Dalakhani filly is topper at Tattersalls

Demi O'Byrne, acting for Coolmore partners John Magnier, Michael Tabor and

Derrick Smith, set a record at Monday's Tattersalls December Yearling Sale in Newmarket, going to

700,000 guineas for a filly by Dalakhani.

Offered in the Britton

House Stud dispersal, the bay is a half-sister to Prix

Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) and to Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare

Turf (G1) second L'Ancresse (Ire).

"She was a very good mover and

quite like L'Ancresse to look at," O'Byrne said. "I'd be

disappointed if she's not a stakes winner and I'd say she'll more

than likely be going to Aidan O'Brien."

Grant Pritchard-Gordon,

accompanied by owner Paul Makin, went past 500,000gns, but

O'Byrne's final opposition came from agent Brian Grassick.

The

Coolmore agent earlier equaled the December Yearling Sale record

price of 360,000gns when buying a colt by Dalakhani out of Lurina (Lure) offered for Shirley

Taylor's W Lazy T Ranch from Brian Grassick's Newtown Stud.

"He was a great mover, a great looker and it's a very good pedigree," said

O'Byrne after outbidding trainer John Gosden. "The dam's by Lure and I loved

that."

After a roaring foal trade at Goffs last week, a strong market

is anticipated at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, which

begins Tuesday morning.

The sale has been expanded to

five days for the first time, with the catalog graded to improve as the week

progresses. The

dispersal from Roger Baines' nursery features a handful of

choicely bred foals selling Friday.

Lot 1247 is a Sadler's Wells

half-brother to Monday's 700,000gns topper, while Lot 1144, a Pivotal half-sister to Prix du Moulin

(Fr-G1) winner Grey Lilas, is

sure to appeal to those looking for a long-term breeding

prospect.

Top sires represented include Barathea (Ire), Danehill

Dancer, Dansili (GB), Elusive Quality, Fusaichi Pegasus,

Galileo (Ire), Giant's Causeway, Hennessy, Invincible Spirit, Johannesburg, Linamix, Montjeu (Ire), Mr. Greeley,

Peintre Celebre, Sadler's Wells, Selkirk and Tale of the Cat.

"The Tattersalls December Sale started on a high note with a record

yearling session and would hope that the momentum and strength of earlier

yearling sales will carry forward to the Foal Sale," Tattersalls Marketing Manager Jason Singh

said. "Vendors

have provided us with another quality catalog highlighted by

five foals that form part of the Britton House Stud dispersal and

we look forward to a brisk and lively trade."

The sale runs

through Saturday.