Highlights among this year's catalogue include a yearling colt by Acclamation (GB) out of champion 2-year-old filly and winner producer Hooray (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 1380), from the family of this year's Listed Marygate S. winner Nymphadora (GB) (No Nay Never); a yearling colt by Buratino (Ire) who is a half-brother to multiple Italian stakes winner Frozen Juke (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}) (lot 1387); a Cotai Glory (GB) filly foal who is out of a full-sister to the stakes-winning Princedargent (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) (lot 1397); and a Tasleet (GB) yearling colt out of the listed-placed Ejaazah (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (lot 1372).

Among the highlights of the mares' section of the catalogue are Wine And Roses (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) (lot 1465), a half-sister to the aforementioned Gustavus Weston; Ghany (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) (lot 1464), a full-sister to Italian champion 2-year-old colt Law Enforcement (Ire) in foal to Ribchester (Ire); and stakes producer Prem Ramya (Ger) (Big Shuffle) (lot 1451), a full-sister to multiple German group winner Precious Boy (Ger).

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“We got a lot more rain than we anticipated overnight. We were forecast 15 millimetres at the most in the last 24 hours,” he explained on Friday. “It's come completely out of left field, unfortunately. The track would not be raceable today. We'll just have to monitor things as we go along. If more rain came than was forecast, that would give us a problem. We're hopeful, but we will have a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning.”

In the event the fixture takes place, an ability to handle testing ground is obviously a given and with the easy surface in part to blame for the eclipse of Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, it is hard to see Jim Bolger welcoming the deluge for the seeker of the prestigious G1 English-Irish 2000 Guineas double. He does have a proven lover of the ground as back-up in Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who relished similar conditions when taking the G1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October. If he is none the worse for his infection suffered when fourth in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown May 9, the homebred is made for the stamina test this race will provide.

Another with Group 1-winning form on testing ground is Van Gogh (American Pharoah), who was very much at home on it when taking Saint-Cloud's G1 Criterium International by four lengths in October. Out of the 2001 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), he ran eighth in the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on contrasting ground and Aidan O'Brien expects improvement.

“He was very close to being fifth in the Guineas, he just got tired in the last 50 yards,” he said. “Maybe our Newmarket horses were a couple of weeks behind where we thought they were. He came out of the race very well. He is a big, strong traveller. He had very good form at the back end of last year and we have been very happy with him since as well. I don't think he is a horse that needs soft ground. His form ended up on soft ground at the end of the year, but that was just because of the weather.”

Runner-up in a soft-ground G1 Dewhurst S., Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the pick of Ryan Moore and he is looking for a much-improved performance from him and another Newmarket Guineas disappointment in Battleground (War Front). The latter ploughed through the soft when winning the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot last June, but there is more evidence that Wembley will be able to give his best on this type of ground.

“Our three colts are on a retrieval mission after the 2000 Guineas, though to be fair I thought Van Gogh shaped very well there on ground that would have been too quick for him and this deeper surface will really play to his staying strengths,” he said. “Clearly, Wembley and Battleground didn't run up to expectations at Newmarket, but we know both are much, much better than that and Wembley is another colt who will prefer this softer ground. He just wasn't himself at Newmarket and I wasn't hard him on there once his chance had clearly gone at the two-furlong pole. It was soft when he finished second to the French Guineas winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the Dewhurst, and we clearly anticipate better from him and Battleground here.”

It is hard to be categoric about the ground for Zhang Yuesheng's Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), as he took this track's G1 Phoenix S. on good-to-yielding in August and is by a sire whose progeny excel when there is cut underfoot. Handling a quick surface when third in the 2000 Guineas, he will have his stamina stretched by this examination and trainer Jessie Harrington is far from confident about his ability to handle conditions.

“The ground won't suit him, but it's going to be the same for all of them,” she said. “I've been very happy with him since Newmarket.”

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is another unproven on this going, having flopped when fifth in the Criterium International but he was back to form when runner-up to Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Newmarket's G3 Craven S. over this mile trip last time Apr. 15.

“La Barrosa disappointed on testing ground at Saint-Cloud, but we feel there were other contributing factors that day,” Charlie Appleby explained. “It was the end of the season and he scoped dirty post-race, so I think you can put a bit of a line through that run. His preparation has gone well and he put up a very good performance behind Master of the Seas on his three-year-old return. A repeat of that effort should make him very competitive.”

