Kodiac Filly Tops Tattersalls December Yearling Sale

The Kodiac (GB) half sister to the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner Barney Roy topped the Tattersalls December yearling sale Nov. 27 at 400,000 guineas ($559,944).

The one-day sale saw a total of 10 lots sell for 100,000 guineas or more, up from seven last year. Turnover was 4,271,500 guineas ($5,985,970) for 124 sold, while the average and median were 34,448 guineas ($48,274) and 25,000 guineas ($35,000), respectively.

Cataloged as Lot 162, the Kodiac filly out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Alina (IRE) became the second highest price recorded at the December yearling sale when she was purchased for 400,000 guineas by David Redvers. Consigned by Adrian O'Brien's Hazelwood Bloodstock, the filly also caught the interest of SackvilleDonald's Alastair Donald, but it was Redvers who secured her on behalf of Qatar Racing's Sheikh Fahad.

"Her page speaks for her, but she looks a very uncomplicated, straightforward filly," Redvers said.

"She is out of a young exciting mare and her sire Kodiac does no harm either. Sheikh Fahad will decide where she goes into training."

The filly's price is second only to the 700,000 guineas ($1,392,678) that subsequent Darley Irish Oaks (G1) heroine Moonstone (GB) brought at the sale in 2006.

"We are obviously thrilled and special mention must go to the Irish National Stud, who foaled and raised her, and also to my team at home who have done a fabulous job," Hazelwood Bloodstock's Adrian O'Brien said of the sale-topping filly. "She was bred by Sun Bloodstock and the decision to sell was made this autumn." 

Alina was purchased at the 2013 Tattersalls December mare sale for 65,000 guineas ($111,623) by Eliza Park International carrying Barney Roy in utero.

Lot 154, a Sea The Stars filly out of the group winning Green Tune mare Green Minstrel (FR), recorded the second highest price for the day when she was knocked down to bloodstock agent Mark McStay for 160,000 guineas ($223,978). The Grove Stud-consigned filly is a half sister to the Jaguar Cars Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) winner Rosdhu Queen who sold for 2.1 million guineas ($3,606,278) at the Tattersalls December sale in 2013 to Stephen Hillen Bloodstock.

"She is for an Irish client. She is by a fabulous stallion, has a great page, and she speaks for herself," McStay said. 

Japanese-based owners DMM.com made a big splash at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale when they purchased a Frankel filly out of Steel Princess for 1.4 million guineas ($1,946,133) and they made their second visit to Park Paddocks a successful one, securing Lot 164 for 150,000 guineas ($209,979).

DMM.com representative Yohann Gainche did the bidding for the Dawn Approach half brother to Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) winner Trading Leather, consigned by Liam and Jenny Norris' Norris Bloodstock. The sale represented an impressive return for his owners who purchased him for 70,000 guineas ($91,515) at last year's Tattersalls December foal sale.

"We thought there would be good opportunities to buy at the December sale. He will go to Japan," Gainche said.

Progeny of Irish Derby and Investec Derby (G1) winner Australia have been in great demand throughout the yearling sales this fall and Lot 124, a colt out of the listed stakes-winning Acclamation (GB) mare Sweepstake proved no exception. Consigned by Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud, the colt was knocked down to M.V. Magnier for 150,000 guineas ($209,979) after he withstood a determined effort by agent Stephen Hillen. 

"He is a very nice horse and comes from a very good breeder and nursery in Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud," Magnier said. "Let's hope he is as good as some of those we've bought from the farm in the past—we're just glad to get such a lovely horse."

That list of Croom House consigned group 1 winners that were raced by Coolmore include Maybe, Zoffany, and Damson.

The four-day Tattersalls December foal sale begins Nov. 29.