25 Sep Tattersalls Ireland Sale-Topper by Sea the Stars on His Way to George Scott
Quality came to the fore on day one of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale when one of only two Sea The Stars (Ire) colts on offer this week went the way of agent Billy Jackson-Stops and trainer George Scott for i130,000. The Castlebridge-consigned colt was one of five yearlings to break the six-figure mark on a day where an 86% [down 2% on 2023] clearance rate provided some encouragement to middle to lower tier operators. However, many of the key metrics dipped further, most notably the 17% drop in the median to i25,000. Despite 24 more lots on offer for the corresponding day’s trade, turnover also dropped by 4% while the average was down 8% to i29,906. The sale of the Sea The Stars colt at i130,000 carried on from a familiar theme to the bloodstock market in recent times where the quality offerings are holding their own and Scott was in no doubt that lot 201 fitted that brief.
The handler has enjoyed a season to remember. From Royal Ascot success with Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) to German St Leger glory with the admirable six-year-old Prydwen (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), things couldn’t be going better for the Newmarket handler. Numerically, Scott is closing in on his best ever tally, with the 35 winners posted this season just two shy of his best ever return. Like Isle Of Jura, Prydwen and even G2 Champagne Stakes winner Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), the Sea The Stars colt was bought alongside Jackson-Stops, with Scott revealing his high hopes for the new addition. AHe stood out here and was obviously brought here to stand out,@ the trainer said. AEvery time we went back to see him he just showed himself better and better. It=s hard to buy the progeny of Sea The Stars and we=re just so pleased to have bought this colt. He=s for a new client who wanted to find a horse that could race at a high level and we think this is the right horse.@ Bred by the Tsui family’s Sunderland Holding, the day one top lot hails from Archipenko mare Narrative (Ire), herself a half-sister to three black-type performers who reached ratings in excess of 100.