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• Teona and Via Sistina star in December Mares Sale

  Teona, Via Sistina and 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet were among the star attractions as several top-class racing and broodmare prospects were sold for seven figures on day two of the December Mares Sale in Newmarket.

  The sales ring was unsurprisingly buzzing as the second round of the ‘Sceptre Sessions’ got under way at Tattersalls, with Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lezoo and Qipco Champions Day victor Poptronic also going under the hammer in front of a packed crowd.

  Teona won the Prix Vermeille in 2021 and rounded off her career by finishing third behind Yibir in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf.

  Not only does the five-year-old possess a blue-blooded pedigree, being a daughter of Sea The Stars out of another Group One-winning mare for trainer Roger Varian in Ambivalent, but she is also in foal to the great Frankel, so it was no surprise she attracted huge interest in the auction.

  Following a protracted battle, Teona eventually secured top lot status as she was knocked down to Frankel’s owner-breeders Juddmonte for 4.5million guineas.

  “She is the best mare in the sale, she is a Group One winner out of a Group One winner, and they are very difficult to find,” said Juddmonte’s Simon Mockridge.

  “She is a beautiful addition for us, she has a great pedigree. She is by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire and has had five Group One winners – she will fit in very well.

  “She is an outcross to Frankel, which is ideal and what we are looking for. And, yes, she will be going back to Frankel!”

  When asked if the final price was expected, he told Tattersalls: “You always have to stretch when you want to buy the best, it is competitive. It was very strong bidding for her, I did think that around about 3.5 to 4million (might get her).

  “You have to make that extra stretch – that is something we have learnt, it is all very well trying to value them before but when you come to the moment you have to be a little stronger.”

  Having claimed Group One honours in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland earlier this year, Via Sistina looked set to strike gold in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, only to be mowed down late by King Of Steel under an inspired Frankie Dettori.

  The four-year-old, who cost owner Stephen Hillen just 5,000 guineas as a yearling, was sold for 2.7million guineas to Evergreen Equine.

  Hillen said: “It was amazing to watch! It has been tremendous from the day one. She was with Jamie Magee to be broken her in and he has a lot of good stock through his hands, he rang me in February and said she is the biggest, but she gets up the gallop better than all anything else!

  “It has been a dream! I thought that she’d bring in 2million guineas plus, that cross is sensational. She was Group One winner, but arguably she ran great in the Champion Stakes and she was still improving all the time. It is nice now to see her almost certainly be retired sound and go to stud.

  “I was fine watching her sell – I thought that if we don’t get what we want for her, we can still race her so it was a celebration either way.”

  Zoustar filly Lezoo, trained by Ralph Beckett, was bought for 2.2million guineas after an online bid from Narvick International, who out-battled two separate parties from Japan.

  Poptronic, last seen springing a surprise in the Qipco British Champions Fillies And Mares Stakes for Karl Burke, made 1.4million, while Tom Clover’s Matron Stakes runner-up Rogue Millennium made 1.65million and Ed Walker’s talented mare Primo Bacio, in foal to Frankel, went for 1.1million.

• Light Speed shows promise in Lingfield stroll

  Light Speed can be expected to go on to bigger and better things judged on an all-the-way victory on his handicap debut at Lingfield.

  Previously successful in maiden and novice company at Newcastle and Wolverhampton respectively, the Mehmas colt was an 8-11 favourite to complete his hat-trick in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

  Andrew Balding’s charge was soon bowling along in front in the BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Handicap and was not hard pressed to score by two and a quarter lengths from Enough Already.

  Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: “He broke quite well and I didn’t want us to walk around and fight him, so I was happy to let him tip away in front.

  “He’s a lovely model. On pedigree there are mixed signals as to what trip he’ll want, being by Mehmas, but he’s out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and he stays 10 furlongs quite well.”

  There was a degree of poignancy to the success as Light Speed was a final lead-up for Kingsclere stalwart Geoff Rigby, who is now set to enjoy his retirement.

  “I’ve been at Kingsclere for 55 years – I started there in 1978 when I was 15 and I’m 70 now,” said Rigby.

  “It’s a lovely place to work and the highlight was looking after Mrs Penny. She won the Cheveley Park, the Cherry Hinton and the Lowther Stakes, then she won the French Oaks and the Prix Vermeille and was second in the King George.”

  Balding said: “Geoff’s been at Kingsclere since 1978 and he’s been a star. He lives in the village and we’ll be seeing plenty of him, I’d hope.

  “The horse read the script, which is great.”

  Light Speed was a second winner on the card for Balding and Murphy following the earlier success of the previously unraced See That Storm (11-10 favourite) in division one of the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM/EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes.

  Dashing Darcey (10-11 favourite) impressed in division two for Roger Varian and David Egan.

  “He ran a very nice race last time at Newcastle (finished second), I was drawn very low and he didn’t jump overly quick. The horse that won that day had track position in a slowly-run race and quickened away from us, but we were staying on all the way to the line,” said Egan.

  “I was slightly expecting him to do the same, sort of go through the gears, but I thought he quickened up quite nicely to put the race to bed very quickly. He’s improving all the time.”

• Redknapp and Owen aiming to emulate Ferguson in Bahrain

  Hot on the heels of Sir Alex Ferguson tasting success with Spirit Dancer, Harry Redknapp and Michael Owen are now setting their sights on winning in Bahrain.

  Former Manchester United manager Ferguson won the biggest race Bahrain has to offer in the International Trophy with a horse he also bred as the Richard Fahey-trained gelding streaked to glory.

  Now Redknapp is targeting victory in the Bahrain Turf Series with Moktassab, trained by Phil McEntee, while Owen is sending over the Hugo Palmer-trained Box To Box.

  Redknapp, who has been an owner for many years, said: “I am really looking forward to Moktasaab running in Bahrain. The horse has had a nice break since his last run in August and I think, like a lot of us, he will appreciate a bit of winter sunshine. Phil is very pleased with him and we hope he is back on a winning mark, having dropped a few pounds this year.

  “I had a runner (Wonder Elzaam) in the first Bahrain Turf Series back in 2021, which was a lot of fun, and we will be heading out to Bahrain during the series to watch Moktasaab run.”

  Owen is one of the owners of Box To Box, who finished second to Spirit Dancer at York in the summer.

  “Box To Box arrives off the back of a really good season in England and he has travelled well to Bahrain,” said Palmer, ahead of the series, which starts on Friday.

  “Physically the horse thrived in Bahrain last year, but he did his chances no good by being slowly away on a couple of occasions, which is unlike him. If he jumps well, then he has a lot in his favour.

  “He is set to meet a couple of his former stable companions, Mr McCann and Chronograph, both of whom are now based in Bahrain, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on against them.”

  Roman Dragon is another for Owen and Palmer to be making the journey.

  Palmer said: “To date, all five of Roman Dragon’s wins have come around Chester’s tight turns, so the straight 1000m will be a slightly different challenge for him, but he will love the fast ground and he is fit and ready to run well. His owners were keen to experience the Bahrain Turf Series having heard good things about it.”