Originally written by the BloodHorse Staff on October 4, 2018.
Fasig-Tipton November will offer Nov. 4 grade 3 winner Cover Song, the first mare in foal to top European sire Dubawi ever offered at the sale, as part of celebrity chef and owner/breeder Bobby Flay’s dispersal of his European-based bloodstock.
Cover Song, a daughter of Fastnet Rock that Flay bought for $1.6 million at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November sale, is the linchpin of his dispersal. She is a half sister to multiple group 1 winners Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag, which are both by Claiborne Farm sire War Front . Since Flay acquired Cover Song, Roly Poly has won three group 1 stakes in England and France and U S Navy Flag added three group 1s to his record in 2017 and 2018. Cover Song, who made her last two starts for Flay, is carrying her first foal.
“The opportunity to offer a mare at public auction with the quality and depth of pedigree like Cover Song is extremely rare,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “Her dam, the champion and multiple group 1 winner Misty For Me, has produced two additional foals by War Front and is back in foal to War Front. Cover Song is truly a once-in-a-lifetime offering, and we are honored to sell her.”
In Europe, Flay’s dispersal includes three mares in foal to Europe’s best stallions, Frankel among them; two racing or broodmare prospects, and three foals. They will be offered at the 2018 Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale.
Cover Song will be consigned by ELiTE Sales, while Baroda & Colbinstown will handle a consignment at the Tattersalls Breeding Stock Sales.
“Racing and breeding Thoroughbreds in Europe has been a rewarding and fruitful experience for me over the last decade,” said Flay. “The people who own the farms, run the sales companies and train the horses have been nothing but great partners in my quest to run a successful business. I have decided, however, to disperse my European stock at upcoming sales, and they will be offered without a reserve. To be clear, I am not leaving the business as a whole. In fact, I will continue to add more robust pedigrees to my American team now and in the future. This decision is strictly based on geography and where I spend most of my time. I look forward to seeing these special horses find new homes and at the same time I look forward to a more focused domestic business.”
“We are honored to have the opportunity to present the most elite young pedigree to come to public auction in quite some time,” said ELiTE Sales president Bradley Weisbord. “As a 5-year-old, Cover Song represents the best combination of age, ability, family, and covering sire ever presented. It’s extremely rare for a young mare like this to come to public auction, and she will appeal to every major breeding operation around the world.”
David Cox of Baroda & Colbinstown said: “We are looking forward to selling an exciting draft for Bobby Flay as part of the dispersal of his European breeding stock at the Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sales. There are some exceptional mares. Among the top-class pedigrees are Auld Alliance, a Montjeu mare from one of the great Ballymacoll families and she is in foal again to the great Frankel. The three foals are all by hugely popular sires, including Dark Angel, out of American Spirit); Frankel, out of Auld Alliance; and, Invincible Spirit out of Albisola.”
The Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale will be held Nov. 28 through Dec. 6.
