Record Price for Juddmonte Kingman Filly

A Juddmonte-bred filly with elite bloodlines made headlines at the Tattersalls July Sale when Orchid Bouquet was secured for 550,000 guineas by Badgers Bloodstock, setting a new record for the highest-priced lot ever sold at the sale. The three-year-old daughter of Kingman is an own-sister to Gr2 Coventry Stakes winner Calyx and Listed scorer Coppice, and hails from a Juddmonte family famed for producing black-type winners. Her popularity was no surprise to Badgers Bloodstock’s Grant Pritchard-Gordon, Juddmonte’s former racing manager, who said: “I obviously love Juddmonte families. I knew the fifth dam and that is the whole attraction, and my client does too… this filly stays in Europe.” He added: “I did not think we would have to spend so much, but these Juddmonte fillies and mares always have a premium. It is one of the very top Juddmonte families, there is so much happening around it, and it just keeps staying alive.” Orchid Bouquet’s dam, Helleborine, was runner-up in the Gr1 Prix Marcel Boussac and is a full-sister to Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose and to Needleleaf, dam of Darley’s Oasis Dream Champion 2YO Native Trail. Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon described the filly as “a beautiful filly with an unbelievable pedigree,” adding that her siblings have already proven their worth and that more promising prospects are coming through. “We brought a strong bunch,” Mahon continued. “We got on very well here last year and had the top two in the sale, so we made a concerted effort to come here with a good bunch of fillies. They have sold very well and we are very happy.” Another standout came via wildcard entry Green Storm, who realised 380,000 guineas when sold to leading Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali. The three-year-old colt, trained by Charlie Johnston for Ahmad Al Shaikh, had been fifth in the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and previously contested the Derby. “He will fit into the programme, travelling to Qatar shortly with a plan to run in the Qatar Derby and then, hopefully, the big races in the region through the spring,” said Ghazali. “He could be a horse to run back in Europe – I have done that before and I am keen to do that again.” Green Storm, by Circus Maximus, is out of multiple Group winner Banimpire, runner-up in the Irish Oaks and related to Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment. He’ll be joined by fellow three-year-old Basalt, a 220,000 guineas son of Pinatubo also set for the Qatar Derby. Ghazali ended the session as the leading buyer, spending 831,000 guineas on five lots.