She becomes the third highest-priced mare ever sold at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale

She was sold in-foal to Frankel on a March covering, her first pregnancy, and is out of Ambivalent, winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) and the Middleton Stakes (G2), also placed three times in Group 1s.

Bids came from all around the ring, as well as online, with Charlie Gordon Watson involved early on, as well as Anthony Stroud, who was standing with David Loder taking things along to an advanced level in the bidding, but it was Juddmonte Farms who was successful with Northern Farm as the eventual underbidder.

"She is the best mare in the sale, she is a Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, and they are very difficult to find," said Simon Mockridge of Juddmonte. "She is a beautiful addition for us, she has a great pedigree. She is by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire and has had five Group 1 winners, she will fit in very well.

"She is an outcross to Frankel, which is ideal and what we are looking for. And, yes, she will be going back to Frankel!"

When asked if the final price was expected, he added: "You always have to stretch when you want to to buy the best, it is competitive. It was very strong bidding for her, I did think that around about 3,500,000gns to 4,000,000gns [we might get her].

"You have to make that extra stretch – that is something we have learnt, it is all very well trying to value them before but when you come to the moment you have to be a little stronger." (17:38)

She was bred by David and Yvonne Blunt having been trained by Karl Burke.

Her dam Alpine Dream had a filly by Zoustar this spring and was covered by Too Darn Hot, while her second dam is Infamous Angel, winner of the Lowther Stakes (G2). (17:30)

The three-year-old filly is out of the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes winner Roger Sez and a half-sister to the Naas Juvenile Sprint Stakes (G3) runner-up.

Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International said: "She is going to be kept in Europe to be bred. She was a top class two-year-old, we were looking for two-year-old form, she is a beautiful type. Good two-year-old form is so important." (16:44)

He said: “She is a beautiful mare, she has lovely movement, and loved her when I first saw her. She has been bought for an existing client, the Frankel covering was hugely attractive. She was a very good race mare herself and rated 112. It is a very active family and, it is a shame to use the old cliche, but she ticks a lot of boxes.

"She comes back to us and, hopefully, her progeny will be coming back here to sell as well, she is a commercial purchase. She is an exciting addition to the broodmare band at Hillwood – we have not thought of future stallions yet." (16:37)

Jono Mills, who was sat by the auctioneer's rostrum, said: "She is for a client of Rabbah's. She is a lovely mare, she is in-foal to a lovely stallion and we loved her." (16:30)

Sold by Belinda Strudwick's Ballygallon Stud, Lyrical Poetry (Lope De Vega) sells for 260,000gns having opened up at 100,000gns.

She was a Group 3 winner of the Balanchine stakes at Meydan and the Gallinule Stakes (G3) at The Curragh.

She is from the family of the dual US Grade 1 winner Aragorn. (16:11)

She is from the Juddmonte draft and is an unraced daughter of Helleborine, winner of the Prix d'Aumale (G3) and dam of the Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Calyx.

The further family features African Rose, winner of the Sprint Cup (G1) and the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1), the champion two-year-old, Dewhurst Stakes (G1) and Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) winner Native Trail, and Distant Music, also winner of the Dewhurst Stakes (G1).

Helleborine had a filly by Kingman in 2022 and was covered by the sire again this spring. (15:41)

"She is a lovely mare and is for an American client," said Budgett. "She will come back to Kirtlington and we settle her in. Roger recommended her to the team especially after he saw her Kingman colt foal, who was bought last week by Juddmonte and is a lovely sort. We are very happy to have got her."

A daughter of the Nassau Stakes (G1) runner-up Cassydora and a grand-daughter of Claxon, she was sold by Hazelwood Bloodstock in-foal on a March covering to Lope De Vega. (15:19)

The filly has won since the catalogue was published – successful at The Curragh over 1m4f for trainer Jessica Harrington.

After the Harrington reported: "Alalcance deserved that. This galloping track suited her much better. She is a lovely big filly and will be a lovely four-year-old. She found a lot and quickened up well on that ground." (14:46)

"She is very good looking filly, I could not believe it when I saw her," said Farrington. "She has a good level of form, will be syndicated by Mick Price and will race on for him. She has speed, a good turn of foot, acts on fast ground and could get a bit further in Australia. she has a good pedigree, too."

