Just The Judge brings record price at Tattersalls December

Just The Judge, an Irish classic winner and also a Grade 1 winner in Canada, changed hands on Tuesday for 4.5 million guineas (about $7,460,790 in U.S. funds) at the Tattersalls December breeding stock sale, making her the highest-priced filly in British auction history.

The 4-year-old Lawman filly was purchased by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani of Qatar Racing and the China Horse Club after previously being campaigned by Qatar Racing and the Sangster family, essentially dissolving the previous partnership for a new one. She will continue to race in 2015 for the new partnership.

"This is a new, one-off tie-up with The China Horse Club," said David Redvers of consignor Tweenhills Farm and Stud, who also works with Sheikh Al Thani through Pearl Bloodstock. "This has allowed us to race another year with her and keep her - as she was our first classic winner, we were not going to give her up easily. This fits the [China Horse Club’s] aims, too.”

Just The Judge has so far compiled a record of five wins in 14 starts for earnings of $1,093,611. In three seasons of racing, Just The Judge has won the Irish 1000 Guineas, the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes in Canada, and the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes in England. She also placed in the English 1000 Guineas and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare turf.

"She will come back to Tweenhills for holiday and then go back to trainer Charlie Hills,” Redvers said. “She is healthy and well and running as well as ever - she won the E.P. Taylor only a month ago. We will campaign in the best races, get the best possible opportunities, and then she will retire to Tweenhills and visit the best stallions in the world.”

Bred in Ireland by Mrs. J. Dempsey, Just The Judge was initially campaigned by the Sangster Family and Matthew Green. Qatar Racing bought out Green’s share of the horse during her 2-year-old season prior to her victory in the Rockfel Stakes.

China Horse Club has become an increasingly active player in the bloodstock market, recently finishing third among buyers by gross at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale with eight purchases totaling $5.865,000, including Grade 1 winner Iotapa for $2.8 million.