THE appropriately named Rock On Rio, impressive when winning a maiden at Tralee in late May, topped trade at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot July Sale on Tuesday, selling to Andrew McNamara for £75,000 on behalf of owner Michael Carmody. The four-year-old son of Caption Rio was the star on a day when the company reported a 56% increase in aggregate to £1,303,200, a 48% rise in average and a 33% jump in the median.

Rock On Rio was one of five lots sold from Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables, though the vendor had to take second spot behind the Godolphin draft of 19 lots that sold for more than £250,000, nearly a fifth of the turnover on the day.

The Sam Curling-trained Fortified Bay won a bumper at Perth recently on his debut and was a late entry to the sale. A four-year-old son of Makfi, he was snapped up by Kevin Ross Bloodstock for Paul and Clare Rooney at £70,000. He was one of three lots purchased by Ross who was the leading purchaser at the sale. One of the others was Chu Chu Percy from Billy Harney’s Manna Stables. The five-year-old by Tobougg won at Stradbally in April and cost £36,000.

JJ O’Leary also made three purchases and the most expensive of them was Austerity, sent to the sale by Alan Swinbank and returning to him. The three-year-old son of Elnadim, unplaced in two starts, was sold to dissolve a partnership and realised £47,000.

Imperial Way was runner-up on his only start in a Sligo bumper, beating the subsequent winner Golden Poet, and on the day Patrick Mullins was in the saddle for his uncle Tom. Impressed with the four-year-old son of Getaway, he recommended the four-year-old who was bought by Harold Kirk for Willie Mullins for £45,000.

Agent Tom Malone was busy and among his purchases was Marley Firth who won a four-year-old maiden point-to-point at Maralin back in May for Michael Goff’s Moate Stables. The son of Flemensfirth cost £43,000. Malone earlier teamed up with Lucinda Russell to acquire Rising Marienbard from Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Stables for £30,000. The four-year-old by Marienbard won a maiden at Inchydoney.

Ballingarry maiden winner Roi De Dubai, a half-brother by Dubai Destination to Grade 2 National Hunt winners Moon Over Miami and Moneytrain, was sold by Ken Budds’ Sandyhill Stables to Ormond Bloodstock for £38,000.

Seamus Mullins paid £33,000 for the French-bred Coco Live consigned by Sean Doyle from Monbeg Stables. The four-year-old is a son of Secret Singer and from the family of My Will and Unioniste. He won on his debut at Kinsale in June.

The best of the Godolphin draft was Weather Front and this winner over a mile at Redcar in June is a three-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic. Bobby O’Ryan signed the docket at £30,000.

Richard Pugh, director of horses in training, was delighted with the results achieved and said afterwards: “Ascot is becoming a trusted venue for both vendors and purchasers alike and, in view of recent results, the future looks very bright.”