NANCY SEXTON
Weblog: Running the rule over studs and sales
Brendan Brackan: one of Thursday’s star wild cards at Tattersalls
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
Day two statistics
Catalogued: 253
Offered: 169
Sold: 160 (95%)
Top lot: 185,000gns paid by Bobby O’Ryan for lot 523, an Acclamation three-year-old, who landed his second race at Haydock last month
Aggregate: 2,834,200 (+25%)
Average: 17,714 (-2%)
Median: 10,000gns (+11%)
Lot 523: New Street
Gassim Ghazali and Hussain Ali Bukannan have dominated proceedings today, but they fail to land New Street, who is knocked down to Bobby O’Ryan on behalf of owner James Smith for 185,000gns. The Acclamation colt will go into training with Jim Best.
The three-year-old scored for the second time in his career last month at Haydock in a 1m2f handicap
A £105,000 yearling, New Street is out of the winning Rainbow Quest mare New Deal and is from the family of US Grade 3 winner Daloma.
“The long-term aim is next year’s Triumph Hurdle,” said Best. “He has a bit of size and has plenty of strength, everything you need in a hurdler.
“With the support of owners like James, I hope to step up to the next level. We hope this horse can put us on the right track.”
Lot 464B: Ko Cache
The dual winning daughter of Kodiac will be on a flight destined to the Middle East with a number of today’s dearer lots after falling to leading Qatar owner Hussain Ali Bukannan, who was sat with his trainer Zuhair Mohsen.
Bukannan has been a prominent name on the buyers’ list at the July Sale for several years. Twelve months ago he purchased subsequent Qatar Cup winner Peter Mac, also by Kodiac, for 95,000gns as well as Qatar Derby runner-up Beach Club, who cost 90,000gns.
“She is a lovely filly,” said Mohsen. “She’s shown a high level of form and has been very consistent. We will aim her at all the biggest two-year-old races. There are lots of opportunities for her. She will eventually go to stud.”
Lot 463A: Fugleman
The first of this year’s wildcard entries proves extremely popular, selling to Qatar trainer Gassim Ghazali for 75,000gns.
The juvenile was an impressive winner on his debut at Carlisle last month for Ben Haslam and owners Middleham Park Racing, who picked him up for £11,500 at the DBS Premier Yearling Sale last year.
The Fast Company colt is a half-brother to the US Grade 3 winner Mrs Kipling and is a grandson of Quinpool, who was third in the Kentucky Oaks.
Ghazali also struck at 85,000gns for wildcard entry Stevie’s Wonder (464D), who caught the eye when chasing home the highly touted Gleneagles at the Curragh last month.
The Art Connoisseur colt is the second foal out of the Soviet Star are Our Jo Jo, who landed a 7f maiden at two, and shares his page with the Group 1-winning half-brothers Ectot and Most Improved.
“There are three big two-year-old races in Qatar and these two horses were the perfect fit,” said Ghazali. “They have lots of improvement in them, but have shown a useful level of form over here. They were good value.
“I won the three big two-year-old races in Qatar last year with horses I’d bought at this sale.”
Lot 464G: Brendan Bracken
The Group-winning five-year-old son of Big Bad Bob is heading back to the stables of Ger Lyons after selling to David Redvers for 145,000gns.
Redvers, acting on behalf of Sheikh Fahad, said: “He’s going back to Ger – Sheikh Fahad thought that with the cost of yearlings this was value for a genuine Group performer.
“Ger was desperate to keep him – he’s sound, durable and consistent and I hope it continues.”
Winner of the Group 3 Solonaway Stakes at the Curragh last year, Brenden Bracken was bred by Cristina Patino’s Anamoine Ltd. He was led out unsold for a mere €4,000 as a yearling at the Tattersalls Ireland December Flat Sale in 2010.
Lot 445: King Of The Danes
The regally-bred son of Dansili is another heading to the Middle East after selling to Badan Al-Saubaie for 62,000gns.
The 84-rated gelding is a four-time winner and is a half-brother to Sun Chariot Stakes winner Spinning Queen, who was sold for
3 million guineas at the 2006 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
Further back, it is the family of US Grade 1 winner Labeeb and Savel Begs Stakes scorer Windermere.
Lot 432: Abbey Village
The Exceed And Excel three-year-old is heading to the Middle East to be trained by Qatar’s champion trainer Gassim Ghazali after selling for 70,000gns.
