Bonfire's Half Brother Tops December Yearling Sale

3 minute read

Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estates dominated the one-day December Yearling Sale, buying the top two lots and three of the top seven to break the six-figure barrier.

The 142 lots sold realised a total of 4,091,400 guineas at an average of 28,813 guineas and a median of 20,000 guineas.

The sale-topper was the New Approach half-brother to the G2 Dante Stakes winner Bonfire, who now races in Australia for Gai Waterhouse, and the G2 Windsor Forest Stakes winner Joviality.

Out of the Night Shift mare Night Frolic, the colt consigned by Highclere Stud was knocked down to trainer Mark Johnston on behalf of Shadwell.

Shadwell were also responsible for the top priced filly for the day when trainer Simon Crisford secured the Sea The Stars filly out of the Rahy mare Edaraat for 170,000 guineas.

The filly, consigned by Barouche Stud, is a grand-daughter of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Mehthaaf who raced for Sheikh Hamdan.

The sale represented a great pinhooking return for her owners who bought her for 75,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale last year.

The five-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale begins on Tuesday.