When asked how the filly was found, he explained: "They provide me with a list based on form, and then I go around and take a look at the physicals. Mick was on the phone when she went through the ring."

Le Man is a half-sister to Lusail, winner of the Gimcrack Stakes (G2), the July Stakes (G2) and placed in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) and the Prix Jean Prat (G1).

Dam Diaminda (Diamond Green) is a half-sister to Fayr Jag, winner of the Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1). (13:53)

"She is a nice filly, there is a good race programme in Ireland for fillies such as her," said Twomey. "Ralph has done a good job with her, she came recommended and she is for an existing client."

A dual winner at three, the daughter of Lope De Vega is rated 91 and has run in one Listed race when fifth in the John Musker Fillies' Stakes.

She is out of the Listed winner Honor Bound (Authorized), a half-sister to the Irish Derby (G1) and Secretariat Stakes (G1) winner Treasure Beach. (12:30)

"She is for a commercial client in Ireland and is likely to head to Mehmas – he has a good record with mares by Lope De Vega, Persian Force was bred on the cross."

Trained by Ralph Beckett, Lose Yourself, who is out of the Group 3 winner Stellar Path, finished second in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes. She was sold by Imperium Sales that had such a good time of things at the Autumn Horse-In-Training Sale with a turnover in excess of 2,200,000gns. (11:55)

She had a colt by Invincible Spirit last year, who was sold at October Book 3 for 70,000gns to Avenue Bloodstock. Sadly, the mare lost this year's foal, but she was covered by Baaeed in April and is in-foal. (10:57)

Follow all of today's stories and results here at sales day live (09:17)

Sold: 242

Total: 15,477,300gns (-30%)

Median: 43,000gns (-22%)

Average: 78,168gns (-22%)

% Sold: 82%

Leading sires (by agg): 1. Galileo, 2. Fastnet Rock, 3. Dubawi

Leading sires (by av, two or more sold): 1. Golden Horn, 2. Showcasing, 3. Fastnet Rock

Leading purchasers (by agg, accum): 1. Badgers Bloodstock, 2. Lake Villa Farm, 3. C Gordon Watson Bloodstock

Leading consignors (by agg, accum): 1. The Castlebridge Consignment, 2. Godolphin, 3. Barton Sales

Today's top five prices

Lot 1534: Callisto Star (IRE) 2015 B.M. >> Ballybin Stud, Ireland >> Badgers Bloodstock >> 675,000gns

Lot 1535: Mauiewowie (GB) 2020 Ch.F. >> Norris Bloodstock >> Lake Villa Farm >> 625,000gns

Lot 1531: Authoritaire (IRE) 2019 Ch.M. >> The Castlebridge Consignment >> C Gordon Watson Bloodstock >> 525,000gns

Lot 1546: Wonderful Times (IRE) 2019 B.F. >> Barton Sales >> Kia Ora Stud >> 460,000gns

Lot 1533: My Eyes Adore You (IRE) 2019 Ch.F. >> Thomastown Castle Stables, Ireland >> Hillwood Bloodstock >> 380,000gns

Lot 1544: Aussie Girl (IRE) 2020 Ch.F. >> Thomastown Castle Stables, Ireland (J. A. Stack) >> Woodford Thoroughbreds >> 380,000gns (20:51)

Third dam is Rafha, dam of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac.

Shane Wright from the her new farm said: "We had quite a lot on our list and we were making our way through, but she has such a deep page and she offers something that does not come our way too often. She has black-type by her name, but she has a page of champions, it is so full. When you come to a place like this you really come for the big families like this.

"She will be coming straight home, it is tempting with her form [to race], she would be very competitive down our way in anything over mile or 2000m plus, but she has black-type already. We will see how she travels down and we may give her time in the breeding barn next season, that decision will be made.

"We have done some work in the US as well, but the Tatts catalogue and especially the Sceptre Session with so many quality mares in there – you have to come here if you want to be competitive internationally. We found some lovely mares and, hopefully, we can pick out one or two tomorrow as well.

"Kia Ora has been very successful boutique farm in Australia for a number of years it is only in the last few years that we have revolutionised what is going on. We have got quite a big racing syndicate now and we stand some good stallions – in our first year of stallions we got a Golden Slipper winner which is the pinnacle and what you want. It is very exciting times and it is great to be able to come over here to buy beautiful mares to send home to our stallions."