The 85-rated gelding struck in a 1m maiden at Haydock in May before finishing 19th in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot for Richard Fahey.
Bought as a yearling in the same ring for 80,000gns, Abbey Village is a half-brother to seven winners, including the Group 1-winning two-year-old Wootton Bassett and Listed-placed juvenile Mister Hardy.
“He could be aimed at the Qatar Derby,” said Ghazali, who trained a record 170 winners last season. “But I might have a couple of others for that race.
“I have been coming to this sale for six years and it has been very lucky for me. I feel happy here.”
Lot 429: Ex Ex
The son of Exceed And Excel is knocked down to Richard Frisby for 45,000gns, considerably less than the 260,000gns he made in the same ring as a yearling in 2011.
The four-year-old won the third race of his career at Newmarket last month for trainer Nick Littmoden.
”He is for Alan Smith of the Baharain Royal Stable,” said Frisby. “He’s a progressive horse who should be very competitive out there.”
Lot 410: Red Primo
The Iffraaj colt, who has racked up a hat-trick of wins for Alan McCabe this year, is led out unsold at 68,000gns.
The 80-rated three-year-old, who was bought by McCabe and Tom Malone for 27,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, is out of a multiple winning half-sister to Italian Listed winner Tremoto.
Fantastic clearance rate
This morning’s trade so far has seen 62 lots offered with only one failing to find a new owner.
The second session’s trade is still led by Highflyer Bloodstock’s 60,000gns purchase, who has contributed to sales of 598,400gns. The average is running at 9,498gns and the median at 8,000gns.
Lot 368: Dry Your Eyes
Leading jumps trainer Donald McCain is off the mark at this year’s July Sale, parting with 12,000gns for this winning Shamardal three-year-old.
The filly broke her duck in a 1m4f Beverley handicap this year for Mark Johnston.
Rated 68 on the level, Dry Your Eyes has the pedigree for a career over hurdles, being a half-sister to Gordon Elliott’s smart dual-purpose performer Bayan, who finished third in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and who runs this evening on the Flat at Leopardstown.
Dry Your Eyes is out of the Listed-winning Dr Fong mare Kindling, whose Galileo colt sold for €260,000 to Form Bloodstock at last year’s Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.
Lot 325: Classical Art
The three-year-old son of Excellent Art is knocked down to the Highflyer Bloodstock team of Anthony Bromley and David Minton for 60,000gns.
The winner of a 1m4f Windsor handicap off a mark of 72 last month, Classical Art is out of the Listed-placed mare Ask Carol, who is a half-sister to six winners including Jersey Stakes winner Sergeyev and Michele Marieschi, a winning jumper in the US.
The colt, who cost €85,000 as a yearling, also shares his page St Leger winner Bob’s Return
“He’s been bought for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede,” said Bromley. “He will stay on the Flat for the time being with Roger [Varian].
“Simon and Isaac already have a couple of two-year-olds in the yard, but they’re not quite ready to run, so this horse will hopefully give them a bit of fun over the summer.
“He could be switched to a jumps trainer later in the year. He’s a progressive horse, who stays well. He looks the ideal type.”
Today’s session starts at 9.30am. Following a break for racing, it resumes at 5.30pm.
Wildcard entries:
Winning two-year-olds
463A: Fugleman – winner on debut
464A: Granny Alice
464B: Ko Cache
464C: Lupie
464D: Stevie’s Wonder; placed two-year-old
464E: Dursey Island; winning three-year-old rated 83
464F: Mirsaale; Listed-placed, rated 98
464G: Brendan Brackan; winner of the Group 3 Solonaway Stakes and Group 2-placed. Rated 111
Today’s stand-out lots include:
Red Primo; progressive son of Iffraaj is the winner of three of his four starts
Last Train; son of Rail Link is the highlight of the first Juddmonte draft – not only is he a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed but he is also a half-brother to Kind, dam of Frankel and Noble Mission, and Powerscourt
Tales Of Grimm; bought back for 230,000gns in this ring back in October, dual winner Tales Of Grimm ran second in last year’s Group 3 Darley Stakes
Winners since the publication of the catalogue:
Classical Art (325), Aurelia Cotta (353), Spring Focus (365), Enquiring (374), The Great Gabrial (409), Red Primo (410), Native Falls (414), Ex Ex (429), Poetic Choice (431), Kalahari Kingdom (435), Aryal (440), Naoise (456), Wateed (499), New Street (523)