There has to be doubts as to whether the Ballydoyle support cast will turn up in their expected numbers, with the Apr. 10 Dundalk maiden winner Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) already a non-runner on five occasions this term. He is due to take part in the G3 GAIN Marble Hill S., where stablemate The Entertainer (Ire) (Caravaggio) is also engaged having scored on his sole start at Navan last Saturday. Deep ground is an unknown in general for juveniles and it will be interesting to see if the well-regarded Donnacha O'Brien-trained Masseto (GB) (Territories {Ire}) lines up against the colt he beat on debut at Navan Apr. 25, Celtic Times (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

Also on the card is the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S., where the Hambleton Racing colourbearer Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) reappears under a three-pound penalty for his success in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. in similar conditions in October. Also forced to carry a penalty is Teruya Yoshida's Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) in the G2 Lanwades Stud S., with the G1 Matron S. scorer hardened by a return fourth in the seven-furlong G3 Athasi S. at The Curragh May 3.

At a similarly rain-hit Haydock, the six-furlong G2 Sandy Lane S. and G2 Temple S. over five will represent wars of attrition for the sprinters. Slow, sapping ground is a question mark for Yoshiro Kubota's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the Sandy Lane, given how electric he was on good-to-firm at Hamilton May 2.

“He has done everything right so far this year and he answered everything that we have asked of him since his debut on the all-weather,” trainer Archie Watson said. “He is going back up to six furlongs and we are hopeful that he will handle the softer ground up there, as the ground was quick last time out at Musselburgh. This is a big step up in class and it should give us an idea of where we are with him.”

Shadwell's G3 Horris Hill S. winner Mujbar (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) loves it deep and is a proven stayer at this trip, so everything is set up for a big effort from the half-brother to the G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

“He is obviously proven on soft ground, as he won his Group 3 in those conditions at Newbury last year,” trainer Charlie Hills said. “I was slightly disappointed with his run in the Greenham, but I've been really pleased with him since and he is training a lot better now. For some reason at Newbury he just ran a bit fresh with the choke out and that probably cost him.”

In the Temple, a clutch of classy sprint fillies and mares trained in the North clash with Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Lady In France (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Keep Busy (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) having been third, fourth and fifth respectively in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in October. John Quinn trains Liberty Beach and Keep Busy and said of them, “They are two good fillies and you have got to run them somewhere, it would be unfair not to run one of them so we're just hoping for a bit of luck. I don't think any extra rain would be a problem for either of them. They've form in good ground and they have shown they go in soft ground, which is important. Liberty Beach was a very good 2-year-old and showed very strong form last year while Keep Busy was a very tough two year old and has just kept on improving.”

At the other end of the stamina spectrum, Koji Maeda's G3 Prix Belle de Nuit winner Believe In Love (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) returns in York's G3 William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies' S. over a near-14-furlong trip.

In Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, John Oxley's 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) heads 14 fillies with soft ground holding no fears based on the evidence of her impressive success in Newmarket's G1 Fillies' Mile in October. Denied the chance to contest the May 2 Newmarket Classic due to an unsatisfactory scope, she will not be renewing rivalry with her G1 Moyglare Stud S. conqueror Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) after that peer was a significant scratching at the confirmation stage on Friday. Drawn widest of all, she encounters Doreen Tabor's G2 Lowther S. winner Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who was taken out of Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp but has fared little better with the draw here in 12. Also wide in 11 is Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's May 9 G3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial scorer Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas third Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) is in nine.

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The sale ring at Fairyhouse has now swung back into action, however, and this sale rides the momentum of a fruitful season on the racetrack for its graduates. Those are headlined by the G1 Matron S. victress Champers Elysees (GB) (Elzaam {Aus}), who was bought here back in 2017 as a foal by Aughamore Stud for €12,500. She went on to be pinhooked for €28,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale when bought by her trainer Johnny Murtagh, and she doubtless made many multiples of that when sold privately to Teruya Yoshida following her top-level victory on Irish Champions Weekend.

The Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale flag was flown in the 2-year-old division this season by group winners The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) and Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}). The Lir Jet was sold by breeder Donal Boylan for €9,500 at this sale to Joe Foley, who stands his first-crop sire at Ballyhane Stud. Foley moved The Lir Jet on to Robson Aguiar for £8,000 at last summer’s Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, and like Champers Elysees, The Lir Jet was then the subject of two private transactions: one to Nick Bell when the breeze-ups were postponed, and one to Qatar Racing after he broke the track record at Yarmouth on debut. He went on to win Royal Ascot’s G2 Norfolk S.

The G3 Molecomb S. winner Steel Bull has likewise lined numerous pockets. Madeline Burns signed for him at €5,000 at this sale, and he made £15,000 as a Tattersalls Ascot yearling when bought by Kilbrew Stables. Trainer Michael O’Callaghan picked him up for £28,000 at the Goffs UK breeze-up sale on July 1, and sold him on to Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez after his Molecomb win.

These three graduates alone prove the importance of shopping at all levels of the catalogue; last year’s sale returned a top price of €50,000, an average of €6,442 and a median of €3,000. The addition of the yearling section means that this year’s catalogue is up significantly in size, with 190 catalogued including wildcards. Among the proven sires represented are Australia (GB), who has a yearling half-sister to the listed-placed Venturous Spirit (Fr) catalogued (lot 968); Dandy Man (Ire), with a yearling half-brother to three winners from Ballintry Stud (lot 954); Dark Angel (Ire), who has a colt foal who is the first produce for the New Approach (Ire) mare Quite Sharp (GB), a three-quarter sister to listed winner Galactic Star (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1023); Footstepsinthesand (GB), who has a yearling colt who is the first foal out of the six-time winner Refuse Colette (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) (lot 940); Kodiac (GB), whose two yearlings include a filly who is the second foal out of a half-sister to champion Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) (lot 955A); Mehmas (Ire), who has six yearlings and one foal catalogued, including a yearling colt who is the first foal out of a placed half-sister to multiple Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) (lot 980); and No Nay Never, whose one yearling on offer is a half-sister to the G2 Kilboy Estate S. third Annie Fior (Ire) (Finsceal Fior {Ire}) (lot 975).

Other proven sires represented include exciting up-and-comers like Belardo (Ire), New Bay (GB) and Pride Of Dubai (Aus), as well as elder statesmen like Camacho (GB), Elzaam, Tamayuz (GB) and Zoffany (Ire).

The Tattersalls Ireland November Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale offers the final chance to purchase at public auction members of the first crops of some of this year’s first-season sires. Those with representatives from their first crops include Aclaim (Ire), Caravaggio (Ire), Cotai Glory (GB), Decorated Knight (GB)-his two include a half-sister to the seven-time winner and G3 Acomb S. second Fort Bastion (Ire) (lot 1005)-El Kabeir, Galileo Gold (GB), Highland Reel (Ire), Kessaar (Ire) and Time Test (GB).

There are also a handful of sires in the foal section represented by their first crop, including Scat Daddy sons Sioux Nation and Smooth Daddy. The G2 Norfolk S. and G1 Phoenix S. winner Sioux Nation was the subject of positive press at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale when he produced the session-topping 88,000gns colt on the fourth day of the sale, and his lone colt here (lot 1052) is the third foal out of Dorothy Parker (Ire) (Mujadil), whose 3-year-old The Nosey Parker (Ire) (Dream Ahead) has won twice since the catalogue was published. Smooth Daddy has four first-crop foals catalogued, while the G2 Mill Reef S. and G3 Greenham S. winner James Garfield (Ire) has one, a filly from the immediate family of this year’s G2 Champagne S. winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (lot 1032).

The 26 filles or mares catalogued include lot 1068, an unnamed 2-year-old filly from the immediate family of this year’s G2 Lowther S. winner Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}); Winning Return (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a granddaughter of the great producer Park Appeal (GB); and Tip Of The City (GB), the dam of the aforementioned James Garfield filly who is back in foal to that sire. Catalogued as lot 1074A, she is a half-sister to the dam of Chindit and from the family of Derby winner and sire Motivator (GB).

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The 3-year-old filly was selected by trainer Johnny Murtagh and Eddie Linehan for €28,000 from the 2018 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and was one of 10 yearlings in Fitzwilliam Racing’s third intake. She broke her maiden on her fourth start at The Curragh last year and was second in Naas’s Birdcatcher H. She has gone unbeaten in four tries this year, winning at handicap and listed levels before taking Gowran’s G3 Fairy Bridge S. on Sept. 2 and the Matron on Irish Champions Weekend over 2020 Classic winners Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Murtagh tweeted, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Yoshida of Shadai Farm to Fox Covert Stables. Champers Elysees will now run in his famous colours. Her next intended engagement is the [G1] Sun Chariot S. on Oct 3.”

