the mare.”

Waldlied is a half-sister to the European champion and now Ballylinch stallion Waldgeist, the winner of nine races including four Group 1 races, headlined by his Arc success.