Roger Teal snaps up 'classy' Mendelssohn filly in first purchase of Book 1 sale

Ashford Stud's promising first-crop sire Mendelssohn has been making waves stateside and trainer Roger Teal was equally impressed when picking up Camas Park Stud's youngster on the second day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Coolmore's 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner has the pedigree to match her looks, being a half-sister to Grade 3 Dania Beach Stakes winner Speed Franco and out of a daughter of Prix Vermeille and Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Sierra Madre.

Teal duly struck the winning bid for the attractive bay filly at 105,000gns, his first purchase of this year's sale and first here for several years.

With two colts by the son of Scat Daddy topping this week's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale at $235,000 and $230,000, the Royal Ascot-winning trainer is certainly not the only one looking forward to Mendelssohn's first runners in 2022.

"I bought one from here privately a few years ago but this is my first one of the sale," said Teal.

On what drew him to the smooth-moving filly, the trainer said: "She was very classy and I liked her page. I thought she was a lovely stamp of a filly. I was trying to buy yesterday but they were outside my budget. However, we had this one marked down and we liked the look of her so we're delighted."

A number of first-crop yearling sires had their first offspring head through the Park Paddocks ring on the opening day, and Teal said those from Coolmore's 2,000 Guineas and Racing Post Trophy hero Saxon Warrior had particularly caught his eye.

"I like the Saxon Warriors and I was very pleased with them yesterday, they're lovely looking horses," he said

Teal, who confirmed this year's King's Stand Stakes and last season's July Cup hero Oxted was in fine fettle despite having to miss the rest of the campaign due to injury, was also positive about trade generally since the start of Tattersalls' showpiece sale on Tuesday, when Philipp Stauffenberg's No Nay Never sister to Arizona topped proceedings at 825,000gns.

He said: "For me it's quite a strong sale. I've got a smaller budget than most people, but I think most are quite happy with it."

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