Bobby Flay did his bit to turn up the heat at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls on Tuesday from afar when, bidding online, the American native secured a Blue Point filly from Paddy Burns' Loughtown Stud in Ireland for 825,000gns. Flay, who described his breeding and ownership operation in Europe to be “growing,” revealed that Andrew Balding would train the filly out of black-type Sea The Stars mare Light The Stars. He also explained that, given he owns a mare under the second dam, Lady Frankel (Frankel), he had a natural affinity towards the pedigree of the filly who meets every one of Flay's strict criteria. The Blue Point's pedigree is a happening one given her half-sister, Haven (Wootton Bassett), is a live contender for Friday's G1 Filly's Mile at Newmarket.Flay said, “This is my kind of family. I am very selective in what I buy at these sales – it has to come from an attractive, big family and by a proven sire. It has to have intrinsic value. I'm not the guy who's going to go out and buy 12 colts to try and win the Derby. That's not my play. I actually own another filly in this family, Lady Frankel, so I know the page very well.”He added, “She will go to Malcolm Bastard before joining Andrew Balding, who helped identify her for me. I sent Andrew a very small list and she was one of his favourites. Andrew is one of the best in the world so, if I am going to give him something to train, I am going to want him to like it! Thankfully he loved her.”Flay's distinctive yellow and orange colours are perhaps best remembered for being carried by Breeders' Cup winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock), who he sold for a cool $3 million to John Stewart at Fasig-Tipton in 2023. Flay subsequently repurchased the filly privately from Resolute in 2024. In Europe, his Group 3-placed Go Go Boots (Night Of Thunder), who was trained by John and Thady Gosden, ran in last year's Oaks before being shipped home to America. He also has horses in training with Donnacha O'Brien in Ireland.On his Book 1 purchase, who is from the family of Lope De Vega, Flay continued, “Here's the thing, Blue Point is one of the hottest sires in the world right now, right? So, when you have a filly from a family like this and who looks like she does, you have to pay for them. It's like buying a piece of real estate that's in a great location. With all good intentions here, she will go to Andrew, try get some black-type and hopefully stay in my family for generations. I mean, who knows, maybe my daughter will be breeding out of her in years to come. For me, that would be the dream. I want to keep this horse for the rest of her life.”He concluded, “As well as Andrew, we have horses with John and Thady Gosden, who have been so good to me, and a couple with Donnacha O'Brien in Ireland. I am definitely growing my European operation and I try to keep it equal with the United States. We probably have roughly 10 on either side of the pond and I want to keep it to that number. That way, we can keep it as a boutique operation.”That 825,000gns translated to just over €1 million for Burns. The consignor was visibly emotional after netting one of the most memorable results from the opening session. He said, “We keep trying to upgrade the broodmare band. We've bought some nice fillies and we're covering them well. Light The Stars is in foal to Frankel – we can pay for the nomination now! This filly is beautiful, she resembles her mother, and, so I'm told, granddam Lady Vettori. I just want to thank my wife [Helena], who is at home looking after our four kids and she does all the veterinary work. And Brian and Brendan on the farm.”The post Bobby Flay Helps Turns Up Heat At Tattersalls With 825k Book 1 Blue Point Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.