Om the Sceptre Session, he said: "Getting all these mares in together in one helps to gets your eye in on values, I suppose, and what is going on rather than if they are being offered sporadically through a sale, but when there is a quality bunch of mares offered in small amount of time over a couple of days it is very easy to get caught up in the hype... I reckon the vendors do better than the buyers!" (20:44)

The mare, carrying to Starspangledbanner, was sold by Ballybin Stud. She is out of Livia Gallilei, a Galileo an own-sister to Eye Of The Storm, winner of the Ballyroan Stakes (G3), and a half-sister to Satchem, winner of the Joel Stakes (G3) and the Sirenia Stakes (G3).

“She’s to stay here in Europe,” said Tom Pritchard Gordon, whose purchase was made on behalf of an existing client. “She’s a beautiful mare and has already produced a Grade 1 winner with her first foal. She’s carrying a full-sibling to that Grade 1 winner inside her, too.

"Fastnet Rock is as good a broodmare sire as there is and her dam is by Galileo so it’s all the bloodlines you want. She’s the whole package. I haven’t decided who she’ll be covered by next year but Starspangled is an obvious target. Fastnet mares work with so many different bloodlines that she could go anywhere.”

Callisto Star was bred and owned by Kevin Molloy, who was at Tattersalls to watch his mare sell.

"We bred Mohican Princess, her grand mother," said Molloy. "Callisto Star was injured and so did not race, we always liked her as an individual, she has a lovely head, very compact and very strong. We wanted to get her a faster horse and so we used Starspangledbanner. Rhea Moon was amazing – last St Stephens night the whole family watched the American Oaks, she had this incredible speed. She has gone to Japan.

"It was a big decision to sell today, but we have a lot of the family – we still have the mother and she is in-foal to Starspangledbanner, and we have a half-sister by Zoffany." (19:58)

She was bought by the Japanese commercial breeders Lake Villa Farm, which has a broodmare band of 50 and is based in Hokkaido.

"She is going to Japan, and to stud. She is a strong mare, we love her conformation and we love her attitude," said Yoshihisa Iwasaki, stud manager and the farm's representative at Tattersalls this week. "We have not made covering plans yet, but she will go to one of the very best stallions in Japan."

Mauiewowie's dam La Chapelle is a half-sister to Ghaiyyath, the champion older horse, the winner of nine races, including the International Stakes (G1), the Eclipse Stakes (G1, the Coronation Cup (G1) and the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) Ghaiyyath. And to Zhukova, winner of the Man O War Stakes (G1).

Their dam Nightime won the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and Maueiwowie’s third dam Caumshinaun was a champion older mare in Ireland in 2001.

Consignor Jenny Norris said: "She came to me through Katie Walsh, who recommended us to owner Eleanora Kennedy, who is the US. It is great to have mares of that calibre, and to have mares in the Sceptre Session and for a small consignor.

"She has behaved like an absolute dream and it did not take much imagination to think what she will look like when she lets down as a mare. She has some different markings [patches of white on her stomach] and her Japanese buyers loved her markings and were very keen and were determined to get her.

"She had a lot of lookers, 87 shows on the first day and every time she just came out and marched up and down. It was great to see all the connections who have been involved with her through her career to date and will be interesting to see how she gets on in the breeding shed.

"You never know what is going to happen in the ring, but it is always nice when they are in the Sceptre Session, you kind of think they are special." (19:16)

Afour-year-old mare by Tamayuz, Authoritaire is a daughter of the champion older mare Aquarelliste, winner of the Prix de Diane (G1) and dam of two black-type winners, including the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Ame Bleue, and two black-type placed horses.

Her second dam is the Prix de Psyche (G3) winner dual French Classic placed mare Agathe, the dam of Artiste Royale, winner of the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (G1) and the Clement L Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship (G1).

Under the third dam Albertine, who finished third in the Prix de l'Opera (G2), is Arcangues, winner of the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan, and more distantly the three-time Group 1 winner Luxembourg and the Beverly D Stakes (G1) and Diane Stakes (G1) winner Angara.

