Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estates dominated the one-day December Yearling Sale when buying the top two lots and three of the seven to break the six-figure barrier. The 142 lots sold realised a total of 4,091,400 guineas at an average of 28,813 guineas and a median of 20,000 guineas.

The day’s sale-topper was lot 175, the NEW APPROACH half-brother to the Group 2 Dante Stakes winner BONFIRE and the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes winner JOVIALITY. Out of the NIGHT SHIFT mare NIGHT FROLIC, the colt consigned by Highclere Stud was knocked down to Mark Johnston on behalf of Shadwell after he saw off the determined efforts of Bill Dwan and Amanda Skiffington.

"He's for Shadwell and I'll train," said Johnston. Asked if he'd picked him out, he replied: "Yes, although I don't think it was that difficult!"

Shadwell were also responsible for the top priced filly for the day when trainer Simon Crisford secured lot 137, the SEA THE STARS filly out of the RAHY mare EDARAAT, for 170,000 guineas. The filly, who was consigned by Barouche Stud, is a grand-daughter of the Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner MEHTHAAF who raced for Sheikh Hamdan. The sale represented a great pinhooking return for her owners who bought her for 75,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale last year.

"She is a lovely filly with a great page - delighted to have bought her," said Crisford.


BBA Ireland’s Patrick Cooper secured lot 179, the bay colt by Lanwades Stud’s ARCHIPENKO out of the GALILEO mare ALMIRANTA for 115,000 guineas. The Staffordstown consigned colt is from one of Kirsten Rausing’s best families, with the third dam ALBORADA the Champion 3YO filly in Ireland in 1998 and twice a winner of the Group 1 Champion Stakes for trainer Sir Mark Prescott.

"He'll be trained by Jessica Harrington," said Cooper. "I saw him on the farm before the sale and liked him. It's a very good family - the half-sister, Alea Iacta, is good and I'm told the two-year-old, Alyssa, is also good."

Three lots later the SHAMARDAL colt out of the Listed winning POLISH PRECEDENT mare ASTROLOGIE was knocked down to Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock’s Will Douglass for 115,000 guineas. The Haras du Mezeray-consigned colt was bought on behalf of Newmarket trainer Charlie Fellowes and hails from the family of the Champion MTOTO and the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club winner BLUE CANARI.

The five-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale begins at 2pm on Tuesday, November 23.