TATTERSALLS in Newmarket stages its first sale of the year next week but, owing to the continuing lockdown measures in place in Britain and Ireland, the two-day auction will be staged online with no horses, vendors or purchasers on site.

The sale of almost 500 lots starts at 10am on Thursday and Friday, and all bidding will take place either online or by phone.

Included in the catalogue are approximately 190 fillies in and out of training, 40 broodmares, 200 colts and geldings in and out of training, 38 yearlings and 24 two-year-olds.

There are consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates, while there are 47 lots under the care of The Castlebridge Consignment.

Among the eye-catchers in the Castlebridge draft are the 92-rated Footstepsinthesand filly Dancing Feet, a three-time winner in 2020 for Archie Watson rated 98 by Timeform, and the smartly bred fillies Coloratura Soprano, a Golden Horn half-sister to last year’s Group 2 Oaks d’Italia winner Auyantepui, and Aubade, an Invincible Spirit half-sister to three stakes winners from the family of Cassandra Go, Halfway To Heaven, Magical and Rhododendron.

Godolphin draft

Regular leading consignors Godolphin have a draft of 20 on Thursday, offering three geldings and 17 fillies out of training by top sires including Dubawi, Oasis Dream, Sea The Stars and Shamardal.

Regally bred fillies from Juddmonte Farms are always much sought after and the team will offer some fillies in training, colts and geldings on the second day. These are led by At Ease, an Oasis Dream out of dual Grade 1 winner Jostle.

Coniger, a half-sister to two stakes-winning fillies out of the Group 2 Falmouth Stakes winner Macadamia, will be offered by Richard Hannon’s stables.

The smart Gregorian filly Sesame Birah, runner up to the subsequent Group 2 Dante Stakes winner Thunderous in the Listed Denford Stakes, will be consigned by Jamie Railton.

There are mares in foal to proven sires Acclamation, Bated Breath, Cable Bay, Havana Gold, Showcasing and Territories, as well as to young sires Advertise, Eqtidaar, Expert Eye, Harry Angel, Havana Grey, Masar and Tasleet.

Dundalk winners

Buyers looking for colts and geldings in training with smart form also have plenty to choose from. Amongst the potential highlights is the progressive four-year-old War Front colt Bluebeard’s Castle, who boasts a Timeform rating of 100 following two wins for Joseph O’Brien this winter at Dundalk.

Another Dundalk winner worth looking out for is Swift Verdict. The four-year-old colt by Dubawi out of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Just The Judge was a €1.4 million yearling.

Other eyecatchers include Affwonn, an impressive winner of his only start for Roger Varian, earning a Timeform rating of 90p, and the promising Muhaarar colt Alexej, a well-bred son of Group 3 Prix Miesque winner Aquatinta, rated 98 by Timeform following a win and three placed efforts in five starts for John Gosden.

Three-year-olds with plenty of potential include the Aguiar Bloodstock consigned The Hulk, a recent debut winner for George Boughey, and the consistent Kool Moe Dee, an 82-rated dual winner for Richard Hannon’s East Everleigh Stables.

Pinhookers also look well catered for with yearlings catalogued by sires such as Bated Breath, Camacho, Havana Gold, Nathaniel and Zoffany, as well as some by first-season sires Cracksman, Harry Angel, Massaat, Rajasinghe and Seahenge.

Virtual format

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “The decision to stage the Tattersalls February Sale in a live virtual format has been taken in the best interests of all concerned and reflects our commitment to providing the best possible working environment for participants at all of our sales, in whatever capacity they may be attending.

“The decision also recognises the increased difficulties surrounding domestic and international travel and it was felt that the prudent option was to stage the February Sale in a manner which allows vendors and purchasers alike to participate with confidence and in full compliance with prevailing rules and regulations.

“Our live internet bidding platform proved to hugely popular with buyers throughout last year, particularly at mixed sales similar to the February Sale, and we are confident that this live virtual format is the best option under the current difficult circumstances which we all continue to endure.

“In addition to promoting the February Sale to as many prospective buyers as possible our bloodstock sales team will liaise with vendors with regard to the requirements of the live virtual sale model.”

Notable lots

Lot 138: SESAME BIRAH, runner-up to subsequent Dante Stakes winner Thunderous in the Listed Denford Stakes.

Lot 162: COLORATURA SOPRANO, a Golden Horn half-sister to last year’s Group 2 Oaks d’Italia winner Auyantepui.

Lot 163: AUBADE, an Invincible Spirit half-sister to three stakes winners from the family of Cassandra Go, Halfway To Heaven, Magical and Rhododendron.

Lot 385: AT EASE, an Oasis Dream daughter of dual Grade 1 winner Jostle.

Lot 363: CONIGER, a half-sister to two stakes-winning fillies out of Group 2 winner Macadamia.

Lot 202: BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE, dual all-weather winner for Joseph O’Brien this winter and rated 100 by Timeform.

Lot 324: SUPERCONTANGO, four-year-old filly by Charm Spirit who won a five-furlong maiden this week.

Lot 368: SWIFT VERDICT, recent Dundalk maiden winner for Willie Mullins, Ballylinch Stud and the China Horse Club. Four-year-old colt by Dubawi out of classic winner Just The Judge.

Lot 425: AFFWONN, winner of his sole start for Roger Varian and rated 90p by Timeform.

Lot 434: RAYMOND TUSK, five-year-old entire by High Chaparral, rated 102, Group 2 winner.

Lot 437: KOOL MOE DEE, 82-rated dual winner for Richard Hannon.

Lot 454: ALEXEJ, a well-bred son of Group 3 Miesque winner Aquatinta and rated 98 by Timeform.

Lot 459: VARIYANN, five-year-old gelding by Shamardal. Winner of five races including a Chelmsford handicap last Friday off 87.

Lot 460: DANCING FEET, 92-rated filly by Footstepsinthesand and a three-time winner.

Sale info

Sale: Tattersalls February Sale (online)

Date: Thursday & Friday, February 4th & 5th (10am)

Lots: 497

Info: All lots to be offered live as catalogued but without being present at Tattersalls Park Paddocks. No horses, vendors or purchasers will be present. All bidding to be conducted live to auctioneers through the Tattersalls live internet bidding platform or telephone bidding via Tattersalls personnel. All buyers must register for online or telephone bidding prior to sale.

Web: tattersalls.com

Tel: 0044 1638 665931

Email: sales@tattersalls.com