Coloured thoroughbred horse sold at Tattersalls for the first time

A rare coloured thoroughbred, the first to be offered through Tattersalls in Newmarket, was sold on 16 October — but there was an additional twist before the hammer came down.

Auctioneer Philip Myerscough was taking bids from established bloodstock agents when his daughter Tara, who was working alongside him as a spotter, fell for the painted (chesnut and white) yearling filly, stepped from the podium and began bidding.

At 8,000gns Myerscough was obliged to knock the horse down to his daughter, 22, who said: “It was a spur of the moment thing. I thought she was gorgeous.

“I’m my mother’s daughter, a bit impetuous. I’m not sure what we’ll do with the filly, but we might show her, we might race her.” Her father said: “That was a completely impromptu scenario – a big surprise.”

Named Painted Angel, the yearling was sired by the ‘black overo’ stallion I Was Framed, who was bred in the USA, but now stands at Rectory Farm Stud in Sutton, Cambridgeshire.

His owner, Mette Campbell-Andenaes, who bred and sold the yearling filly, is an enthusiast for coloured thoroughbreds and believes they could be a novel and successful addition to the racing scene. She hopes Tara will race the filly to advertise the stallion’s capabilities.

I Was Framed never raced, but the filly’s dam, bay mare Angelic Dancer, won on the Flat.

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