HORSES of all shapes and sizes will grace Park Paddocks this week, as the July Sale, the ‘liquorice allsorts’ of bloodstock sales, returns to Tattersalls. The sale’s honour roll is evidence of the wide range of horses traditionally offered at the mixed sale, which renews on July 8th to 10th.
When landing the Gamely Stakes at the end of May, Be Your Best became the 34th Group/Grade 1 winner out of a mare sourced at the July Sale, and six days later, Camille Pissarro recorded his second top-flight success; a third Group 1 win for the progeny of BBA Ireland’s 14,000gns broodmare buy Entreat.
Golden Ace could have appealed to flat breeders, being out of a listed winner, but she instead joined the National Hunt division after selling to Ian Gosden for 12,000gns. And what a good job too, as her feelgood win for a small stable added to what was an already memorable renewal of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.
Poniros completed a Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival double for the July Sale (and sire Golden Horn), when making a winning hurdle and stable debut in the Triumph Hurdle. Baroda Stud’s offering sold for considerably more at 200,000gns, but then again, his subsequent success could be described as priceless.
Perhaps the best bargain sourced at the July Sale comes from the other end of the stamina spectrum. Haydock Sprint Cup victor Regional was sourced by Blandford Bloodstock’s Tom Biggs and Ed Bethell for just 3,500gns from Richard Fahey’s Musley Bank Stables draft.
Middle Eastern influence
British and Irish buyers from both codes can be expected to clash with their international counterparts this week, with the sale particularly known for its Middle Eastern buying bench.
Libya made its presence felt at the top of the market, aided by leading buyer Omar Esmil Ghrghar (total spent 417,000gns) and syndicate Sky Racing, who spent 175,000gns on Swindon. The top purchaser by numbers was Akarem Stable, also based in Libya.
Bahrain had more of an indirect influence on the pricier lots, with valuable races in the country mentioned by those who signed for two horses costing 180,000gns, and another for 220,000gns.
Unsurprisingly, Australian interest was strong for horses with middle-distance and staying profiles and was the destination for 250,000gns buy Bur Dubai, who was offered with a rating of 89 after impressing over a mile and a half.
His owner, Green Team Racing’s Ahmad Al Shaikh, has entered two exciting wildcards for this week’s sale. The Charlie Johnston-trained Green Storm (Lot 583E) claimed runners-up honours in last year’s Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and, more recently, finished seventh of 18 in the Epsom Derby.
Last month’s fifth in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot was also encouraging, as he finished in a manner that suggested a step up in trip could suit.
By Circus Maximus and out of multiple group winner Banimpire, he is expected to fetch far more than the €12,000 he sold for as a yearling.
Progressive wildcards
The same owner’s Al Shababi (Lot 583D) is also on the up, rising to a rating of 84 for Owen Burrows. The Without Parole colt won a mile maiden well in April but ran green when third at Haydock last time, suggesting that he is not yet the finished article.
The 101-rated three-year-old Matauri Bay (Lot 583C), who chased home Field Of Gold in last year’s Solario Stakes is another late addition to the catalogue, along with Gary and Josh Moore’s Small Fry (Lot 583B).
The four-year-old was last seen winning a valuable handicap over a mile and a half at Epsom, earning him a rating of 92. Mark Usher’s progressiver sprinter, Fahrenheit Seven (Lot 583A), will be offered by Jamie Railton with a rating of 93.
Winning two-year-old Luminare (Lot 243A) holds residual value as a full-sister to stakes performer Ribhi and a half-sister to dual Group/Grade 3 winner Raqiya. Dubawi three-year-old Beauty Beyond (Lot 243D) is out of a listed winner, while Ahlain (Lot 243C) herself finished fourth in a listed race.
Nine wildcard entries have brought this week’s catalogue to 942 lots, though there are a large number of withdrawals, as is usually the case at this sale. The number catalogued is relatively on par with the last two years.
The 2023 renewal was particularly strong and last year failed to match up on final figures, with the average dropping to 25,749gns and median to 11,000gns. The diverse range of horses offered means catalogues and therefore figures often vary year-on-year, and last year’s clearance rate of 90% suggested that vendors were happy with trade.
Lot 103: Fifth Of May’s half-brother finished fourth in the German Derby Trial, beaten a length and a quarter, since the catalogue was printed
Lot 123: Majmu, a dual Group 1 winner in South Africa, has already produced a Group 2 performer and stakes filly. Offered in foal to Pinatubo
Lot 132: Triggers Broom, the dam of Middle Park Stakes victor Supremacy, will be offered in foal to new sire Chaldean
Lot 179: Dreaming Spires is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Arizona Blaze, who was beaten just a neck in the Commonwealth Cup last month – his third Group/Grade 1 placing
Lot 180: Listed winner and Group 3 performer Miaharris is offered with a maiden cover to City Of Troy
Lot 242: Lunar Shine is a Kodiac half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Anmaat and Grade 3 scorer Syntax
Lot 244: Midnight Fair is a half-sister to Ghaiyyath and Zhukova, by leading broodmare sire Raven’s Pass. Offered in foal to Space Blues
Lot 265: Magical Treasure is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Sea Silk Road (Sea The Stars), out of a listed winner
Lot 546: Pantile Warrior was last seen finishing third to Merchant and Serious Contender (subsequently second in Irish Derby) in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot
Lot 550: Four-year-old sprinter Kylian added another listed win to his record since the catalogue was printed
Lot 551: Green Triangle also gained a notable update when winning the valuable Gowran Classic
Lot 552: Cowardofthecounty won a Group 3 as a juvenile
Lot 556: Well-bred Wootton Bassett three-year-old Jouncy was group-placed as a two-year-old and is currently rated 93
Lot 564: Quadratic is by Dubawi, out of Frankel’s Fillies’ Mile heroine Quadrilateral. From the family of Hasili
Lot 575: Orchid Bouquet is a Kingman own-sister to brilliant sprinter and promising young sire Calyx, as well as listed winner and Grade 2 second Coppice
Lot 600: Hi Royal placed in both the Irish and English 2000 Guineas. Group-placed last season, the now five-year-old finished second in the Thirsk Hunt Cup this term
Lot 895: Quai De Bethune won the Golden Gate Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out