Saxon Warrior: ‘I think he has a real chance of making it’ – Photo: George Selwyn

An admiration for Saxon Warrior yielded great rewards for Hunscote Stud and Chris Humber at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale on Friday when a filly bred by the pair hit a high note of 280,000gns. Pinhooker Philipp Stauffenberg came out on top for the filly, who was sold by Norris Bloodstock.

“We had a runner on the same day at Doncaster that Saxon Warrior ran in the Racing Post Trophy,” recalled Andy Lloyd, farm manager of Hunscote Stud. “Ryan Moore rode the horse for us and it was desperate ground but I remember him saying that Saxon Warrior was so good, an extremely good horse, who would go on any ground. I always remembered that, and followed the horse. And of course then he went on to win a strong Guineas.

“He’s developed into a grand stamp of a stallion. I think he has a real chance of making it.”

The filly, who is the third six-figure foal of the week for Saxon Warrior, is a half-sister to two winners including the promising Sir Michael Stoute-trained two-year-old Ville De Grace. They are out of Archangel Gabriel, an unrated Arch sister to Grade 1 winner Prince Arch and half-sister to Group 1-winning two-year-old Kingsfort.

“We’ve never had a foal like this,” added Lloyd. “She’s the most spectacular horse. I’m sad to see her go but we have to be commercial and it’s a lot of money.”

Vendor Jenny Norris was similarly delighted with the result.

“All credit to the breeders,” she said. “I’ve had her for the past four months and she’s been an absolute professional throughout – they’re the ones that make my job easy! From what I gather, the stallion is producing some very nice stock.”

Saxon Warrior’s average is running at 108,857gns for seven sold.

Philipp Stauffenberg purchased this Saxon Warrior filly for 290,000gns. Photo – Tattersalls