A significant seller turned top-lot buyer at Tattersalls Dec. 4 as Bridestones led the way on Day 3 of the December Mares Sale at 280,000 guineas (US$372,400, 1 guinea=US$1.33).
Godolphin's listed-placed 4-year-old was knocked down to agent Alex Elliott, who revealed the filly would join the broodmare band of Anthony Ramsden. The man behind the Valmont brand was among the owners of You Got To Me who sold to Amo Racing for 4.8 million guineas Dec. 3.
"She's been bought for Anthony Ramsden of Valmont," said Elliott. "He's looking to spend some of the pennies he got back last night, when instead of spending it we collected it for a change! Anthony's taking a long-term view and it's great when you've got people who want to play in all aspects of the game. She'll go to Whatton Manor Stud."
Bridestones won one of her seven starts for John and Thady Gosden, and gained valuable black type when third in the listed Coral Distaff. The daughter of Teofilo boasts pedigree as well as performance as she is out of 2010 Fillies' Mile (G1) winner White Moonstone.
Expanding on the appeal of the Godolphin homebred, Elliott said: "Teofilo is a great broodmare sire and works with numerous crosses. I like the Dynaformer aspect as broodmare sire, and the fact she's a 2-year-old winner.
"She's a black-type mare out of a group 1 winner and I thought she was good-looking. I think we'll probably breed her to Lope de Vega, he works very well with Teofilo mares. I might have to go buy John O'Connor (of Ballylinch Stud) a cup of tea and smooth talk him a bit!"
Ellaria Sand Keeps it Cool
The other lot to roll deeper into six-figure territory was Ellaria Sand, a 2-year-old daughter of Sands of Mali who was last seen landing her second race in the listed Radley Stakes. The Cool Silk Partnership homebred was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment and signed for by Sam Haggas' Hurworth Bloodstock at 200,000 guineas.
Cool Silk's adviser Matt Coleman said: "When Sands of Mali was going to stud I bought her dam, Ellaria, to join a band of broodmares to support the stallion. Ellaria Sands was born and reared at Culworth Grounds and went into training and, fair dues to Peter, Karin and Chris Swann of Cool Silk, they back their own homebreds and put them all in training. It's great to see them get such a great price for her."
Ellaria Sand is one of 19 first-crop winners by Ballyhane Stud's Sands of Mali, who won the 2018 British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) in the Cool Silk colors.
Metrics
Although trade was nothing like the level of 24 hours earlier, there was still plenty of action in the market. Turnover for the session increased by 27% year-on-year to 4,618,000 guineas (US$6,141,940), while the average price rose by 29% to 24,960 guineas (US$33,197). The median also went up by 14 points to 16,000 guineas (US$21,280). The clearance rate was a robust 86% as 185 fillies and mares sold from 214 offered.
