The progeny of champion sire Frankel dominated proceedings at Tattersalls December Foal Sale’s third session, with a colt achieving a remarkable 1,150,000 guineas—marking the third-highest price ever recorded for a colt foal in European auction history.
The session delivered extraordinary results, posting the second-highest single-day turnover in the sale’s history. Seven lots commanded prices of 500,000 guineas or above, with each acquired by different buyers, while 31 lots exceeded the 200,000 guineas threshold.
Record-Breaking Frankel Colt Heads to Coolmore
West Blagdon Stud’s Frankel colt claimed the distinction of becoming 2024’s most expensive foal sold across Europe, hammering down to M V Magnier for 1,150,000 guineas. The February-born colt, bred by James and Anita Wigan, is out of Kodiac mare Cloudy Dawn, who famously wore the Wigan family’s distinctive ‘cherry, cornflower blue sash and cap’ colours to Group 3 Prix de Lieurey glory.
A tense bidding war unfolded between Juddmonte’s Simon Mockridge and M V Magnier, with Mockridge’s million-guinea offer appearing decisive momentarily before Magnier responded. At 1,150,000 guineas, Mockridge conceded defeat.
“It is a great result for James Wigan, he is one of the best breeders there is. It is a great farm and has produced a lot of good horses. Frankel is a very good stallion, this is a very nice horse, we will take him home and we will review plans after the summer, but in all likelihood he will go to Ballydoyle. It is a lot of money for him, but when you breed a horse like that the Wigans deserve to get it,” M V Magnier commented.
Breeder James Wigan expressed his satisfaction: “I didn’t have any sort of figure in my head, I thought he was a very nice horse and deserved to make a good price. We bought the grandam here at the foal sale. Frankel gets great bone, great substance, he suits a mare with speed and she was fast, and they worked together on conformation. This foal has always been a very nice horse and has a very nice character. You don’t expect to sell a horse for that sort of price.
“I am delighted that M V got him and he has gone to the best possible home – with Coolmore and Juddmonte battling for him, he is going to get the best home whichever! It is just what you want for the mare.”
The colt’s granddam In The Mist was acquired through Wigan’s London Thoroughbred Services for 110,000 guineas at the 2006 December Foal Sale. The Pivotal daughter shares bloodlines with Group 1 Prix du Moulin winner Grey Lilas, whose offspring Golden Lilac captured dual French Classic honours.
Europe’s Priciest Filly Foal Returns Home
Lady Bamford’s homebred Frankel filly emerged as Europe’s costliest filly foal this year, selling for 850,000 guineas to Henry Lascelles, with Mockridge again finishing as underbidder. Castlebridge Consignment presented the April-born filly, whose dam Tropbeau captured Group 2 honours.
Lascelles, Lady Bamford’s racing manager, explained: “She’s a homebred filly who we really like. Her full-brother is a two-year-old with the Gosdens. We like him too and he’ll run in the spring next year, and we also have a Night Of Thunder filly who’ll go into training next year too. This filly is a credit to Lady Bamford, Chris [Lock, stud manager] and the whole team at Daylesford. She’s a lovely filly and we’re delighted to get her back. Tropbeau was a very good racemare, she was a Group 2 winner at two and Group 1 placed at three. She’s a really exciting mare.”
Tropbeau’s race record includes the Group 2 Prix du Calvados alongside placings in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. The Showcasing daughter descends from Group 1 July Cup heroine Frizzante.
TBT Racing Secures Starman-Related Frankel Colt
Persistence paid dividends for TBT Racing’s Simon Sadler and Ed Sackville, who outbid M V Magnier to land the session’s third Frankel offering at 700,000 guineas after unsuccessful attempts on the previous two.
Standing ringside with Ed Sackville and trainer Ed Walker, Sadler declared: “Today has been a great day – we saw Frankel this morning and now have bought a Frankel related to Starman, perfect. I am very much looking forward to next season and we just want to win as many Group 1 races as TBT Racing can, and to breed one.”
Whatton Manor Stud presented the April-born colt on behalf of breeder David Ward. The youngster’s dam is a Kodiac half-sister to Ward’s Group 1 July Cup champion and incoming Champion First Season Sire Starman.