"It is one of the great families, she is in-foal to Night Of Thunder and she is a mare who will suit him, and it all makes good sense," said Gordon Watson. "She will be going to Ireland. (19:12)

The Sea The Stars four-year-old was a winner at three, trained by Charlie Fellowes, and is in-foal to Night Of Thunder. She is a half-sister toToken Of Love, winner of the Listed Dick Hern Stales and dam of the Mighty Ulysses, winner of the Sovereign Stakes (G3).

Sous Les Etoiles descends from one of the farm's leading pedigrees – her Listed-placed dam Nyarhini (Fantastic Light) is a half-sister to the Coronation Stakes (G1) winner Rebecca Sharp. (18:10)

She is a half-sister to four black-type horses, including the French champion two-year-old colt National Defense (Invincible Spirit), winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

It is the extended family of Adayar, winner of the Derby (G1) and a European champion three-year-old colt. (17:12)

"Quite a what the plan is now, is a good question!" said Simon Venner. "Whether she goes straight to the farm or not, I don't know. We will have a think. We might foal here and cover and then send her, or she might go immediately.

"We are trying to up the quality of the broodmare band and she is a lovely physical, a Dark Angel which is great, and she is in-foal to an elite sire."

Wandflower is carrying to No Nay Never, and is an own-sister to the Silken Glder Stakes (L) winner Fantasy Lady.

It is the family of Kinnard, winner of the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera, and her son the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Berkshire, and the Richmond Stakes (G2) winner and the Middle Park Stakes (G1) runner-up Ivawood. (16:59)

She was unraced, but has produced the Australian Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Zeyrek (Sea The Stars). She foaled a filly by Too Darn Hot this spring. (16:42)

The chestnut filly by Showcasing and out of Just One Kiss (Cape Cross) was sold by The Castlebridge Consignment. She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Intello Kiss (Intello) and the Listed-placed Bell'imbusto (Helmet).

Third dam is the Oaks (G1) winner Love Divine, the dam of Sixties Icon, winner of the St Leger Stakes (G1).

Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock said: "The whole Ridgmont team and Mitch Cunningham have been pounding the pavements and braving the weather and looking at fillies off the track. She was our number one pick – she is a gorgeous mare, now a stakes winner, a three-year-old with racing upside and a pedigree we can't access in Australia.

"She will go to Frankel in time. She is going into training with James Ferguson and in the first half of next year we will see if she can add to the stakes record, depending on the first half of the year she might go to Frankel in the second half.

"Ridgemont has got a lovely broodmare band that has bene invested in the last couple of years, it is tailored toward young mares and stakes performing mares. They are all bred very commercially and we are looking to sell yearlings at the premier end of the market. The opportunity to acquire bloodlines in this part of the world to get some diversity.

"To be going home with the one we all loved is very pleasing."

Ridgmont has a broodmare band of 35 and is also a full commercial breeding farm with client mares.

"There has been a lot on investment into the farm," added Clarke. "The farm was purchased by the Cunningham family, we have built up a good broodmare band now, and we are looking forward to getting horses to market in the next few years.

"Australia is very dominated by speed and Danehill is the prevalent sire, buying mares with these types of pedigrees gives us a lot more options in terms of who we breed to. The factor to coming to this sale was also to get mares who could got to Kingman or Frankel, and both are elite stallions and both done it in the southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere and Kingman has had two Group 1 winners in Australia. It is great to take the opportunity to breed to those stallions, and also gives mare the chance to kick off early in her career with a good horse. Ridgmont is intending to develop a really high end broodmare band and mating with these stallions is a good way to help set that up." (15:24)

Graham Smith-Bernal of Newsells Park Stud explained the purchasing plan: "She has been bought for a breeding syndicate we have put together. From the racing syndicate we run a few people said they would like to get involved in the breeding and consigning action.

"So we have put together this syndicate which is a hybrid with a portfolio including a mix of two race fillies, two broodmares in foal, and then one maiden mare. Hopefully it will give a whole experience. There are 20 shares available and Newsells has retained ten shares."

Of this mare, he said: "She is a winning Dubawi mare, she is very well bred. There is a lot of action going on in the first dam. We know the breeder Craig Bennett very well – he is partners on Shambolic with us."

