Starman Filly Tops Opening Day of Tattersalls Sale

A filly from the first crop of group 1 July Cup Stakes winner Starman  topped the opening session of the two-day Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale at 100,000 guineas (US$138,035; US$1=0.724gns). Turnover on the opening day topped 4 million gns for the 161 yearlings sold.

Bloodstock agent Richard Ryan, buying on behalf of Teme Valley Racing, signed the ticket on Lot 154 to secure the well-related filly out of the Makfi  mare Get Up And Dance, consigned by Tally-Ho Stud.

"She is a lovely filly, the mare is proven and she will be the first Teme Valley horse with Karl Burke," said Ryan. "I have been looking for a nice horse for Karl for some time and she fits all the criteria—she is out of a proven mare and is a half sister to a Palace House winner. Karl trained the half sister Boogie Time and felt this was a step up as an individual, she has a great mind and a lot to like with a fabulous walk. I like the sire, and I quite like them as a bunch, and I think he has got every chance."

Ryan continued: "A good model and a half sister to a stakes winner is going to cost this sort of money, I was hoping for a bit less. We will race her and she might be in the shop window in the future, but she has a great residual value which helps." 

As well as being the dam of the group 3 Palace House Stakes winner Seven Questions , Get Up And Dance is also a half sister to the group 2 Temple Stakes winner and group 1-placed Pearl Secret  from the family of dual group 1-winning 2-year-old Dutch Art .

Sands of Mali  has had an exciting start to his stallion career with three black-type performers so far this year from his first crop including the group 2 Lowther Stakes second Time For Sandals  and the listed Windsor Castle Stakes winner Ain't Nobody . His son out of the Kodiac  mare Island Drive was the highest-priced colt on the first day of the Somerville Yearling Sale when selling to Clive Cox for 85,000 gns.

"I liked him when I saw him and I liked him even more when he came into the ring, he showed himself off really well," said Cox after buying the Barton Stud-consigned colt.

"He is out of a Kodiac mare and although I have not yet had any by the sire, I remember him running well and often against Harry Angel. He has been bought for an owner, which needs a call to confirm." said Cox. "There is plenty of stock around, and it is being able to pick and buy the ones you are pleased to take home, and this fella certainly fits the bill."

The March-foaled colt's dam is out of the dual group 3 winner Redstone Dancer  from the family of Rainbow Quest . 

The Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale continues Sept. 3. at 10 a.m.