A well-related son of Frankel became the most expensive colt in Tattersalls December Yearling Sale history when bringing 425,000gns (US$584,998, 1 guinea=US$1.36) during a busy day of trade Nov. 24.
Agent Alex Elliott struck the winning bid for the youngster, whose three successful siblings include Dramatised, winner of the Queen Mary (G2) and Temple Stakes (G2). The sale-topping colt was bred by Steve Parkin's Branton Court Stud and offered through Adrian O'Brien's Hazelwood Bloodstock.
"He's been bought for a partnership, but the exact percentages are still being worked out," Elliott said. "I was pleased to get the horse though. Obviously, he should've been in Book 1 (of the October Yearlings Sale), but he had a foot abscess, which has taken time to grow out. He looks like a fast Frankel. It's a fast family, even though the mare is by Turtle Bowl.
"I remember her racing for Karl Burke, including winning at the July Course very impressively, and she's already produced Dramatised, who was also very fast. His movement and everything else suggests he won't be one of those big, staying Frankels."
Elliott added, "I didn't think I'd get him; that was around the bottom end of where I thought he'd be. The December Sales can produce good horses, as we've seen down the years, and hopefully, he can add his name to the roll of honor. Adrian's had the horse all the way along and he was very high on him."
Later in the day, the agent revealed the Frankel colt will be heading into training with William Haggas.
The colt's dam, the listed-winning Katie's Diamond, is due to come under the hammer herself during the second installment of the Sceptre Sessions Dec. 2. She is being offered by Branton Court Stud in foal to Frankel, meaning she is carrying a full sibling to Monday's top lot.
There should be plenty more to come from elsewhere in the pedigree too, not least Dramatised. She has joined the burgeoning broodmare band of Wathnan Racing and delivered her first foal, a filly by Wootton Bassett, Feb. 1 of this year. She subsequently visited Frankel.
The previous high mark for a December Yearling Sale colt was set 12 months ago when Willingham signed at 375,000gns for the son of Sea The Stars and Cloudy Dawn.
Those figures are some way shy of the overall sale record though, which was also set last year when Henry Lascelles bid 900,000gns for a Dark Angel half sister to Camille Pissarro and Golden Horde.
The high bar for a colt was far from the only record on the day, as almost the full suite of market indices reached previously uncharted territory for the December Yearling Sale.
Turnover inched up 1% year-on-year to a new high of 7,272,500gns (US$10,010,349). The median price was up fully 33% to 40,000gns (US$55,059), also a record, as was the average of 52,700gns (US$72,540), which was also up 1% compared to last year. There were 17 six-figure lots, which was another sale-best. Those 17 were among the 138 youngsters who found a new home, resulting in a solid clearance rate of 84%.
The action continues Nov. 24 with the Tattersalls December Foal Sale beginning at 11 a.m. local time.
