Following a truly outstanding weekend on the racecourse, the Darley sires’ run of success continued into the sales ring on Tuesday when a colt by Dubawi sold for 2.6 million guineas to become the most expensive yearling sold at auction this year.
Lot 39 was bred by Normandie Stud and consigned by Norris Bloodstock, the beautiful colt is out of G1 Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You, the best of five winners out of Stakes-winning mare Fallen Star. Unsurprisingly, there were several interested parties but the final bid went to John Ferguson.
This was not the only seven-figure lot for Dubawi, as later in the session Newsells Park Stud’s colt out of G2 winner Playful Act was knocked down to John Ferguson for 1.2 million guineas. The dam is herself a daughter of Champion two-year-old Playful Act and is from the family of Nathaniel.
Dubawi concluded the opening day’s trading with an average of 853,125 guineas for eight yearlings sold.
There was also success for Shamardal, whose colt out of Hikari (Galileo) went to Shadwell for 725,000 guineas. The mare is a half-sister to Group winner and Black type producer Raymi Coya and is a granddaughter of G1 winner Try Something New.
New Approach enjoyed success on the track at the weekend courtesy of G2 Prix Dollar winner Potemkin and G1 Prix du Cadran third Nearly Caught, and his highest-priced yearling of the day was Normandie Stud’s colt out of Fallen Star, from the same family as the session-topping Dubawi colt. He was bought by John and Jake Warren on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing.
Dawn Approach had six of his first yearlings sell on Tuesday, with a top price of 230,000 guineas for his colt out of Shamardal’s multiple Group winner Elle Shadow. Consigned by Kildaragh Stud, he was bought by Nizar Anwar Abuljadayel.
The sale continues today.
