TWO lots sold for 100,000 guineas or more at the postponed Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, Alan King and Highflyer Bloodstock secured the top lot, and a total of 13 lots sold for 50,000 guineas or more.

Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley and trainer Alan King have been long standing supporters of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale and the pair purchased four lots at this year’s renewal for 258,000 guineas including the sale-topping Excelebration colt for 140,000 guineas.

"We don't go on times, but unfortunately he did a good time which increased interest in him, and pushed his price," said Bromley. "We just like to look at them as individuals, their strides and general way of going."

"This is the horse we really wanted and we had to really push the boat out to get him," added the agent.

King, fresh from his three-timer at Royal Ascot, added: "Delighted and he is for two long-standing supporters of the yard in Max McNeill and Niall Farrell."

The colt, who is out of the Mark Of Esteem mare Open Book, was consigned by Meadowview Stables who purchased him at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale for just €18,000.

CLASSIC TIMING

Dolmen Bloodstock, the partnership of Justin Timmons and Danny O'Donovan, were celebrating after their Make Believe filly out of Olivia Pope was knocked down for 105,000 guineas to Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown after he saw off the efforts of David Redvers.

The filly received a significant boost on the weekend when her sire’s son Mishriff won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club.

"It was massive!" commented Timmons on the classic victory on Sunday. "She has an engine and we were very happy with her breeze. She has been very busy, but it is always hard to gauge. We had the right people on her."

The Kildare-based Dolmen Bloodstock team enjoyed a mighty pinhooking touch, having purchased the filly for just €10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Roger O’Callaghan’s Tally-Ho Stud had plenty of reasons to celebrate after their Lucky Lion colt sold for 95,000 guineas to the bid of agent Jake Warren.

The son of a German mile classic winner and of the Galileo mare Livia's Wake, also caught the attention of underbidder Richard Brown and Mags O’Toole, but it was Warren who proved triumphant and commented: "It is unique for a horse like this to be at a breeze-up sale.

"He has size and scope, and to have breezed as well as he did has to be very positive – he has the credentials to become a Derby prospect.

"He should make up into a lovely horse, middle-distance type, and the bulk of his career will come next year. We have not decided on a trainer yet, but he will stay in the UK."

Lucky Lion is a son of High Chaparral who was successful at the highest level in Germany and stands at Gestut Graditz.

The sale was a successful one for his owners who purchased him as a yearling for just €21,000.

FILLY

Katie McGivern's Derryconnor Stud enjoyed a successful sale when their Kodiac filly out of Group 3-winning Nashwan mare Fair Nashwan was knocked down to Rabbah Bloodstock for 90,000 guineas.

Having been unsold as a yearling, she was sold today for a partnership between breeder Nafferty Stud and McGivern.

"She clocked one of the fastest times in the breeze" reported McGivern. "She is a lovely, very straightforward filly – I hope she is a stakes filly for the new owner.

"She has loads of ability and is very easy – the good ones are generally easy in my barn! She was always a powerful filly and looked like a colt, and still does."

Of this year's breeze up season, McGivern was very positive, saying: "It has been consistent for me. I have sold everything I have offered so far. There has been a great sale at every sale I have been at, no different from any other year apart from the precautions we have had to take. For me there is a good solid market at every level."

Of future plans for the filly, trainer James Tate said: "Run as soon as possible! She did a very fast time, I thought she was a standout filly in the catalogue. She will be one of the most expensive, but I thought she was decent value at that. I hope she will be running in July, she looks fit and well and if she stays that well she can run soon."

Rabbah Bloodstock signed the docket for owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum.

Chairman's Statement

At the conclusion of the 2020 Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented: “In the current climate we are all looking to accentuate the positives and I think we can reflect on solid if unspectacular trade at this year’s renewal of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up.

"This is, however, a year where ’solid if unspectacular’ is a positive outcome and we would like to thank all those who have participated at today’s sale for their contribution.

"The buyers have worked incredibly hard and the Breeze-Up consignors have had to endure uniquely difficult conditions in the run up to the 2020 Breeze-Up sales season, but ultimately everyone can look back on sales which have largely exceeded expectations.

“It has been challenging staging events of this nature with the prevailing Covid-19 related regulations still in place but, despite continued travel restrictions, today’s Guineas Breeze-Up has seen demand from throughout the world including Australia, Bahrain, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Kuwait, Qatar and Spain.

"The international demand has been accompanied by spirited bidding from the domestic British and Irish buyers and has resulted in some notable pinhooking successes, while the overseas buyers have made use of every possible means at their disposal to participate in the sale, including extensive use of our new live internet bidding platform as well as telephone bidding.

"It is a tribute to the resilience of the global bloodstock market that we continue to experience this level of international demand and we expect to see further widespread use of the live internet bidding platform at our two-day July Sale which commences tomorrow morning at 10.00am."

SUBSCRIBE TO THE IRISH FIELD AND READ ALL OUR PREMIUM CONTENT