December Sales Recap
The festive season is upon us. Amid a mild winter here in Golden, there’s a sense of calm before the storm as we eagerly await the arrival of a fresh batch of yearlings at Athassel House Stud this week—a true Christmas cracker!
While December is traditionally a quieter month in the flat sphere, the vibrant mares and foal sales over recent weeks have kept spirits high and the blood pumping.
The action began with the December Foal Sales at Tattersalls, and as James Thomas of the Racing Post aptly noted, “trainers tend not to do their shopping at the foal sales.” However, we don’t shy away from taking an unconventional path when the chance arises to acquire a quality filly. With his wealth of sales experience, Paddy was on hand at every sale this winter, ready to seize opportunities to strengthen our team and secure talent at any stage of their development.
Havana Grey is set to feature prominently at Athassel House Stud in the years to come. Among several acquisitions this season, we’re thrilled to have secured a lovely filly by him at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. With her exceptional bloodlines—being out of a champion racemare in Italy—she’s a long-term racing prospect for an existing owner in the yard. If she had gone to a pinhooker she could have been an expensive yearling, so it might have been our only chance to bring her into the fold. We’re delighted to have secured her and look forward to seeing what the future holds.
The Tattersalls Mares Sale followed soon after, bringing moments of both pride and excitement. A Lilac Rolla made headlines by becoming the first seven-figure mare of the session, selling for 1,000,000gns to John Stewart of Resolute Racing.
While her departure comes with a bittersweet tinge, it’s a fantastic result for her connections, who purchased her for just €40,000 at the Tattersalls September Yearling Sale in 2022.
We wish her new team every success as she embarks on this exciting chapter.
Before A Lilac Rolla went through the ring, we were thrilled to acquire Rolica, a daughter of Lope de Vega with an impressive trajectory. Out of a dam with three Listed wins to her name, Rolica demonstrated immense promise as a three-year-old under Jane Chapple-Hyam. She won her maiden at Newmarket and delivered a standout performance in the 1000 Guineas, finishing behind five individual Group 1 winners. As she adjusts to her new surroundings, we’re already planning an exciting campaign for her in the coming season.
Having celebrated our Tattersalls successes, our December journey concluded with a trip to the Arqana December Sale in Deauville. One standout acquisition was Lot 165, Iowa City—a daughter of Territories from an elite lineage. Out of a half-sister to New Bay, Iowa City belongs to a family boasting Group 1 luminaries like Beat Hollow, Oasis Dream, and Kingman. On top of her stellar pedigree, she proved her durability and class on the track as a two-year-old, finishing in the top three in all nine starts, including Listed and Group 3 contests.
Shortly afterward, Magical Hope, a daughter of Frankel, passed through the ring. A three-time winner, including success at Listed level, she comes from a distinguished family that includes Group winners Criticism, Innuendo, Moond Queen, and Beauty Parlor. Despite fierce competition, we were overjoyed to secure her to continue her racing career as a four-year-old. Acquiring older fillies has proven to be a successful strategy for the yard, and we hope Magical Hope will extend that winning streak.
With so many new arrivals in the yard, the coming weeks will focus on assessment and planning as we gear up for an exciting spring season. The future looks bright, with much to look forward to as we step into the new year.
From all of us at Athassel House Stud, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!