November Offers Especially Blue Blood

It wouldn't be November at the sales without at least a couple of true blue-blooded mares walking through the ring. This year, we have the opportunity to see some real standouts in the wake of the Southern Equine - Hill 'n' Dale dispersal (full story here) at Fasig-Tipton. 

Of special note are the Deputy Minister mare Better Than Honour (pedigree) and the young Point Given (SRO) daughter Point Ashley (pedigree).

Better Than Honour is of course known as the dam of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winners Jazil (SRO) and Rags to Riches, and is a graded winner herself.  She sells open.

Point Ashley is a grade I juvenile winner and is offered in foal to Distorted Humor (SRO).

So the question is:  who makes off with these prizes?  Will Darley and Coolmore duke it out?  Will there be a split decision or does one of them walk away with both mares?  Will Coolmore be active at the "new" Darley-allied Fasig-Tipton?  And is there another bidding interest out there who can compete with the two powerhouses?  After all, mares of this caliber aren't sent through a public auction every day -- a lot of serious breeders have got to be looking at their books to determine what their top bid might be.

So who wins?  And how high do they have to go?