Somerville Sale Record Falls Twice As Bidding Soars
Somerville Sale Record Falls Twice
A daughter of Blue Point sold for US$269,300 (190,000gns) at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale on Wednesday, breaking the Somerville Sale record set only hours earlier by a Sioux Nation filly sold for US$262,200 (185,000gns). Both prices eclipsed the previous high of US$226,800 (160,000gns), a mark reached on three separate occasions.
The Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale record stood at US$226,800 (160,000gns) before Wednesday's session, a figure achieved three times, twice during 2025, when Rabbah Bloodstock bought a Havana Grey filly and Highflyer Bloodstock and Phil Cunningham secured a Dark Angel colt named Supermassive. The Sioux Nation filly, consigned by Manister House Stud, went to Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock for US$262,200 (185,000gns) after a duel with Rabbah Bloodstock's Jono Mills, who pushed the bidding to US$255,200 (180,000gns) before McStay's final US$7,100 (5,000gns) rise.
McStay said the filly had been bought for a group of owners sending horses to trainer Paddy Twomey. "She's been bought for a group of owners to go to Paddy Twomey," he said. "Steve Weston has taken a share of her, and he also has a piece of Velozee, who came from the same farm and is by the same sire. Patrick O'Brien, a friend of Steve's and an existing owner of Paddy's through Magical Hope, is also involved."
The filly is a sibling to two winners after her 2YO half-brother Varzi won a novice at Pontefract on 16 August 2026 under Sam James for trainer Karl Burke, having been runner-up on his York debut. She was bred by Stanley Lodge's William Kennedy, also the breeder of Ethical Diamond, out of the Listed-winning Silberpfeil, a daughter of Clodovil.
McStay has previous form with the sire, having signed for Coolmore's Group One-winning 2YO Sun Goddess, another daughter of Sioux Nation. Sun Goddess went on to win the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, and later added the Harry's Half Million at York by six lengths despite being badly hampered mid-race, having been bought as a yearling for US$159,600 (£120,000) at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.
"She came well recommended by Luke Barry, which counts for a lot," McStay said of the record-breaking filly. "I think this sale goes from strength to strength, and I'm delighted that when people bring nice horses here, they get paid. There's no shortage of money in the ring for the right individual."
Manister House's Luke Barry said his enthusiasm for the filly stemmed directly from selling Velozee the previous year. He said it was on the back of selling her that he was so keen on this filly. "When I saw her at the sales as a foal, she was a little bit immature in ways that allowed me to get involved. The breeder has remained part of the project too."
Second Filly Matches The Record
The session's second record came when Kerri Radcliffe outbid Anthony Bromley to secure a Blue Point filly for US$269,300 (190,000gns). Bred and sold by Ballyphilip Stud, the filly is a sibling to Italian Listed scorer Niente Scuse, a Churchill colt owned by Mike Repole unbeaten in three starts including the Listed Premio Giuseppe de Montel at Milan, and to the Listed-placed Our Cody.
"I love the filly," Radcliffe said. "The breeder, the pedigree, everything about her is just fabulous. I do believe she'd have made more if she was in Book 2. Blue Point is on fire, she's a great filly, so it's happy days. She's going to go to Richard Hannon, I've been told."
Radcliffe described spotting the filly despite attending a concert the previous evening. "I was actually at Bon Jovi on Sunday night, so when I came in here on Monday I wasn't very fresh, I have to say," she said. "But when I saw her I thought, 'Oh! I need to see her again just in case my eyes are deceiving me.' She's for a syndicate of a few different owners, including Oliver Humphries."
Ballyphilip's Paul McCartan said the price reflected the filly's quality without surprising him. "We put her in the sale to stick out," he said. "We all know about Blue Point, he's having a super year, and she's out of a young Pivotal mare who's bred two black type horses already. I was very happy with the price, but I think the people who bought her did well."
Both Fillies Set For New Yards
Both fillies now head into training with clear plans in place, McStay's purchase joining Paddy Twomey's yard as part of a multi-owner partnership, while Radcliffe's filly is set to go to Richard Hannon. The two record-breaking prices came within hours of each other on Wednesday, underlining the strength of demand at the top end of the sale.