Danehill mare Sumora, the dam of G1 winner Maybe in foal to champion sire Galileo, topped the second session of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale at a staggering 2.4 million guineas on a day when turnover soared to near record levels.
The day recorded the third highest ever turnover in a session at any sale in European auction history and saw four lots sell for a million guineas or more.
A total of 160 lots were sold for 25,258,800 guineas, a rise of 31% on the corresponding session in 2010, recording a value that sits behind only the record-breaking sessions at the December Sale in 2006 and 2007.
The average rose 34% to 157,868 guineas and the median rose 10% to 55,000 guineas.
A packed sale-ring greeted the nine-year-old Sumora, who was consigned to the sale by Croom House Stud carrying a Galileo full-sibling to the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe.
The pedigree received a significant boost this year via her classic winning three-parts-sister Dancing Rain winning the G1 Epsom Oaks.
Despite significant opposition from Paul Makin and the Badgers Bloodstock team, Sumora was knocked down to MV Magnier for 2.4 million guineas and is the highest priced mare to be sold at the December Sale since 2007.
"She is a fantastic mare," said Magnier. "It is rare that a mare such as this comes onto the market, and we were hoping we would not have to go so far to buy her. She will visit Galileo again."
Japanese buyers were again to the fore when the Northern Farm party, headed by Shunsuke Yoshida bought the Highest Honour mare Reve D'Iman for 1.7 million guineas after seeing off the Coolmore pair of Paul Shanahan and MV Magnier.
The dam of the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Bethrah was consigned by Jockey Hall Stud on behalf of a London based partnership and was offered in foal to Montjeu.
Tony Nerses secured the Storm Cat mare Pearling for 1.3 million guineas on behalf of Derby winning owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar.
The five-year-old mare is a full-sister to the champion Giant's Causeway out of the great matriarch Mariah's Storm. She was consigned from Highclere Stud with a cover to Galileo.
Nerses purchased the mare for Blue Diamond Stud, which is owned by Al Homaizi and Al Sagar.
The top-priced filly for the day was the G1 Prix Vermeille second Testosterone who was knocked down to Charlie Gordon-Watson for 1.2 million guineas on behalf of Nurlan Bizakov of Hesmonds Stud.
The three-year-old filly is rated 117 by Timeform. The Group 2 winning daughter of Dansili will stay in training and go to Ed Dunlop.