Lamb added: "We liked her a lot, we know the family very well and we know the half-sisters and who they are being mated to. We don't have any stallion plans right now , but we did like the Palace Pier a lot so we are quite pleased to get a mare in-foal to him."

She has had one foal so far, a 2022 colt by Invincible Spirit. (14:51)

She is a half-sister to the Supreme Stakes (G3) fourth-placed Aldovrandi (Cape Cross) and out of Rasana, the Royal Applause half-sister to the six-time Group 1 winner Rakti. (13:33)

Bred by Barronstown Stud, she was bought as a yearling by West Bloodstock and went on to win once in the US. She is out of the Galileo mare Silent Thoughts, a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Yellow Rosebud and from the family of Malhub, winner of the Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1).

Silent Thoughts was covered again this spring by No Nay Never. (11:54)

She was placed on the track at three and four, and is a half-sister to Ceiling Kitty, winner of the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) and dam of the Listed winner and Group 3 placed Eartha Kitt and Arthur Kitt.

Love You Grandpa was sold by Whatton Manor Stud having been bred by King Power Racing Co Ltd (11:27)

She is an closely related sister to Shuwari, winner of the Star Stakes (L) and runner-up in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile. She was also placed second in the Rockfel Stakes (G2). She is entered in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1).

Bred by Ballylinch Stud, she was sold today by Overbury Stud, having been bought in the US by Jocelyn Target's Black Type for $20,000.

"The dam Lady Pimpernel could run, the sister will always be Group 1-placed even if she does not run again and I love the family,"said LIllingston. "I love this family. Lady Pimpernel is with Balllyinch and is in-foal to Bayside Boy."

While being thanked by Targett for his custom, he said (to the agreement of Targett): "You can bred this filly to just about anything, there is speed and class – I also love the Sir Percy in this pedigree, too. Although she has not got the black-type, she was good enough for it. Ballylinch still has the dam."

The family hails back to the outstanding runner, dual champion, and ancestress of 11 black-type winners Anna Paola. (11:20)

Selling is starting at 9.30am (09:31)

“Sustained demand for quality foals has been the feature of the four days of selling at Europe’s premier foal sale. In addition to the highest price for a foal in Europe and North America this year there have been a record 29 foals sold for 200,000 guineas or more and a healthy diversity of buyers in all sectors of the market.

“The cream of the British and Irish foal crop has attracted buyers in abundance not only from Britain and Ireland but also from throughout Europe and the Gulf region as well as China, Japan and America. The overseas demand has had a significant impact on trade which, although not matching last year’s record levels, has remained robust with the exception of the lower end of the market, which we must all recognise has been challenging.

"The pinhookers will always be the backbone of any Tattersalls December Foal Sale and, as ever, they have worked tirelessly, but the contribution from so many significant owners is becoming an increasingly important and regular feature of the sale. When a sale consistently produces racehorses the calibre of the 2000 Guineas winner CHALDEAN and the unbeaten Group 1 and 2-winning two-year-olds VANDEEK and GHOSTWRITER, it reflects the quality of the stock presented by the consignors and it is clear that their confidence in the sale has been reciprocated by many of the world’s most successful racehorse owners.

“Another positive to come out of this year’s December Foal Sale has been the overwhelmingly favourable response to the break in selling on the Thursday of the sale, which allowed buyers valuable extra time to view the Friday and Saturday foals. The change was introduced in response to feedback from vendors and purchasers alike and as well as being well received it is notable that the clearance rates for both Friday and Saturday have improved significantly on last year’s record-breaking sale.

“With a solid Tattersalls December Foal Sale behind us we now look forward to welcoming buyers from every continent in the world to Park Paddocks for another quality renewal of the Tattersalls December Sale, which features some spectacular fillies and broodmares, many of them showcased in the elite Sceptre Sessions which take place on Monday and Tuesday.” (23:45)

Offered: 888

Sold: 669

Total: 29,842,902gns (-15%)

Median: 21,000gns (-19%)

Average: 44,608gns (-6%)

% Sold: 75%

Leading sires (by agg): 1. Havana Grey, 2. Kingman, 3. Pinatubo

Leading sires (by av, two or more sold): 1. Kingman, 2, Wootton Bassett, 3. Starspangledbanner

