A son of Sea The Stars shone brightest of all at the BBAG Spring Sale, with the juvenile, who was the highlight of the breeze-up session, becoming the second-most expensive horse in the sale’s existence.
A handsome bay in the mold of his outstanding sire, he was offered by his breeders Gestut Gorlsdorf and prepared by Markus Klug for the sale. The March-born bay was purchased for €135,000 (US$146,104, €1=US$1.0824) on behalf of Eckhard Sauren, president of Cologne racecourse and vice president of FC Cologne.
It was the best price recorded at the sale for a decade, with the €180,000 made by Malibu Beach, a Mastercraftsman half sister to Anglesey Stakes (G3) and Tyros Stakes (G3) winner Grafelli out of listed winner Spark Sept, remaining the high watermark for this sale.
Heike Bischoff, who owns the renowned farm where Sea The Stars’ first crop Deutsches Derby (G1) winner Sea The Moon was born and reared, spoke of her pleasure that the colt from one of Gorlsdorf’s major families would continue his career in Germany.
She said: “I’m very pleased he’s been bought by Herr Sauren and that he’ll be trained here. He’s a beautiful colt and comes from a very important family for us. His dam foaled a lovely full sister to him this spring, so we’re very pleased to have such a nice Sea The Stars filly.”
Sign up for BloodHorse Daily
The colt, already named Meer, is a three-parts brother to the listed Grosser Preis der VGH Versicherungen winner Mercedes , a daughter of Sea The Moon, who stands at Lanwades Stud.
They are out of Meergorl , who won the Diana Trial (G2) for her owner-breeders Gorlsdorf in 2013. A daughter of Adlerflug and out of a Tertullian mare, Meergorl is inbred to Anatevka through her Lombard daughters Allegretta and Alya, and the further family includes the Oaks d’Italia winner Monami , dam of Miss Yoda , who won the Preis der Diana (G1) for John Gosden and Westerberg in 2020.
Another member of the Gorlsdorf draft set the early pace when making €28,000 to Richard Venn. Francina, a 3-year-old Sea The Moon full sister to N E Manion Cup (G3) winner Favorite Moon, will travel to Britain and the yard of Jamie Snowden.
“She has a lovely page, is a really good mover, and the reports about her were very good,” said Venn.
“Jamie is a big supporter of the juvenile hurdles so she could be an ideal candidate for those, but she could also run in a bumper or on the flat. She has plenty of options and, with her page, she has fine residual value as a broodmare.”
Overall, the statistics painted a mixed picture, with the €13,487 ($14,596) average showing a gain on previous years at an increase of 23% on 2022, but all other metrics moved in the opposite direction.
The median fared next best, dipping by 2% to €10,458 ($11,318), while turnover of €512,500 ($554,653) represented a decline of 19% on last year’s aggregate. The clearance rate was 68%, with 38 horses sold out of 56 offered.