An electric atmosphere and frenzied trade characterised a remarkable opening session at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with a FRANKEL filly realising 4,400,000 Guineas (US$ 5.64, R106m), the second highest price for a yearling in European auction history, and eighteen lots realising 500,000 guineas or more. The progeny of FRANKEL were in great demand realising three of the four million guineas prices, whilst Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian was the leading first day buyer securing 10 lots for 11,045,000 guineas. The clearance rate during the opening day was an impressive 90%.

Frankel Filly from Newsells Park Stud Sells for 4,400,000 Guineas

The top lot on the opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was the FRANKEL filly out of Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner ALJAZZI who was knocked down to Kia Joorabchian, stood alongside agent Alex Elliott, for 4,400,000 guineas after he saw off a determined effort from Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida. The sale represented the second highest price for a yearling in European auction history, behind the 5,000,000 guineas sale of the filly subsequently named AL NAAMAH at this sale in 2013.

Once Elliott had taken a breath, he said: "Phew! Kia and partners wanted the filly very badly - a Frankel filly from that family and with that physical, she was always going to be a collectors' item. It is a deep price tag and, though we had discussed her at length, obviously I did not see her making that - but we had very much homed in on her.

"But she is part of Team Amo now... wow! She is a spectacular filly, it is a spectacular price, a spectacular bunch of horses here. I'd like to say I was a cool customer when all that was taking place, but that would be a fib - I have never been in that rarified atmosphere before."

He added: "We have seen Ylang Ylang from the same farm and from the same cross, we just need history to repeat itself! The figure I had in mind was a good bit below that but, as I keep saying to people, good horses will pay you back!

"It is great that she is staying here, it is great for British racing that these people are around to buy these horses as we all understand how difficult the product is to promote at the minute. To have two men to say they are going to keep her here, it is huge kudos to them. Kia knows you have got to buy them at the top level to compete at the top level."

Elliott continued: "This filly has got through most of the hoops - she is by the right stallion, she is out of a good Shamardal mare, she is from a great farm, she has come to a sale, she has shown she is in the top echelon of horses, now she has got to keep going!"

The SHAMARDAL mare ALJAZZI was purchased by Newsells Park Stud at the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale for a record breaking 1,000,000 guineas, and this filly’s great granddam MAJESTIC SAKEENA was bought by Tony Nerses at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2006 for 200,000 guineas.

Consignor Julian Dollar of Newsells Park Stud said: "To be honest with you, I was hoping she would make a million and that would have been nice, but obviously some good players had her valued at twice that. We are obviously delighted. Mitsu Nakauchida is a great trainer and a lovely guy and he loved her, and obviously Kia, Amo and Alex loved her too... it is unbelievable.

"I said to Graham [Smith-Bernal] that there were two fillies that I'd like to keep, she was one and the other was the Dubawi filly. We also have a nice filly to sell on Thursday, the half-sister to Ylang Ylang. But I always loved this filly and thought she was outstanding. I am thrilled with that price, it makes a big difference to a commercial operation like Newsells. It is great."