Sheikh on spree at Tattersalls

Sheikh on spree at Tattersalls

By GLENYE CAIN OAKFORD

Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, who paid a world-record broodmare price of $10.5 million last month at Keeneland's November mixed auction, broke another record Monday when he paid 3.4 million guineas for Group 1 winner Satwa Queen at the Tattersalls December mare sale in England.

The price, about $7.3 million, beat the previous European filly in-training record of 3 million guineas, set last year at Tattersalls when London Thoroughbred Services bought Spinning Queen.

The record price contributed to a gain in gross receipts and average price, but the median dropped at the session. The session sold 199 horses for 24,722,000 guineas, or about $53,473,686, up 26 percent. The average of 124,231 guineas (about $268,711) was up 31 percent. But the 35,000-guinea median (about $75,705) was down 22 percent.

Maktoum's bloodstock representative, John Ferguson, signed for Satwa Queen, a 5-year-old daughter of Muhtathir offered by Ecurie Jean de Roualle of France.

Earlier, Ferguson splashed out about $6.9 million for Group 2 winner Sander Camillo. Shalfleet Stables consigned the 3-year-old Dixie Union filly. Ferguson also paid about $3.8 million for 3-year-old Ama, a Storm Cat filly out of champion Miesque, and about $3.6 million for Beta, a group-placed Selkirk mare, both offered by Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard.

Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard.

The session's only other seven-figure horse was Group 1 winner Indian Ink, who sold for 1 million guineas, or about $2.1 million, to Maktoum's brother, Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum of Shadwell Estate Co.

The Tattersalls December mare sale will continue through Dec. 6.