The Easter Yearling Sale concluded on Tuesday with Dubawi heading the first-crop sires’ averages. Four of his yearlings sold for an average of $215,000 (£104,283) and top of these was a chestnut half-brother to outstanding sprinter Takeover Target and Street Cry's Group Three winner Predatory Pricer. The colt (pictured), out of Shady Stream and consigned by Segenhoe Stud, realised $425,000 (£206,123).
Dubawi was seventh top overall by average in session one and ahead of him was Shamardal, who had three sell for an average of $270,000 (£130,950), making him leading second-crop sire and in fourth position overall behind the established trio of Redoute’s Choice, Encosta De Lago and Galileo. The best-seller among Shamardal’s yearlings was a half-brother to the mighty New Zealand mare Sunline. The bay colt from Carramar Park’s consignment was bought by Portelli Racing for $380,000 (£184,299).
Both Dubawi and Shamardal are set to have their first runners in Europe this season. Shamardal, who shuttled to Australia before standing his first season in the northern hemisphere, has already had three winners in Australia, including the G2-placed Marquardt.
Singspiel only shuttled to Australia once but such was the impression made by his select Australian-bred crop, which included Group One winner Rewaaya, that breeders have been keen to cover mares by him to southern hemisphere time. Three yearlings resulting from this were sold in Sydney were sold for an average of $156, 667 (£75,985).
Exceed And Excel, who celebrared his first Group One winner in Australia earlier this season, had a bumper representation in the sale with 21 of his youngsters changing hands for a highly respectable average of $147,024 (£71,308). These included Macquarie Stud’s colt out of Native Jester, who fetched $370,000 (£179,400), a filly out of Alpine Spirit, who made $360,000 (£174,553) while Patinack Farm snapped up a son of Group One winner St Clemens Belle for $320,000 (£155,158). An Exceed And Excel half-brother to Reset's VRC Derby winner Rebel Raider was consigned by South Australia’s Mill Park Stud and will now bear Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s familiar blue and white colours after selling to Shadwell Australia for $300,000 (£145,477).
