Dubawi son of Irish Leger winner proves hard to ignore at December Yearling Sale

Even with Warren Hill as a backdrop, the heart of the Flat season has rarely felt further away than on a wintry afternoon without even a fleeting glimpse of sunshine. Despite some attractive lots in the catalogue, buyers at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale could have been forgiven for lacking a little inspiration.

Some pedigrees, of course, are just too good to ignore, and it was the sole offering by Dubawi out of the Irish St Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs (lot 35) who climbed to the top of the standings at the conclusion of the one-day event.

Although his final purchase price of 200,000gns is dwarfed by several others recently consigned by Hazelwood Bloodstock, such as the same sire’s half-brother to Barney Roy who topped October Book 1 at 3,600,000gns, it was a high enough figure to put the name of Adrian and Philippa O’Brien’s operation up in lights again.

View December Sale results here

Hazelwood had sold a full-sister, now named Late Romance, for 500,000gns last year.

This colt represents more of a transfer of ownership as he was knocked down to Australian David O’Callaghan of Sun Bloodstock, the Hong Kong-owned entity formerly known as Eliza Park International, with Anthony Stroud having shown interest as bidding increased.

Voleuse De Coeurs had bolted up in the 2013 Curragh Classic in the colours of Lady O’Reilly before moving under the Sun banner for an ultimately fruitless attempt at the Melbourne Cup.

The well-made bay will now make the short journey across town to David Simcock’s Trillium Place stable.

"We’ve bought out the partnership," said O’Callaghan. "They raced the mare as well, and have a few in training with David, including in partnership with Qatar Racing.

"There's Mohican Heights (winner of the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury), he's an Australia colt who looks quite good, and there's Tiger Crusade, the No Nay Never who won at Yarmouth.

"She was a very good mare and I can see a lot of her in him, maybe more so than Dubawi. He had just been held up a bit and so hadn't sold earlier this autumn.

"This colt is a good mover and looks as though he will need some time, but that’s fine, we can give him time. You'd be thinking mid-range three-year-old."

Johnston takes his chance

Not much gets past the eyes and super-charged iPad of trainer Mark Johnston, who has continued his inexorable march through the record books assisted by countless of his own purchases.

Mark Johnston was delighted to secure the only Galileo for 80,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

As much through curiosity as determination, the trainer followed lot four into the ring and was fairly astonished to have landed the colt for 80,000gns, given that he was the only Galileo in the catalogue.

Offered by New England Stud and bred by Christopher Hanbury, he was another to have missed an earlier engagement due to a slight setback but has a faultless background as a son of Group 3 Prestige Stakes winner Sent From Heaven and half-brother of Almania, a three-year-old with the archetypal profile of a Sir Michael Stoute improver.

"I thought he would top the sale," said Johnston. "Obviously he has the outstanding pedigree and he’s a very, very nice horse to get. I didn’t have an owner for him, but I managed to sell him straight away and he's going to be owned by Mick Doyle, who has had Fruits Of Love and lots of good horses with me.

"I’ve had a few Galileos - there’s Nayef Road who finished third in the St Leger - not a huge amount, but you’d always want to train them if you get the chance."

Golden moment for Stroud

There were more than a few false alarms through those not making their reserve but a couple of others did manage to breach the six-figure barrier.

Aside from the Dubawi, it was Golden Horn's half-brother to Le Don De Vie who managed to make 100,000gns on the dot first.

Bred in partnership by Kirsten Rausing and Hascombe and Valiant Stud, the upwardly mobile youngster was knocked down to Stroud for an undisclosed owner.

Lot 146 is a Golden Horn half-brother to Le Don De VieCredit: Laura Green

Le Don De Vie, who took a handicap at Glorious Goodwood, was sold for £460,000 at Goffs London last summer as a prospective Australian carnival type.

"The half-brother is well-regarded and I do like Golden Horn," said Stroud. "He's a very attractive colt and comes from a good hotel."

Not long afterwards the agent made another successful move to secure Ashbrittle Stud's New Approach colt for 90,000gns.

Agent Alex Elliott, who had missed out in several other bidding forays during the day, ended up with the one he wanted, namely a Sea The Stars filly related to Hong Kong's talented enigma Pakistan Star (181).

"She was a stand-out but she'll take a bit of time," Elliott said of the 100,000gns lot, who is for an undisclosed owner but likely to be trained in Britain.

"Her sister Fashion's Star was bought for Andrew Rosen for €400,000 and won well first time for Roger Charlton, so hopefully we're on the right track."

Tally-Ho Stud reaped extraordinary dividends from a 92,000gns purchase at this sale 12 months ago when the Kingman filly Divine Spirit was turned around at the Craven Sale for 850,000gns.

A similar route is likely to be mapped out with a 95,000gns daughter of Sea The Stars and Angelita, who is from the family of ground-breaking Breeders' Cup hero Arcangues.

The final figures were not too dissimilar from last year’s renewal. The aggregate fell just one per cent from 4,200,500gns in 2018 to 4,149,500gns, while the average was down 11 per cent to 31,676gns.

However, the median was up 16 per cent year-on-year to 25,000gns with the clearance rate a satisfactory 78 per cent.

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