Oasis Dream colt tops Tattersalls

Trade stepped up a level at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in Newmarket

on Thursday with John Ferguson stealing the show when spending 400,000 guineas on a

colt by Oasis Dream (GB) out of King's Stand S. (Eng-G2) winner

Dominica (Alhaarth). Consigned by Stowell Hill Stud, Lot No. 1013, who

was purchased as a racing prospect for Sheikh Mohammed, was bred by Bob McCreery

in partnership with Bobby and Helen Kennard.

Among the underbidders on the colt

were Gay O'Callaghan; Paul McCartan of Croom House Stud; Charlie Vigors and

Timmy Hyde; Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Oasis Dream's owner/breeder

Khalid Abdulla; and finally BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicoll.

"He's an outstanding

individual by a proven sire out of a mare that won the King's Stand S.," said

Ferguson. "It's developing into a really classy speed family."

McCreery's

Stowell Hill Stud enjoyed a vintage day, also seeking a 200,000gns colt by

Dansili (GB) out of Bandanna (Bandmaster). Purchased on behalf of breeder Rosanne

Dobson, the colt is a half-brother to Gary Moore's winning juvenile Art Sale

(Compton Place). Pinhooker Willie Browne fought off Paul McCartan, manager

of Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud, for Lot 1010.

"That's the most I've ever

given for a foal, but he was a beautiful horse," Browne explained. "He'll come

back here, and I think with the way the economy is going, you are going to be

safer with the dearer horses because the big money is never really dangerous,

the middle-to-bottom end is going to be much riskier."

Lot 1065, a 125,000gns

full-brother to promising juvenile Oarsman by Selkirk out of Felucca

(Green Desert) will be reoffered from Brendan Holland's Co. Cork-based Grove Stud next

year.

"He's got a good pedigree and is a horse with a lot of quality and the

full-brother looks very promising," said Holland. "He's the fourth I've got here

and if I can get another couple that will do for me, I also got six in America

and one at Goffs last week."

Heading the fillies was Lot 1067, a daughter of

first crop sire Oratorio (Ire) out of Sewards Folly (Rudimentary) who is a half-sister to

Cornwallis S. (Eng-G2) winner Hunter Street (GB) (Compton Place). Bred by Crandon Park

Stud, the filly sold for 130,000gns to a client of Emerald Bloodstock's Brendan

Gallagher.

The sale continues Thursday. For complete results please visit

www.tattersalls.com.