This is a subscriber-only article
It looks like you're browsing in private mode
THE Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses-in-Training Sale was topped by a daughter of Tamayuz at 200,000 guineas. The breeze-up section saw 143 lots sell for a total of 4,697,300 guineas, while the horses-in-training saw 61 lots realise 543,700 guineas, taking the sale turnover to 5,241,000 guineas, the second best return in the sale’s history.
The top-priced Tamayuz filly was knocked down to SackvilleDonald’s Alastair Donald. The beautifully bred daughter of the group-winning Danehill Dancer mare Ziria was consigned by Eddie O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud after failing to sell as a yearling, led out then at €140,000.
Donald secured the filly after seeing off BBA Ireland’s Eamonn Reilly and trainer David O’Meara and commented: "She is a lovely filly, with a great attitude and she is a good mover - she really put her head down and galloped."
Donald indicated that the filly would go to trainer Andrew Balding who enjoyed Grade 1 success last year with another daughter of Tamayuz when Blond Me took the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine.
Ziria has produced four blacktype winners to date including this filly’s full-sister Fadhayyil, who won the Listed City of York Stakes as well as placing in both the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes and Group 2 Rockfel Stakes.
LATE STAR
Late in the evening lot 331, a well-bred filly by Shamardal, caught the attention of buyers and was knocked down to Stroud Coleman’s Matt Coleman for 155,000 guineas after a prolonged bidding duel with Federico Barberini, who stood next to ‘Choc’ Thornton.
"She is for a long-standing client," said Coleman. "She is by Shamardal and there are not many fillies by him available to buy now. He is a great sire and a wonderful broodmare sire and she will have paddock value. She did a good breeze with a good time and was recommended by her consignor."
The filly, who was consigned by Robin Sharp’s Houghton Bloodstock, is out of the listed-winning mare Mount Elbrus and hails from the family of Invincible Spirit, Kodiac, and tomorrow's 2000 Guineas market leader Gustav Klimt.
TOP COLTS
The top-priced colt for the sale was lot 161, the Lope De Vega son of the Indian Ridge mare Spesialta, who was knocked down to Stephen Hillen and Kevin Ryan for 145,000 guineas.
"I thought he was the best horse here," said Hillen. "He did a stylish breeze, he is by a good stallion and has a pedigree."
Consigned by Brendan Holland’s Grove Stud, the brother to the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes winner Nargys provided his owners with a pinhooking windfall, having cost just €66,000 as a yearling.
Agent Charlie Gordon-Watson secured the fourth-highest price for the day when lot 305, the Dutch Art colt out of the High Chaparral mare Lady Darshaan, was knocked down to him for 130,000 guineas.
"He is out of mare who has started well and it is a very good pedigree," said Gordon-Watson. "The colt joins Dr Johnny Hon's Global empire and there is lot to like."
The colt, who was consigned by Church Farm & Horse Park Stud, was purchased on behalf of Dr Johnny Hon and is set to go into training with Gay Kelleway.
"It is very exciting to have a horse such as this and for the backing," said Kelleway. "This horse was a standout."
The colt’s dam was placed in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, is a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp winner Total Gallery, and comes from the family of Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Ambivalent.
The Church Farm & Horse Park Stud team were celebrating again shortly afterwards when lot 317, a son of the late Scat Daddy, was knocked down to BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe for 120,000 guineas.
The son of the Macho Uno mare M'Dearest was purchased as a yearling for $75,000 and was bought here by Donohoe, on behalf of Chinese based owned Yulong Investments, after he saw off the efforts of underbidder Stephen Hillen.
HORSES-IN-TRAINING
Earlier the horses-in-training section of the sale saw the ‘wildcard’ Ventura Dragon top proceedings when knocked down to trainer Richard Fahey for 62,000 guineas. The son of Dragon Pulse won at his most recent start for Fahey and owners Middleham Park Racing.
"The horse has been bought for a different owner," said Fahey. "He is a jumping man, but the horse will come back to me before going on to Oliver Sherwood."
---
At the conclusion of the 2018 Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses-in-Training Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented: “The recurring theme running through the 2018 European Breeze-Up season has been the increased selectivity, especially in comparison with last year’s record breaking sales, and it would be fair to say that today’s Guineas Breeze-Up has not been immune.
"This year’s Guineas Breeze-Up catalogue is the largest ever, by some margin, and the greater numbers have without doubt had an impact.
"While there has been healthy demand for the most coveted lots, the clearance rate, in line with all the other 2018 British breeze-up sales, has failed to match last year’s record levels.
“The turnover for the Guineas Breeze-Up has only been bettered once by last year’s extraordinary sale and the average and median have both held up well, with a diverse crowd of overseas buyers contributing at all levels of the market for the breeze up two year olds and for the horses in training.
"Nevertheless, the balance between supply and demand is a delicate one and it is apparent that, looking ahead, this is an area we must all concentrate on."
SHARING OPTIONS: