ELEVEN lots on day two of the Tattersalls February Sale 12 months ago brought prices of 50,000gns or more, but this year’s catalogue lacked that depth of quality, and the final figures reflected this reality. Highlights were few and far between.

The Richard-Hughes-trained Brentford Hope, a six-year-old son of Camelot with a rating of 102 on the flat, sold for 90,000gns to lead the way on day two. A three-time winner, and group-placed in France and Italy, he has also shown his versatility by being placed a few times over hurdles. He now joins new trainer Harry Derham after selling to Ed Bailey Bloodstock.

Bailey said: “This is a nice, scopey horse and Harry saw him yesterday. He should progress over hurdles and he is for sale.”

A winner at Lingfield on January 2nd, Qatar Racing’s Mohatu added a second success after the catalogue was printed, justifying favouritism at Southwell three weeks later. Now rated 82 and trained by William Haggas, the three-year-old son of Roaring Lion cost Abdullah Salman Hamoud Alsabah 80,000gns, being purchased from the Jamie Railton consignment.

Mohatu is the first foal of the winning Frankel mare Tiger Eye, and he is from the sole crop sired by Roaring Lion. Tiger Eye is a half-sister to Group 2 winners Spirit Quartz and Caspian Prince, and she is also a sibling to the dam of the Hong Kong champion Exultant, a five-time Group 1 winner.

“He has been bought to race in Saudi Arabia. I now have seven horses and I will own and train him. He’s an improving horse with good form. The programme is expanding in Saudi Arabia and it is thriving,” said the purchaser.

He was preceded in the ring by the Marco Botti-trained Tenjin who sold for 75,000gns, purchased by a very happy syndicate, but signed for by trainer John Ryan and bloodstock agent Jamie Piggott. The three-year-old gelded son of Night of Thunder won over six furlongs at Kempton last year.

Wine bar

Owner Jon Thompson of the buying group said: “He wants a bit of time, and he is going to be run in association with the new wine bar in the town, Gee Gee’s Wine Bar. I think there is about 17 of us involved in this horse now, and he goes to John Ryan.”

Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah bought the three-year-old Harry Angel gelding Uncle from Richard Hannon’s East Everleigh Stables. He ran five times at two and was placed twice. He might be considered unlucky not to have a “1” by his name. He was beaten just a head in maiden at Doncaster at the end of the turf season, before running with some credit on the all-weather.

He is rated 78 by the BHA and is a half-brother to three winners. His dam Heliograph is a half-sister to Prolific, winner of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes and placed third in the Group 2 July Stakes and Group 2 Norfolk Stakes before going on to win again in Hong Kong.

Patience paid off for Tim and Gill Bostwick of Biddestone Stud, the couple successfully buying Rosa Del Rio for 52,000gns. When asked of plans for the placed Fastnet Rock filly, Tim Bostwick laughed: “We don’t really have a plan as yet; we’d got used to not being able to buy anything! We have been trying to buy a mare since the autumn. It looks like an active page, and hopefully in 12 months’ time we will have a lovely foal.” Palace Pier was mentioned as a likely first mate.

The purchase takes the Biddestone broodmare band to 15. Rosa Del Rio is out of the blacktype Galileo mare Hibiscus, whose 2021 produce, a colt by Siyouni, was sold to Hong Kong Jockey Club for €300,000. Hibiscus is an own-sister to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Line Of Duty.

The placed four-year-old, Pink Haze, a half-sister to Group 3 winner See The Rose, listed winner Xaarino and the group-placed Mont Kiara, sold to Glebe Farm for 50,000gns. “I underbid her as a yearling,” said Nick Bradley after signing for her.

“She is be Lope De Vega and I have had a bit of luck with the sire, it is a happening family and there are two more by the sire to come. She might be going to Bayside Boy.” Pink Haze made 67,000gns as a yearling and was sold by trainer David Simcock’s Trillium Place Stable.