Yoshida is no stranger to purchasing top-class race mares in Europe; other such buys in recent years have included the G1 Prix de Diane winners Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), as well as six-time Grade/Group 1 winner Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger})–who has given him a Japanese champion and Classic winner in Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB})–and the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), whose fourth foal, a Dubawi (Ire) colt, will be offered by Newsells Park Stud (lot 112) at next month’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Champers Elysees has proven a homerun for Fitzwilliam Racing, which was established by Johnny and Orla Murtagh, Paul McKeon and Mark Flood and is comprised largely of Dublin-based business men and women.

“It is effectively a bunch of guys and girls from Dublin city who are in banking, investment or property, but liked racehorses,” explained Flood, a private equity investor with a family background in the Thoroughbred industry, his father and brother being the owners of Boardsmill Stud. “The first year we got 14 to 16 together and had somewhere north of half a million. We bought nine yearlings the first year, eight the second year and I think it was 10 the third year. From the 17 in the first two years I think there were 12 or 13 winners. Probably the highest rated was a horse called Baba Boom (Ire) (Thewayyouare). The third year there weren’t as many winners, but Champers Elysees was in there.”

In addition to Champers Elysees, the Fitzwilliam flagbearers have included the aforementioned Baba Boom, a three-time winner on the flat who was later sold to JP McManus to race over jumps; and Urban Beat (Ire) (Red Jazz), a £20,000 yearling from the first partnership who won a listed race last year at four and is still competitive at that level, having been second in Doncaster’s Listed Scarborough S. on Sept. 9.

“There is nobody get paid out of this; there is no management fee, it’s not a commercial enterprise in any way, it’s just a partnership of like-minded people and it’s 100% Johnny and Orla with Paul,” Flood said. “We’ve had around 30 horses in Fitzwilliam and then some of the people that got in with us have had other horses with Johnny, but they all love Johnny and Orla because they’re just so honest and hardworking; it’s like a breath of fresh air with everyone you’re dealing with. But it wouldn’t be alive now without Paul McKeon leading it as chairman.”

Flood added, “It’s similar to Highclere in the sense that it’s people in the city; there are some that aren’t but that’s the core profile, city workers who love their racing and they’re all passionate about it and they’re likely to go again for what’s going to be the fourth Fitzwilliam syndicate.”

Johnny Murtagh and Eddie Linehan purchased seven yearlings in partnership at this week’s Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and were also active during the first session of the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale in Doncaster on Thursday. Flood confirmed that some of those yearlings would enter the Fitzwilliam syndicate, but that those designations would be made at the end of the sales season.

The Fitzwilliam group has in past years enjoyed days out at Royal Ascot and winners at the Galway Festival. While the celebration of Champers Elysees’s Matron win looked different than normal, Flood said the owners didn’t let the opportunity pass them by, enjoying a socially distanced barbecue.

“It was just an amazing day and the whole syndicate has been amazing,” Flood said. It’s been a great journey and they’ve all had a ball. People aren’t in it to make money, they’re in it for the fun and they’re getting an honest ride with Johnny, and Johnny and Orla have invested their own money in it as well.”

Selling Champers Elysees is the next chapter in the success story.

“The model was always to get them rated as high as they can, sell and recycle the money in the fund,” Flood said. “It’s really David and Goliath stuff. There are probably 1,000 yearling fillies every year, and she comes out on top at €28,000. You couldn’t make it up.”

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As has been the case so far this year with other bloodstock sales and indeed other global industries, expectations have been tempered as travel restrictions and economic woes have understandably had and will continue to have a detrimental effect on the selling of future racehorses. Participants, however, will wholeheartedly agree any trade is better than no trade and in the midst of challenges the bloodstock industry has held up remarkably well.

The team at Tattersalls Ireland have little reason to believe such resilience will desert them over the next few days as they facilitate the selling of a strong book of yearlings, many whose causes have been aided by the exploits of some high-achieving siblings and graduates of this sale, with recent G1 Matron S. winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) heading that roll of honour. Simon Kerins, Tattersalls Ireland’s Marketing Director, while mindful of world events, is nevertheless positive in his outlook.