Leading purchasers (by agg, accum): 1. Godolphin, 2. Kelly Equine, 3. Yeomanstown Stud

Leading consignors (by agg, accum): 1. Whitsbury Manor Stud, 2. Barton Stud, 3. Norelands Stud

Top five prices

Lot 869: St Mark's Basilica (FR) / Talent (GB) Ch.F. (GB) >> Ashbrittle Stud >> Jill Lamb Bloodstock / Newsells Park Stud >> 575,000gns **

Lot 961: Starspangledbanner (AUS) / Mosa Mine (GB) B.C. (GB) >> Maywood Stud >> M V Magnier >> 450,000gns

Lot 903: Wootton Bassett (GB) / Poet's Vanity (GB) B.C. (GB) >> Langton Stud >> Juddmonte Farms >> 425,000gns

Lot 942: New Bay (GB) / Hayyona (GB) B.C. (IRE) >> West Blagdon Stud >> Stroud Coleman Bloodstock >> 375,000gns

Lot 909: Kingman (GB) / Arcamist (GB) Gr.C. (GB) >> Whitsbury Manor Stud >> A C Elliott, Agent / Amo Racing >> 360,000gns

** Most expensive foal sold in Europe / North America this year (22:50)

Offered: 195

Sold: 145

Total: 2,075,002gns (-19%)

Median: 9,000gns (-25%)

Average: 14,310gns (-16%)

% Sold: 74%

Today's top five prices

Lot 1203: Showcasing (GB) / Messalina (IRE) B.F. (GB) >> Daymark Stud >> Glenvale Stud >>125,000gns

Lot 1095: Blue Point (IRE) / Thesme (GB) B.C. (GB) >> West Moor Stud Kelly Equine >> 88,000gns

Lot 1093: Space Blues (IRE) / Jameerah (GB) B.C. (GB) >> West Moor Stud GHS Bloodstock >> 62,000gns

Lot 1074: Havana Grey (GB) / You've Charmed Me (IRE) B.C. (GB) >> Daymark Stud >> Church Farm / Horse Park Stud >> 60,000gns

Lot 1177: Mohaather (GB) / La Arenosa (IRE) B.F. (GB) >> Manor House Farm Stud >> Hazelwood Bloodstock >> 60,000gns

Lot 1098: Ardad (IRE) / Graceful (IRE) B.C. (GB) >> Mickley Stud Ltd. (Agent) >> Ray Townsend >> 52,000gns (17:23)

Ciaran "Flash" Conroy of Glenvale Stud said when informed he had purchased the top lot: "Let's hope she is a top lot next year! She is a lovely physical, I like the stallion, he is a very good sire of fillies. She is a really good individual, very balanced, very good walker. She is a Book 1 individual. And from a young operation so great to see young breeders having a good result."

The farm's final lot Lot 1024, a filly by Havana Grey and out of The Blue Bower, is sold for 42,000gns.

Josh Cameron of Daymark was a little stunned by today's results.

"It is a sigh of relief! It has been incredible, we are very lucky, we are a very small operation," he smiles. "I have done every hand walk with every single foal and some days I think 'Oh maybe I should get someone to help', but I do think it benefits the foals in the end. I am not sure my girlfriend has loved living with me over the last eight weeks!

"But we got there in the end and thanks to the little syndicate who own the mare Messalina for their support. Two mates bought her out of Archie Watson's yard and sent her to me, and just said, 'See how you get on!' Her first foal by Havana Grey, who we sold here last year for 46,000gns, is going to Kevin Philippart De Foy and this year she has produced this amazing Showcasing filly, who has not missed a beat all week. She is a real athlete and for someone like Flash to buy her is unreal.

"For us to have one foal go to Yeomanstown and this filly to Glenvale – I never in a million years thought I could sell foals to those people. It is incredible to have that support."

Of his close relationship with stud farm of the moment Whitsbury Manor, he said: "Ed [Harper] found me my first mare and he gives me a lot of support with stallions and help when I need it. He also gives me a lot of rope to go and hang myself! He never says don't do that, he just lets me learn.

"However, we are still very separate, we are near Sherborne in Dorset about an hour or so away from Whitsbury. It has been a difficult year with renting our property, and are very much looking for a place of our own, we would love to stay in the region as we love it down there. We have seven broodmares [nearly all the broodmare band had representatives here today], my girlfriend trains point-to-pointers and I do some pre-training and breaking. We'd love to buy a place one day perhaps."

