Two high-priced yearlings for Mayfair Speculators at Tatts

– Mayfair Speculators and Michael Vincent Magnier bought the top lot at Day 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1) on Wednesday. Markus Jooste’s racing company, run by Derek Brugman, also bought a high-priced yearling on Day 1.

The bay colt out of 2013 1000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern by Dubawi, was knocked down for 2,000,000 guineas – in stark contrast to his dam, a champion filly, who was bought as a yearling for £75,000.

“We are obviously delighted,” said Ed Sackville, manager for the Keswick family which owns Sky Lantern and breeder, through Rockcilffe Stud, of the colt.

“We have policy of selling the colts and keeping the fillies, and while we’d liked to have raced this horse ourselves, it is wonderful that he has sold so well. Sky Lantern

London

had a Dubawi colt this year and is in-foal to Frankel, so we’ve plenty to look forward to,” said Sackville.

Magnier said: “He is out of a brilliant racemare who was a champion two-year-old and who went on to win the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes and become a champion three-yearold. She was a very quick filly. We are all about finding the right horse.”

The colt was sold by Highclere Thoroughbreds, and is a sixth million+ lot sold by the farm, coming quickly after the sale of the Dubawi out of Silk Sarai on Wednesday for 1,300,000 guineas.

The world’s highest price for a yearling in 2017 was set the day before when a Dubawi colt realised 2,600,000 guineas.

He was one of four lots to realise in excess of a million guineas during the opening session that also featured the start of the Ballymacoll dispersal.

The fireworks started early when lot 13, the Dubawi colt out of the dual Group 1 winning filly Izzi Top, sold for 2,600,000 guineas – the highest price for a yearling anywhere in the world this year.

The Meon Valley-consigned colt was knocked down to Newmarket-based trainer Roger Varian after a prolonged bidding duel with the Godolphin trio of John Gosden, Anthony Stroud and David Loder who all stood together.

“He has been bought for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, owner of Dubawi and a keen supporter of the sire’s stock,” said Varian. “There are some very nice Dubawis here and this horse is very nice, a strong horse and a stand-out so early in the sale. He looks as though he will carry a bit of speed.”

The million guinea barrier was broken for the second time when lot 139, the Galileo sister to Group 1 winner Garswood, was knocked down to agent Peter Doyle for 1,600,000 guineas.

Consigned by “Flash” Conroy’s Glenvale Stud, the daughter of the Kyllachy mare Penchant was secured by Doyle despite a determined effort from agent Hubie de Burgh.

Doyle, who was stood alongside Mayfair Speculators’ Derek Brugman and John Koster, secured the filly on behalf of a partnership between Mayfair Speculators and Magnier.

“She is a strong filly,” said Doyle. “We’ve missed on a few earlier today, but she more than makes up for it – she is gorgeous. She goes into training with Aidan O’Brien.” –