Tattersalls session topper goes to Coolmore

A daughter of Galileo (Ire) starred on the opening day of Tattersalls' Book 1

October Yearling Sale in Newmarket Tuesday afternoon, selling to Coolmore

supremo John Magnier for 1.2 million guineas. Out of Alluring Park (Green

Desert), a half-sister to Galileo's 2008 Epsom Derby hero New Approach, she was,

like that colt, bred and consigned from Seamus Burns' Lodge Park Stud.

Bidding was kicked off for the filly by Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers

Bloodstock and he soon faced another determined opponent in Charlie

Gordon-Watson. Magnier entered the fray at 875,000 guineas and he eventually

relegated Pritchard-Gordon to the role of underbidder.

"Her pedigree is there for all to see, it's a great page and her sire needs

no introduction," Coolmore's Demi O'Byrne said. "She's for the usual partnership

(including Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith), and I'm sure it's likely

that she'll be going to (trainer Aidan O'Brien at) Ballydoyle." 

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum was at the sale in person and his racing manager

Angus Gold was busy adding to Shadwell's 2011 juvenile team. Leading Shadwell's

purchases was a Nayef half-brother to Fillies' Mile (Eng-G1) second Fantasia

(GB) (Sadler's Wells), bred by Fittocks Stud and consigned from Highclere Stud.

The colt had a 525,000 guineas price tag by the time Gold, taking instructions

by telephone, won a duel with Magnier.

"He's by a horse that is close to Sheikh Hamdan and we still very much

believe in him," Gold said of Nayef. "The mare has bred a top seven-furlong and

mile filly by Sadler's Wells, so hopefully he should bring a bit of speed in the

family. To be honest, I didn't think he would make quite that. I thought maybe

250,000 guineas to 300,000 guineas, but they valued him that highly, too."

Dubai-based Scotsman Dr. Jim Hay, who won Saturday's Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2)

with the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Redding Colliery (Mineshaft), saw off Sir

Robert Ogden for a 410,000-guineas Galileo colt sold from John and Lady Carolyn

Warren's Highclere Stud.

"We got seven last week at Goffs and this is the third we've got today," Hay

said. "There are a lot of nice horses here and I've not seen a catalog like this

for a while. This was lovely colt with a great walk to him and he will go to

Paul Cole."

Hay has 35 horses in training. His business interests include a lifestyle

company in England.

"The racing is part of that business. A lot of our clients are involved in

racing," he added.

Turnover for the day fell by 11 percent to 14,921,000 guineas, while the

66,000 guineas median was down 18 percent. The average dropped by 8 percent to

102,199 guineas.

The three-day sale continues Wednesday.