THE Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale (incorporating the May Sale) and the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale have again been postponed due to the continued uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tattersalls has also announced new dates for the combined Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze Up Sale as well as unveiling contingency plans of an amended format for the fixture if required.

The Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze-Up Sale will now take place in Newmarket on Tuesday, June 23rd.

The Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, incorporating the May Sale, will move to the week beginning Monday, July 13th, while the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale will take place on Friday, July 24th, with the breezes taking place earlier that week.

Contingency plans for the format of the combined Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze-Up Sale have also been formulated. In the event that British government guidelines preclude breezing conventionally prior to the sale in Newmarket, arrangements have been made for the breezes to take place well in advance of the June 23rd sale date, in the week beginning Monday, June 8th.

Irish breeze

Under these circumstances, the vast majority of two-year-olds catalogued for the Craven and Ascot Breeze-Up which are based in Ireland will breeze under full sale conditions at an Irish racecourse to be confirmed following approval from Horse Racing Ireland, while their UK-based counterparts will breeze on the customary Newmarket ‘Watered Gallop’ adjacent to the Rowley Mile Racecourse.

The two-week period between the breezes and the sale will not only allow full dissemination of all the necessary information and data needed by buyers throughout the world, but also, regulations permitting, will give buyers additional opportunities to view the two-year-olds at their home locations prior to the sale.

While aiming to conduct the Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze-Up Sale in a manner as close to the conventional format as possible, Tattersalls will also be introducing online and telephone bidding platforms.

Flexibility

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “The changes have been made on the assumption that in the intervening period there will have been at least a partial resumption of racing behind closed doors and that Government social restrictions will also have been relaxed to some extent.

“The Breeze in Ireland will cater for approximately 85% of the Craven and Ascot two-year-olds, while their UK based counterparts will benefit from breezing on the same widely-praised Newmarket ‘Watered Gallop’ as they would normally use.

“Subject to Government guidelines, potential buyers may be allowed to attend the breezes, but in the event of continued restrictions, buyers will be able to view the breezes live online and will have access to as much pre-sale information and data as we can reasonably provide, as well as having an extended period in which to view the horses prior to the date of the sale.

“These are exceptional times and we are taking exceptional measures. A pan-European approach is vital under the current circumstances and we have been in close consultation with our Irish and French counterparts to ensure that a workable breeze-up calendar can be implemented on behalf of all concerned.

National Hunt

Matt Mitchell, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland, added: “We are pleased to be able to confirm the new dates for the flagship Tattersalls Ireland Derby and May Sale and we are confident that the week beginning Monday, July 13th will work well for both vendors and purchasers alike.”