Dubawi, Galileo Colts to Headline Tattersalls December

Colts by Dubawi and Galileo will take center stage Nov. 25 at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, with 170 or so lots to be offered.

Hazelwood Bloodstock enjoyed spectacular results at this year's October Yearling Sale and will present a Dubawi colt out of the Gain Irish St. Leger Trial Ballycullen Stakes (G1) heroine Voleuse de Coeurs, consigned as Lot 35.

"He's obviously a very well-bred horse out of a classic winner," said Adrian O'Brien from the Exning-based operation. "He's a beautifully balanced horse, a great mover, and we're hoping for the best."

Bred by Sun Kingdom, the April-born youngster has an unraced 2-year-old full sister named Late Romance, and Voleuse de Coeurs paid a visit to National Defense at the Irish National Stud this year. 

Hazelwood Bloodstock had a week to remember in October when selling the Book 1 top lot—a Dubawi half brother to Barney Roy—for 3.6 million guineas (US$4,645,966) to Godolphin.

The leading consignor also sold a Kingman colt to M.V. Magnier for 1.8 million guineas. 

Buyers are advised to arrive on time, with the Galileo colt out of Berry Brothers & Rudd Prestige Stakes (G3) scorer Sent From Heaven (Lot 4) to be led into the ring early in the session. 

Bred by Christopher Hanbury, the May-foaled youngster is bred on the same Galileo-Footstepsinthesand cross as Betway Pinnacle Stakes (G3) scorer Klassique, whose dam is the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes (G1) heroine Chachamaidee. 

"The Galileo is a nice colt," said Peter Stanley, stud manager of New England Stud.

"He was going to be sold in Ireland, but he picked up a minor injury—he got cast and cut a leg—but he's absolutely fine again and so it's full steam ahead with him for this sale.

"His 3-year-old Australia half brother Almania is a lovely looking horse and has threatened to be very useful, and Sent From Heaven is back in foal to Australia."

The Galileo colt is one of three lots consigned by New England Stud and will be followed into the ring later in the session by a Charm Spirit colt out of the winning Danehill Dancer mare Cloud Line (Lot 79).

Bred by Lael Stables, the February-foaled colt has some notable names in his pedigree, with Cloud Line a half sister to group 3 winner Enticing, whose daughter One Master won the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) for the second year in a row in October. 

They in turn are out of Superstar Leo, the champion 2-year-old filly in Europe of 2000 who was famously bred in partnership by Lester Piggott.

"The Charm Spirit colt has a nice pedigree as well," Stanley said. "Cold Front, his 2-year-old half brother by Lope de Vega, looks very good, and William Haggas is bullish that he's a group horse for next year.

"Lael Stables have been great supporters over the years. We bred One Master for them, and they've had a lot of good horses.

"Cloud Line has an outstanding Showcasing foal and returns to him next year because of that."

The last of the trio is the Bated Breath filly out of the winning Oasis Dream mare Dream Wild (Lot 87). 

The April-foaled youngster hails from a decorated Juddmonte family as a granddaughter of 1999 Sagitta One Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Wince, who produced three black-type performers led by the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks (G1) heroine Quiff. 

"The Bated Breath is a very racy, athletic filly," Stanley said. "The sire is flying at the moment and had six group winners this year. We put this filly in the sale off the back of that. Dream Wild also has a lovely foal by Postponed."

Among the other standout yearlings is Corduff Stud's Dark Angel full brother to young sire Lethal Force (Lot 145), whose wins in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) and Darley July Cup (G1) led him to be crowned the champion older sprinter in Europe in 2013.

Castledillon Stud will present a Vadamos half brother to the talented sprinters Unfortunately and Look Busy (Lot 30) who is sure to attract plenty of interest from buyers. 

Brook Stud, meanwhile, will offer an Australia filly out of the group 3-winning Danehill Dancer mare Chrysanthemum (Lot 75), whose two runners to date have both won, including the Sandown Bet365 Classic Trial (G3) winner Cunco.

High-profile offerings such as the colts by Dubawi and Galileo are not unusual for the December Yearling Sale. 

When the late Sea of Class was led through the ring in 2016, the Sea The Stars filly was already a half sister to three winners of the Italian Oaks (G2) in Charity Line, Cherry Collect, and Final Score, and she duly caught the eye of Johnny McKeever at 170,000 guineas ($220,377). 

Other future talents to emerge from the auction include Prix d'Ispahan (G1) winner Zabeel Prince and 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) scorer Royal Dornoch. 

Last year's December Yearling Sale, the fifth consecutive edition with over 4 million guineas in total sales, benefited from strong trade, with a record average of 35,600 guineas and a healthy median price of 21,500 guineas. 

"The December Yearling Sale is a consistent source of top-class performers," Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said.

"The vast majority of the leading British and Irish sires have yearlings cataloged, and owners and trainers will undoubtedly be drawn towards the large number of yearlings qualified for lucrative Tattersalls bonuses or valuable sales races."