Horse owner breaks down in tears after selling beloved colt for almost £1million

A HORSE owner and breeder broke down in tears after selling her beloved colt for almost £1million.

Tanya Gunther was overcome with emotion and her voice trembled as she spoke after the hammer went down on the last foal out of her adored late mare Without You Babe.

Gunther, who runs the Newsells Park Stud, saw the unnamed colt by Kingman go for big money at this week's Tattersalls Book 1 sales in Newmarket.

The sales - which saw a relative of Osama bin Laden splash millions - are the biggest of the year for young horses and over £100million was spent by some of the most famous players in the game.

Among them were Coolmore, who topped the lot by paying over £2m for one horse whose sire is the brilliant Frankel.

Not that far behind was Gunther's bay colt who was bought by Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock.

Without You Babe was mum to Group 1 winners Tamarkuz and Without Parole, who won the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2018.

This new colt was her final foal before her death and Gunther was overcome with emotion when talking about how it felt to see him go for such a huge sum.

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Trying in vain to fight back tears, she said: "This Kingman colt - we loved him. He's the last foal out of the mare so it's mixed feelings.

"You want people to love them enough to pay good money for them, but it's sad to see him go.

"The mare was such a sweet mare as well so it's been emotional.

"I see a lot of Without You Babe in this horse and he has the colouring of Kingman, he seems to have a great mind.

"He's a special last foal for a mare.

"There's not too many mares who will produce multiple Group 1 winners but he could be special.

"He could be anything and it's sad to see him go."

St Lawrence, who bought the horse for Bahraini owner Fawzi Nass, said: "I loved him from the first time I saw him.

"Hopefully he can take us to the 2,000 Guineas and we can have a bit of fun."

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