A WELL-RELATED mare in foal to Auguste Rodin topped the Tattersalls Online August Sale at 62,000gns.

Hardys Of Kilkeel, the business of owner/breeder Paul Hardy, signed for the Castlehyde Stud-consigned Carriage, an unraced full-sister to Group 2 second Emphatic Answer and to the dam of Irish Oaks runner-up Wemightakedlongway.

The three-year-old daughter of No Nay Never is also closely related to another Group 2 performer in Kalispera, while Dewhurst Stakes victor Beethoven features further down the page.

Castlehyde’s sole other offering, Candidly, is also joining Hardy’s broodmare band at a cost of 20,000gns. Offered in foal to Blackbeard, the daughter of Churchill is out of 1000 Guineas Trial second Nell Gwyn, herself a full-sister to the great Rock Of Gibraltar.

A breeding right to promising second season sire Palace Pier was bought by J and A Young Racing for 60,000gns, the same price paid by George Baker Racing for Ralph Beckett’s highly-rated three-year-old Richie’s Rocket.

A nine-length winner last November, the New Bay gelding finished fourth at listed level on his next start and was last seen finishing fourth over a mile at Goodwood, with his mark remaining at 88.

Andrew Balding’s similarly-rated three-year-old Allegresse brought 46,000gns from Peter Harper. Second last time out, the Oasis Dream gelding is a two-time winner over a mile at Kempton.

Faye Bramley’s Lodgedown Stables are regular buyers via online sales and came away with Jessica Harrington’s Gowran maiden winner Confused for 36,000gns. Jack Davison’s Group 3-winning sprinter Thunderbear has a much shorter trip ahead of him after selling to Stephen Thorne and Shamrock Thoroughbreds for 35,000gns.

The Tattersalls Online August Sale attracted a record 437 bidders from Belgium, France, India, Ireland, Italy, Germany, the Middle East, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the US and the UK.