Tattersalls December set to begin

There was an air of realism in a wintry Newmarket Sunday ahead of

Tattersalls' marathon December Sale, which gets underway Monday morning with a

day of yearlings. These are followed from Tuesday through Saturday with six days

of foals, with the best offerings appearing towards the end of the week.

"The economic climate is very different to this time last year, but the

markets at Tattersalls this autumn for horses in training and yearlings have

proved very resilient," Tattersalls Marketing Director Jimmy George said. "The

response to the December catalogues has been very positive with a lot of

interest from the principal overseas markets and obviously the weakness of

sterling against the major international currencies should also benefit the

sale."

There are 237 lots catalogued in today's yearling segment (the smallest

number since 2001 and 44 fewer than last year), where successful recent

graduates range from one end of the price spectrum -- star Hungarian sprinter

Overdose (Starborough), who cost 2,000 guineas -- to the other, Irish Oaks

(Ire-G1) heroine Moonstone, a 700,000 guineas yearling.

"It's a strong catalog with the added bonus of having 19 yearlings eligible

for the £2.5 million Tattersalls Millions next year," George added. "Recent

graduates include Nahoodh (Clodovil), Moonstone and one of the outstanding buys

in recent years in the unbeaten Overdose. It should give plenty of encouragement

to buyers at all levels of the market."

A full sister to this year's One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) heroine Natagora

will no doubt hog the limelight at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, but there

is one other youngster by Divine Light that is likely to draw more than a second

glance from buyers. Lot 1056 is the sole offering from The Elms Stud, acting on

behalf of French owner Yves Elliot. The bay filly's page received a recent boost

when her dam's half-sister, Lady Deauville (Fasliyev), landed a German Group 3

to complement a quintet of listed victories. The filly is the first produce of

the Poliglote mare Policalle, who is also a half-sister to Japanese Group 1

winner Fabulous La Fouine (Fabulous Dancer) out of the European champion

Mercalle (Kaldoun).

French bloodstock agent Guy Petit, acting for Elliot, purchased Policalle for

€80,000 at Deauville in December last year. The mare was sent to The Elms Stud,

which consigned Magical Romance (Barathea [Ire]) to make a record 4.6 million

guineas at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2006.

"Guy Petit bought Policalle in France and she was sent to us," said Stephen

Kemble, who manages the Northamptonshire Stud with his wife Louise. "We got her

in foal to Shamardal and also foaled her Divine Light filly. The mare went back

to France and the foal was deemed to be a good foal, which she is, so remained

here to be put through the sale. I think she is an interesting individual,

particularly with Lady Deauville gaining a Group 3 win recently. She is a very

nice type, she is correct, a good size and strong."

This year's catalog includes several youngsters who have made sizeable prices

on previous auction ring appearances. Lot 172, a Sinndar half-sister to 2002

E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) runner-up Alasha (Ire) (Barathea [Ire]), made €280,000

at the Goffs Million Sale earlier this year, while Lot 183 -- a Galileo (Ire)

colt -- realized €260,000 at the same event when offered by Kennycourt Stud.

There are 1,261 foals catalogued, 134 fewer than last year's record number.