Finally, he added: "Messalina is in-foal to Showcasing, she is a lovely mare and was a 200,000gns yearling bought by Shadwell. Archie bought her as an unraced three-year-old and ran her a few times through the funny covid year, she did not really get a fair run at things.

"She is a lovely mare – she is a bit like a dairy cow! She never carries loads of condition as she gives it all to the foal and she has thrown two great-sized foals. They are very different, but both proper sized and proper horses.

"I think I am going to have to give her a pat!" (15:44)

The February-born filly was bred by Stuart McPhee, who was at Tattersalls to watch the sale – he had bought the mare himself for 16,000gns at the December Mares Sale in 2021.

"She has a lovely page, but she had a very patchy breeding record, we have been very lucky so far and nothing has gone wrong," said McPhee. "The first Masar was a really lovely foal and she sold here for 40,000gns and this is a lovely, lovely filly, I could not be any happier. She has been non-stop busy since she has been here, and she has been bought by a great team."

Of the decision to use Mohaather, he said: "We just believe in him and we had a nice foal by him last year, we think he will do well and he was a great racehorse. The mare is in-foal to Pinatubo now."

When asked how many mares he has at stud, McPhee had to stop and think for a moment: "There are too many! I think it is 25 – I have mares in Britain, Ireland, France and Australia. This was the only foal we have sold this year in Europe, the rest will be sold as yearlings – she is just such a good foal that we had to come to market with her."

Purchaser Adrian O'Brien said: "She wasn’t on my radar coming here. But she was stabled next to me in the Wall Boxes so I’ve been watching her for three days – you couldn’t miss her! She’s the first by the sire I’ve had.” (15:11)

He is out of Graceful, the dam of one winner from one runner, and she is a half-sister to Gilt Edge Girl, winner of the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye and the Flying Childers Stakes (G2) winner Godfrey Street.

Third dam Tarwiya won the Group 3 Park Stakes and was runner-up in the Moyglare Stakes (G1) and third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1).

The mare was covered by Earthlight this spring. (13:57)

The March-born colt is out of the homebred mare Our Gal (Kyllachy), the winner of three races and dam of two winners from three runners.

Camas has purchased six foals here this week, including Lot 999 by Kingman, the colt purchased from Hazelwood Bloodstock for 260,000gns. (12:39)

"His action, his walk, he has lovely movement, we love the stallion we have been lucky with the stallion, and we have couple of mares in-foal to him," said Morrin. "He is an obvious horse today, he looks racy, he will probably come back here to Book 2 if he grows enough."

The colt is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Thesme, the winner of three races and runner-up in the Listed Scarborough Stakes. She is a half-sister to the Oak Tree Stakes (G3) winner Last Empire. (12:01)

The choice of sire was well-received by the market today, this colt making 62,000gns to a successful bid from GHS Bloodstock.

"After Space Blues won the Breeders' Cup I thought he 'd be to expensive, but Darley were very fair with his price," continued Sigsworth of West Moor Stud and in charge of leading up this colt, adding: "This colt has just been so good since he got here, he has handled it all so well."

Sigsworth has been turning her hand to many different facets of this industry this week – as deputy chair of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA), she was on the panel for this week's TBA Foal Forum and said: "We were delighted with the attendance and is definitely something we would like to do more." (11:50)

Bought by Church Farm / Horse Park Stud, the colt is the second foal out of You've Charmed Me (Charm Spirit) a half-sister to the Group 2 and Listed-placed Sound Of Guns, dam of the Hungerford Stakes (G2) winner Jumbly.

The mare was purchased by the Charm Syndicate for just 800gns at the Tattersalls February Sale in 2021. (11:20)

Out of the Listed-winning Harbour Watch mare Miss Sugars, also a winner at two, the colt is a half-brother to King Of Gosford (Zoustar), a winner as a two-year-old since the catalogue was published.

