TRADE was strong in the opening session of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale on Tuesday and it was headed by a colt by Intello who made 575,000gns on an evening that saw 31 lots selling for 100,000gns or more, only three fewer than at the entire sale last year.

A total of 49 lots sold for 6,955,000gns, a new record for a session at this sale, with the average up 48% at 141,939gns and the median up 83% at 110,000gns.

The session-topping Intello colt is out of listed-winning mare Marika and he was sold to John Ferguson. Consigned by Brendan Holland’s Grove Stud, the well-bred colt is a half-brother to listed winners Sabratah and Raw Impulse.

Ferguson, who fended off interest from eventual underbidder Kerri Radcliffe as well as Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald, commented: "He is a beautiful individual, and he moves very well. He is from a top consignor who does a great job and this sale can produce quality horses."

POINT OF ENTRY

The sole offering in the sale by Kentucky-based sire Point Of Entry made the second highest price of the evening when selling to Angus Gold, on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Company, for 390,000gns.

Consigned by Malcolm Bastard, the bay colt is a half-brother to Taareef, winner of the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and the Group 3 Prix Daphnis and from the family of Marianna's Girl, the dam of five stakes winners.

Wycombe House purchased the colt as a yearling in the US for $140,000 and, after the sale, Bastard commented: "He is a beautiful mover. He is a big strong horse with pace and as a May foal you would hope for some more improvement."

EXCEED AND EXCEL

The third highest price on the opening day was achieved by Thomond O’Mara’s Knockanglass Stables’ Exceed And Excel colt who sold to Blandford Bloodstock for 370,000gns.

Catalogued as Lot 40, the bay is out of Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes winning mare Please Sing and was previously purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Howson and Houldsworth Bloodstock for 48,000gns.

O'Mara said: "I am delighted. He is a quick horse and is going to a good judge - I am delighted Richard Brown [Blandford Bloodstock] has bought him.”

Brown commented: "I bought the dam Please Sing for the Wates family of Langton Stud. I have followed the colt all the way through since a foal. He is bred to be quick and he is quick - he did a phenomenal breeze. He stays in the UK."

SHAMARDAL

The Shamardal filly out of Barathea mare Lavendar And Lace made the fourth highest price on the opening session when selling to Alliance Bloodstock/John Egan for 320,000gns. Consigned by Mocklershill, the well-related filly is out of a half-sister to Group 1 winners Mandaean and Wavering and was purchased by Willie Browne as a yearling for €100,000.

The second day of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale continues on Wednesday 19th April at 6pm.

READ LEO POWELL'S FULL SALE REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND