There were fireworks on the opening day of the Tattersalls February Sale with Thetis and Smoulder setting a new sale record when selling for 550,000 guineas apiece.
Turnover on the day was 3,992,650 guineas for the 145 lots sold, at an average of 27,536 guineas and a median of 5,500 guineas.
Smoulder – Lot 150
The first of the sale-topping pair to come into the ring was Thetis who was offered as the final part of the Ballymacoll Stud Dispersal after missing her December Sale date. The Gr2 Rockfel Stakes runner-up is a half-sister to the Group 3 Musidora Stakes winner Liber Nauticus and was offered with her recently-born Lope De Vega filly foal at foot. The daughter of Invincible Spirit got the attention of many but it was John McCormack who secured the five-year-old for 550,000 guineas at the expense of agent Stephen Hillen.
That price was matched the very next lot when Smoulder, the Redoute’s Choice half-sister to 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo, was knocked down to Lordship Stud’s Tom Harris for 550,000 guineas. Underbidders on the four-year-old filly included Bertrand Le Metayer, Stephen Hillen and Chris Richardson but it was Harris who was to prove triumphant.
Smoulder is out of the Montjeu mare Yummy Mummy, a half-sister to the five-time Gr1 winner Fame And Glory, and was raced by Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor as well as Markus Jooste.
The third horse to break last year’s record price of 500,000 guineas was the Listed winner Key To My Heart who was knocked down to BBA Ireland’s Eamonn Reilly for 525,000 guineas. Raced by the same Coolmore/Jooste partnership as Smoulder, the daughter of Galileo out of the Gr1 Frizzette Stakes winner A Z Warrior was secured by Reilly for 525,000 guineas after he saw off Cathy Grassick, sat with owner-breeder Yvonne Jacques.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Key To My Heart was a two-time winner at three, including once at Listed level in the Naas Oaks Trial.
The third highest price of the four fillies to race for the Coolmore/Jooste partnership was Pocketfullofdreams who sold for 475,000 guineas to the bid of Stephen Hillen. Listed placed in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, the daughter of Invincible Spirit is a half-sister to the Gr2 Prix de Royallieu winner The Juliet Rose.
The fourth of the Coolmore/Jooste fillies to be offered was Longing, the Galileo half-sister to Group 3 winner Ladys First , who was purchased by Cormac McCormack for 220,000 guineas.
The Tattersalls February Sale continues today.