“It’s all systems go and we are very fortunate to be able to relocate the sale to Newmarket,” Kerins said. “The UK is our biggest market for this sale and while it’s disappointing to have to move from Ireland we really had no choice and vendors understand this and have been very flexible and supportive. Park Paddocks is obviously a fantastic facility and having made the decision quite early to relocate we’ve had time to re-do the stabling plan and have everything sorted,” he added.

Kerins continued, “Promoting the sale has had its challenges this year but thankfully a lot of previous graduates have done the talking for us on the track and we’re delighted that there are so many siblings to these high achievers catalogued this week. Speaking to trainers, the majority are committed to buying, some perhaps on a lesser scale but the catalogue is condensed this year so we are optimistic that trade will be at a very respectable level. We are hoping also the change in venue will see us welcoming back some UK buyers who haven’t been to our Fairyhouse complex in a while.

“We are very aware of the challenges people face currently but horse sales have stood the test of time and given the way the industry has coped so far this year, coupled with the strength of the catalogue, gives us all encouragement that we will have a solid, successful sale.”

Last year’s edition of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale has already unearthed the Group 2-winning pair of juvenile fillies Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Potential buyers can look forward to the chance of buying a half-sibling to each of these fillies this week though no doubt such investors will have to prepare for a larger outlay than the €22,000 and €67,000, respectively, it cost to acquire their illustrious relatives last year. Dandalla’s breeder Robert Norton will offer a Divine Prophet (Aus) half-sister (lot 83) to the G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. winner through Newtownbarry House Stud, while early in the session Collegelands Stud offers a half-brother to G2 Airlie Stud S. winner Aloha Star by Mastercraftsman (Ire) as lot 4. Both yearlings are out of young mares who have produced a high-class horse early in their breeding career, giving the pedigrees scope for even further improvement in the coming years.

As mentioned above, Johnny Murtagh purchased G1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron S. winner Champers Elysees (Ire) in this sale two years ago for €28,000 and her dam Le Cuvee (GB) (Mark Of Esteem  {Ire}) is represented this time around by lot 222, a colt by red-hot sire Mehmas (Ire). Offered by Beechvale Stud the colt was pinhooked as a foal at Goffs for €19,000 and is likely to show a good profit for connections.

A major pedigree update is something that fuels the dreams of pinhookers and another yearling whose value has increased significantly since being purchased last year is lot 309 from Coole House Farm. The Tamayuz (GB) filly was bought by BBA Ireland for 11,000gns at Tattersalls last year but last month her year-older brother Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) delivered the mother of all updates when winning the G2 Gimcrack S. at York in impressive fashion. While the breeders of Minzaal and this filly, Ringfort Stud, are missing out on selling the Tamayuz filly, can take solace from the addition of another high-class black type winner to the pedigree of their lot 230. This filly by first-crop sire Galileo Gold (GB) is a half-sister to this month’s G2 Flying Childers S. winner Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) among three other stakes winners so lacks nothing in terms of pedigree.

York’s Ebor meeting also provided a major boost to the prospects of lot 165 from Boherguy Stud. The Jim Bolger-bred Teofilo (Ire) colt already has plenty going for him being a full-brother to G3 Eyrefield S. winner Guaranteed but his 2-year-old full-sibling Gear Up (Ire) added a further touch of class to the page when he won the G3 Acomb S. at York for trainer Mark Johnston.

The updates kept coming for Clare Manning’s Boherguy Stud when her grandfather Jim Bolger’s New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) landed the G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower S. at The Curragh at odds of 66-1. Manning has the colt’s full-brother catalogued on Tuesday as lot 260.

Fillies by Kingman (GB) could well become collectors’ items in years to come and there are two opportunities in the sale to acquire one. Lot 98 from The Castlebridge Consignment has a pure Juddmonte pedigree hailing from the famous family of Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill) and her dam Continental Drift (Smart Strike)’s only runner from two horses of racing age is the promising Ger Lyons-trained Masen (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a debut winner at Leopardstown and group placed subsequently. The other Kingman filly is from Luke Barry’s Manister House Stud and lot 248 is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Justineo (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from the fast family of Galeota (Ire) (Mujadil).

