Tattersalls strong on day three

A $1,424,063 mare led the way at Wednesday's third session of the Tattersalls December mare sales in Newmarket, England.

Agent Anthony Penfold's Penfold Bloodstock purchased the session-topper, Irish-bred Velvet Moon, from the Voute Sales agency. Velvet Moon, offered in foal to Daylami, is a Group 2 winner herself and the dam of English Group 2 winner Moon Ballad. She is out of Park Special, who also produced the Italian Group 1 winner Central Park.

After a day when sales figures failed to surpass last year's record-setting returns, Wednesday's third of four sessions proceeded with strong bidding that resulted in 43 six-figure lots. All told, the Wednesday session sold 178 lots for gross receipts of $20,902,796, for an average price of $117,431.

* Tuesday's session-topping mare, $813,750 Midnight Angel, is headed for a racing career in the United States with trainer Christophe Clement. Robert Acton, manager of buyer Klaus Jacobs's Newsells Park Stud, told Tattersalls officials that Midnight Angel, a 3-year-old Acatenango filly, probably would join Clement's stable at the trainer's Belmont Park base. Midnight Angel is a half-sister to North American Grade 2 winner Moonlady.