Ballymacoll dispersal takes centre stage during Tattersalls Mares Sale

Justlookdontouch and her daughters Abingdon and Aim Of Artemis ensured that the Ballymacoll name went out on a high at Tattersalls, with each changing hands for a seven-figure sum during an electric evening of trading on Tuesday.

In all, the final group of Ballymacoll horses sold through the Castlebridge Consignment for a total of 7,767,000gns and attracted investors from the US and Japan in addition to strong domestic players such as Moyglare Stud and Cheveley Park Stud.

"I thought it went very well," said long serving stud manager Peter Reynolds. "We got market value for everything. It was wonderful to see the families so well received, there was great international interest.

"It just shows how important current form is. Justlookdontouch had three individual winners this year and that provided a massive injection into everything.

"I thought Tattersalls, particularly Tammy O'Brien, did a wonderful job. The brochure was great and whole thing was very well marketed."

Leading the way among international interest was Greg Goodman of the Kentucky-based Mt Brilliant Farm, who paid 1,050,000gns for Listed winner Abingdon and 400,000gns for her winning Hard Spun half-sister Superioritycomplex. Goodman was also underbidder to Peter Brant, another American-based owner who trades under the name White Birch Farm, at 1,200,000gns on Justlookdontouch herself.

"It's unbelievable to have an opportunity to get into that family," said Goodman after signing for Abingdon. "We really like this branch of the family and I didn't think we'd be able to buy her. I like everything about her and I love Street Cry, she's just beautiful. She'll be bred next year, we haven't decided who to yet but it will be someone good!

"One of the things we really liked about these mares is that they have that dirt ability in their families so we felt like we could breed them either way, to turf or dirt sires."

Meanwhile, Aim Of Artemis, who looked so exciting when winning her maiden for Sir Michael Stoute at Leicester in September, will join Godolphin after commanding 1,000,000gns from John Gosden.

Gosden had to outbid Alan Cooper, Lord Grimthorpe and Chris Richardson - incidentally each representing owners who have horses with Stoute - to secure the filly, a member of the first European crop of Leroidesanimaux.

For many, however, the star of the draft was champion Islington. The 18-year-old mare, a true Ballymacoll great whose six victories included the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and two renewals of the Yorkshire Oaks, elicited a round of applause as she entered a packed ring with Peter Reynolds at her head.

Reynolds took her on a circuit of the ring before handing her back to Loraine Foley and watched from the gate as Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock outbid Charlie Gordon-Watson, standing with Simon Marsh, at 270,000gns.

"She'll probably go to Ireland for a mating," said Goff, who was unable to disclose his client. "I I thought she looked fantastic for her age.

"Everyone in the world knows this family and when you see the likes of Cheveley Park Stud and Moyglare investing in it [Cheveley Park Stud bought a daughter Angel Vision for 600,000gns while Moyglare Stud paid 425,000gns for another daughter, Canonbury], I think you get the impression that a lot of people think its about to ignite."

He added: "I think the last time I saw the ring so full was when Lyric Fantasy sold here in 1992."

Islington was sold in foal to Kingman and is the dam of five winners to date, among them Canonbury, who made 425,000gns to Matt Coleman in foal to Dark Angel, and Angel Vision, who made 600,000gns in foal to Invincible Spirit to Cheveley Park Stud.

The Listed-placed Yarrow, a Sea The Stars half-sister to Golan and Tartan Bearer in foal to Kodiac, was another highlight, selling for 625,000gns to Charlie Vigors of Hillwood Stid.

"She's for an existing client who is trying to upgrade his broodmare band," said Vigors. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy into a family like this. She's stakes-placed herself and has a commercial covering, so it made sense."

Of the other mares, Blandford Stakes winner Eleanora Duse is heading to Japan after selling for 300,000gns to Ever Union Shokai in foal to Frankel while Willie Carson, who rode so many of the good Ballymacoll horses, tried hard for Moruadh, a half-sister to Patkai who is in foal to The Gurkha. The former champion jockey, however, had to give best to David Myerscough at 250,000gns.