Yearlings from first-crop stallions can often provide value, especially if the stallion boasts solid credentials. Churchill (Ire) and Caravaggio certainly fall into that category as multiple Group 1 winners with top-class pedigrees to back up their race records. Champion European 2-year-old and dual Guineas winner Churchill has a pair of colts in the sale including lot 57 from The Castlebridge Consignment. This chestnut is out of the stakes performer Blue Angel (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and is a half-brother to Listed Dee S. winner Viren’s Army (Ire) (Twirling Candy) who topped this sale in 2014 when selling to Peter and Ross Doyle for €115,000.

Joe Hernon’s Castletown Stud offers lot 65, one of three yearlings by G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Caravaggio in the sale. The grey grandson of Scat Daddy is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Bright Birdie (Ire) who has already produced the multiple stakes winner Flying Fairies (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

Nicky Teehan of Bluegate Stud could be in for another good payday courtesy of his former mare Bulrushes (GB). The mare, who Teehan sold privately last year to Al Wasmiyah Farm, has bred three stakes winners, the most recent being Ten Year Ticket (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) who carried Teehan’s colours to victory in a listed race at Leopardstown in June before being sold to race in Hong Kong. The mare’s latest offering, lot 72, is a colt by Red Jazz, making him a full-brother to Snazzy Jazzy (Ire), who along with a French Group 3 win also won the valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sales Race in 2017.

Selling gets underway at 11 a.m. on Monday and 10 a.m. on Tuesday with Part II of the sale commencing directly after the main sale finishes on Tuesday. As has been the case for many years all lots catalogued are eligible for the aforementioned €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale S. to be run at The Curragh in 12 months’ time.

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At the upcoming Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale they offer two yearling colts. The first is lot 107, a son of Profitable (Ire) whose first crop has been well received in the ring. The second is lot 222, who has arguably received one of the best pedigree updates since catalogue was printed. He is by Mehmas (Ire), who is currently leading first-season sire, and his half-sister is none other than recent G1 Matron S. winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}). This success for Champers Elysees was not the first update she had given her little brother, as prior to her Group 1 success she had also progressed from a listed win to Group 3 glory in the Fairy Bridge S.

Could anyone have foreseen this progression? Well maybe the Armstrongs could. “I remember last year seeing Champers Elysees in the parade ring at Naas before the Birdcatcher Handicap,” Chris recalls. “She was a big, rangy filly, and I thought whatever she does in 2019 would be a bonus, and, thankfully, she’s gone on this year. I was actually at Galway the night she won the listed race. It was nice to see her win it. Then she went up 16 pounds to a mark of 110, which is a fair bit, even though she was impressive, but, thankfully, she was able to justify her mark and she won the Fairy Bridge well.”

Before the Matron, Armstrong says he was just hopeful she would run a credible race–“at least if she was even third or fourth that would be respectable”–but the filly duly came with a late run and provided the Armstrongs with not just a boost for their yearling but also a nice birthday present for Chris.

Cast back to the foal sales of 2019, and Chris recalls what he liked about the colt sibling that cost €19,000. “He caught the eye, he was well done by his breeder, Carl Brown,” Armstrong says. “He walked well and was a nice, big colt. We thought Mehmas had a very good chance of being leading first-season sire this year, too.”

The colt has taken his preparation well for his intended return to the sale ring.

“We’ve been very happy with him. He’s developed a lot,” says Armstrong. “He is correct, walks well, has good muscle and we think he has a nice bit of quality about him; hopefully he’ll shine in the sale over in Newmarket.”

As Armstrong points out, the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale now takes place at Park Paddocks in Newmarket, England, a point Armstrong says he believes may be of further advantage to this particular colt.

“I think it may actually benefit us more,” he says. “Mehmas is on fire. He had the winner in the Weatherbys Racing Bank 2yo Stakes race at Doncaster and if I’m right, I think 95% of his winners this year have been in England. He might be more appealing to the English market. Mehmas has got a lot of winners, he’s got quality winners, and they seem to be adaptable over any ground and over five, six and seven furlongs.”

While it could be easy to get a little star struck by the above colt, the Armstrongs have another offering as part of their Beechvale Stud consignment and although the colt doesn’t boast a Group 1 update he has merits that could also see a good return.

