DAY two of the Tattersalls July Sale saw five horses sell for 200,000gns or more. Two of them were trained by Donnacha and Joseph O'Brien, including the session-topper Aegina.
A three-year-old filly by Havana Grey, Aegina cost £240,000 as a yearling and was placed on all four starts as a two-year-old in 2025, which included both a maiden win and a listed race placing, both at Dundalk in October.
She hasn't run at all this year for Donnacha O'Brien and, put on the market here by owner Skara Glen Stables, was purchased for 240,000gns by Elwick Stud, which is home to stallion Mondialiste in the north of England.
“She’s a lovely filly," said Gary Moore, stud manager. "She was the only one we wanted to buy and she’ll come back to us for a rest before we make any plans. She’s got a bit of a quarter crack so we’ll fix that and see what she’s like.
“We’ll do what’s best by her, we don’t want to do anything daft, but we’ll aim to send her back into training, whether that’s this year or next year. Hopefully she can pick up some more blacktype. We bought her to be a broodmare really, the racing bit is an added bonus, to be honest.
"She’s not over-big but she’s strong, she’s a real strong filly. We’re always trying to upgrade our mares though and she looked like an ideal candidate.”
Britannia fifth
Ed Bethell is the new trainer of Capall Rasa, who finished a fine fifth in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot recently for trainer Tom Dascombe. Rated 93, the Footstepsinthesand gelding sold for 215,000gns and will race for new owner Raj Singh.
"He looks a fun horse and ran a big race in the Britannia," said Bethell. "He is really very progressive, and he's got a nice profile. His new owner Mr. Singh is new to the game, and wants some horses to take him to the good days – fingers crossed he's that type.
"He'll come to us, we'll see where we're at with him and train him for some of the big days."
Juddmonte pair
Two of the top lots in the Juddmonte draft - both by Kingman - were bought by Irish buyers. Agent Colm Sharkey paid 210,000gns for Guardian Of Realm, a filly who recently won a Fairyhouse maiden for Ger Lyons, and Gordon Elliott gave 120,000gns for Contador, a colt who has placed form in France for Francis Graffard.
BBA Ireland paid 200,000gns for Yaupon De Replay, a three-year-old filly who memorably won a listed race at Fairyhouse on her two-year-old debut last year. A daughter of young US sire Yaupon, she was second last week over seven furlongs at Naas off a mark of 96 for trainer Joseph O'Brien.
The sale concludes on Thursday with two session, before and after racing at Newmarket.