Breeders and buyers will make the trip to Tattersalls for the December Mare Sale with some sense of relief following a year of coronavirus and lockdowns but remarkably decent trade in the circumstances. This year's auction is restricted to professionals, but there is plenty of quality on offer for bloodstock fans to enjoy from afar as the four-day sale starts at 9.30 a.m. local time Nov. 30.
Blue Illusion (Lot 1279) is a bay mare consigned by Godolphin and is one of the most regally bred lots at the sale, being by Darley's super sire Dubawi, who is responsible for the top two at the December Foal Sale last week. Blue Illusion is out of QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Darley Irish Oaks (G1) heroine Blue Bunting, by Dynaformer.
Having produced a Teofilo filly last year and a filly by Farhh this term, the 6-year-old is now in foal to promising first-season stallion Territories, the sire of group 3 winner and Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1) third Rougir, plus Italian listed scorer Fulgentia.
Subsequent Ballyhane recruit Sands of Mali was sold for 600,000 guineas (US$813,409) at this sale last year, and another intriguing stallion prospect in Rekindling (Lot 1504) heads to Park Paddocks from Joseph O'Brien's yard.
The son of High Chaparral's career highlight came when landing the 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1), seeing off Johannes Vermeer in a pulsating finish, although he also proved a high-class performer in Ireland when winning the Comer Group International Curragh Cup (G2) and P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (G3).
Rekindling, consigned by Carriganog Racing, certainly has the pedigree to back up his race record, being a full brother to Virgin Money Chester Vase (G3) winner and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) second Golden Sword, plus a relation to Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1) runner-up Sydney Opera House. He could be a valuable recruit to the National Hunt ranks.
Pivotal's exploits as a broodmare sire are well documented, and his daughters will be in typically high demand at Tattersalls this week, with Dulkashe (Lot 1605) among them.
A winner on the track for trainer Luca Cumani, the 11-year-old is better known as the dam of the much-missed 2019 Investec Coronation Cup (G1) winner Defoe, also the winner of the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) and Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes (G2) for trainer Roger Varian.
Covered by Churchill this year, Dulkashe, consigned by Miltown Park Stud, has a yearling filly by first-season sire Shalaa, so there is the promise of further page updates.
The paddock value of Beach Frolic (Lot 1731) took a significant hike following the group 1-winning exploits of Palace Pier. The son of the in-demand Kingman struck in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) and Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (G1) in an explosive 3-year-old campaign this year and is set to race in 2021.
The daughter of Nayef's stock was also in demand at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, when her Highland Reel colt realized 320,000 guineas ($436,213) to McCalmont Bloodstock. It has been confirmed the yearling will be trained by John Gosden.
Currently carrying to Darley's exciting young sire Blue Point, Beach Frolic, consigned by Highclere Stud, has already proven herself a high-class producer and should command a suitably high price.
High-class sprint mares unsurprisingly attract plenty of attention, and Whitsbury Manor Stud's charge Kurious (Lot 1737) will hold plenty of appeal as she heads into the Park Paddocks sale ring.
Something of a Sandown specialist—she struck in the listed Randox Health Scurry Stakes and Coral Charge Sprint Stakes (G3) at the Esher track for trainer Henry Candy last year—Kurious is also very well related, being a half sister to Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) winner Alpha Delphini plus Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) hero Tangerine Trees.
The 4-year-old is out of the prolific producer Easy to Imagine, an unraced daughter of Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner and top American sire Cozzene.
