A Mohaather colt and Bated Breath filly top the first day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale

Two lots sold for 80,000gns on day one of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale on Wednesday. The first of these came when a Cairsbrooke Stud-consigned daughter of Bated Breath (Dansili) was bought by Blandford Bloodstock and Wardley Bloodstock. 

"She has been bought for stud owner Rupert Gregson-Williams who has a lovely farm in Surrey, an establishing and growing farm," said Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Goff. 

"She is a beautiful filly from a very good farm and with a lovely back pedigree. She has loads of class and quality, a good body and good movement. She could race or could come back here next year. We will see how she progresses through the year."

The filly is the second foal out of the winning Shamardal (Giant's Causeway) mare Naqaawa who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Shaqira (Redoute's Choice). 

The mare was bought by Cairsbrooke Stud's Yvonne Jacques and Brian Grassick Bloodstock's Cathy Grassick for 180,000 guineas at the 2018 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. 

"She is by Bated Breath and I am breathless," said Jacques. "The Shamardal/Danehill cross has worked really well, Hello Youmzain is bred on a similar cross, and it was important to give the mare a solid start with a proven horse. She went to Showcasing first time and that yearling is with Andy Oliver." 

She added: "She is a beautiful mare. I would love to keep all my stock but it is not practical so we try and sell a few foals. The mare is not in-foal but is going to Dark Angel this spring." 

The Juddmonte Farm-based Bated Breath was the day's leading sire by average with four lots selling for 149,000gns, averaging 37,250gns.

Mohaather colt bought by Joe Foley
Later in the day the second 80,000gns lot came when Joe Foley bought the colt by Mohaather (Showcasing) out of Lady Freyja (Mayson). The colt is the third colt out of the winning Mayson (Invincible Spirit) mare who is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Party Boss (Silver Patriarch). 

"He looks a weapon," said delighted purchaser Foley. "He looks a lot like his grandsire Showcasing and is a really good example. He is a lovely colt and the mother was good. She was rated 90 and was useful. We bought a Ribchester filly from the same family here in October. I underbid Mohaather as yearling - he was a really high class racehorse and we were very keen to buy one by him." 

Of future plans, Foley added: "He looks like a racehorse and we will try and make him a racehorse - when he was getting to 40 to 50,000 guineas he started to get into racing money!" 

Mohaather will stand his third season for a fee of £15,000 at Shadwell's Nunnery Stud next year. 

Another first crop sire to the fore as @BrookStud's Mohaather colt is bought by @JoeFoleyBally for 80,000gns at the #TattsDecember Foal Sale. pic.twitter.com/AHf2a5l2OP

— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) November 23, 2022

Figures rise
The figures finished up compared to last year with 189 of the 270 lots offered selling for 2,128,300gns, up 19 per cent from a year ago when 171 lots sold. The average rose eight per cent to 16,552gns and the median was up 30 per cent to 13,000gns. The clearance however fell from 84 per cent last year to 70 per cent. 

Glenvale Stud was the day's leading buyer having bought three lots for 152,000gns. Barton Stud sold 13 lots for 251,500gns at an average of 19,346gns to be the leading vendor by aggregate, with Selwood Bloodstock the leading vendor by average selling six lots at an average of 34,000gns.