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Urban Sea foal fetches record price

Hong Kong-based owners David and Ling Tsui have enjoyed another windfall with Urban Sea after the top-class mare's latest produce smashed the world record price for a filly foal.

The foal, from the first crop of six-time Group One winner Giant's Causeway, was knocked down for 1.8 million guineas ($20.8 million) at the Tattersalls December Sale in Newmarket, England. The filly broke the record set at the same auction last year by the previous foal from Urban Sea, a filly by Sadler's Wells who fetched 1.1 million guineas ($12.7 million).

Urban Sea, ridden by Eric Saint-Martin, won the 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the Tsuis and has gone on to make an equally significant mark as a broodmare. She has produced the 2001 English and Irish Derby winner Galileo, recent Italian Group One scorer Black Sam Bellamy and 2000 Irish Oaks runner-up Melikah.

Bloodstock agent Michael Youngs, acting on behalf of Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Stud, did not enter the fray until the bidding had reached 1.5 million guineas but was quick to make the winning bid. The filly is expected to go to Weber's Florida-based farm.

'She is a quite outstanding, lovely filly and just has everything you could possibly ask for - the poise, balance, pedigree and conformation,' said John Clarke, chief executive of the Irish National Stud, which offered the filly on behalf of the Tsuis' Sunderland Holdings.

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