Whatton Manor Stud’s Ed Player commented: “It is fantastic to have a Frankel to sell, and this colt is a lovely horse. He is a late foal and there is a lot of maturing to do, but he has a lovely walk. I hope and am sure he will grow into a cracking yearling and racehorse.
“He was bred by David Ward, the pedigree needs no introduction. Starman has had the most incredible first season, and I think he is going to get even better – his horses are scopey and they stay a mile, he is going to be the real deal as a stallion. There is no reason why this lad can’t turn into a stallion too. I am delighted for David, he puts a lot into it, and he has had a fantastic year on the track and with the stallion.”
Player added: “Simon Sadler has had a lot of luck buying from the farm, including the runner up in this year’s Coventry Stakes [Do Or Do Not], and he also has a two-year-old filly with Ed Walker who they think is very good.”
Godolphin Lands Blue-Blooded Kingman Filly
Godolphin captured the session’s second-priciest filly, prevailing over Newsells Park Stud’s Graham Smith-Bernal to secure the Kingman filly from Galloway Stud for 625,000 guineas on behalf of breeder Gestut Rottgen.
Anthony Stroud, representing the successful buyers, stated: “She’s a lovely filly with a very good pedigree. After she’s been to the races we’ll be able to breed her to quite a lot of stallions, like Frankel. If you’re thinking long-term she’ll be a good addition to the stud. She’s the only one we’ve bid on today. It’s a fantastic page full of champions.”
Gestut Rottgen manager Frank Dorff reflected: “She is very typical of the family, she looks just like her mother. I am very happy that she made a very good price, she has gone to a very good home. Let’s hope she is a Group 1 winner in Britain.
“She is a special one and we were very tempted to keep her, you don’t often breed one with that quality, the market recognised that and sometimes you have to sell. The mare is in foal to Frankel, and if it is a colt he will be a stallion prospect. We have not sold many from the family, we are not a commercial stud, we breed to produce good racehorses and later good broodmares.
“We decided to go to Kingman because it was the dream to breed a valuable broodmare prospect, I hate close in-breeding and she is open to nearly everything – that was the idea behind the covering.”
Dorff added: “Well Disposed won two Group races and was Group 1 placed, she was very tough, the whole family is incredibly tough – Windstoss ran 28 times and was placed 14 times in Group races. He is now a really promising young stallion at Rottgen.”
Well Disposed, by Dubawi, is a half-sister to German Group 1 Derby victors Windstoss (German Champion Three-Year-Old Colt) and Weltstar, plus Listed winner Weltbeste, hailing from the distinguished bloodline of German champion fillies Well Known and Well Proved.
Wootton Bassett Colt Joins Elite Pedigree Portfolio
The late stallion Wootton Bassett contributed a session highlight through a royally-bred colt from Baroda Stud that realised 550,000 guineas to Paddy Twomey Racing/Bond Thoroughbreds via online bidding.
“He is a lovely horse, he has been bought to race. The new owners have had a lot of success with Wootton Bassett and very excited to get him,” Twomey revealed.
Bond Thoroughbreds previously campaigned Wootton Bassett’s Group 1 Prix de la Foret victor Maranoa Charlie, who retires to Tally-Ho Stud in 2026.
The April-born colt is from unraced Galileo mare First Flower, a full-sister to Group 1 champions Hydrangea, Hermosa and The United States, and to Salsa, dam of 2024 Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and Group 1 Nassau Stakes winner Whirl (by Wootton Bassett). Following catalogue publication, Hydrangea’s third foal Hawk Mountain, also by Wootton Bassett, claimed the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes.
Baroda Stud’s David Cox disclosed: “He is a homebred for Diamond Creek Stud based in America, they asked me what I thought he going to make and I said ‘I hope he is going to make between 400,000 guineas and 600,000 guineas’. He took a bit of time to get there, but then it got rolling and I wish the best of luck to Paddy and Bond Thoroughbreds.
“From when he arrived he was totally chilled out and showed himself well, and obviously they are not making any more by the stallion, but typically they all have good minds. This lad ticks a lot of boxes. It is a very strong market.”
The Tattersalls December Foal Sale concludes with its fourth and final session commencing at 10am on Saturday, 29th November.
