A Galileo (Ire) colt topped the fourth day of the Tattersalls December foal sale as Demi O’Byrne went to $1,017,127 (470,000 guineas) on Friday to acquire the youngster.

O’Byrne, buying for the Coolmore trio of John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, dominated Friday’s activities, purchasing the day’s other three top-priced horses as well.

The sale continued its overall upward trend as 176 horses of 236 offered sold for $26,954,947 (12,455,500 guineas), an increase of 3.2% from last year, when 154 horses were sold. Average was down 9.6% to $153,153 (70,770 guineas) and median dipped of 7.2% to $110,369 (51,000 guineas).

Brian Grassick’s Newtown Stud, agent, consigned the bay colt, who was bred in Ireland by Sunderland Holdings. He is out of the winning Charnwood Forest (Ire) mare Epping, who also produced 2006 Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-G1) runner-up The Last Drop.

O’Byrne outbid Darley bloodstock adviser John Ferguson for a Monsun colt, who was the day’s second-highest price at $973,845 (450,000 guineas).

Charlie and Tracy Vigors’s Hillwood Stud offered the colt, who is out of the winning Ela-Mana-Mou mare Mandamou, a half sister to Mandellicht, the dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Manduro. The youngster is a half brother to Italian stakes winner Mandahush and was bred in Ireland by L K I Bloodstock Ltd.

The foal sale continues through Saturday.

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