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Marsha becomes record breaking sale-topper at Tattersalls

13 December 2017

On Tuesday 5 December 2017, a new European record was set for the highest price racehorse at auction. Throughout her career, Marsha has amazed the near ten thousand Members of Elite Racing Club with the heights she has reached, and at Tattersalls Sales, she did the same once again. From the moment she first set foot on the racecourse, at Kempton Park on 4 September 2015, she has looked as though she would be a head turner and seldom has she disappointed. Marsha finished runner-up on her debut, but went one better on two occasions as a juvenile, including when jumping on board the ferry for the first time in her career to claim a prize at Dundalk in Ireland.

The following year, it was in Ireland that her destiny became set in stone, as she failed to stay six furlongs in her second race of the season, hence she returned to the minimum trip. There was no looking back from then on, as she made the mockery of opponents in two Listed races, before finishing a close-up fifth in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Her finest hour came when winning Europe's leading five-furlong contest, the Prix de l'Abbaye, on Arc day at Chantilly in the autumn.

In doing so, the baton passed from the dual Nunthorpe Stakes winning-Mecca's Angel to Marsha as the leading European sprinting filly. Michael Dod's mare retired to stud after this race, whereas Marsha raced on at four, during which she stamped her authority worldwide and was involved in one of the most discussed finishes of the season.

In May, Marsha became the first horse, let alone filly, since the mighty Lochsong to defy a Group 1 penalty to win the Palace House Stakes on 2,000 Guineas day, which earned her favouritism for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. She could not defy the blistering speed of Lady Aurelia on the day, eventually finishing third after running her usual consistent race. Her finest hour came in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York's Ebor meeting, as she reversed places with Wesley Ward's rocket, Lady Aurelia, by the narrowest margin. The American filly's rider, Frankie Dettori, thought he had won, saluting his adoring fans, and crowds assumed he had called it right. However, when the photo finish was published and the result called, thousands of Club Members almost caused an earthquake as they jumped up and down in celebration. It was one of the great races.

In the autumn, Marsha chased home 'superfreak' Battaash in the l'Abbaye, which was no disgrace on soft ground, which has never favoured her, before finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in California. Her remarkable temperament meant she was well suited to making long journeys to race, and this did not go unnoticed by potential purchasers at the sale.

Marsha has everything - the ability, the soundness, the temperament and the frame to become a top-flight broodmare - hence both John Gosden, bidding for Godolphin, and MV Magnier on behalf of Coolmore, wanted her badly. Magnier commented after the purchase, following nine minutes of ring-warfare, starting with the Japanese, the Americans, South Africans and Qataris: "She really is something special. Sir Mark has done a great job with her, she was very fast and the lads were very keen to have her. She is the best sprinter of the year and she will go to Galileo."

The Club's racing manager, Dan Downie, commented afterwards: "We did have a price at which we would have taken her home, but we did think it was going to be unlikely. She has been wonderful and always takes everything in her stride. The funds will help with ongoing and the long-term running of the Club, but we will, of course, take a look at our nomination plans, in particular for Marsha's dam, Marlinka."