Barnavara has already taken Jessica Harrington and the Alpha Racing syndicate on a remarkable journey.
The 3-year-old daughter of Calyx has notched five victories, a run that culminated with group 1 glory in the Prix de l'Opera last time out. And there was a new chapter added to the tale the evening of Dec. 2 as Barnavara topped the second session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale at a cool 4.8 million guineas ($6,672,000, 1 guinea=US$1.39).
Baroda Stud took charge of consigning duties for the highest-priced filly in training sold anywhere in the world this year. That price was reached after a marathon clash between agent Henry Lascelles, racing manager to Lady Bamford, and a determined online participant. After a barrage of 100,000gns raises, the unidentified online player won out before signing the name Sugar Whiskey Trading on the docket.
"What a buzz!" said Harrington while being mobbed by well-wishers. "Jeepers, I promise you that was more than my wildest dreams, it really was. We all get excited and think, 'Oh she might back three [million], but then she might four or eight.' It got stuck at 1,500,000gns, and then it went on and on and on and on. It's amazing."
With Barnavara's buyer choosing to remain anonymous, future plans remain unclear. However, her trainer was in no doubt that the filly has plenty more to offer on the track.
"There's a lot in the tank with her; we thought she was only just growing into herself because she went on improving all year," she said. "She's an amazing filly, she really is. She won her maiden in May [last year] and we kept running her in listed and group races and she kept getting placed. She wasn't finishing out her races and I'd say she went through a bit of a weak stage.
"Her first run this year was not good, but then everything just came together; it was extraordinary from then on."
As well as her group 1 triumph, Barnavara also struck in this year's Blandford Stakes (G2), Jannah Rose Stakes (G3), and the Kooyonga Stakes.
Barnavara's second visit to the sales ring proved far more lucrative than her first as she cost BBA Ireland just €70,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2023.
Expanding on the story behind Alpha Racing, Harrington said: "It was set up by Richie [Galway], my son-in-law, (BBA Ireland agent) Patrick Cooper, and Legs Lawlor. The idea was to buy yearlings, race them, have fun, and hopefully let it wash its face every year. They've been incredibly lucky. We've had Kinesiology and Cadillac, we've had some good horses along the line, which we've sold, and everybody has had fun doing it.
"A lot of the syndicate are here today, including three people who've come from America. In this syndicate, we have 12 shares, and we do it for two years. The syndicate for the yearlings we bought this year are rather oversubscribed."
Barnavara is the third foal out of Kentucky Dynamite mare Alfea, a pedigree that goes back to group 1 talents such as Danceteria and Lope De Vega .
The Tattersalls December Mares Sale record still belongs to Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) heroine Marsha, who sold to M. V. Magnier for 6,000,000gns in 2017.
The day saw turnover of 57,695,415 guineas exceed the previous record for the highest grossing day in European auction history, set at the December Mares Sale last year. Eleven lots were sold for a million guineas or more, a record-equaling number for the sale.
