Teona Stars at Tattersalls as Juddmonte Bids 4.5 Million

A Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, by one of the world's best stallions and carrying a foal by the dual champion sire. As recipes go, it has all the ingredients necessary to make a special dish, and that is exactly what the Juddmonte team decided she was when buying Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from Rabbah Bloodstock for 4.5 million gns.

Taken from Thoroughbred Daily News, 6th December 2023

Northern Farm, Charlie Gordon-Watson, Jill Lamb and Coolmore all made attempts on the five-year-old Gr.1 Prix Vermeille winner, who is in foal for the first time to Frankel (GB), but it was Simon Mockridge who outlasted them all.

He said of lot 1786, “She is the best mare in the sale – a Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner. That's what they cost you. She's a beautiful addition and she's got a great pedigree. She's by Sea The Stars, who has made a fantastic start as a broodmare sire. He is already the damsire of four Group 1 winners. She'll fit in very well.”

Mockridge continued, “There were plenty at Goffs and we tried very hard at Goffs but we got beaten on most of the great individuals there. This is a great pedigree and, as I said, a Group 1 winner out of a Group 1 winner, they're hard to find.

“She's an outcross for Frankel, which is ideal. That's what we are looking for. She'll be going to Frankel [next year].”

Asked if 4.5 million gns was where Mockridge expected to end up for Teona, he replied, “You always have to stretch a little bit further than you really want to but, to buy the best, that's how competitive it is. We're seeing that tonight. I did think she would make around three-and-a-half to four [million] but we had to make that extra stretch. It's something that we've learned. We try to value them but, when it comes to the moment, you've got to be a little stronger.”