Second dam Three Sugars won as a juvenile, while the third dam Hoh Dear won four races as a two-year-old, including the Natalma Stakes (G3), the Empress Stakes (L), and was a runner-up in the Cheveley Park Stakes ( G2). (10:56)

He is out of the Equiano mare Tarando, who won three races and is a half-sister to Hoyam (Royal Applause), winner of the Roses Stakes (L) and runner-up in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2). She was bought here by Chris O'Dowd at the December Mares Sale in 2021 for 4,000gns. (10:48)

Catalogued: 276

Offered: 216

Sold: 187

Total: 17,943,000gns (-11%)

Median: 62,000gns (-9%)

Average: 95,952gns (-13%)

% Sold: 87%

Leading sires (by agg): 1. Havana Grey, 2. Kingman, 3. Pinatubo

Leading sires (by av, two or more sold): 1. Kingman, 2, Wootton Bassett, 3. Starspangledbanner

Leading purchasers (by agg, accum): 1. Godolphin, 2. Yeomanstown Stud, 3. Camas Park Stud

Leading consignors (by agg, accum): 1. Whitsbury Manor Stud, 2. Norelands Stud., 3. Barton Stud

Today's top five prices

Lot 869: St Mark's Basilica (FR) / Talent (GB) Ch.F. (GB) >> Ashbrittle Stud >> Jill Lamb Bloodstock / Newsells Park Stud >> 575,000gns **

Lot 961: Starspangledbanner (AUS) / Mosa Mine (GB) B.C. (GB) >> Maywood Stud >> M V Magnier >> 450,000gns

Lot 903: Wootton Bassett (GB) / Poet's Vanity (GB) B.C. (GB) >> Langton Stud >> Juddmonte Farms >> 425,000gns

Lot 942: New Bay (GB) / Hayyona (GB) B.C. (IRE) >> West Blagdon Stud >> Stroud Coleman Bloodstock >> 375,000gns

Lot 909: Kingman (GB) / Arcamist (GB) Gr.C. (GB) >> Whitsbury Manor Stud >> A C Elliott, Agent / Amo Racing >> 360,000gns

** Most expensive foal sold in Europe / North America this year (20:11)

The colt is out of the unraced Galileo mare Roses Are Red, a half-sister to Ivawood, winner of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes and placed in the 2,000 Guineas (G1) , the Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) and the Middle Park Stakes (G1).

Third dam is the Group 1 Prix de Opera winner Kinnaird, dam of seven winners, including the Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) winner Berkshire.

The colt was sold by Plantation Stud, who purchased the mare here in utero at the Mare's Sale in 2022 for 255,000gns. She was covered by Kingman this spring. (18:08)

"The plan is to come back to Book 1 next year, hopefully he fits the profile and stays in one piece. It is a nice young family and, hopefully, by then the Wootton Bassett will be some addition."

The last named, the first foal out of Tango, was bought by Godolphin for 450,000gns at October Book 1.

Tango was purchased at the December Mares Sale for 300,000gns in 2021 by BBA Ireland. (17:36)

Kelly Thomas of Maywood Stud was quickly back at the colt's box with her team and she said: "We bred the dam [Mosa Mine] – we sold her as a yearling and bought her back for very little money.

"I have just had faith in the family for a long time and just felt that something had to come through at some stage. They are just too determined, that will to win and have their heads in front. This colt even has to have his head in front at feed time, the other foals can come second to him all the time; he just has that competitive nature. It is the important thing you need in a racehorse."

Of today's sale and the year she has enjoyed watching Vandeek strut his stuff in Group 1 races, she said: "We kinda thought that was the figure we could get. I wish we could replay it all again – while you are there [in the ring] you are a bit like a rabbit in the headlights, it is a bit overwhelming.

"In fact, the whole year has been a bit overwhelming, there is almost more to worry about now. As much as we are happy about it, you want to get to the next stage, and we had this colt at home and we'd wake up every morning and hope that he is one piece and that we are still going to be able to bring and present him for sale."

Mosa Mine is not in-foal, but Thomas mentioned that a return journey to Whitsbury would not be out of the question.

Buyer MV Magnier said: "He is a lovely horse, and in fairness to Kelly Thomas and everyone they have done a great job with him. He is a half-brother to a very good horse, and I am just glad we can support the likes of the Thomas's and it is a great result for them. He has quality, is a good mover and he looks like he will be a fast early horse, and hopefully he will be." (17:18)