Tattersalls December breeding stock kicks off Monday

A roaring foal trade has given confidence to many ahead of the breeding stock

section of the Tattersalls December Sale, which gets underway in Newmarket on

Monday.

With just 981 lots listed, this is the smallest December breeding stock

catalog since 1993 and, despite the absence of some of the high-profile

dispersals seen at recent renewals of the sale, there should be strong

competition for the best lots.

Many of the week's highlights are expected to come from fillies who still

have or have recently finished on the track. These include a duo from Mick

Channon's stable -- last month's E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) winner LAHALEEB (Ire) (Redback),

offered as Lot No. 1424, and Premio Lydia Tesio (Ity-G1) heroine EVA'S REQUEST

(Soviet Star), who sells as Lot 1710.

"Lahleeb has got another good year or two in her if they want to race her,

but if it is decided that she goes to stud, well she can do either," Channon

remarked. "She's from a good family. She was very good in the Irish One Thousand

Guineas and it was unfortunate that the ground was too firm in the English One

Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1). We should have learnt our lesson after Newmarket, but

we ran on fast ground again, which we shouldn't have, but you run them for big

money and you have a go. She came right again at the backend in the E.P. Taylor

S., and now we will see how she gets on at the sales.

"The owners are coming over from Kuwait, so I will see them there. I would

have thought they would want a good price for her, they certainly will not let

her go cheap."

Eva's Request was bred by Ballylinch Stud and the County Kilkenny farm is

consigning 2006 Canadian Horse of the Year ARRAVALE (Arch) on behalf of Robert

Costigan and family as Lot 1532. The winner of both the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and

E.P. Taylor, she is offered with a Pivotal covering. Trainer Jim Bolger's draft

should provide further highlights. Three-time Group 1 winner LUSH LASHES

(Galileo [Ire]) is Lot 1389 and she will be followed into the ring by Lot 1390,

Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) third OH GOODNESS ME (Galileo [Ire]).

"I have a partner in Lush Lashes and my partner isn't interested in breeding,

so she has to be sold," Bolger revealed. "She was champion Irish filly at a

mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, so her class is there for all

to see. She is also the only horse in the world to win a race worth a million

first time out."

In what should be a lively hour near the close of play, Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1)

third HIGH HEELED (High Chaparral [Ire]), who most recently won the St. Simon S.

(Eng-G3) by six lengths, is offered by owners Steven and Karen Jenkins from

Barry Hillsable as Lot 1403. Shortly afterward the four-year-old SAN SICHARIA

(Daggers Drawn), Lot 1411, can be expected to show an advance on the 165,000

guineas she cost owner Paddy Twomey at the same sale 12 months ago. She has gone

on to win this season's Chartwell S. (Eng-G3) at Lingfield while her

half-brother Spin Cycle (Exceed and Excel) is now a listed winner.

Lot 1419, THE MINIVER ROSE (High Chaparral [Ire]), heads from Richard

Hannon's stable as the winner of this season's Park Hill S. (Eng-G2). Stablemate

PENNY'S GIFT (Tobougg [Ire]), Lot 1416, won this season's German One Thousand

Guineas (Ger-G2).

Lot 1613, SONG (Sadler's Wells), has never raced but the three-year-old, who

was covered by Danehill Dancer in April, can be expected to realize a serious

amount when offered from Mary-Ann Penfold's Bugley Stud for Premier Bloodstock.

She is a full-sister to five black-type performers, including Irish One Thousand

Guineas (Ire-G1) winner Yesterday (Sadler's Wells) as well as three-times

classic-placed and Group 1 winner Quarter Moon (Ire), dam of this season's

Fillies Mile (Eng-G1) third You'll Be Mine (Kingmambo). Song's only female

sibling to be previously offered at auction, Because (Ire) (Sadler's Wells),

sold for $2.8 million at Keeneland November in 2006.

The proven mares include Lot 1676, the 11-year-old Group 2 winner

INDEPENDENCE (Selkirk), who is among Raven's Pass's first book of mares. She is

the dam of Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) and Criterium International (Fr-G1) winner Mount

Nelson (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and this season's Great Voltigeur S.

(Eng-G2) scorer and St Leger (Eng-G1) third Monitor Closely (Oasis Dream [GB]).

She is offered for Philip Freedman's Cliveden Stud from Kiltinan Castle Stud.

The first book of mares from Duke of Marmalade (Ire) includes LASTING CHANCE

(American Chance), the dam of recent Hong Kong International Cup Trial (HK-G2)

winner Collection (Peintre Celebre). Hailing from the consignment of Peter

Savill from his Ballykilbride Stud, she is offered as Lot 1730. Lot 1366, Aidan

O'Brien's 2008 Cheshire Oaks winner SAIL (Sadler's Wells) and a sibling to three

other black-type winners, is another from Duke of Marmalade's first book.

Lot 1586, Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) winner ASK FOR THE MOON (Fr) (Dr Fong), is

the dam of last week's 400,000gns December Foal Sale top lot, a Galileo (Ire)

colt bought by Demi O'Byrne. Ask for the Moon, who was covered by Holy Roman

Emperor, is offered from James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud.

Offerings from the Niarchos Family's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard always have

a big following, and this year's pick could be Lot 1384, four-year-old

STRAWBERRY FLEDGE (Kingmambo), who is offered in foal to Pivotal. She is a full

sister to Epsom Oaks winner Light Shift.

"Our 2009 sales have, almost without exception, exceeded expectations, which

has given the industry a real shot in the arm," Tattersalls Marketing Director

Jimmy George said. "We've got a good, solid catalog as ever this week, and the

sales paddocks have been very busy on Sunday with a real cross-section of buyers

from all over the world."

The sale runs Monday through Thursday.