Jacqueline Quest topped Day 3 of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale at 600,000 guineas on Wednesday.
Jacqueline Quest (Rock of Gibraltar) was first past the post in last year’s G1 English 1000 Guineas before being placed second following a steward’s inquiry.
What looked to be a fairytale victory last year turned into a nightmare for the filly and her owner Noel Martin when stewards placed her second following interference to the eventual winner Special Duty (Hennessy).
Trained originally by Sir Henry Cecil before transferring to Ian Williams earlier this year, the daughter of Coquette Rouge (Croco Rouge) gained subsequent black-type when third in the G1 Coronation at Royal Ascot.
“Obviously Noel is disappointed to see her go, but she has been good to us and we wish her a great future at stud,” Williams said. “We are delighted with that price.”
Agent Charlie Gordon-Watson was standing with a Coolmore team when he made the winning 600,000gns bid. Shensuke Yoshida, representing his father Katsumi’s Northern Farm, was the under-bidder.
“She is a classic winner in all but name and I’m not surprised that she made that figure,” Gordon-Watson said. “She will go to Ireland and will visit Galileo.”
The team from Northern Farm made a major impact buying four lots for 2.79 million guineas headed by Reve d’Iman (Highest Honor) on Tuesday at 1.70 million guineas. On Wednesday they secured G3 Italian 1000 Guineas winner My Sweet Baby (Minardi) for 390,000gns.
My Sweet Baby is a half-sister to international G1 winner Gladiatorus (Silic). They share second dam Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom). A champion in her own right, she foaled Group winners Haafhd (Alhaarth), Munir (Indian Ridge) and Hasbah (Kris).
“She is an attractive mare from a good family and also an Italian classic winner,” Yoshida said. “She will come back to Northern Farm and we have many options with stallions, but she could go to Deep Impact.”
There were rises across the board with turnover for the day up 33% to 7,417,500gns, and the average and median up 35% and 50% to 43,125gns and 24,000gns, respectively.
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