“We literally just saw him before he went into the ring last year and we actually didn’t bid on him in the ring.” Armstrong recalls. “He wasn’t sold so we got him vetted outside the ring afterwards and we bought him. He’s a very well-proportioned colt, he stands well over the ground. He’s done very well throughout the prep and Profitable seems popular at the moment. He’s got a very good temperament too; we walk him around the roads at home on a Sunday for something different and he is absolutely bomb-proof. He eats, sleeps, works and he’s thrived throughout the prep.”

Chris and Tara have only been pinhooking since 2015 and combine the task of raising weanlings to sales-ready yearlings with their full time positions for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien, respectively. When it comes to picking four-legged investments the brother and sister team are very much on the same page. “I suppose when you’re only buying four or five each year, both myself and Tara have to be sure we are happy with what we are buying,” Armstrong says. “You’ve got to be happy with them because you look at them for the rest of the year.

The pair have already enjoyed a sale topper when their Night of Thunder (Ire) filly, bought for €15,000 as foal, led day two of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 3 last year when selling for 75,000gns, and a repeat of that experience may not be that far off.

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Champers Elysees had got off the mark at the fourth attempt over six furlongs on heavy ground at The Curragh in September prior to finishing runner-up in Naas’s “Birdcatcher” nursery over that trip the following month. Showing how much improvement she had made over the winter on her return when successful in a seven-furlong handicap back at The Curragh June 12, the bay not only proved up to listed class at the Galway festival but progressed markedly for that impressive first black-type success and underlined her quality with this performance in the race that was lost to the rain at its traditional home last week. “I was so sick last week when Tipperary was called off, but thankfully the race was rescheduled to here and I thought the track would suit her well,” trainer Johnny Murtagh said. “She really improved from Galway and had a better prep coming into this race. If everything is alright she’ll go for the [G1] Matron [at Leopardstown Sept. 12]. It’s a bit tight and if this race was on last week it would have given us two weeks, but she’s tough and hardy. I’m delighted for Niall that he was able to ride a group winner for us. He’s a big part of my life and of our team since we started. He’s been out injured a long time and has worked hard to get back. I’m delighted to be able to pay him back as he put in a lot of work early in the year and then missed out on a lot of winners.”

One of two leading ladies from the Murtagh stable alsongside the G3 Derrinstown Stud Fillies S. winner and G1 Prix Rothschild third Know It All (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Champers Elysees hails from a family mainly made up of sprinters. Her second dam is the G3 Goldene Peitsche-winning German champion Premiere Cuvee (GB) (Formidable), who was also second in the G3 Prix du Gros Chene. That makes the dam La Cuvee (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}) a half-sister to the G3 Premio Sergio Cumani winner She Bat (GB) (Batshoof {GB}), who is in turn responsible for four black-type performers including the G2 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas) third She Basic (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}). The dam also has the unraced 2-year-old colt Performance Plus (Ire) (Alhebayeb {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire).

Wednesday, Gowran Park, Ireland
COOLMORE STUD NO NAY NEVER FAIRY BRIDGE S.-G3, €55,000, Gowran, 9-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f 110yT, 1:36.40, sf.
1–CHAMPERS ELYSEES (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Elzaam (Aus)
     1st Dam: La Cuvee (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Premiere Cuvee (GB), by Formidable
     3rd Dam: Clicquot (Ire), by Bold Lad (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. (€12,500 Wlg ’17 TATFBR; €28,000 Ylg ’18 TIRSEP; €95,000 RNA 2yo ’19 GOFHIT). O-Fitzwilliam Racing; B-Karl Bowen (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Niall McCullagh. €33,000. Lifetime Record: 8-4-2-1, $128,072. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pearls Galore (Fr), 128, f, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pearl Banks (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Paddy Twomey. €11,000.
3–Parent’s Prayer (Ire), 128, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Pure Excellence (GB), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (€165,000 2yo ’19 TATGOR). O-Ecurie Ama.Zing Team; B-Sun Kingdom Pty Ltd (IRE); T-Archie Watson. €5,500.
Margins: HF, 5, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.83, 3.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Rocket Science (Ire), Soul Search (Ire), Miss Myers (Ire), Auxilia (Ire), Faire Croire (Ire), Precious Moments (Ire), Eden Quay (Ire), Tango (Ire). Scratched: Lady Scathach (Ire), Romantic Proposal (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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