Quintet of yearlings break half-million Guineas barrier.

Progeny of exciting young Group 1 sire Sea The Stars made an impact during Tattersalls elite Book 1 sale in Newmarket recently. The Gilltown stallion was represented by 29 yearlings in the ring, of which 24 (83%) changed hands for a total of 7,125,000 Guineas and an excellent average of 296,875 Guineas, close to 400,000 €. In total, five youngsters reached or surpassed the half-million Guinea marker.

Arc winner Sea The Stars’ top lot, hip 204, was the second foal of a half-sister to dual Classic runner-up Midas Touch, from the family of French Guineas winner Aussie Rules and champions Albanova, Alborada, Yesterday and Quarter Moon. The bay, who was presented by Church View Stables for owner John Connaughton, bought for 650,000 Guineas by Charlie Gordon-Watson, with the colt’s future trainer Luca Cumani doing the bidding.

On the sale’s opening day, Charlie Gordon Watson had already been successful at 600,000 Guineas for lot 117, a half-brother to Gr 2 Hardwicke Stakes scorer Bronze Cannon. The son of Sea the Stars bred at Anthony Oppenheimer’s Hascombe & Valiant Stud is set to join Sir Michael Soute, with Gordon-Watson commenting, “It’s a Classic pedigree, a Classic horse and by a Classic sire.”

Another 600,000 Guineas Sea The Stars yearling was lot 435, snapped up by Bertrand Le Metayer Bloodstock. This beautifully-bred filly from Watership Down Stud is a half-sister to Gr 1 Sun Chariot Stakes victrix Spinning Queen who is now a dual black-type dam herself. Her second dam boasts four Group-winnning progeny, and notably American Group 1 winner and sire Labeeb.

A half-brother to Aga Khan Studs-bred globetrotter and stallion Linngari (lot 375) was knocked down for half a million Guineas to Rabbah Bloodstock. The colt from Lynn Lodge Stud is out of Kahyasi mare Lidakiya, who was sold by the Aga Khan Studs for 85,000 € at Goffs Ireland in 2011.

Bidding rose again to 500,000 Guineas for lot 436, a Sea The Stars haf-sister to Derby winner and dual Arc-winning sire Motivator. Kiaran McManus had the final word on this filly from Voute Sales Ltd .

Sea The Stars fellow Gilltown Stud inmate Dalakhani enjoyed a successful Book 1 sale, with three of his four yearlings presented finding buyers for six-figure sums. Dalakhani’s top lot, hip 321, a son of Group 3 winner and Group 1 second Heaven Sent (Pivotal), went to Amanda Perrett and Ross and Peter Doyle Bloodstock for 130,000 Guineas.

Aga Khan Studs interests was also well represented by John Warren’s 680,000 Guinea purchase lot 203, an Invincible Spirit half-brother to Gr 3 scorer Baraan. The dam Brusca (Grindstone) had been sold by the Aga Khan Studs in foal to this colt for 155,000 € at Arqana’s Breeding Stock Sale in 2012.

A son of Montjeu and Honorlina was sold for 675,000 Guineas and his dam, a close relative to Prix de Diane winner Valyra, had also been sold at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale.

Updated on 10/10/2014.