Appeal began the 2012 European sales calendar on a positive note when she made 110,000 guineas at the Tattersalls February Sale on Thursday.

The Selkirk filly was consigned from Sir Mark Prescott’s Heath House Stables on behalf of Prince Faisal Salman.  She is a half-sister to the G2 winner Zinziberine and attracted a plethora of interested parties with Charlie Gordon-Watson making the winning bid at the expense of Paddy Twomey.

“She’s going back to Sir Mark, and as she is currently in such good form, we might as well take advantage of that and try for a bit of black-type,” Gordon-Watson said.  “She will be covered later this spring.”

A total of 179 lots were sold for 1.64 million guineas on the sole day of trade. It was far from a vintage February Sale and the average of 9,168 guineas was down 11% from 2011.

Ed Dunlop secured the Shirocco filly Tameen for 80,000 guineas after he saw off the efforts of David Redvers.  The daughter of Champion Italian 3yo Filly Najah won three races under the care of John Dunlop.

“I know the family well through my father,” said Dunlop.  “She was fourth in a Listed race last year and she will come into training with me.  If she progresses from three to four, she has chances of picking up some proper black-type.”

That family, trained by Dunlop snr, includes Tameen’s grand-dam Mehthaaf, the 1994 Irish 1000 Guineas winner.  Champion sprinter and sire Elnadim is also in the immediate family.

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms draft of 22 lots grossed 305,100 guineas.  The top lot was the winning four-year-old King’s Best filly Tuscania who was knocked down to Justin Wadham.  He was actong on behalf of Victoria and Anthony Pakenham who own English Derby winner Sir Percy.

Tuscania looks destined to visit the Derby winner at his Lanwades Stud base.  “She will race again and covering her this spring is an option,,” Wadham said.  “But I suspect she will not be covered until 2013.  Sir Percy is busy enough already this year!”

Currency converter:  1,000 guineas – AUD 1,550