Buoyant trade on the third day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale was crowned by the sale of a Dubawi colt for 1,800,000 guineas, the equal second highest priced foal ever sold in Europe and the highest priced foal sold in Europe since 2002.
The DUBAWI colt out of MADONNA DELL’ORTO became the equal second highest priced foal ever sold in Europe when selling for 1,800,000 guineas to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin.
Stroud, who was bidding to the podium from outside the sale ring, was taken to the seven-figure sum by Coolmore Stud’s MV Magnier who was stood in the bidders’ area in the sale ring.
Lot 965: Dubawi (IRE) x Madonna Dell’Orto (GB)
Genesis Green Stud’s Michael Swinburn was leaning on the rail just below the Coolmore team during the protracted bidding duel and was visibly emotional when the hammer finally came down. After shaking hands with the underbidder and the successful purchaser he explained just why the sale had such personal ties to Genesis Green and the Swinburn family;
“I just wish Walter was here to see this, he owned the mare and had her in training. I Can Fly was the last one he knew and he was absolutely over the moon. “She is a mare that I always thought would suit Dubawi, the shape of her. When I Can Fly came up I approached Liam O’Rourke at Darley and asked what was the chances of a foal share to Dubawi, and he said he would be delighted to have her. She is just a pure vessel of a mare, anything she has produced has been a good version of the stallion. She hasn’t had any foal the same as the other one – she just throws to the stallion and throws a good version of him.”
He added: “It is so hard to get one that is nice, to get it through x-rays, through scopes. I just hope he comes up lucky for Sheikh Mohammed. I have loved the stallion since his early days, I am happy for everyone at the farm, the lads are so loyal and it is a big effort.”
Swinburn recounted the rocky start to the investment into the family;
“I bought the granddam Sabria at a September Sale here years ago with Oliver St Lawrence, I went home and went into the kitchen and Mum and Dad must have got wind of it that I had bought a mare – it caused an outcry! Walter bailed me out at 25,000 guineas and we have had the family ever since, it has been fantastic for us – it has probably built Genesis Green.”
SABRIA is the dam of Gr1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner LANDSEER and the great granddam of Japanese Gr1 winner MICKI ROCKET. Her daughter MADONNA DELL’ORTO is the dam of Gr2 Solonaway Stakes winner and multiple Gr1 placed I CAN FLY and the Listed winner and Group placed VISCOUNT BARFIELD.
Purchaser Anthony Stroud commented;
“I didn’t think we’d have to go that far but he is a lovely horse, he is well bred and from a great farm. He is by Dubawi, who had such a wonderful Breeders’ Cup, and the boss said go for it. Huge respect to the underbidders, and we are very lucky to have the horse. As long as he is a good racehorse, that is all that matters.”
