Prominent Australian owner Paul Makin has been outbid for Pearling, the sister of successful sire Giant’s Causeway.

The Hong Kong based owner-breeder best known for his association with Starcraft, among other horses, was beaten to the broodmare by Tony Nerses.

Nerses paid 1.3m guineas at the Tattersall’s December Mares sale in Newmarket, England on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar.

That duo previously owned and raised Epsom Derby winner Authorized.

Pearling will now head for their Blue Diamond Stud.

Bidding opened at 500,000gns and Makin dropped out at the 1 million gns mark.

Nerses had to then fend off a spirited effort by Tom Ryan from S F Bloodstock.

Pearling placed once as a three-year-old in Canada but with her famous brother, it mattered little.

Pearling is also carrying a colt by Galileo.

Giant’s Causeway stands in the US under the Coolmore Stud banner for $US85,000.

He was champion sire in USA in 2009 and 2010 and champion freshman sire in Europe in 2004, champion 2yo sire in USA in 2005.

He is considered one of the best sons of Storm Cat who was one of the best sires in the world.

Giant’s Causeway is the sire of 18 Group 1 winners and 13 Group 2 winners including Shamardal.

As expensive as Pearling may seem, she wasn’t the top seller at the second day of the sale.

That honour went to Sumora, the dam of Maybe, knocked down to Michael Magnier for 2,400,000 guineas.

It is the highest priced mare to be sold at the December Sale since 2007.

Her session produced the third highest ever turnover at any sale in European auction history with four lots selling for a million guineas or more.

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