PROGRESSIVE three-year-old Space Invasion proved a clear highlight of Tattersalls February Sale, with Richard Hannon’s offering bringing 250,000gns on the second and final day of trade.

Steven Parkin’s home-bred was one of four to fetch six figures - one up on last year. The median price of 11,000gns was also positive, matching last year’s record high. From a slightly smaller offering, the average price fell by 1% to 17,838gns, while the clearance rate dropped two points to 83%.

Buyers from over 20 countries partook, with the top lot among those off to sunnier climes. Alastair Donald purchased the Space Blues colt on behalf of Sheikh Isa, who is sending his recruit to Daniel and Claire Kubler in Bahrain.

“There’s a flight at the end of February, so this horse can get straight over there,” Donald explained. “The advantage with the Kublers is that they still have their horses in Lambourn, so they can keep him going there and then he can run in Bahrain in March, when there’s still a couple more series races that he’d qualify for.”

Catalogued with a mile maiden win at Lingfield, Space Invasion had since backed up with a successful handicap debut off a mark of 80. Now rated 88, he has also provided important updates for his listed-placed dam Peticoatgovernment, who sold to NSL Investments for 10,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale.

On Space Invasion, Donald commented: “He’s a good-looking horse with ideal fast ground conformation. He’s shown a good turn of foot, and the horse he stuffed last time made 100,000gns yesterday.

“He’s progressive, well-rated and, if he wins his next race, he becomes a very valuable horse. The trainer was underbidder, and it’s always encouraging when they want to keep them. Hopefully he’s got a bright future. He looks ideal for Bahrain.”

Another man’s treasure

The horse he ‘stuffed’ was 77-rated three-year-old Sovereign Wealth, who topped Thursday’s opening session at 100,000gns. Bought by Yulong as a yearling for 450,000gns, the Frankel colt will continue his career in the colours of Dubai owners Blue Blood Racing, purchaser Ted Durcan revealed.

“The lads had him earmarked, I had him earmarked, he vetted extremely well and is very well bred,” the agent relayed. “He is a solid horse, a young horse and now he has been gelded, there might be an upside to him. We thought we’d have to go that - he is a young horse and on the upgrade.”

Thursday’s highlight was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment, who sold Joseph O’Brien’s recent winner Porter for 75,000gns earlier in the session. Walter Buick signed for the three-year-old son of Too Darn Hot, who will continue his career in Norway.

“He will be supplemented for the Norwegian Derby,” Buick reported. “They have changed the rules and previously horses had to be supplemented before the end of the two-year-old year, but now we have until the end of February, so it works out really well for this sale.

“He will definitely stay the trip, he is the right shape and not overly big. As some of the tracks are tight, we don’t want them too big. He is very well-balanced and very sound.

“He is to be trained by Are Hyldmo, who is with me, and he has won the Derby five times already.”

Don’t go

2024 John Smith’s Cup winner Enfjaar will return to Roger Varian after the trainer made a last-minute call to Alex Elliott, who secured Shadwell’s offering for 120,000gns. The six-year-old Lope De Vega gelding was offered out of training and has been off the track since July, when he was sent off favourite for a listed race at Newbury.

After signing the docket, Elliott reported: “Roger Varian only rang me 10 minutes ago and asked me to bid, he has bought him for a new client.”

A similar absence didn’t deter Elliott from purchasing Naval Command the previous day, combining with regular client Ralph Beckett to spend 80,000gns. The four-year-old gelding came with a rating of 85, earned when finishing second in a Newmarket novice stakes in June, having finished fourth on his two previous starts.

Elliott commented: “This horse has not run for a while, but the Godolphin notes said that not a lot had gone wrong, he just had some time off since he ran on some fast ground.

“He has got a mark, we think we could stretch him out in distance, go for softer ground, and he will suit Ralph’s programme very well.

“He is a bit of a blank canvas, still a maiden and has potential. If we get a bit more uplift, he could be worth a bit more come October.”

Love at first sight

Well-related four-year-old Wilhelmina was the highest-priced mare of the sale, bringing 125,000gns from Neil Goldie-Scot and Clare Salmon of Apedroc Stud, working alongside Arthur Dobell of Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. The half-sister to Group 1 winner Poptronic will join their select broodmare band of five in East Sussex.

Wilhelmina was offered by Jamie Railton with a rating of 80 following last month’s win - the second of her career - but the daughter of New Bay had multi-faceted appeal, according to Salmon, who said: “Apart from the fact that she is absolutely beautiful, she is a very sweet filly and we love the breeding with Poptronic.

“We saw her yesterday morning and, as she came out of the box, I thought I can’t keep a straight face as I really want to buy her!”

On how they came to work with Dobell, Salmon explained: “We heard Arthur speak at the seminar here, and we really liked what he had to say as he spoke to the small breeder audience really brilliantly.”