“Solid if unspectacular” was a fair summation from Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahoney of trade at the Guineas Breeze Up Sale which was held in conjunction with this year’s July Sale. Successful with three winners at Royal Ascot, Alan King was very active and secured the top lot, a son of Excelebration, one of two to realise a six-figure sum. In all 13 lots sold for 50,000gns or more, down from 22 last year.

In such difficult times, comparative figures are somewhat distorted, but the final sale average was almost equal that of 2019, though the median and aggregate fell due to a smaller offering. The clearance rate of 81% was healthy, though three points down.

Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley and trainer Alan King were busy stocking up and among their purchases was the sale-topping son of Excelebration at 140,000gns, offered from Meadowview Stables. The colt realised a hefty profit on his yearling sale price of €18,000 at Fairyhouse last September. “We don’t go on times, but unfortunately he did a good time which increased interest in him, and pushed his price,” said Bromley. “We just like to look at them as individuals, their strides and general way of going. This is the horse we really wanted and we had to really push the boat out to get him,” added the agent.

King revealed that the colt was purchased on behalf of Max McNeill and Niall Farrell. A half-brother to four winners, he is from the family of Falbrav, winner of eight Group 1 races in Britain, France, Italy, Hong Kong and Japan.

The colt was preceded into the ring by the only other six-figure sale. Dolmen Bloodstock, comprising Justin Timmons and Danny O’Donovan, sold their Make Believe filly out of three-time winner Olivia Pope for 105,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown, who saw off David Redvers. The sale came just days after her sire’s son Mishriff won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby.

“She has an engine and we were very happy with her breeze. She has been very busy, but it is always hard to gauge,” said Timmons. “We had the right people on her.” The partners purchased the filly for €10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

A German-bred son of their 2000 Guineas winner Lucky Lion, offered from Roger O’Callaghan’s Tally-Ho Stud, sold for 95,000gns to the bid of agent Jake Warren. A half-brother to a pair of juvenile winners out of a Galileo mare, he impressed Warren who said. “It is unique for a horse like this to be at a breeze up sale. He has size and scope, and to have breezed as well as he did has to be very positive – he has the credentials to become a Derby prospect. He should make up into a lovely horse, middle-distance type, and the bulk of his career will come next year. We have not decided on a trainer yet, but he will stay in the UK.”

Katie McGivern’s Derryconnor Stud enjoyed a successful sale when her Kodiac filly, a half-sister to stakes winner Fair Dubawi and out of the Group 3 winner Fair Nashwan, was knocked down to Rabbah Bloodstock for 90,000gns. Unsold as a yearling for 42,000gns, the filly sold for a partnership between Nafferty Stud and McGivern. The filly will be trained for Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum by James Tate.

“She clocked one of the fastest times in the breeze” reported McGivern. “She is a lovely, very straightforward filly – I hope she is a stakes filly for the new owner.” Of this year’s breeze up season, McGivern was very positive: “It has been consistent for me. I have sold everything I have offered so far. There has been a great sale at every sale I have been at, no different from any other year apart from the precautions we have had to take. For me there is a good solid market at every level.”