NEWMARKET, UK——With what could be the final sale in Britain to be held under Covid restrictions, Tattersalls launches its three-day July Sale in Newmarket on Wednesday, when fillies and broodmares form the core of the first all-day session. Trade on Thursday and Friday will be conducted in morning and evening sessions around racing on the nearby July Course.
Last year's auction was reduced to two days, with an extra mixed sale introduced in August to allow for the fact that racing had only resumed from its enforced shutdown in early June. The number of horses catalogued and the resulting turnover were therefore significantly reduced in 2020, but we can expect to see a return to the level of trade witnessed in the preceding four years, when an aggregate of between 12 and 14 million gns was posted in what can be considered pretty consistent trade at this popular midsummer sale. Granted, there will still likely be fewer international visitors on site for the horses-in-training section but, as we have seen over the past year, the option of online buying platforms and interaction with agents on the ground have been taken up readily by buyers from afar.
The death of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in March cast a long shadow over the sport, which has been lessened by the recent announcement that his daughter Sheikha Hissa is keen to continue his labour of love that is the Shadwell breeding empire. The operation has the largest draft of 82 broodmares, breeding prospects and horses in training spread across the three days, including the half-sisters Bulbul (Ire) (Shamardal) and Dubai Fashion (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who are great grand-daughters of one of the celebrated foundation mare Height Of Fashion (Fr). Sold consecutively as lots 41 and 42, the mares are in foal to Tamayuz (GB) and Blue Point (Ire) respectively.
Major owner/breeder operations Godolphin, Cheveley Park Stud and Juddmonte are naturally represented by consignments, with Cheveley Park's draft including the former champion 2-year-old filly Hooray (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Now 13, she has produced three winners and is offered in foal to the stud's Ulysses (Ire) as lot 175.
The former Cheveley Park Stud stallion Garswood (GB), the son of Dutch Art (GB) from the family of Infallible (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}), makes his third appearance in the ring at Tattersalls, having been sold there as a foal by his breeder in 2010 and the offered during the Craven Breeze-up Sale two years later. He went on to win the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G2 Lennox S. among his four career victories and now, after standing two seasons in France, he will be offered as the final lot on Wednesday (340).
Prior to that, the 3-year-old filly Auriga (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), will be put through the ring as lot 155 by WH Bloodstock. Though unraced, she has much to recommend her as there has been plenty happening in her family in recent seasons. Her mother, the speedy Look Busy (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}), was a prolific winner who was successful in 12 of her 51 starts, including the G2 Temple S. and the G3 Flying Five, which has subsequently been upgraded to Group 1 status. Her daughter Keep Busy (Ire), a 4-year-old Night Of Thunder (Ire) half-sister to Auriga, shows similar sprinting prowess, with her five wins including this season's listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S. Furthermore, Look Busy's half-brother Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) was France's champion 2-year-old in 2017 after winning the G1 Darley Prix Morny and G2 Prix Robert Papin.
Another family which has been in the news often in recent years is that of Roodica (GB) (Due Diligence), who is catalogued as lot 162. An unraced 4-year-old half-sister to G1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), she is offered by Baroda Stud and is in foal to New Bay (GB) on a March 31 cover. Her dam Roodle (GB) (Xaar {GB}), a dual winner, is a half-sister to new Shadwell stallion Mohaather (GB) and the GII Monrovia S. winner Prize Exhibit (GB), both of whom are by Showcasing (GB) from a clan which has served the Johnson Houghton family very well over a number of generations.
Kirsten Rausing's 'Al' family continues to go from strength to strength, with the most recent group winner to emerge being Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) , heroine of Saturday's G2 Lancashire Oaks. There are two chances to buy into this family's from Rausing's Lanwades draft, which offers the young mare Alchimista (GB) (Archipenko), a grand-daughter of the champion racemare Alborada (GB) (Alzao) in foal for the first time to Sir Percy (GB) (lot 81). Two lots later (83) comes another Archipenko mare in foal to Sir Percy, Alveda (GB), who is a half-sister to Sir Percy's listed winner Madrileno (GB).
Wednesday's session also features eight wildcard entries. Among them is the 86-rated Bringsty (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), the recent winner of a seven-furlong novice contest for David Simcock. The 3-year-old gelding is out of a Zamindar half-sister to Juddmonte's G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Mutual Trust (GB) (Cacique {GB}) and is offered as lot 283B.
Selling gets underway at 9.30 each morning, with the evening sessions on Thursday and Friday beginning at 5.15 after racing.
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